REASONS TO BUY
Gourmet flavor
Well-conceived design
Ceramic version available for home use
REASONS TO AVOID
Special shaped filters are harder to find
Expensive for a plastic dripper
Heavier than other brands
Hario V60 Plastic Dripper Review
The iconic pour over model in a light plastic package, delivering a consistently great flavor
The V60 - a simple brewer that has the ability to produce one of the cleanest and most satisfying cups.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
RELATED: Best Camping Coffee Maker of 2024
Our Verdict
The Hario V60 soars above other brewers and consistently earns top scores in our tests. The flavor is refined, it's easy to clean, and, when used properly, the design allows for a near-perfect brew every time. It is lightweight, small, and durable, making it a great companion for camping or even backpacking trips. Our only complaint with the V60 is the fact that it requires specially-shaped filters that can be difficult to source. There is also a learning curve with the V60, though even an inexperienced person can certainly get a decent brew. There's a reason you will see this classic cone in craft coffee shops all across the world, and this plastic version helps extend its reach into the backcountry as well. See it ranked against other top products in our review of camping coffees.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Hario V60 Plastic Dripper | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Bang for Your Buck |  Best Overall Camping Coffee Maker | A Great Deal for Backpacking | ||
| Price | Check Price at Amazon | $30 List $29.95 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | $9.99 at Public Lands Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Great taste, easy to use, and lightweight - we love this plastic iteration of the classic glass and ceramic versions | A cool and innovative pour over device that is compact, easy to clean, and delvers tasty coffee every time | Durable, light, and compact, this is a fantastic option for backpacking trips or any kind of light travel | If you're on a budget but love pour over coffee, this is a fantastic option | If you are counting every gram in your bag, this is a great ultralight option - just be sure to pour carefully |
| Rating Categories | Hario V60 Plastic D... | MiiR Pourigami | Primula Coffee Brew... | Melitta 1-Cup Pour-... | GSI Outdoors Ultral... |
| Taste (40%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Group Cooking (15%) | |||||
| Portability (10%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Hario V60 Plastic D... | MiiR Pourigami | Primula Coffee Brew... | Melitta 1-Cup Pour-... | GSI Outdoors Ultral... |
| Measured Weight | Dripper alone: 2.95 oz Dripper + scoop: 3.37 oz |
Dripper alone: 4.89 oz Dripper + case: 5.52 oz |
1.1 oz | 2.01 oz | 1.1 oz |
| Brew Type | Pour Over | Pour Over | Pour Over | Pour Over | Pour Over |
| Main Material | Hard plastic | Stainless steel with Hardshell powder coat | Nylon filter | Hard plastic | Nylon filter |
| Filter Needed | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Notable Features | Cone shape, large hole, ribs along side | Easy to clean, collapsible pour over with slim carrying case | Rests on any mug | Can see cup without lifting dripper | Collapsible to fit under fuel canister |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The V60 first arrived on the scene in glass and ceramic, then later in plastic, and, finally, in metals like copper and stainless steel. This review is specific to the plastic version, but we also have also tested Hario's ceramic dripper. This iconic cone is a favorite brew method for both weight-and-space-minded campers and coffee professionals, as it is relatively simple to use and delivers a clean and beautiful cup in a matter of minutes.
Performance Comparison
The V60 is a simple brewer that can produce a wonderfully clean and satisfying cup.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Brew Features
The uniquely shaped V60 is aptly named for the 60ยบ angle of the cone. This angle encourages water to flow to the center, extending the amount of time it makes contact with the coffee and, in turn, helping to extract more flavor. The large hole at the base allows the person brewing to change the flavor of the final cup by altering the speed of their pour. The spiral ribs on the inside are there to help air escape, which provides more room for the coffee to bloom and expand as it brews. The V60's simple design is definitely deceiving — it is an elegant brewer designed with immense attention to detail and versatility in mind. For your average coffee drinker and coffee professionals alike, the V60 lends to ample room for creativity in the brewing process.
The ceramic and plastic versions of the Hario V60 are identical in design. The plastic version is much lighter and less likely to break, but the ceramic one holds heat in more effectively.
