Pour-over coffee has been in the limelight recently especially in specialty coffee shops. Many people do not know that pour-over coffee has been used for a significant number of decades by now. Unlike instant coffee, brewed coffee brings the ultimate coffee satisfaction to the user.
In a coffee world, two coffee makers are in competition nowadays. One is Hario V60 and the other is Chemex.
Chemex is a classic pour-over that has been around since 1941, and the Hario V60 just came onto the scene in 2004. In terms of pour-overs, the two are vastly different. But it is essentially the same brew method.
The Hario V60 is smaller than Chemex and has a much different design. Chemex is a large glass pour-over, while the V60 is a smaller ceramic piece that rests on either your coffee mug or over the sleek-looking glass server.
The main differences between a V60 Pour Over and a Chemex are grind sizes, filter paper thickness, amount of coffee made, how long it takes for the coffee to drain, and the ultimate taste of the coffee.
If you are a pour-over coffee lover then you must have a question; which one should you get as a coffee maker, Hario V60 or Chemex!
To help you settle this matter once and for all, I am going to talk about the differences between pour-over coffee vs Chemex, and go over what advantages one might have over the other, their pros and cons, etc.
Hario V60 VS Chemex – Introduction:
Hario V60 Pour over Introduction:
Hario is a Japanese company whose name means King of Glass. The company began making laboratory glass products before introducing its first coffee device, the coffee siphon, in 1946. Now their most popular product, introduced in 2004, is made of ceramic, glass, plastic, or metal.
The Hario V60 is so named because it is V-shaped, and the sides are angled at 60 degrees. There are several distinct ridges in the interior, and that, combined with the angled walls, is what helps to ensure that there is a steady, even flow of water and air over the coffee grounds.
While many pour overcome in a standard size, the V60 proudly gives its users the option to make a single cup, two, three, or four cups of coffee. With the options, one can have their coffee brewing needs satisfied.
Chemex Pour-over Introduction:
The Chemex coffee maker was invented by German chemist and inventor Dr. Peter Schlumbohm in 1941. Schlumbohm had a mission to make everyday objects more functional, more attractive to look at, and enjoyable to use. As a chemist, he knew inside out how flavors and caffeine are extracted from coffee beans.
He translated his ambitions and his knowledge into the Chemex coffee maker. The design allows the hot water to sit on the grounds for much longer than a V60, and because of that, your water has more time to extract flavor compounds. This is good if you are not obsessive-compulsive about measuring your dose and grind-size.
The Chemex is fairly easy to use, too. Just put the filters onto the carafe, add your grounds, and then slowly pour over the hot water, using spiral motions just like with the Hario V60.
Hario V60 VS Chemax – Specifications:
Hario V60 Pour over Specifications:
- Brand: Hario.
- Manufacturer: Hario.
- Material: Glass, paper, plastic.
- Weight: 1.46 pounds.
- Item dimensions: 6.81 x 9.65 x 5.12 inches.
- Item model number: V60.
- Capacity: 300 millimeters.
Chemex Pour-over specifications:
- Brand: Chemex.
- Manufacturer: Chemex.
- Material: Glass.
- Weight: 1.3 pounds.
- Item dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches.
- Item model number: CM – 8A.
- Capacity: 700 millimeter.
Hario V60 VS Chemex – Features:
Hario V60 Pour over
- Cone Shape: The cone-shaped dripper is designed to let hot water move toward the center, letting it stay in contact with the coffee grounds for longer in order to insure optimal extraction of the coffee grounds.
- Spiral Ribs: The spiral ribs prevent the paper filter from sticking to the dripper, leaving room for air to go through, and for the coffee to properly expand. This (again) is meant to help give the coffee a smooth extraction.
- One Large Hole: The single hole allows the filter to go through and stick out the other side so that the water can drip through unrestricted.
- Heat proof glass: It includes a heatproof borosilicate glass server with BPA-Free handle, lid, and measuring spoon.
- Accessories: This great value boxed kit comes with a Hario V60-02 Coffee Dripper, a Hario V60-02 Coffee Server, a Coffee Scoop, and a 40-pack of V60-02 filters.
