Around two-thirds of adult Americans savor coffee daily, according to the National Coffee Association.
Only coffee fanatics and those who take their coffee craft seriously recognize that pour-over is superior to drip. The timeline may be lengthy, but the payoff is worth it. Using the pour-over method gives you the ability to have full control over the water temperature and flow, making it superior to using an automatic drip coffee machine. This method helps to bring out the flavor of the coffee in a way that a drip maker is unable to do.
Two of the most renowned brands for pour-over coffee are Chemex and Hario V60. So which brewer should you go for?
The answer depends on your objective. Discover the dissimilarities between these two products and decide which one is right for you.
Chemex Overview
What may be surprising to some is that Chemex has been existing for over 80 years. In that time Chemex’s simple design has remained unchanged. The recognizable hourglass-shaped form of a Chemex is easy to identify, and at the neck of the device you will find leather and wood accents that help with gripping. You can get a full-on glass look without any wood or leather components. However, most people prefer the original design with wood.
Working with a Chemex is quite simple. Once your beans of preference have been grounded, assemble the filter at the head of your Chemex. Take a spoonful of coffee grounds and place them in the filter. After that, you should heat the required amount of water to a boil. In a circular pattern, pour the water over the filter and gravitationally let it run through.
What We Like
- Brewing with the Chemex is very easy; anyone can do it
- Chemex produces consistently good coffee
- The Chemex is very affordable, unlike a coffee maker
What We Don’t Like
- The process takes time – it’s not instant
- Cleaning the lower chamber is harder
- It would help if you had additional equipment to boil the water
- Since it’s manual, it can be dangerous, especially when handling hot water.
Sizes And Styles
There are three distinct models of Chemex Pour-Over Coffee Brewers.
Classic Series
The classic series comes in a variety of sizes, including 3, 6, 8, 10, and 13 cup versions. This specific design is equipped with a heat resistant wooden collar around the neck and it also has a leather lanyard. The wood collars are divided into two pieces, allowing you to fit it around your neck without difficulty. The leather thong ties the wood pieces together securely. This coffeemaker’s modern design and accuracy were well-liked during the post-war period when people wanted something fresh and thrilling.
Handle Series
The second option is the range of Chemex Pour-Over Coffee Makers with a glass handle. This item is available in many amounts, including three-cup, six-cup, eight-cup, and ten-cup sizes. No wooden collar is without a glass handle.
The classic and glass handle designs of flasks are shaped like an hourglass and feature a conical top. This upper cone is called a cleaner cup. A type of glass known as borosilicate, which is non-absorbent and highly resistant to heat, is used in the production of Chemex Pour-Over Coffee brewer models. It is easy to use for its simple design.
Both the entire set consisting of –
- A bonded Chemex paper filter
- Chemex glass flask
Handblown Series
This series is a modernized take on the original Chemex series. The crucial thing is that it is crafted by hand. This series is created with great care in small amounts. The body contains Croatian glass art.
Since each item has been crafted by hand, you can see that they all have their own individual qualities.
The filter paper used in a Chemex is more dense than the regular paper filter. This filter paper absorbs most of the oil that comes from the coffee, sifts out any debris, and reduces the bitterness. It also removes extra Cafestol and cholesterol-elevating compounds. There was not a great deal of finely ground coffee used in the Chemex filter, but a few more coarse blends were employed.
Notable Differences Among Chemex Versions
Chemex 3 cup Vs other cup Versions
There are certain dissimilarities between 3 cups and other types of cups. Available versions are –
- Chemex 6 Cup Series
- Chemex 8 Cup Series
- Chemex 10 Cup Series
- Chemex 13 Cup Series
A long and narrow cone-shaped paper filter is needed for three cups of coffee. Some other versions employ the use of particular filter paper which is circular and flat. The other versions cannot use the same filter. The three cups won’t fit together with the circular filter.
Chemex classic vs handle
The most noteworthy contrast between the classic and the handle series is the wooden brace.
The Classic line offers a wooden neck collar that comes with a leather thong connected to it. The intent of the thong is to securely grasp the intensely hot flask, thus avoiding users from harm. The leather of the flask makes it easy to pour coffee without having to come directly into contact with it.
In contrast, there is a glass grip instead of a wooden ring. Users pour coffee by grabbing that. It also protects the user from extreme heat.
Hario V60 Overview
Hario has earned recognition due to their various artistic creations. However, not many are as successful as the V60. The design process of the prototype started in the 1950s. Hiromu Shibata Works, the original name of the business, developed a strong and heat-tolerant glass named Hario, meaning “king of glass”. This glass wasn’t introduced to the public until the 80s.
In 2004, the Hario Corporation brought out a new style of ceramic coffee maker. A parabolic-shaped ceramic cup named Hario V60 coffee dripper. It was a porcelain-made cone cup.
A large opening is located at the base of the cup. This hole facilitates the adjustment of water flow rate which results in a difference in taste and flavor, depending on how fast the water is released.
The V60 brewing cup has a base located close to the underside. This foundation assists in placing the cup onto a jug or mug. The Ceramic material is resilient and helps to maintain the heat during the preparation process.
Different versions of the Hario V60 exist, with some utilizing porcelain, glass, plastic and steel as their materials and varying in their colors. It comes in 1 cup, 2 cup, and 3 cup sizes.
A sheet of paper is employed for both making and straining coffee. The paper filter used in this instance is more slender than the Chemex paper filter. This coffee filter has been designed specifically for the Hario V60 and utilizes the finest coffee grounds for an impeccable flavor.