Credit: McKenzie Long
Taste
In our pour-over-only taste tests, the V60 repeatedly came out on top. Our testers consistently reported a clean and balanced flavor with less bitterness than other similar models in this review.
While the V60 was barely edged out by the AeroPress in our overall taste tests, this brewer outperformed nearly all of the other brewers in our review. The key to top-notch brewing is to weigh (ideally) or measure (the V60 comes with a scoop) your grounds to ensure consistency, followed by pouring your water slowly over the grounds. Water is the trickiest part when camping because you're usually relegated to pouring in a wide sloppy stream from a pot or JetBoil. Thankfully, this dripper is forgiving enough that, even with a messy pour, you'll end up with a very decent cup.
The V60 is great for camping: easy to use, easy to clean, easy to love.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Ease of Use
The V60 is easy to use and care for, though you will need to plan ahead in regards to the special filters it requires, as they aren't available in most grocery stores. Or purchase a reusable version and never worry about it again!
Any pour-over method can be as simple as scooping coffee into a filter and adding water or as complex and specific as weighing out the grounds, measuring the temperature and weight of your water, and timing it as it flows through. If you take the detail-oriented approach, using a proper gooseneck kettle like the Hario V60 Drip Kettle will help with flow and final flavor. That being said, you don't need to get this fancy — as long as you like the coffee you make, it doesn't matter what path you took to get there. Simple and intuitive or calculated and measured, the V60 will give you an excellent cup either way.
If you want to take the detailed approach, Stumptown Coffee Roasters has a fun tutorial that will help you start off on the right foot.
The plastic Hario V60 with its unique pointed cone-shaped filter. These can be a little harder to find than the more typical basket-shaped filter, so just be sure to plan ahead.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Group Cooking
While the V60 makes only one cup at a time, brewing takes just a few minutes — ideally between 2 and 4 minutes for a 10-12 ounce cup.
Clean up is also ridiculously easy: simply remove the filter with grounds and toss. If you have more ground coffee and hot water prepared, you can begin brewing again immediately. While this may not seem like the best option for larger groups, it can still accommodate many people efficiently if you have a good system in place.
The Coleman PerfectFlow stove with our recommended pour-over coffee set up: a Hario gooseneck kettle and V60 cone (red). The black Melitta cone can also be seen in the background.
Credit: Chris McNamara
Portability
The shape of this cone brewer is not the most conducive to packing in a backpack, though if you run out of space, you could use a carabiner to clip the handle to the outside of your pack.
Despite the awkward shape, the V60 is practically indestructible. It is one piece of durable plastic that will survive most adventures unscathed. It comes with a small scoop for measuring your ground coffee, but this can easily be left at home if you don't want to keep track of it (though we do recommend weighing or measuring your coffee for a consistently good cup).
The V60 finishing up another delicious cup. The handle makes it easy to brew with and also to clip onto the outside of a pack before taking off down the trail.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Weight
At 2.95 ounces, this coffee maker is among the lightest in our test suite.
If you want to bring this brewer's dedicated scoop, you'll only go up to 3.37 ounces (plus your filters and coffee, of course). As such, the V60 is heavier and bulkier than most folks prefer for backpacking, but it is light enough to justify bringing it along for shorter backpacking trips or for all backpacking trips if you crave gourmet coffee every day. The V60 is also a fantastic coffee companion for car camping or living out of your van.
Light and easy to clean, the plastic V60 is fantastic for camping trips.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Value
The V60 offers up immense value. This rad little device brews excellent coffee with minimal effort. It is easy and fun to use. It does all of this at a decently low price. What's not to love? The only setback is that you will have to purchase a package of V60-specific filters to get started.
Conclusion
Clean, beautiful, simple — that's the V60 in a nutshell. There's a reason you can find one of these cones in most craft coffee shops the world over. Its expert design offers the potential for a cup that is closer to perfection than almost anything else out there. Whether you're at home, car-camping, or on a short backpacking trip, we don't think you'll be disappointed with this tried-and-true gourmet brewer.
—Mary Witlacil and Penney Garrett
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