HARIO W60 REVIEW: A WORTHY ALTERNATIVE TO THE FAMOUS V60?

Does the Hario W60 have anything better to offer than it’s predecessor, the V60? I tested it to fund out.

Photo: Julia Bobak

First unveiled in 2021, the W60 was born from the innovative minds at Hario and shaped under the expert eye of Pete Licata, the 2013 World Barista Champion. Its design promises a more forgiving and versatile brewing experience without compromising on the quality synonymous with Hario products.

With its ability to deliver cups of exceptional clarity and richness, the Hario W60 is positioning itself not merely as a new entrant, but as a potentially game-changing alternative to the well-established V60.

So, of course, I was excited to take it for a test ride! Read on for my in-depth Hario W60 dripper review.

The Hario W60 Dripper Review

The Hario V60 is the industry favorite when it comes to pour over coffee drippers, even ahead of timeless classics like the Chemex. But in comparing the Hario W60 vs V60, the former excels for its versatility. It was developed by World Barista Champion Pete Licata who wanted to a creativity in the brewing process (1). 

The unboxing of Hario W60.

Curious about Hario brewers? Check out the W60 dripper vs V60 vs Switch in this video with Steven from Home Brews Coffee.

Aesthetic Appeal – 3.5/5 

The Japanese word Hario means “King of Glass,” so it is no surprise that the Japanese-made ceramic and glass Hario pour over coffee brewers are high quality.

Photo: Julia Bobak

The white ceramic Hario W60 dripper has a beautiful and classy design that complements any kitchen aesthetic, and the material provides excellent heat retention. It is only available in one size, similar to the 02 version of the V60. It’s advertised as suitable for up to four cups of coffee, but in my experience, they need to be pretty small cups. Two or three cups is more realistic.

Ease Of Use – 4/5 

The Hario W60 dripper offers three different brewing setups: paper-filtered, resin mesh-filtered, and double-filtered. Double filtration means combining the polypropylene mesh filter and paper filter for the ultimate clean cup. These three filtration methods each result in a slightly different tasting coffee.

Using the W60 is simple in theory. Essentially, all you need to do is to put your coffee grounds in the filter in the ceramic dripper and pour hot water over the bed in a spiral, ideally with a gooseneck kettle. But in practice, there is a learning curve when it comes to mastering the more nuanced aspects of using the Hario W60 dripper.

Two essential parts of thsi brewer: the ceramic Hario dripper and the mesh filter.

You’ll need to pour with care and experiment with different grind sizes to control the flow rate. I found a slightly finer grind than a V60 gave the best results with the paper filter. The resin filter benefitted from an even finer grind to slow the water flow.

The Hario W60 dripper has raised ridges that spiral down within the ceramic dripper. These ridges allow for more airflow along the edges by holding the bed of ground coffee away from the walls.

Using only V60 paper filters, the Hario W60 dripper brews just like a V60. The paper filter catches any remaining small particles and coffee oils. Opting for just the flat-bottomed mesh filter produces a fuller-bodied coffee similar to a French press.

The Challenges

Using the double filtration process of the W60 dripper results in a longer brew time, which means your coffee will be slightly cooler than a regular V60. In my experience, it took up to 5 minutes to brew two cups using 30 g of coffee beans and 500 g of water. Don’t be tempted to cut the brew short, or you’ll end up with something sour and under-extracted. I found the best solution was just to ensure all my glassware was thoroughly pre-heated before brewing.

It is also a hassle to dispose of the paper filters and clean the polyester resin mesh filter of the W60 dripper. 

Coffee Flavor – 5/5

The Hario W60 dripper can accommodate both cone-shaped and flat-bottomed filters, each of which produces a distinct flavor profile (2).

The flat-bottomed mesh filter sits halfway down the dripper itself, which has a single large hole at the bottom. Naturally, I was inclined to compare it with the most famous flat-bottom brewer, the Kalita Wave (3). Using both filters, the coffee flavor had a bit more complexity and brightness than the Wave.

I made coffee with the W60 so I could honestly tell you how it tastes.

With the mesh filter, I found the coffee quite similar in flavor to the Wave but with a fuller body.

The accompanying note from Peter Licata suggested it would be “more clean and round,” but (at least with the medium roast beans I used) that wasn’t apparent to my palate. In my opinion, if you plan to use only a paper filter and already have a V60, there’s no reason to add the W60 to your coffee bar.

