AeroPress vs. Hario V60 – Filter Coffee Comparison

Water meets ground coffee, and for the next few minutes everything is decided: how much dissolves, how the first sip will taste.

Some like this moment short and forceful, a single decisive push downward. Others take their time, pouring in small circles, watching the water seep circle by circle through the coffee bed.

AeroPress vs. Hario V60 – Filter Coffee Compared

Two names stand for these two paths like hardly any others: the AeroPress from Palo Alto and the Hario V60 from Japan. Both are among the most loved filter coffee brewers worldwide, both we've carried in our showrooms in Bern and Zurich for years, and both answer the question of the right filter coffee in completely different ways.

AeroPress: Pace, Pressure, and a Ritual for On the Go

Alan Adler developed the AeroPress in Palo Alto, California, as a compact brewer made from robust, BPA-free polypropylene. Coffee and water steep together in the chamber, then a silicone seal gently presses the whole thing through a round, micro-fine paper filter. This combination of immersion and light air pressure is what defines the AeroPress's character: a short, concentrated steep time, followed by a pass-through that holds back even the finest particles.

At around 220 grams total weight and a footprint of about 13 by 11 centimeters, the AeroPress fits into any travel bag, and that was exactly Adler's original idea. For anyone who wants to travel even more compactly, our range also includes the AeroPress Go.

Hario V60: The Ritual of Percolation

The Hario V60 follows a different path. The classic porcelain dripper is made in Arita, that Japanese region with a long ceramic tradition, and takes its name from the cone's characteristic 60-degree angle. Spiral ridges along the inner wall and a single large hole at the bottom give the water room to flow freely instead of pooling.

Unlike the AeroPress, the coffee in the V60 never sits still in the water. Fresh, hot water runs continuously through the coffee bed, at the pace you set with your pour. That makes the V60 a brewer that rewards practice: the more deliberately you pour, the more control you have over what ends up in the cup. In our Hario Collection, we carry the V60 in various sizes and materials, with the classic porcelain version remaining the starting point of the whole family.

Immersion or Flow-Through – A Difference You Can Taste

What we experience as aroma arises largely through retronasal olfaction: aroma compounds rise up through the throat to the olfactory mucosa as you swallow, and that's exactly where it's decided whether a cup feels round and layered or more lean and clear. Because the AeroPress lets the coffee steep for a while before pressure forces it through the filter, the result is usually a fuller, more full-bodied picture. The V60, on the other hand, continuously feeds fresh water to the coffee bed, which often leads to a clearer, more differentiated cup.

Both principles follow the same basic rule: it isn't time alone that determines strength, but the ratio of coffee to water. Just as important is how evenly your coffee is ground – if the particles turn out too uneven, the fine ones extract faster than the coarse ones, regardless of which of the two paths you choose. We've described in detail which grinder suits this in our Comandante vs. Timemore Comparison.

At a Glance

Feature	AeroPress Original	Hario V60 Ceramic
Origin	Palo Alto, USA (Alan Adler)	Arita, Japan
Material	Polypropylene, BPA-free	Porcelain
Extraction Principle	Immersion + air pressure	Flow-through (percolation)
Filter Shape	Paper, round, micro-fine	Paper, conical, one large hole
Capacity	up to approx. 295 ml	1–2 cups
Dimensions	approx. 13.3 × 10.7 cm	119 × 100 × 82 mm
Other variants in our range	AeroPress Go, paper filters available separately	Various sizes and materials in the Hario Collection

Who It's For

There's no right or wrong here, only the question of which pace and which ritual fits your everyday life. Both paths are open to everyone, whether you've been brewing filter coffee for years or are just getting started.

If you have little time in the morning, love to travel, or simply want a brewer that cleans up in seconds, you're probably right with the AeroPress from our AeroPress Collection. If pouring itself appeals to you – the slow circling of the water stream, the control over every phase of the extraction – then it's worth a look at our Hario Collection.

For anyone who wants to go a step further, the BIRD from Weber Workshops, from our Weber Workshops Collection, is a brewer that's less a necessity than a statement – we are the importer of Weber Workshops in Switzerland. Nobody needs it to make good filter coffee. But it says something about the ritual you treat yourself to. Our opinion is one of many here – in the end, what counts is what feels right in your hand.

What Else Is Part of It

With both methods, water temperature plays a part in deciding which aroma compounds dissolve: higher temperatures bring more body, lower ones more complexity and fine nuances. A kettle with temperature control takes the guesswork out of this. For anyone who wants a kettle that's affordable and reliable, the Varia AURA Standard from our Varia Collection is enough. Anyone who wants to set the temperature precisely will find that in the Varia AURA FLUX, also in the same collection.

Just as decisive is the ratio of coffee to water, and that's determined more reliably with a scale than by feel. For anyone who wants a scale that's affordable and precise, a look at our Normcore Collection is enough. Anyone who also values app connectivity and a flow-rate display will find that in our Acaia Collection. We import both brands directly and have carried them in our showrooms for years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fundamental difference between AeroPress and Hario V60?

The AeroPress works with immersion and light air pressure: coffee and water steep together before a silicone seal presses everything through a paper filter. The Hario V60 works with flow-through, also called percolation: fresh water runs continuously through the coffee bed, at the pace you set with your pour. The result differs noticeably – usually fuller and more full-bodied with the AeroPress, clearer and more differentiated with the V60.

Which filters do I need for AeroPress and Hario V60?

The AeroPress uses round, micro-fine paper filters that fit directly into the filter holder; we carry them separately in our range. The Hario V60 requires conical paper filters in the version matching the dripper size. The two filter types are not interchangeable.

Is the AeroPress or the Hario V60 easier for everyday use?

That depends on what you're looking for in everyday use. The AeroPress is ready to use within a few minutes and cleans up in seconds. The Hario V60 rewards a bit of pouring practice with more control over the result. Neither path is fundamentally easier – they simply ask different things of you.

Which grind size suits AeroPress and Hario V60?

Both methods tolerate a certain range of grind sizes, classically somewhat coarser than for espresso. More decisive than the exact grind size is the evenness of the particles: if they turn out too uneven, the fine ones extract faster than the coarse ones, regardless of the brewer chosen. A grinder with an even burr set pays off for both methods.

Can I see the AeroPress and Hario V60 before buying?

Yes, in our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b) you can experience both brewers live during business hours and compare them directly.

How quickly will my order be delivered?

Within Switzerland and to Liechtenstein, your order typically arrives after 2 to 4 business days.