The V60 coffee maker is among the most popular pour over dripper alternatives, which is understandable given how amazing and affordable they are. Although it is one of the least expensive coffee makers available, I wouldn't describe it as cheap since doing so implies that it is of low quality, which it most definitely isn't. Instead, it ranks among the best in terms of popularity and the quality of the coffee that is produced.

It may appear to be a tedious and scientific process if you watch the countless videos of baristas using the V60 that you can find on YouTube. That's what I initially thought when I first started looking at a V60. In actuality, it isn't quite as complicated as it may appear, and the scientific aspect of it only requires measuring the quantity of coffee and water used, as well as the grind size and water temperature. With thermometers and scales, you may be as accurate as you like about all that, or you can just rely on guesswork.  

Baristas require procedures like this to ensure that they consistently make coffee of the highest quality possible. If you're making coffee for yourself and friends or family and occasionally produce a cup that tastes better than other times and you're not exactly sure why, it's not as significant as if you're a professional barista selling coffee to paying clients.

 

Taste Testing

Using Milatino coffee, I'm currently sipping a cafetiere and a v60 made coffee side by side. Both coffees taste fantastic, but the v60-made coffee has a more delicate flavour and a cleaner mouthfeel because of the coffee solids and oils that remain in the coffee. The cafetiere made coffee, on the other hand, has a more robust flavour and a more dense, slightly powdery mouthfeel. By examining the coffee, you can distinguish between the two since the pressed coffee has coffee oils that the v60-made cup does not. 

If asked which flavour I preferred between the two, I believe I'd have to reply it depends on how I'm feeling at the time, but I like them both equally.
I can see how the somewhat lighter texture of v60-made coffee could be more tempting on a warm spring or summer morning and the slightly heavier flavour of cafetiere coffee might be preferred on a chilly winter morning, but they both taste fantastic.

Easy to Clean

One feature of the V60 that I really like is how simple it is to clean up after using it. You simply pick up the filter and throw it in the trash, or if you're like me and save your used coffee grounds to put in the compost or directly onto your soil, you can just empty the filter into the compost or onto the garden and throw the filter in the trash. 

How quick is a V60?

The pace of this procedure has shocked me, among other things.
Before I had the V60, it seemed like a hassle of a procedure that would take around 5 minutes just to make one cup of coffee, from the brew guides I'd read that include lots of steps; I've now discovered that this was a misunderstanding on my part, and it can be as rapid a process as you require it to be. If you're meticulous, the process will likely take three to four minutes; however, if you're pressed for time, you could likely complete it in a few minutes without measuring, weighing, etc.

I just prepared coffee in both the V60 and my cafetiere. The V60 coffee was ready about a minute and a half quicker than in the cafetiere, even with the additional steps that I assume only slightly affect the final product, such as wetting the filter first and blooming (pouring hot water onto the coffee first and waiting about 45 seconds before continuing).

You could probably make cafetiere coffee in about the same amount of time with a shorter brew time, but I don't think it tastes as good that way, and there are some coffee gurus who insist that the cafetiere needs 5-6 minutes for a proper brew. I was using the cafetiere brew method I always use, which is stir, 2 minute brew, stir again, another 2 minute brew, and plunge.

With the V60, the total time from beginning to end, including cleaning, is even more astounding in my opinion because cleaning only requires picking up the filter and rinsing the V60.

V60 Quality

I was astonished to see a really high quality durable product manufactured from very solid material for a cheap coffee maker that cost less than ten pounds. I had expected weak cheap plastic that I would eventually have to replace. Although I'm surprised they can produce this for such a low cost, I'm delighted they can.

My thoughts

You ought to try one of them if you enjoy coffee. I wouldn't say that if they were expensive, but considering that this coffee maker costs just under £10 and is among the best ones on the market, there is simply no justification for not owning one of them. Make sure you check them out on the tools & brewing collection on the website!