Chemex vs. Hario V60 

Waiting for the rinse water to be dumped was the most tense I've felt in years.

My grandmother was making coffee in a Chemex in the late 1970's and used Melita filters. Hands down, the very best coffee I ever had.

can I just say that your approach to making this video with the use of history and practical information gave off both a charismatic and calming feel to my beginners coffee making experience!

Signs that you've been watching too many coffee videos on youtube: loudly saying "whoa what are you doing" out loud despite being alone in a room when you see she doesn't empty out the initial hot water.

I also really enjoy watching your videos, thank you. I had a tough time deciding between the two of these as well. Ended up buying them both and go back and fourth between the two, can't settle on a favourite.

"come over to my house I give you coffee" ...Where did that come from? lol

As a total pourover newb (4 days into my first V60), and this is the best video I've found so far for information, technique and the differences to expect from the brewed coffee. Nicely done.

Awesome video. Love the attention to detail and no bullshit approach.

Not even into coffee that much, but love watching these videos!

She seems like such a nice person to be around

I've been taught that with the Chemex you want to give it a swirl to mix the brewed coffee just prior to pouring into the cup. It is supposed to make for a more consistent coffee, especially if you make a bigger quantity.

Thank you for this. I'm new to coffee and doing research on pour overs. This video was clear and enjoyable 🙌

Very informative. Saw the Chemex on an old rerun of the Mary Tyler More show and wanted more information. Great video!

Chemex will give smooth light taste compared to the V60 but it all depends on the type of coffee you are using some type of coffee will taste good in the Chemex & some will taste good using V60 I like that some cafes suggest you which coffee to use in the Chemex or v60 at the end it all depends on what you like try the same coffee in each tool & see which will give you the best flavor

I find, when I try a new coffee I'll do both and choose a favourite method for each particular coffee, usually if it's a lighter roast that I find too acidic I'll use the Chemex, and if it's darker and needs the acidity to be more prominent I'll use a Bialetti Moka pot, and the Hario sits somewhere in the middle. I have the gear acquisition disorder, my kitchen is littered with coffee making tools.

Love both of these coffee makers! The only ones used in my house!

In love with manual brewing....mostly kenyan coffee amazing...but when it comes to grinding...I think coffee is best grinded when ready for use coz if you pre grind it....remember the enemies of coffee....oxygen being the main so it might interfere with the flavours of the coffee in the cup ...this how I find it best....but this was great...am coming to your house and get coffee 😊

I have always been so curious about comparing these two methods!!! Thanks Gail! ☕️💕

I just bought an OXO glass pour over set, much like these, but with three small holes at the bottom and a basket filter. I did learn how to pour better from you people, lol! And learned to use a gooseneck kettle, so there is cross-over. Btw, I love my coffee this way, it's by far the best coffee I've ever made or had. Thanks for the tips. ;)

at the acid part I would have loved to see her test that hypothesis out to see if the filters really did have an effect on the acid. Repeat the hario but with 2 or 3 filters to see if there was a difference.

Excellent video. Thanks for taking the time to film and edit it and of course for positing it for our benefit. Keep up the good work! I guess they should tell you to buy a scale when you get the systems.-Migs

I have a Chemex, and I actually use a fine grind and I like it ! It comes out nice and rich like yours in the Hario! I've had my Chemex for 3 years and there's no comparison I may try the Hario sometime, but i'm loving the coffee coming out of the Chemex ! Thanks for entertaining us coffee nerds!!

It would be interesting and informative if Seattle Coffee Gear would start doing blind tase comparisons.

This woman can be my grandma any day, would love to have a cup with her omg

I have used the chemex for years now and it’s by far my favorite method. Clean cup, no oils and sludge.

yep, love Gail. She really educated me on the road to drinking pourovers and switching to drinking black coffee. Many thx!

I find that the recommended grind level for the Chemex is too coarse. I use the exact same level of grind for both the Chemex and the Hario, just one big click finer than they usually recommend for the Chemex, and the coffee comes out perfect every time. And I don't obsess over time, once I know I have the grind level right, I let it do it's thing and remove the filter when all the water has drained through. Lovely.

Really cool idea to compare/contrast these two! Thanks!

Would love to see a filter comparison including the hemp washable, paper and metal ones.

Interesting! Thanks gail. I started to do with kalita n v60. But I want to tru chemex too. Very informative!

Love this video -- I drink black coffee, and I don't like acidity, so I feel like my choice of the Chemex was the right one!

Very pleasant to watch. Thanks for your efforts!

Just got my Chemex this week and it's like I've been drinking sludge for years hahahaha, I can actually taste the notes the roasters speak of very clearly, nice clean cuppa

Fantastic job, I enjoyed your informative video immensely 🙂

you have answered a question I couldn't find for an annoying amount of time lol! It's basically the filter then that causes the brew to taste different!

The biggest difference between the two is the filters and the fact that you can brew for 2-3 people with the chemex. Brew with the same filter and grind setting in both and you will not be able to tell the difference. The chemex filter adds increased resistance which allows you to use a coarser grind without underextracting. Also, as you mentioned, more of the oils are stripped from the end product resulting in a more tea like delicate cup that should be consumed black.

Perfect timing! I just got my first chemex yesterday, coming from aero and French Press the last few months

I saw a video in which you reviewed the Melitta pour over. Which pour over method would you recommend to use for your everyday coffee, the Hario V60 or the Melitta pour over?

Always loved your videos!

Great! Thanks for that info... always wanted to know about what these vessels are all about.😉

Thank you so much Gail!!!