Today, the V60 comes in various sizes. Also available are plastic, ceramic, stainless steel, and the original see-through glass varieties. Most homebrewers prefer the ceramic model. The design is largely the same, except for the addition of ridges that elevate the filter paper. The V60 offers a greater selection of sizes and options when compared to the Chemex. It is also not as delicate.
What We Like
- The V60 has more options both in size and materials
- The prices are reasonable
- Relatively easy to clean
- It makes great coffee every time
What We Don’t Like
- You will need to buy their special paper filter
- Brewing requires additional equipment such as a burr grinder, kettle, and a scale
- Some parts are not dishwasher safe
- You need to perfect your pouring technique
Why Buy Hario V60?
Hario V60 is one of the smallest coffee drippers. It is portable and suitable for traveling. The ceramic option is more resilient, accessible, and economically priced. It is cheaper than the other pour-over coffee maker. This dripper can brew sharper and strong body coffee. The Hario V60 would be a great selection for someone who desires to experience the various fruity nuances in their coffee.
There are so many coffee lovers in different countries. Many of them use the Hario v60. According to their opinion, it is described that
- It makes delicious coffee
- It is perfect for beginners as well as for professionals.
- It is easy to use, reliable, and an inexpensive tool as a pour-over brewer.
- Every aspect of the brewing method can adjust according to your desire.
- Some people have complained that the interior clear-coat gets cracked.
- Some customers are disappointed with the plastic pour-over method as they don’t like using hot water in a plastic dripper.
- It’s disappointing when the handle falls off the steel one.
The Hario V60 produces flavors that are exceedingly pure and scents that are powerful and robust. It permits a devoted coffee enthusiast to relish the subtlest flavors in their coffee. This is the main reason the V60 is such an acclaimed and favored drip brewing choice.
Brewing Guide
It’s simple to utilize the Hario V60 brewer. For brewing in Hario V60, you need the following
- A Weight Scale
- A Timer
- 25 grams of coffee (for preparing a single cup)
- 250 ml of water
- A Gooseneck Kettle
- A burr grinder
- A Hario V60 dipper ( 2 cup size )
- Brewing vessel or cup
Let’s have a look at the brewing method.
Begin by milling your coffee beans to a medium consistency.
- Put the V60 dripper on the brewing vessel or cup.
- Then, set a paper filter in the V60 cup. After that, use some hot water to wet the paper filter. This process is called rinsing the filter. This process drives away the paper-like flavor.
- Remove the drained water from the brewing vessel or cup.
- After that add your coffee ground inside the filter and level it.
- Now start your brewing.
Pour 35ml of boiled water onto the coffee grounds and let sit for roughly half a minute.
Then add 120ml of water in a circular motion over the ground coffee. Wait again for 30 seconds.
Once that is done, repeat the process for the other 250 ml of water. Brewing time should be 3 minutes. Once the coffee has finished brewing, the liquid will be poured into either the pot used to brew it or directly into the cup.
Chemex vs. V60 Direct Comparison
For a while now, there has been an ongoing discussion about the Chemex versus the V60.
When brewing, the differences between the two are minimal. Nevertheless, it is possible to ascertain design differences without any aid.
Funnel Design
The most significant distinction between the two brewers is their shape.
The Chemex is shaped like an hourglass, whereas the V60 is cone-shaped. For Chemex, the top half is also the funnel. The bulk of the V60 is an exact 60-degree wedge funnel, which is where the V60 gets its moniker.
There is a separate container for decanting. V60s manufactured after 2004 have a ribbed pattern on the pour over cone. This raises the installer higher than the ground, thus facilitating the cleaning process.
Taste and Flavor
Pour-over brewing is popular because of the final product.
As a result, both products produce high-quality coffee. However, there are slight differences in taste and flavor. The Chemex employs a unique filter fashioned from thicker paper. It has been suggested that this process helps lower the cholesterol amounts in the coffee and produces a more vibrant, mild flavor without any strong aftertaste.
In contrast, the V60 only incorporates a one-layer filter. The outcome is a more concentrated coffee, and the finer filter lets through more components. Nevertheless, the end product is delectable coffee which has a bit more strength.
Grind Size
The coarseness of your grounds is an important factor to take into account when making your coffee. The amount of water that can be taken out increases when there is a larger amount of surface area that the liquid is coming into contact with.
Brewing with the Chemex requires a coarser grind size. However, there is some flexibility, so a good medium-coarse grind is a good option.
In contrast, it’s preferable to grind beans more finely for use in the V60. Previously it was mentioned that using a less coarse coffee ground will expand the surface area for extraction, thereby optimizing the rate. Here there is less margin for error.
It is suggested that acquiring a grinder will allow for better management of the final outcome.
Filters
Both the Chemex and V60 use disposable paper filters. Nevertheless, both need to be used with special filters that are manufactured by Chemex and Hario.
The Chemex is intended to use filters that are more substantial than those used with the V60. Using a thicker filter will result in eliminating more components and making the coffee clearer.
It is advisable to purchase enough filters to cover an entire week’s worth, in order to prevent them from being used up too quickly. It is more readily available to come across V60 filters than those designed for Chemex.
Ease of Use
To get really good coffee, you’ll need to make an effort. Pressing a button on an espresso doesn’t count.
To make coffee using the pour-over method, one needs to manually pour hot water in a circular pattern over the ground beans. The same brewing technique is used in both Chemex and V60, and they are both equally easy to use.
Nevertheless, it takes some skill to use the Hario V60 correctly. It could be because of its size or the need for a pouring kettle that is causing this. You need to refine your technique when pouring in order to make a pleasant cup of coffee.