A lot of our customers ask whether they should get a Chemex or a Hario, however it usually comes down to individual preference. There are many pros and cons of both Chemex and Harios and here are just a few that will hopefully help you decide which method is best for you.

CHEMEX

The chemex is an easy way to make excellent coffee with little equipment. With this method, coffee is ground to a medium coarseness using a burr grinder (hopefully) . With the folded chemex filter inside the cone, hot water is used to rinse out the filter and preheat the brewer. The water is completely drained though the filter before being poured out of the brewing container, with the filer pressed and sealed against the walls of the brewer. Keep in mind, Chemex filters are thicker, which helps with the extraction – the consistency of the extraction flows perfectly- not too fast and not too slow.

Chemex filters are not only thicker, but they are also folded down from a large circle into a filter that forms to the upper portion of the Chemex. Because the filter is folded, it has multiple layers of filter on one side, and one on the other and therefore not as many oils pass through the filter due to this thickness. Blocking most of the oils allows for a clean and light cup, however, some coffee drinkers would prefer more of the coffee’s natural oils to remain in the cup. The Chemex also has a simple, elegant design and is affordable. When brewed correctly, the coffee should have an even surface with little to no dark or blond spots.

When considering the disadvantages, the Chemex is not very portable and it’s glass body makes it fairly fragile. Another point that is made with the Chemex is that many people can’t brew with water as hot as they would like. This is because of the shape of the upper portion of the Chemex and the bulky nature of the filters. It is more difficult to get the kettle as close to the coffee bed. Greater distance between the bed and kettle leads to more temperature loss. It also means a less gentle pour. The gentler the pour, the better the drip will be in the end. Most alternative pour overs such as the Hario V60 can allow for a more gentle extraction because of their less-obtrusive design and filter shapes.

HARIO V60

When it comes to pour-over methods, which is what a Hario V60 is considered,  the ceramic pour-over coffee dripper is very well known. One of the advantages of using the Hario is that is can make coffee for one person. This is due to the fact that it involves less clean up as it pours directly into one cup. The Hario is also much smaller and portable than the Chemex. On the inside of the filter cone, there are grooves which prevent the filter from sticking to the side of the cone and this helps to get the brew at the right speed and is just as effective every time you use it.

Also, the Hario V60 filters are thinner and allow for more oils to be passed through than allowed by the Chemex. As mentioned before, this can be a good or a bad thing, depending on your own personal preference. Folding the filter at the seams, it is placed inside the cone and over the waste cup. The filter is rinsed with hot water to remove any impurities and to preheat the cone. Water is drained completely before being placed over the coffee cup. The finished cup should have an even surface with little to no dark or blond spots.

Keep in mind that one of the complaints people have about the Hario is that it does pour through faster than the Chemex. The thick Chemex filter slows the brewing process and creates an overall cleaner profile.

Coffee for a Hario is ground to a medium-fine coarseness with a quality burr grinder( hopefully)