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V60 vs Chemex vs Kalita Wave: Which Pour-Over Brewer Should You Buy?
If you're getting into pour-over coffee, three names appear again and again: Hario V60, Chemex and Kalita Wave.
They all use paper filters and rely on you pouring hot water over freshly ground coffee, but they're not simply three versions of the same brewer.
Their shapes, filters and flow characteristics differ, and that changes both the brewing experience and the cup you can produce.
So rather than declaring one the universal winner, this guide will help you choose according to how you brew, how much control you want and the style of coffee you enjoy.
V60 vs Chemex vs Kalita Wave: Quick Comparison
| Brewer | Design | Best suited to | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hario V60 | Cone, single large opening | Brewers who enjoy experimenting and controlling their recipe | Pouring, grind and recipe changes can noticeably affect the brew |
| Chemex | Cone-shaped brewer/server with distinctive paper filters | Clean cups and brewing larger quantities | Uses Chemex-style filters and takes up more space |
| Kalita Wave | Flat bottom with three holes | Brewers wanting a different, flat-bottom approach | Requires the correct Wave filters |
1. Hario V60
The Hario V60 is one of the best-known manual coffee brewers and is a great choice if you enjoy adjusting variables and learning how they change your coffee.
Its name comes from its V-shaped 60-degree cone. Inside are spiral ribs, while the bottom has a single large opening.
Unlike a brewer where a small outlet heavily restricts the water flow, the V60 gives the brewer considerable influence through variables such as grind size, dose, pouring pattern and pouring speed.
Our V60 Pick: Hario V60 Plastic 02
For most people trying V60 brewing, we like the Hario V60 Plastic 02.
The plastic model provides the classic V60 brewing geometry without requiring you to pay extra for ceramic, glass or metal construction. More expensive materials can change the appearance, feel and thermal behaviour of the brewer, but spending more does not automatically mean you'll make better coffee.
Check the latest price for the Hario V60 Plastic 02 on Amazon →
Choose the V60 if:
- You enjoy experimenting with brewing recipes.
- You want plenty of control over the brewing process.
- You mainly make individual servings or smaller batches.
- You want an inexpensive way to start experimenting with pour-over.
- You don't mind spending some time learning how grind and pouring affect extraction.
Think twice if:
- You want the brewing process to be as hands-off as possible.
- You regularly need to make coffee for several people at once.
- You don't enjoy adjusting grind size or pouring technique.
2. Chemex
The Chemex approaches pour-over rather differently.
Instead of placing a separate dripper over your mug or server, the familiar hourglass-shaped glass vessel acts as both the brewer and the carafe.
It is also closely associated with its distinctive paper filter system. The filtration is one of the reasons Chemex coffee is often associated with a particularly clean cup with relatively little sediment.
That doesn't make Chemex inherently better than V60 or Kalita. It simply gives you another way of shaping the final brew.
Our Chemex Pick: Chemex Classic 6-Cup
We've selected the Chemex Classic 6-Cup for this comparison.
Its larger format makes it particularly interesting if you regularly brew more than one serving. The coffee can be brewed directly into the glass vessel and served from it afterwards.
It's also one of the most visually distinctive coffee brewers, although the glass construction means it requires more careful handling than a plastic V60.
Check the latest price for the Chemex Classic 6-Cup on Amazon →
Choose the Chemex if:
- You enjoy very clean filtered coffee.
- You often brew more than one serving.
- You like having the brewer and serving carafe combined.
- Presentation matters to you.
- You're happy to keep the appropriate Chemex filters in stock.
Think twice if:
- You mainly want a compact brewer for a single mug.
- You want the cheapest possible introduction to pour-over.
- You'd prefer something less fragile for travelling or everyday handling.
3. Kalita Wave
The Kalita Wave differs immediately from the V60 and Chemex because it uses a flat-bottom brewing bed rather than a pointed cone.
The base has three openings, while the distinctive Wave paper filter is designed to work with the brewer's shape.
Flat-bottom and conical brewers encourage water to move through the coffee bed differently. Neither geometry guarantees better extraction, but moving between them gives home brewers another useful way to experiment with the same coffee.
Our Kalita Pick: Kalita Wave 185 Glass
For this comparison we've chosen the Kalita Wave 185 Glass.
The 185 is a useful general-purpose Wave size and gives you a genuine alternative to the conical brewing geometry of the V60 and Chemex.
Check the latest price for the Kalita Wave 185 on Amazon →
Choose the Kalita Wave if:
- You want to try a flat-bottom pour-over brewer.
- You value repeatability in your brewing routine.
- You'd prefer a somewhat different brewing approach from the V60.
- You enjoy experimenting with how brewer geometry changes extraction.
- You want a brewer suitable for everyday home use.
Think twice if:
- You already own a flat-bottom brewer you're happy with.
- You want the cheapest possible way into pour-over.
- Wave filters are difficult for you to source locally.
How Do They Actually Affect the Coffee?
You'll often see rigid descriptions such as:
- V60 = bright and complex
- Chemex = clean and light
- Kalita = sweet and balanced
Those descriptions can be useful shorthand, but they're not guaranteed outcomes.
