When it comes to making pour-over coffee, it’s very easy to disappear down a rabbit hole of expensive equipment, complicated techniques and endless arguments about tiny details. I’m quite happy to be particular about my coffee, but I’d also like to get on with actually making the f*cking thing.
That’s one of the reasons I chose the white plastic Hario V60 01. It’s inexpensive, simple, practically indestructible in normal use and does exactly what a coffee dripper needs to do. And despite there being more expensive ceramic, glass and metal alternatives, I actually think plastic makes a great deal of sense for this particular job.
Sometimes Plastic Is the Better Choice
The main advantage is temperature management. Ceramic and glass drippers have considerably more thermal mass, which means they can absorb heat from your brewing water unless you preheat them properly. The plastic V60 doesn’t have that problem to anything like the same extent. Plastic is a relatively good insulator, so there’s very little need to preheat it, and you can simply get on with making your coffee without worrying about losing heat because you decided to spend three or four times as much on a fancier version of essentially the same thing.
I also deliberately chose the white version. It’s not particularly exciting to look at, but that’s rather the point. It looks clean and unobtrusive, and because it’s white, it’s easy to see when it actually needs cleaning. I much prefer that to something that hides coffee residue until it becomes unpleasant.
And because it’s plastic, I don’t need to treat it like a precious ornament. It’s lightweight, tough and something I’m comfortable washing without worrying about accidentally breaking it. A coffee dripper is a tool, after all, not a family heirloom.
Size 01: Just Right for a Single Cup
The size 01 is intended for smaller brews, which suits me perfectly. I mostly make coffee in 200–250 ml cups, including my Moomin mugs (Finnish as charged), and the V60 01 fits them comfortably. There’s also plenty of additional width around the base, so it should sit on pretty much any sensibly sized single cup or mug.
Hario rates the size 01 for one or two cups, and even pairs it with a 360 ml server, so it’s certainly capable of handling more than my usual serving. Personally, though, I think around 300 ml is the sweet spot and a sensible recommended maximum for this size. If you’re regularly brewing more than that, I’d look at the Hario V60 02 instead. There’s no point trying to squeeze a larger brew out of the smaller dripper when Hario already makes one better suited to the job.
A Very Simple Way to Make Good Coffee
The V60 01 suits the way I usually make coffee. Paired with the Hario Drip Kettle Air, it gives me excellent control over where and how quickly the water reaches the coffee grounds.
When I want to be more precise, I also use my Maestri House S2 scale with timer to measure the coffee and water and keep track of the brewing time. That combination makes it surprisingly easy to repeat a good result without turning the whole process into some elaborate scientific experiment.
Of course, the dripper itself isn’t going to compensate for bad beans, an unsuitable grind or a poor brewing technique. But that’s precisely why I like it. It’s a straightforward piece of equipment that lets you concentrate on the things that actually affect the coffee rather than the equipment itself.
In fact, I like these little drippers enough that I own three of them. One stays at home and two are at the office, where I can make two separate cups at the same time instead of having to brew them one after another. They’re so inexpensive that having an extra one or two is hardly a major investment, and it’s certainly convenient.
Verdict: Exactly as Complicated as It Needs to Be
The Hario V60 01 is a very inexpensive way to get into proper pour-over coffee, and I don’t see much reason to spend more on the dripper itself. Plastic might not feel as premium as ceramic or glass, but in this case I think it’s actually the more practical material. It’s lightweight, easy to clean, difficult to break and allows you to make excellent coffee without needing an expensive collection of equipment.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely. I’ve already bought three. Would I recommend it? Without hesitation. For a single-cup pour-over setup, I think it’s hard to beat something this simple, inexpensive and well made.
And if you don’t want to overcomplicate the whole pour-over process, you really don’t have to. All you need is this cheap but well-made piece of plastic, some Hario V60 paper filters, coffee and hot water, and you’re good to go.
If you do want to overcomplicate it with scales, timers, carefully measured doses and elaborate pouring techniques, that’s entirely up to you. And if that ends up being the case… Welcome to the club!