Among the many many handbook brewing units on the planet of specialty espresso, the Hario V60 has earned its repute for precision, innovation, and—let’s be trustworthy—slightly little bit of barista theatre. However beneath the aesthetics lies a deceptively advanced system that rewards the diligent with unmatched readability and flavour separation. After years of aggressive brewing and behind-the-bar expertise in Australia’s powerhouse café scene, that is the go-to V60 recipe that balances construction with versatility—crafted not simply to impress judges, however to function a rock-solid each day routine.
This methodology isn’t solely about information and levels—it’s about delivering balanced brews with intentionality, making each cup shine.
Mastering handbook brewing via Competitors and Café Tradition
Years spent immersed within the specialty espresso group formed how I take into consideration brewing, flavour growth, and precision. With one of the crucial technically pushed café cultures on the planet, Australia takes filter espresso critically. That relentless concentrate on high quality pushed me—as a barista and competitor—to refine a brewing methodology that brings out the very best in any espresso I labored with.
After competing a number of occasions in nationwide Brewers Cup competitions, I realised one thing essential: I wanted a base recipe that would adapt throughout origins, roast kinds, and processing strategies. From cupping tables to competitors phases, I needed to consider dozens of coffees in fast succession. And if I couldn’t brew every one persistently and clearly, I could not make an knowledgeable choice about which bean would carry me via the season.
That want for consistency underneath stress was the genesis of my present V60 methodology.
What makes this V60 recipe stand out isn’t simply the detailed measurements—it’s the technique behind them. The intention is to extract a clear cup, emphasize trustworthy flavours, and retain physique, all whereas permitting pure acidity to shine.
– Grind dimension: 30–32 clicks on a Comandante grinder (coarse setting)
– Water: 300ml filtered water at 93°C
– Pouring fashion: 5 even pours of 60g every
– Every pour takes round 10 seconds in a gentle spiral movement, ranging from the centre and transferring outward.
– There’s a 30-second break between every pour.
– The ultimate pour ought to start across the 2:40 mark.
– Complete brew time: Roughly 3:00 to three:20 minutes
The coarser grind dimension ensures the espresso doesn’t change into over-extracted and bitter, serving to to take care of sweetness and readability all through the cup. That is supported by analysis revealed in Scientific Stories by way of Nature, which concludes that grind dimension considerably impacts extraction effectivity: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-72842-z. Pairing that with a structured pouring methodology helps preserve a constant stream price and encourages even saturation throughout all brewing phases.
5 pours of 60g enable exact administration of extraction, particularly helpful whenever you’re working with advanced coffees. It helps develop the espresso’s full vary of flavour with out sacrificing mouthfeel or introducing muddiness. By breaking the brew into 5 distinct infusion phases, this brew methodology ensures excessive extraction yields with out compromising physique or cup readability—a essential balancing act in filter brewing.
This method retains each variable underneath management: grind dimension, water temperature, agitation, and make contact with time. The pauses between pours create moments of equilibrium, permitting the slurry to settle and bloom absolutely earlier than the following infusion builds additional complexity.
Versatile Sufficient for Any Origin—or Brewer
Whereas this recipe was designed with the Hario V60 in thoughts, its construction interprets seamlessly to different conical brewers, with solely minor modifications to stream price or mattress resistance. Whether or not you’re brewing a washed Ethiopian with floral aromatics or a syrupy natural-process Brazil, this methodology adapts whereas sustaining the espresso’s integrity.
By preserving your grind dimension barely coarse and sticking to constant pouring intervals, you cut back the variables that trigger fluctuations in sweetness or acidity—a precept I’ve confirmed repeatedly in each competitors setups and morning brews at dwelling.
Making filter espresso doesn’t need to be troublesome—simply constant
There’s a false impression that brewing high-quality filter espresso requires a lab coat—or at the least a level in engineering. However the reality is, repeatable greatness comes from understanding a number of easy variables: grind dimension, water temperature, stream price, and dose. When you find out how these components work together, the method turns into intuitive.
Sure, it could really feel like overkill to weigh out precisely 300 grams of water and timing each pour whereas your housemates are nonetheless yawning over their cereal—however that stage of consideration pays off. Good habits result in nice espresso. And there’s nothing extra satisfying than constructing your individual ritual round one thing you’re keen on (and let’s be trustworthy—nobody’s ever been mad a couple of better-tasting cup).
Need to dial up your gear sport? Right here’s what truly issues:
– Use a burr grinder just like the Comandante grinder for constant particle dimension.
– Depend on a digital scale correct to 0.1g for precision dosing.
Ultimate ideas: balanced, clear, repeatable
There’s a sure magic when science meets sensory. By committing to a repeatable methodology grounded in intention, you’ll unlock outcomes that style something however mechanical. This V60 recipe showcases trustworthy flavour, pushes acidity, and brings stability into each cup—all whereas being easy sufficient on your morning brew and refined sufficient for the stage.
So subsequent time somebody asks why your filter espresso tastes so good each day?
Simply smile…and say it solely took years of standing behind espresso bars to get right here.
