Mastering the V60: A Simple Guide to Sweet, Balanced Coffee
Have you given up on your V60 dripper, banishing it to the back of a cupboard in frustration? It’s time to dust it off. With the right technique, this simple pour-over method can produce sweet, balanced, and vibrant coffee — no bitterness, no sourness, just perfection.
Whether you’re a coffee novice or an experienced brewer, this step-by-step method will help you get the best from your V60.
What You’ll Need
Before we begin, gather your tools:
-
V60 Dripper – size two, plastic is best for beginners.
-
Filter – Hario paper filters or a reusable cloth filter.
-
Freshly Ground Coffee – a sweet, fruity medium roast works beautifully.
-
Filtered Water – clean, fresh, and ready to brew.
-
Digital Scales – for precise measurements.
-
Kettle – a gooseneck is ideal, but a standard kettle with a steady hand works too.
-
Jug – a pointed spout jug (like a milk jug) for controlled pouring.
Step-by-Step Brewing Guide
1. Prep Your Equipment
-
Place the filter in the V60 and rinse with hot water to remove any papery taste.
-
Use the rinse water to preheat your dripper, jug, and mug.
-
Discard the rinse water before you brew.
2. Weigh and Grind Your Coffee
-
Measure 20g of coffee.
-
Grind to a medium consistency, similar to table salt or granulated sugar.
-
Unsure of your grinder settings? Aim for somewhere between French press and espresso grind.
3. The Perfect Pour
Follow this four-pour process for optimal flavour:
Bloom (First Pour)
-
Add 50g of water, starting from the centre and spiralling outward.
-
Allow the coffee to bloom for 25 seconds as gases escape.
Second Pour
-
Add 100g of water, again pouring in circles from the centre out.
-
Ensure all grounds are saturated, reaching about halfway up the dripper.
-
Let it drain for 30–45 seconds.
Third Pour
-
Add another 100g of water.
-
Give the dripper a gentle swirl to distribute the grounds evenly.
Fourth Pour
-
Finish with 50g of water, for a total brew weight of 300g.
Pro Tips for Success
-
Adjust Your Grind Size: If water passes through too quickly, grind finer. Too slow? Go coarser.
-
Water Temperature: Aim for 92–96°C, just off the boil.
-
Swirl vs Stir: A gentle swirl helps distribute grounds evenly without compacting the filter.
Why This Method Works
This recipe blends insights from some of the coffee world’s leading experts:
-
Tetsu Kasuya’s method for balanced water distribution.
-
James Hoffmann’s “pre-pour poke” to encourage a more even bloom.
-
The gentle swirl technique to prevent over-compaction and promote even extraction.
The result is a cup that’s sweet, vibrant, and consistently well balanced. Once you’ve mastered this method, brewing with a V60 becomes effortless.
Happy brewing — and enjoy rediscovering what your V60 can really do.
