You shouldn’t throw stones if you have a glass spout…
If you drink pour over coffee you’re probably already quite familiar with the names Hario and Chemex – both have their advantages, both have cool names, both make pour over coffee.
And yet, the question has to be asked, which one is better?
Which Pour Over Apparatus is Easier to Use?
The Hario v60 is only a dripper, there is no bottom to it – it fits on top of a coffee mug and makes a single cup at a time. I start every day with a cup of ‘v60 black diesel’ as we say in the hood. If I want a second cup of coffee, do you know what I do?
I make a second cup of ‘v60 black diesel’ (sometimes light on the diesel). It’s so simple, I just heat water, dump it on top of my precisely measured 18 grams of coffee, stir the goop, and enjoy.
I use the Chemex in the evenings, I make about twenty ounces of coffee with it, which equals about three mugs, and is a great way to enjoy coffee while I’m writing emails, journaling my thoughts, or sharing my exploits with all of you lovely people.
The reason I wait until evening to use the Chemex is it takes a little more time and energy. It produces a larger volume, so more coffee has to be ground, and the water needs to be pre-measured before you heat it or you’ll accidentally make a really weak pot of coffee (or too strong, if you’re conservative in your pouring).
The Hario v60 is simpler, and definitely a win for beginners at pour over.
Which Makes Better Coffee?
From my experiences I can get the best extraction from a Chemex. It was invented by a chemist for the purpose of making the best possible cup of coffee, by being designed specifically for a great extraction. Even the bonded filters are selected because of their superiority in helping oils from the bean travel into the final product.
I find the Hario v60 to make a very bold, and not bitter cup of coffee. This is why we call its post pourtem product ‘v60 black diesel’. It really is a kick in the pants, and when you try it with a generous ratio of coffee to water you’ll find that it’s simply incredible: a very strong cup, but no bitter aftertaste.
The Chemex produces a more distinct extraction, but the Hario brews strong coffee magnificently.
So, What is the Best For Everyday Coffee Making?
You probably already realize our answer to that question:
Both.
If you want a single cup of coffee – the Hario v60 wins every time. If you’re Mr. I Like Serious Dark Roast Coffee All Day Every Time (like my dad, and me on occasion) then the Hario is a definite win for you.
If you cup coffees, if you seek the greatest extraction available, if you roast at home, if you enjoy light roast single origins with all sorts of subtle nuances and flavor notes then the Chemex is your ticket to a life of perfectly extracted madness.
The choice is yours.
I have both a Hario V60 ceramic dripper, with which I use a Hario glass server, and a Chemex. I alternate between the two. I think they make comparable cups of coffee. Both brew delicious coffee, especially when I use beans from Amaya Roasting Co. I pre-measure the water into a Hario V60 kettle, and then heat it on an induction cooktop. A barista at Catalina Coffee in Houston said she prefers the Tiamo kettle for use with the Hario, and the Hario kettle with the Chemex. I suppose I should do a side-by-side tasting with of the two brewers. As Peter said, the Chemex-brewed coffee might be a bit more refined, and the Hario-brewed coffee might be a bit bolder. Both brewers are fun to use, if you like to be involved in the coffee brewing process, and they produce excellent cups of coffee.
Hey Matt, thanks for the insightful comment. Did the barista at Catalina say why she preferred the Tiamo kettle? If you do end up split testing the two I’d love to hear about the results.