Chemex Pour-over
- Material: The CHEMEX carafe is made from non-porous, tempered borosilicate glass – like that used for lab work. Therefore it is totally pure, imparting no flavors of its own.
- Thermal resistant: The glass of Chemex is thermal and shock-resistant.
- Easy to use: Chemex pour-over is simple, easy to use with a timeless, elegant design.
- Filters: Chemex filters are 20 to 30 percent thicker than those used by other pour-over methods. Their special fiber prevents oils, bitter elements or coffee grounds from getting into your coffee when brewing.
- Wooden collar: The most visually distinctive feature of the Chemex is the heatproof wooden collar around the neck, which allows it to be easily handled and poured when full of hot coffee.
Hario V60 VS Chemex – Pros and Cons:
Hario V60 Pour over Pros and Cons
Chemex Pour over Pros and Cons
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What Are The Main Differences Between Chemex Vs V60?
The main differences between chemex and Hario V60 pour over is time it takes to brew, grind size, amount of coffee made and filter paper thickness.
- Filter thickness: Chemex filters are 20-30% thicker than Hario V60 filters removing cholesterol-elevating compound found in coffee called cafestol.
- Funnel Design: While both have a huge exit hole compared to many other pour over devices. The V60 has grooves or ridges on the inside of its cones that you don’t see in the Chemex. This ridged cone allows coffee to exit through the sides of the filter and flow to the bottom of the funnel. When using a Chemex, most of your coffee only exists through the bottom of the funnel.
- Portability: Hario v60 is more portable than chemex, the equipment itself is slightly smaller in size and shape.
- Time: If using a Chemex, you will have to wait for 3-6 minutes for your brew to be ready. If using the V60, you just wait for 2-4 minutes. The V60 takes less time to brew because of its large hole at the bottom. The Chemextakes longer because it uses thicker filters.
- Speed: Hario V60 brews quicker than the chemex allowing oils to pass through.
- Variety of sizes: Chemex is available in different sizes, from 3 – 13 cups. The Hario V60s are tailored to make 1 – 2 cups of coffee at a time.
- Grind size: Chemex is designed for the medium-coarse grind. It will still make you great coffee if your grind is a bit coarser or finer. V60 gives you much freedom. For example, with a fine grind and slow pour, you get a strong brew. If you use the medium grind and pour fast, you get a weaker cup.
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Which One is Better?
Both of these coffee makers are drippers, and in a lot of respects, they are very similar. They both produce coffee at around the same speed, and they both rely on similar pouring methods. There are some slight differences. Because they use different filters, you will get slightly different textures out of both of them. Neither coffee has an issue with sediment; they both produce good drinks.
Buy the Hario V60 if:
- You always want to make a single cup (smallest size).
- You never want it to break, or plan to travel with it (avoid the ceramic and glass models).
- You want to take complete control of a customized cup of coffee.
- You want the easiest possible clean-up.
Buy the Chemex if:
- You want to brew multiple cups at the same time.
- You love its design and want to leave it sitting on your counter as art.
- You want the clear, bright coffee that comes from the thicker filter.
- You want a little forgiveness with your pour or your grind.
- You don’t want any plastic.
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To Sum Up:
Pour overs are generally considered the toughest brews to master, but they are one of the most rewarding ways to make coffee. Both the Hario V60 and the Chemex are really great pour-overs. Of course, a great cup of coffee is only possible with the right coffee beans.
My vote goes with the Hario V60. While many say that Chemex is the most forgiving, I completely disagree.
I find that Chemex can make coffee a little too thin or too acidic at times, and what’s more difficult to control is how much paper flavor gets into your coffee. The filters for the Chemex are also just too expensive to justify making 1 or 2 batches a day.
As a nail in the coffin, the Chemex is difficult to clean. I can’t get my hand inside the neck, and that can lead to coffee oil buildup along the bottom, thus negating the beautiful design of the brewer.
Therefore, if you ask my opinion I will recommend Hario V60.
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