Chemex vs. V60

Both are pour over brewers. Both use paper filters. Both produce clean, transparent cups that show off single-origin coffee. The difference is in the filter thickness, the dripper design, and how much control the brewer has over the extraction.

Chemex

The Chemex uses proprietary bonded paper filters that are 20 to 30 percent thicker than standard pour over filters. These thick filters absorb more oils and fine particles, producing an exceptionally clean cup with high clarity and light body. Chemex coffee tastes bright, delicate, and almost tea-like. The Chemex brews 3 to 6 cups at once. It is, by wide consensus, the most beautiful piece of coffee equipment ever designed. Peter Schlumbohm designed it in 1941 and it is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

Hario V60

The V60 gives the brewer maximum control. The single large hole at the bottom means the flow rate is determined entirely by grind size and pour speed. A skilled barista can manipulate the extraction in real time by adjusting the pour. This makes the V60 the most expressive pour over method and also the most technically demanding. It is the standard pour over method in most specialty shops worldwide. Brews one cup at a time.

At home for multiple people: Chemex. At home for yourself and you want to learn: V60. At a shop: order whichever they offer. The barista's skill matters more than the dripper. Find a shop offering pour over near you.

Keep reading: What Is a Pour Over, Drip Coffee vs. Pour Over, French Press vs. AeroPress.