A Comprehensive Guide to Hario V60 Filters

Choosing the right paper filter for your Hario V60 is a critical step that can significantly affect the final taste of your coffee. The filter controls draw-down speed, oil retention, and flavour clarity. Swapping papers can change brew time by almost a minute and shift the cup from thin and papery to bright and sweet. Hario produces several types of filters, and understanding the differences in their material, thickness, and origin—along with popular alternatives—can help you brew a better cup.

Quick Picks

For those in a hurry, here are some top filter recommendations based on your desired cup profile:

• Bright & sweet: Japanese-made Hario white paper, no tab.
• Syrupy body: Cafec Abaca double-crepe.
• Fast extractions: Sibarist FAST cone (ideal for light roasts and fine grinds).
• Budget everyday: Standard Hario natural brown.
• Avoid for slow cafés: Dutch-made tabbed papers, as they clog easily.

Understanding V60 Filter Characteristics

The material, design, and origin of a coffee filter all affect the brewing process. Key factors include the filter's size, whether the paper is bleached or unbleached, its thickness, and where it was made.

Size & Fit

Hario V60 filters come in three main sizes to match the corresponding dripper. Use 01 for 1–2 cups, 02 for 300–500 g brews, and 03 for larger batches. Every size comes in different versions, so you can match taste and dripper without compromise.

Bleached vs. Unbleached Filters

One of the first choices you'll encounter is between white (bleached) and brown (unbleached) filters. The choice mainly comes down to taste and preparation.

• Bleached (White) Filters: These filters are processed to achieve their white color, typically using an oxygen-based method that does not impart any chemical taste. Many users find they have a more neutral taste, which allows the coffee's delicate flavors to be more prominent. Rinsing these filters with hot water before use is still recommended to remove any potential paper taste and preheat the brewer.
• Unbleached (Brown) Filters: These filters are not chemically treated to alter their natural brown color. Because of this, they can impart a noticeable paper or woody taste to the coffee if not rinsed thoroughly. Some sources suggest unbleached filters require a more substantial rinse than bleached ones to eliminate this taste.

Paper Structure, Thickness, and Flow Rate

The physical structure of the filter paper influences how quickly water passes through the coffee grounds, which in turn affects extraction time and the body of the coffee. Average paper fibres are about 20 µm wide and stop coffee particles larger than 10–15 µm. The thickness of the paper is a key variable:

• Thinner Filters: Generally allow for a faster flow rate. This can result in a coffee with more nuanced and delicate flavors. Hario's Japanese-made filters are known for being relatively thin.
• Thicker Filters: Slow down the water flow, leading to a longer extraction time and stripping more oils. This can result in a fuller-bodied, richer cup of coffee. Cafec, a company that once manufactured filters for Hario, offers filters of varying thicknesses designed for different roast levels.

Country of Origin: Japan vs. The Netherlands (Tabbed vs. Untabbed)

Hario produces V60 filters in at least two locations: Japan and the Netherlands. There are noticeable differences in the filters from each location, which can significantly affect the brewing process. This is often, but not always, correlated with whether the filter has a tab.

• Made in Japan (Untabbed): Often considered the "original" filters, these are known for their faster drawdown time. They typically come in a cardboard box and are preferred by many enthusiasts for producing a clean cup that highlights delicate flavors.
• Made in Japan (Tabbed): Newer Hario filters produced in Japan feature a small tab to make them easier to open and usually come in a plastic bag. They are known to have a slower drawdown time than the untabbed versions, leading to a more full-bodied cup.
• Made in The Netherlands (Tabbed): These filters, often intended for the European market and sold in shrink-wrap, are reported to have the slowest drawdown time. They can significantly lengthen brew time and may cause clogging or astringency, requiring a coarser grind to achieve a balanced extraction.

V60 Filter Comparison: Hario and Alternatives

While Hario's own filters are the standard, other brands offer unique characteristics that are popular in the specialty coffee community.

*Flow change versus Hario White 02 (27 s empty-flow benchmark).

Key Findings from Filter Tests

• Brown filters processed 500 g water in 37 s; white took 27 s, giving a brighter cup.
• Tabbed Japanese Hario papers ranked highest for sweetness and aroma in blind tastings.
• Sibarist FAST cut brew time to ~2 min 40 s but required a finer grind to maintain extraction.
• Baristas report Dutch-made tabbed papers extending draw-down beyond 4 min and causing astringency.
• Sibarist and other high-permeability papers top “fastest flowing” filter lists used in competitions.

