The V60 is a pour-over brewing method that gives you a high level of control over extraction. Unlike immersion methods such as a cafetière, water passes through the coffee bed as you pour, meaning technique, consistency and timing all have a direct impact on flavour.

When brewed well, a V60 produces a clean, bright and highly aromatic cup that highlights the subtle characteristics of the coffee.

What You’ll Need

To brew V60 coffee, you’ll need:

• V60 dripper
• Filter papers
• Fresh coffee beans
• Burr grinder
• Kettle (ideally gooseneck for control)
• Timer
• Scales

Optional but helpful:

• Server or mug
• Thermometer (for precision, not essential)

Best Coffee for V60 Brewing

The V60 excels at showcasing clarity and complexity, making it ideal for lighter, more expressive coffees.

At Acorns Coffee Roastery, these styles work particularly well:

• Ethiopia Yirgacheffe (floral, fruity, complex)
• Rwanda Liza (bright, berry notes)
• Kenya-style coffees (juicy, citrus-led profiles)

Fruity coffees tend to shine here because the method preserves acidity, structure and delicate flavour layers.

Grind Size (Very Important)

For V60 brewing, grind size is critical.

Ideal grind:

• Medium-fine (similar to table salt)

Why it matters:

• Too fine → over-extraction, bitterness, slow drawdown
• Too coarse → under-extraction, weak, sour cup

Dialling in grind size is one of the fastest ways to improve your V60 coffee.

Coffee-to-Water Ratio

A great starting point for V60 brewing is:

1:16

Example:

• 18g coffee
• 288g water

You can adjust depending on preference:

• stronger cup → slightly more coffee
• lighter cup → slightly more water

Step-by-Step Brewing Method

Step 1: Rinse the Filter

Place the paper filter in the V60 and rinse it with hot water.

This:

• removes papery taste
• preheats the dripper
• improves extraction stability

Discard the rinse water before brewing.

Step 2: Add Coffee

Add your ground coffee into the V60 and gently level the bed.

Step 3: Bloom (Very Important)

Start your timer and pour twice the weight of your coffee in water.

Example:

• 18g coffee → 36g water

Let it sit for 30–45 seconds.

This allows trapped gases (CO₂) to escape and prepares the coffee for even extraction.

Step 4: Main Pour (Controlled)

Slowly pour water in stages, keeping a steady, circular motion.

Avoid pouring directly onto the filter paper.

Aim to maintain a consistent coffee bed level.

Step 5: Final Drawdown

Once all water has been added, allow the coffee to fully drain.

Total brew time should typically be:

• 2:30 to 3:30 minutes

Step 6: Serve Immediately

Once the water has fully passed through, remove the dripper and serve.

Letting coffee sit on the grounds can lead to over-extraction.

Common V60 Mistakes

Pouring too fast

Leads to:

• weak extraction
• sour flavour
• lack of balance

Grinding too fine

Leads to:

• slow drawdown
• bitterness
• over-extracted cup

Skipping the bloom

Leads to:

• uneven extraction
• muted flavour
• reduced clarity

Uneven pouring

Leads to:

• channeling
• inconsistent flavour
• imbalance in cup

How to Improve Your V60 Coffee

For more sweetness:

• slightly finer grind
• slower, more controlled pour

For more clarity:

• slightly coarser grind
• lighter agitation

For more strength:

• increase coffee dose (not brew time)

Why V60 Brewing Works So Well

The V60 gives you control over:

• flow rate
• extraction time
• agitation
• water distribution

This precision allows you to highlight delicate flavour notes such as:

• citrus
• florals
• berries
• tropical fruit

It is one of the best methods for exploring the origin character of high-quality coffee.

How We Recommend Using V60 at Acorns Coffee Roastery

We recommend the V60 for our more expressive coffees, where clarity and origin character are key.

At Acorns Coffee Roastery, we design certain coffees specifically to perform beautifully in filter brewing, where sweetness, structure and complexity can be fully appreciated.

V60 brewing is ideal for slowing down and experiencing coffee in a more refined, detailed way.