Hario V60 vs Aeropress: Which manual brewer is best?

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: there is no definitive one best pour-over coffee maker or one best coffee maker. Each brewer has its own strengths and weaknesses. I could wake up one morning craving an AeroPress, but the next day want nothing more than a V60 to caffeinate my morning.

Even so, if you only want to buy one coffee maker, it can be tricky to figure out precisely which one is for you. I’m very lucky in that I have what feels like every single coffee maker ever made, but that’s only because it’s my job to review them. If I had any other job, I’d only have one, believe me.

Two of the most famous manual coffee makers are the Hario V60 and the AeroPress. The V60 is a Japanese funnel-shaped paper filter coffee maker known for its delicate flavors and cult following. Similarly, the AeroPress is an American patented contraption with an equally as ravenous following. But is the V60 better than the AeroPress? Or is the AeroPress better than the V60? I’ll do my best to answer for you.

Hario V60 vs Aeropress: Specs compared

Hario V60 vs Aeropress: Price & availability

Both the AeroPress and the V60 have a number of different models at a variety of price points.

The cheapest AeroPress is the original, $39 on Amazon, and the priciest AeroPress is the Premium (which I have), $199 from AeroPress direct.

Comparatively, the cheapest V60 is the plastic dripper, $12 on Amazon. At the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find the $72 copper dripper, which is just $60 on Amazon right now.

So while the V60 is objectively cheaper — and therefore more accessible — there are also some premium options.

The winner? Hario V60, as it basic model is $27 cheaper than AeroPress’s.

Hario V60 vs Aeropress: Design

I’m not going to discuss aesthetics in this section, as it’s unfair to directly compare my two models of AeroPress and V60. I have the AeroPress Premium — $199 — and the V60 plastic — $12 — and I don’t think the models are equatable.

I will, however, discuss range of styles, as that can help inform your decision.

The V60 has a huge range of styles: plastic, ceramic, resin, metal, and glass. Within each material category, there’s a further range of colors, including wooden embellishments and sunrise gradient patterns. When I first saw the sunrise terracotta V60, my jaw fell to the floor. It’s just beautiful. I actually feel a bit emotional looking at it.

Hario has really gone out of its way to create a V60 for everyone. It could’ve easily just made a plastic, glass, and metal version and called it a day. Instead, though, it’s released walnut-and-glass drippers, traditionally decorated drippers, handmade in Kyoto, and a show-stopping dripper shaped like a flower. These pretty models are sold amongst the basic drippers, of course.

AeroPress has a smaller range of design options, but there’s still a great variety. The Original only comes in gray/black, but for $10 extra, you can get a Clear/Color model. In the Clear/Color model, there’s seven color options, including green, purple, and pink.

AeroPress also makes an XL model ($79) and a Go model ($49), for larger servings and traveling respectively. The AeroPress Go is like a drinking cup and an AeroPress in one, which would be ideal for people who don’t want to sacrifice great coffee during trips.

It’s a shame that Hario doesn’t offer a travel V60. I’ve tested the Yeti Pour-Over Dripper, which is a sturdy, metal conical dripper, much like the V60, that fits perfectly onto Yeti’s travel mug range. I’d love to see Hario bring in a travel version.

The V60, though, is much smaller than the AeroPress, so would be easier to chuck into a backpack or suitcase during trips. It just requires a lot more setup and space than the AeroPress to actually use, which might be annoying on camping trips.

Both the V60 and AeroPress have enough models to satisfy even the most picky user, so the result? A draw.

Hario V60 vs Aeropress: Performance

Onto the most important aspect: How does the coffee taste? Is it easy to use?

I’ll discuss the V60 first. So while the V60 might appear easier initially, this dripper actually requires a whole bunch of finesse. Most people say you even need a special kettle and scale to use this dripper.

In the office, I use my V60 with the Fellow EKG Stagg gooseneck kettle, and Fellow Tally Pro Scale, which is the “proper way”. But at home? I’m kind of lazy with it.

While my head wants me to tell you that you should only use a V60 with a gooseneck kettle, my heart is telling me otherwise. Honestly? Sometimes I only weigh out my coffee and then eyeball the rest.

I know, I’m a terrible coffee nerd. Obviously I’ll use my Wacaco Exagram Pro scale to weigh out the coffee beans pre-grinding, but after that, I mostly just pour (three times, not all in one. I’m not a monster) until my mug is full.