Portability – 3/5 

The ceramic Hario W60 dripper is relatively bulky, heavy, and fragile. It wouldn’t be my first choice for most forms of travel. Stick with a plastic or metal V60 or the tried-and-true Aeropress if you need a brewer for the road. However, it has no moving parts and doesn’t require electricity – two points in its favor if you don’t have an alternative.

Value For Money – 4.5/5

While the Hario W60 dripper is not the most expensive option, it falls within the higher price range for Hario brewers. All of the V60 variants are cheaper, with the plastic version being about a quarter of the cost of the W60 dripper. The Switch is much more costly. 

The Hario W60 dripper is reasonably priced and includes the polypropylene mesh filter. However, the initial price does not include paper filters. Given that Hario is a huge manufacturer of paper filters, it’d be nice if they tossed a few in the box to get you started. If you don’t plan to exclusively use the polyester resin filter, you’ll need to consider this additional cost.

See how this brewer compares to others in a similar range:

Brand	Hario	Origami	Hario	Hario	Chemex	HandyBrew	Hario	Kalita	Goat Story	Zero
Model	W60	Origami Dripper	V60	Switch	Chemex	Clever Dripper	Woodneck	Wave	Gina	Bee House Dripper
Coffee Style	Pour over	Pour over	Pour over	Pour over, immersion	Pour over	Pour over, immersion	Drip pot	Pour over	Pour over, immersion, slow drip cold brew	Pour over
Shape	Conical	Conical	Conical	Conical	Conical	Conical	Conical	Flat-bottom	Conical + carafe	Wedge
Flow control	One large hole	One large hole	One large hole	Small hole with valve	One large hole	Small hole with valve	One large hole	Three small holes	Small hole with valve	Two small holes
Available sizes	02 (1-4 cups)	Small (1-2 cups), medium (1-4 cups)	01 (1-2 cups), 02 (1-4 cups), 03 (1-6 cups)	02 (1-4 cups), 03 (1-6 cups)	3 cups, 6 cups, 8 cups, 10 cups	One size (1-4 cups)	Small (1-2 cups), large (1-4 cups)	155 (1-2 cups), 185 (1-4 cups)	One size (1-5 cups)	Small (1-2 cups), large (1-5 cups)
Available materials	Ceramic	Ceramic, AS resin	Plastic, glass, ceramic, stainless steel, copper	Heat-proof glass	Borosilicate glass	Tritan plastic	Heat-proof glass	Stainless steel, ceramic, glass, Tsubame steel	Ceramic	Ceramic
Baseplate included	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Includes carafe	Yes	Includes carafe	Yes	Includes carafe and stand	Yes
Dishwasher safe	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Filters	Conical resin mesh	Standard conical filters	Conical V60 filters	Conical V60 filters	Double-bonded Chemex filters	Standard conical filters	Hario handled cloth filters	Flat-bottom wave filters	Standard conical filters	Standard conical filters
Weight	17.6 oz	6.4 oz	14 oz	17.6 oz	21.6 oz	9 oz	14 oz	5.6 oz	49 oz	7.2 oz
Dimensions	6.2" x 5" x 4.3"	3.4” x 5.5” x 5.5”	5.5” x 4.7” x 4.0”	4.6" x 4.5" x 5.2"	8.5” x 5.3” x 5.3”	6" x 5" x 6"	3.7" x 3.7" x 6.6"	2.8’ x 4” x 4.4”	6.0" x 6.7" x 13.8"	3.5” x 4.5” x 4.5”
Current Price	$43.50	$40.00	$20.00	$44.50	$49.50	$25.00	$28.40	$39.99	$190.00	$23.99
	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE

Do Not Buy Hario W60 Dripper If…

• You want more size and material options – In contrast to the W60 dripper, the V60 is available in three sizes and four different materials: plastic, glass, ceramic, and metal. These options produce consistently good coffee, offer complete control over the brewing process, and are generally more affordable.

• You prefer immersion brewing – The Hario Switch functions like a standard glass V60 when its base is unlocked. However, by flipping the switch, you can transform it into a steep-and-release brewer. This allows you to control when the brew flows through.

The Verdict

The Hario W60 dripper stands out from the V60 for its versatility, allowing you to prepare brews that are paper-filtered, mesh-filtered, or double-filtered. I was impressed with the simplicity of the design and quality of manufacturing. The coffees I brewed were wonderfully nuanced, and I’d recommend this brewer to anyone who appreciates a little variety and favors medium or light roasted coffee beans.