You should create a coffee-talk podcast!

Thanks for doing this, Gail. I just started making pour-over coffee last week with my Hario V60 and like the boldness, but would like to try the lighter aspects of coffee through a Chemex filter. I'm going to try the Chemex filter in my Hario V60 to see the difference for myself and will likely end up purchasing a Chemex system. I like experimenting with different coffees and different roasts.

This video is perfect, both on substantive and technical level. Thanks!

Been trying to decide between the Chemex and the Hario, as I have been using my gf's Hario, I like that you pointed to the Hario as the option for 50/50. Still might try the Chemex, do you have to use different grinds for each.

Is it better to have the oil or not? Is it bad for you the oils? Or is it just preference? I like smooth coffee but I also like a strong taste as well, just not too strong.

Obviously playing with the grind would effect the outcome, I am curious, using the same grind, what's the outcome?

Thank you so much for using the metric System

Thank ou. Very helpful!

This randomly popped into my feed, but this is the video that got me to buy my first chemex and electric kettle 5 years ago. Oh the nostalgia. Side note, I miss the old Chemex design. Woodless is easier to clean but jeez. Anyway, thanks for eventually turning me into a espresso nerd for a few years.

It's very relaxing watching your videos. Very ASMR. Your the Bob Ross of the Coffee world!

great, clean video thanks.

Again and again great products from Germany vs. Japan ... just came from a chef knive comparison video. Two engineering giants

With any paper filter, pour over or drip, I always taste some off flavor. I assume it's the filter or perhaps it's just me. Is there a metal screen you recommend?

What if you use two filters (double)?

Thankful for this fantastic. explanation

I have a chemex but it's lost its flare in the past 2 years and iv been looking for another good pour over I feel that v60 would be nice

What boiler is that? Does it have temperature setting?

Do you ever stir with first bloom?

i miss you..!!great teacher

would cutting the drip have made any difference?

Thanx gail, great video..

You should review the Phoenix 70x by Saint Anthony Industry. Really impressed with what they have put together and it fits right in with the pour over conversation

what type of paper used in the Chemex ?

How come you do not stir the carafe before serving?

Are there any cloth filters that can be washed and reused?

Awesome Video! Great points made too Xx Happy int Coffee Day from Melbourne!!!! 😃

How funny, I stumbled upon this video with a very good Ethiopian natural process here. So, I figured I'd try and replicate your recipe with my Chemex! My draw down time was a bit quicker, but maybe my water was hotter, or something. Anyway, it makes a pretty nice cup!

Is it bad if I use a Chemex filter with that red filter holder thing?

Very relaxing to watch

The Hario looks like a Melitta filter funnel which I have used for years and love it.

I used to use a Malita coffee craff w/ filter like those. We were able to put it on the stove to keep it warm. Used drip coffee.

I use a ceramic Hario V60, their #2 filters and their 2L thermal carafe. I bloom my coffee, but I don’t rinse my filter. Great cup, and easy clean

Nice lady, Nice teaching. Thanks

Where have you been??? I agree the chemix has a smoother finish but less taste probably because of the oils. I use a vario-w grinder on the coarsest grind (per grinder instructions) but still leaves a very fine dust that slows the drip considerably so switched to the hario 60. I constantly experiment which is fun. We missed you!!

Another very nice video! Next time try a Brazilian coffee bean, it is soooooo wonderful and tasty 😁👍☕

Any idea why my pour over always tastes bark,watery and tart? (No matter what kind of coffee) They all taste the same

I’m curious about pour overs but love my French press. I can’t imagine a fuller, bolder cup of coffee from a pour over. Guess I’ll have to give one a try. I like the bowl design of the first pour over. I think I’ll try it.

Do you think the grind size mattered in the taste difference?

As someone else noted, beside the filter paper used, the other variation is the grind size, and I think the taste variance would also be more distinct had you cleansed your palette in between. Nice little video overall, thanks! :)

Thank you for the wonderful informative video. Where are the kettles from?

Would that be the 6 or 8-cup Chemex?

No final stir or swirl? No well in the grounds before bloom phase?

I don't have experience with any one of them but I was looking for how Chemex is good enough to buy it or not...but I think it's good Idea to get it...thank you for this video and thank you RU-vid to suggest it for me 😁

Bodum has made their version of it, where you have a metal filter. either in brass or copper(not sure about that, could even ben steel for all i care), with tiny laser cut holes

Your videos are awesome!

I sometimes use a paper filter in a standard kitchen funnel...don’t hate, coffee purists!

nice video...thnak you...

love this video!

Is there a grinder that can handle amazing espresso and brew? That's less than a grand?

Forgive me if this question has already been asked: What is the make and model of that electric kettle. Thank you.

Just ordered a V60 from SCG! Couldn't decide between white and red. Kind of wish I went with red now. But maybe that's just because it matches your wall. :)

The Real OG of Coffee dropping some knowledge for the young cats!

Chemex is suppossed to take longer to brew. About 30-40 sec longer than the Hario. I brew with 12 oz of water and Hario takes about 2:30min and Chemex takes 3-3:10 min

Because these are both drip coffee style brewers, to have a fair assessment of the taste they produced was to use the same grind setting. The more acidic taste from the v60 could be very much due to being used in it a finer grind, not necessarily or entirely due to the different filter mesh.

I prefer the Bonavita porcelain dripper with open/close switch so I can control the flow of water.

🤔 for truer comparison might it have been better to use bleached paper for each brew?

Nice comparo, good info 👍

Arnt the oils the good part??

I am old school... still have my melitta pour over from 40 years ago.