How to Use the V60 Pour-Over Coffee Dripper? How Much Coffee Beans Should Be Used for a Single Serving?

As we all know, the familiar Hario V60 comes in two models: the 01 and 02 types. Comparing the two, the size 02 V60 is larger and can hold more coffee grounds, making it capable of brewing 4-5 servings at once without any issues. For example, the size 01 dripper that FrontStreet Coffee commonly uses recommends controlling the brewing amount between 15-20 grams.

In daily life, we occasionally encounter "small accidents" that prevent the actual amount of coffee grounds from matching the recommended values, such as having less than 15 grams of coffee beans left, or simply not wanting to drink too much coffee today, so we brew a smaller amount. When using a large dripper for a small amount of grounds, the coffee layer becomes thinner, making it easier for water to pass through, thus demanding higher pour control skills from the brewer. Additionally, the resulting coffee often exhibits thin body and weak aroma issues.

To meet the extraction needs of such situations, single-serve coffee drippers have emerged. It is a 30-degree conical filter launched by the Japanese equipment brand Tarachine Conical, claimed to perfectly brew small amounts of coffee (under 15 grams). Everyone calls it the "V30".

The V30 that FrontStreet Coffee acquired is made of transparent resin material, feeling small and lightweight in hand. Its overall appearance resembles a running "drill bit." The biggest difference between this dripper and the classic V60 is its cone angle of only 30°, with a cross-sectional diameter of just 6cm. Therefore, to accommodate all the coffee grounds while providing space for coffee to rise, the cup's height reaches 11cm.

Observing from top to bottom, FrontStreet Coffee found that the V30's filter hole is relatively small—a circular hole with a diameter of about 1.5cm (the size 01 V60 has a diameter of 2cm). The internal flow groove patterns form two clockwise spirals that run parallel to each other toward the bottom, with the purpose of extending the extraction path of hot water to make the coffee taste fuller.

Filter Paper Usage

Regarding filter paper, besides the official matching version, Tarachine also recommends using commercially available large Hario filter paper as a substitute. Simply fold it in half along the center line of the fan shape, then unfold one side to fit into the single-serve dripper. However, since large filter paper after folding creates a single layer on one side and three layers on the other, the different filtration thicknesses cause varying extraction conditions for coffee grounds in different positions. Here, FrontStreet Coffee references a filter paper folding method summarized by a coffee enthusiast for everyone's reference.

First, align the two radii of the filter paper and fold it in half.

Take the unconnected radius side, align it with the center line in reverse, and fold it down, pinching gently to secure.

Do the same operation on the other side, just like folding a paper airplane.

Finally, open the filter paper from the middle along the folded ribs, align with the cone angle, and place it in the dripper.

Brewing Tests

After getting the dripper, FrontStreet Coffee first selected a coffee bean that mainly expresses fruit acidity to see how the brewing results would be.

Coffee beans: 13g (Kenya · Assalia)
Powder-to-water ratio: 1:15
Water temperature: 92°C
Dripper: V30
Grind size: EK43s setting 10 (sieved 80% through #20 standard sieve)
Three-stage pouring: 25g, 75g, 95g

During the pouring and stirring process, the coffee bed accumulated at the bottom, with an overall slow flow rate and slight blockage at the end. The liquid completely finished dripping only at 2 minutes and 23 seconds. The coffee had strong acidity upon entry, mainly featuring berry and black tea notes, with overall weak aroma and mediocre body.

FrontStreet Coffee speculated that because the dripper's structure deepens the water level, and here we used lightly roasted fruit-acidity type beans with more compact internal structure and weaker water absorption, the coffee bed couldn't be easily lifted by the water column. The poor coffee flavor was mainly due to over-steeping at the end stage. Next, FrontStreet Coffee tried another medium-dark roasted coffee that expresses mellow body and sweet aftertaste.

Coffee beans: 13g (Jamaica · Blue Mountain No. 1)
Powder-to-water ratio: 1:15
Water temperature: 88°C
Dripper: V30
Grind size: EK43s setting 10.5 (sieved 75% through #20 standard sieve)
Three-stage pouring: 25g, 75g, 95g

Compared to the first group, the Blue Mountain coffee drained significantly more smoothly, finishing extraction in close to 2 minutes, with a very evenly distributed coffee bed. Compared to the brewing results from FrontStreet Coffee's usual KONO dripper, the Blue Mountain brewed with V30 had a softer and smoother texture, though weaker in richness and solidity, but upon entry, one could clearly sense black chocolate aroma, and the aftertaste after swallowing was also very distinct.

Comparative Testing

To obtain a more direct comparison, FrontStreet Coffee selected three medium-roasted coffee beans (Colombia · Sidra & Guatemala · New Eastern Geisha & Honduras · Lychee Garden), pairing them respectively with V30 and small V60 drippers for extraction with small amounts (13g), keeping other parameters unchanged.

All three pots of coffee brewed with V30 finished dripping between 2 minutes to 2 minutes and 10 seconds, while the V60 group's brewing process ended at around 1 minute and 50 seconds. When comparing the finished drippers together, the coffee pit formed by V30 was significantly deeper. The small batches of Sidra, Lychee Garden, and New Eastern Geisha brewed with V30 were superior to the small V60 in both flavor complexity and mouthfeel viscosity.

Analysis and Recommendations

After extensive brewing comparisons, FrontStreet Coffee found that with the same amount of grounds, the V30 forms a thicker (deeper) coffee bed, which not only slows down the drainage speed but also allows the coffee layer to rise quickly when encountering large water flow, thereby enhancing the immersion extraction effect of coffee. Additionally, the distribution of internal flow grooves allows coffee grounds to degas while providing the water column with a longer extraction path, further improving the overall flavor concentration of the coffee liquid.

From this perspective, this dripper is more suitable for brewing small amounts of medium to dark roasted coffee, which can fully express the rounded fruit acidity and mellow sweetness in coffee, such as flavor characteristics like caramel, preserved fruit, apricot, and fermented wine aromas. However, it should be noted that to avoid the water level exceeding the dripper's peak (overflowing), FrontStreet Coffee suggests that when using V30, the amount of grounds should preferably be controlled within 15 grams but above 8 grams, while using small water flow in small circles and pouring evenly in segments. This can achieve an extraction process with moderate rhythm.

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FrontStreet Coffee
No. 10, Bao'an Front Street, Yandun Road, Dongshankou, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473