So I’ll say that you don’t have to follow these rules — you can use a normal kettle and no scale if you so desire — but you’ll be shunned from the coffee nerd world. But don’t let that put you off from getting a V60 — it’s actually a lot easier than most people would have you believe. All you have to do is put your filter in, put the coffee in, and pour water slowly. That’s it.

But what does the V60’s coffee taste like? Honestly, it all depends on your ratio, filter, and the beans. I use Hario’s filters with my V60 and I never get an aftertaste of paper. I love V60 because the flavor is so deep and complex: there’s tart berry notes at the side of your tongue and a pleasant oily bitterness that coats your mouth with each sip. But there’s never any burned notes, which is why sometimes I don’t reach for my espresso machine, and I think the V60 does well at creating a delicate, yet nuanced flavor.

This is down to the grooves on the inside of the dripper. These grooves ensure the water flows evenly through the coffee, and no grounds are over- or under-extracted.

I love my V60, and I reach for it often. You can experiment easily to find your ideal flavor. Want an intense punch of coffee? Up your ratio. Want it a bit weaker? Grind coarser, or reduce the ratio. It’s up to you.

The AeroPress has a very different flavor profile to the V60. While the V60 is a pour-over coffee maker, the AeroPress brews via vacuum and immersion.

I think the AeroPress is more of a learning curve at first, but once you’ve figured out the basic usage, it’s just as straightforward as the V60. You have to be quite fast (unless you choose the upside-down method, which AeroPress actively warns you against doing to prevent burns), which seems daunting initially.

I’ve written articles on how to use an AeroPress before, but it’s basically as easy as this: put in your coffee, add your water, stir, then plunge to create a vacuum. After your chosen brewing time (I do about thirty seconds), press down on the plunger to extract the coffee.

The AeroPress, like the V60, can be experimented on to your hearts’ desire. You can put in less or more coffee, grind finer or coarser to change the flavor, and playh with brewing times. As a result, there’s no “one” AeroPress flavor.

In general, though, I find AeroPress to create a stronger — but not bitterer — flavor over the V60. I always think my AeroPress brews are a bit floral, even when I don’t use floral beans. As with the V60, an AeroPress coffee is layered and complex, but more intense and aromatic.

Truly, an AeroPress coffee is like no other brewing method. While it’s a little more effort at first, I think AeroPress wins in terms of flavor.

Hario V60 vs Aeropress: Storage & maintenance

I’m just going to tell you upfront: the Hario V60 wins the storage & maintenance section.

Why? Well, it’s just so much smaller. It can easily fit in any cupboard, or you could even keep it on top of your favorite mug. It’s also dishwasher safe (except the matte metal version).

The AeroPress is dishwasher safe (top rack only), but there are more moving parts (three as opposed to one), so it’s inherently more annoying to clean. It takes up more space and requires more deconstruction to clean.

Very quickly, I’ll talk about filters, too. They are the second-most important aspect of using both these coffee makers, after all.

The V60 uses conical filters, not flat-bottomed filters. It depends on your V60’s size, but the standard size is #2 filters. These filters are usable with other pour-overs, like the Yeti Dripper and even small Chemex. (But Chemex filters are superior IMHO.)

A pack of 200 Hario #2 filters is currently $15 on Amazon, but this has changed a few times in the past year. I’ve seen it as low at $10.

Comparatively, AeroPress uses small circular filters that aren’t versatile. However, they’re much cheaper, at $9 for 200 on Amazon. This is their standard price; it doesn’t jump around like Hario’s.

The winner? For its small stature, Hario V60.

The Winner

Let me just get this straight: there is not one “best” manual coffee maker. It depends on your preference and what you want from your coffee.

I have both the AeroPress and the V60, so my heart says: Why not get both? They’re different brewers, used for different flavors and different purposes.

But I know you’re here for an answer, and that answer will be… Hario V60.

As much as I love AeroPress — as I said earlier, no other coffee flavor comes close — the V60 is cheaper, more versatile, and less daunting for a complete newbie.

So if you’re a complete beginner, get the V60. But if you’ve had a few manual brewers before, and you want to see what the AeroPress fuss is about, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. It really is as good as everyone says it is.

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