Your beans, roast, grinder, water, grind size, ratio, temperature and pouring method all affect the final cup. Two people can use the same brewer and produce noticeably different coffee.
A better way to think about these brewers is that their different designs give you different brewing characteristics to work with.
V60
The large opening and conical brewing bed give you considerable control over flow through your grind and pouring technique. That makes the V60 particularly appealing if you enjoy changing variables and comparing the results.
Chemex
The Chemex's filter system is a major part of its identity. It can produce a very clean filtered cup, while the larger models are particularly useful when you're brewing coffee to share.
Kalita Wave
The flat-bottom bed and three-hole design provide a different flow pattern from the conical V60. For someone learning pour-over, it can be an appealing alternative if they prefer working with a flat coffee bed.
Is the Kalita Wave Easier Than a V60?
The Kalita Wave is often described as more forgiving than the V60, but it's better not to interpret that as meaning the Kalita automatically makes good coffee while the V60 is difficult.
Both still require sensible fundamentals: freshly ground coffee, an appropriate grind, a consistent coffee-to-water ratio and controlled pouring.
The V60's design can make changes to pouring and grind particularly noticeable, which is part of its appeal. The Kalita's flat-bottom geometry gives you a different brewing environment and may feel more repeatable to some brewers.
Neither requires dozens of failed brews before you can make enjoyable coffee.
Which Is Best for Light, Medium and Dark Roast Coffee?
You don't need to match a particular brewer to a particular roast level.
A light-roasted Ethiopian coffee can work beautifully in a V60, Chemex or Kalita Wave. The same is true of many medium and darker-roasted coffees.
Rather than buying a brewer according to roast colour, think about the characteristics you're trying to emphasise and then adjust your recipe accordingly.
If your coffee tastes sour, hollow, bitter or astringent, changing the brewer isn't necessarily the solution. Grind size, extraction, water and recipe may be more important.
For troubleshooting help, read our Coffee Compass guide to diagnosing pour-over problems.
Do You Need a Gooseneck Kettle?
A gooseneck kettle can make controlled pouring easier, particularly when you're trying to reproduce the same recipe consistently.
But don't let the absence of one stop you from trying pour-over coffee.
A controlled pour from a suitable kettle can still get you started. If pour-over becomes a regular part of your coffee routine, a gooseneck kettle may then become a worthwhile convenience upgrade.
Your Grinder Matters Too
The brewer gets most of the attention, but your grinder has an enormous influence on pour-over coffee.
A burr grinder that lets you make useful, repeatable grind adjustments makes it much easier to dial in a recipe than relying on inconsistent pre-ground coffee.
If you're shopping for one, see our updated Best Coffee Grinders Under £100 UK guide.
You can also read Coffee Grinder vs Espresso Machine: Which Should You Upgrade? for a broader explanation of why the grinder can have such an important effect on extraction.
V60 vs Chemex vs Kalita: Which Should You Choose?
There isn't one answer for everybody.
| If this sounds like you... | Start with... |
|---|---|
| I want an affordable, highly adjustable pour-over brewer | Hario V60 |
| I regularly brew coffee to share | Chemex 6-Cup |
| I want a flat-bottom brewing design | Kalita Wave |
| I enjoy experimenting with pouring and recipes | Hario V60 |
| I want brewer and serving carafe in one | Chemex |
| I already own a V60 and want to explore another geometry | Kalita Wave |
Can You Own More Than One?
Absolutely — but you don't need to buy multiple brewers when you're starting out.
One of the interesting things about manual coffee brewing is that relatively simple equipment can give you plenty to experiment with.
Start with the brewer that best fits the way you currently make coffee. Learn it properly, experiment with grind and recipe, and only add another brewer if you're genuinely interested in exploring a different approach.
That's much more useful than buying several brewers before you've learned what you like.
Want to Go Deeper Into Pour-Over?
If you want to develop your pour-over brewing beyond choosing the brewer, our Pour-Over Perfection digital guide takes the subject further with practical guidance for improving your brewing at home.
Explore Pour-Over Perfection →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is V60 better than Chemex?
Not universally. The V60 gives you a compact brewer with lots of control over your recipe, while Chemex combines brewing and serving in one vessel and uses its own distinctive filter system. Your preferred workflow and cup style matter more than declaring one objectively better.
Is Kalita Wave better for beginners?
Some people find the flat-bottom Kalita Wave intuitive and repeatable, while others learn perfectly well on a V60. Good coffee from either still depends on fundamentals such as grind, ratio, water and pouring.
Which V60 size should I buy?
For many home brewers, the V60 02 is a versatile place to start. Smaller and larger V60 sizes are also available, so choose according to the amount of coffee you normally brew.
Why are Chemex filters different?
The Chemex brewing system uses its own folded paper filters. Their filtration characteristics contribute to the clean cup commonly associated with Chemex brewing, so filter choice is an important part of using the brewer as intended.
Do I need an expensive pour-over brewer?
No. Brewer price alone doesn't determine coffee quality. Fresh coffee, a capable grinder, suitable water and a repeatable recipe can matter far more than choosing an expensive version of a simple brewer.
Should I buy all three?
Not initially. Choose one, learn how it responds to grind and recipe changes, and add another brewer later if you want to explore a different brewing geometry or batch size.