Decoding Hario Packaging: Product Codes

The packaging of Hario V60 filters contains codes that provide information about the product. The product codes on the packaging can sometimes indicate the origin; codes with an "-H" may denote production in Holland.

How to Brew with V60 Filters: A Step-by-Step Guide

For a consistent and delicious brew, follow these general steps:

1. Select the right size: Match the filter size (01, 02, or 03) to your Hario V60 dripper.
2. Fold the filter: Fold the paper filter flat along its seam to ensure a good fit and prevent channeling.
3. Place and rinse: Place the filter in the dripper and rinse it thoroughly with hot water. This removes any paper taste, preheats your brewer, and helps the filter adhere to the dripper walls. Discard the rinse water.
4. Add coffee: Add your desired amount of medium-fine ground coffee into the filter. A common starting ratio is 6-8 grams of coffee per 100 grams of water. Gently shake or tap the dripper to level the coffee bed.
5. Bloom: Start a timer and pour a small amount of water (about twice the weight of the coffee grounds) evenly over the coffee. Wait for 30-45 seconds for the coffee to "bloom," which releases trapped gases.
6. Pour: Continue pouring the remaining water in slow, controlled circular motions. A gooseneck kettle provides the best control over the pour.
7. Finish and Adjust: Swirl or stir gently at the end to level the bed for an even draw-down. Aim for a total brew time of around 2.5 to 4 minutes. If the brew is too fast, use a finer grind. If it's too slow or clogging, use a coarser grind or a faster-flowing filter.

Choosing and Buying Filters

The ideal filter depends on your coffee, budget, and taste preferences.

• For a clean, bright cup with high clarity, the original untabbed, Japanese-made white filters are a great choice due to their faster flow rate.
• If you prefer a coffee with more body and richness, a thicker or slower-draining paper like the tabbed Hario filters or Cafec Abaca will be more suitable.
• Light roasts often benefit from fast papers like the original Hario or Sibarist FAST. If total time drops below 2 min 30 s, you can shorten the bloom.
• For heavier body with any filter, you can try grinding slightly finer to increase contact time.
• Always look for “Made in Japan” on the sleeve if you want to avoid the inconsistent and slow flow of the Dutch-made batches.
• Store filters in a dry place, as humidity can soften the paper's crepe structure and slow down drainage.
• All paper filters mentioned are compostable; Abaca and Sibarist filters are notable for relying on highly renewable, non-wood fibres.

Works Cited

• Basic Barista – Sibarist FAST Filters Review
• Basic Barista – Fastest Flowing Filters List
• Barista Hustle Forum – V60 Filter Issues
• Coffee Hit – Hario V60 Filter Papers - Original Japanese Dripper...
• Homegrounds – Best Coffee Filters Guide
• Homegrounds – Hario V60 vs Kalita Wave
• Homegrounds – Pour-Over Coffee Guide
• Perfect Daily Grind – The Great Paper Coffee Filters Debate: Bleached vs Unbleached
• Prima Coffee – Hario Coffee White Paper Filter Size 01 for V60 Brewer, 40 Count (Tabbed)
• Reddit r/Coffee – TEST - Hario V60 New Tabbed Filters vs. Old Non-Tabbed Filters
• Serious Eats – Pour-Over Coffee Makers Test
• The Coffee Compass – Cafec Abaca Review
• Vibrant Coffee Roasters – “Battle of the V60 Filters”
• Wikipedia – Coffee Filter
• 23 Degrees Coffee Roasters – V60 coffee | Brewing guide
• An In-Depth Analysis of Coffee Filters
• CoffeeGeek – How To Use a Hario V60 Pour Over
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• Green Plantation – Paper coffee filters Hario V60. How are they different?
• Hario V60 Filter Papers
• Hario V60 Paper Filter 02 - supremo coffee
• Hario V60 paper filter for Model 01 - 300ml
• Hario V60 Pour Over Coffee Tips
• Home-Barista.com – New Hario V60 Filters Packaging
• Ozone Coffee UK – Buy Hario V60 Filter Papers – Natural & White
• Rumble Coffee – How to Brew the Best Hario V60 (Pour Over Brew Guide)
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• Smiling Coffee Snob – Hario V60 Guide: Everything You Need To Know
• YouTube – How to Properly Set your V60 Pour Over Filter #shorts