If you’re using a Hario V60, as I am, then you already know it’s one of the cleanest and most expressive ways to brew coffee.
But if your beans aren’t up to par, even the best technique can fall flat. So, what are the best coffee beans you can use?
Quick Answer: What are the best coffee beans for Hario V60?
The best coffee beans for the Hario V60 are light to medium roast, single-origin varieties, such as Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, which have floral and citrusy notes. These beans highlight the V60’s clarity and flavor precision.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the beans I love most for the V60, and why they work so well.
You’ll also find a helpful starter bundle section, plus a shortlist of top picks that are perfect for first-timers or gift ideas.
What makes coffee beans great for Hario V60?
The Hario V60 is all about clarity. It extracts subtle tasting notes beautifully, but it’s not very forgiving of poor-quality beans. Here’s what I look for:
- Light to medium roasts – These roasts preserve fruity, floral, and citrus notes that shine through in pour over brews
- Single-origin beans – Unique flavor profiles from a single region let you really taste what the V60 is capable of
- Freshness – I always aim for beans roasted within the last 2–4 weeks for the best flavor
- Complexity – Whether it’s berries, florals, or bright acidity, I want a bean that gives something back in every sip
What is the best coffee roast for Hario V60?
In my experience, light to medium roasts work best with the Hario V60.
Why? Because the V60 is all about clarity and precision. It’s designed to highlight the subtle flavors that get lost in darker roasts, think citrus, florals, berries, and tea-like notes.
Here’s how I break it down:
- Light roasts are perfect if you want to explore the unique characteristics of single-origin beans. These bring out the most complexity, acidity, and aroma
- Medium roasts offer a bit more body and sweetness while still letting the brighter notes come through. They’re great for balance and everyday drinkability
- Dark roasts, on the other hand, tend to overpower the clean flavor that pour over coffee is known for. You’ll still get a decent cup, but you’ll miss the fine detail that the V60 is capable of showcasing
If you’re just getting started, I recommend grabbing a light or medium roast from Ethiopia, Kenya, or Colombia.
Once you taste how much nuance a good V60 brew can bring out, it’s hard to go back.
Do you want to learn more about the differences in coffee roasts? Check out this in-depth article!
My top 8 best coffee beans for Hario V60
I’ve brewed a lot of beans with my V60 over the years, and the following coffee beans are the ones I keep coming back to.
Below, you can find an easy overview that includes a few more favorites I think every pour over lover should try at least once!
| Coffee | Coffee roast | Tasting notes | Best for |
| Volcanica Ethiopian Yirgacheffe | Light/ medium roast | Floral, citrus, jasmine, lemon | Bright, clean pour-overs |
| Lifeboost Light Roast | Light roast | Smooth, low-acid, mild fruit | Health-conscious V60 brewers |
| Counter Culture – Big Trouble | Medium roast | Sweet, nutty, smooth body | Balanced & easygoing brews |
| Fresh Roasted Coffee – Kenya AA | Medium/ dark roast | Berries, currant, winey acidity | Juicy, fruit-forward brews |
| Volcanica – Sumatra Mandheling | Medium roast | Earthy, chocolate, low acidity | Rich, bold pour over lovers |
| Volcanica Panama | Medium roast | Tea-like, floral, bergamot | Splurge-worthy, elegant brews |
| Stumptown Holler Mountain | Medium roast | Creamy body, chocolate, citrus | Balanced & beginner-friendly |
| Verve Coffee – Ethiopian Blend | Medium roast | Stone fruit, florals, juicy body | Vibrant everyday pour overs |
With the easy overview out of the way, let’s get into all of these coffee beans in-depth below!
1. Volcanica Coffee – Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
If I could only brew one bean with my V60 forever, this might be it. Volcanica’s Yirgacheffe is light, floral, and gently citrusy, like jasmine tea with a twist of lemon.
It’s the kind of coffee that feels alive in your cup. I keep coming back to it when I want something bright, clean, and aromatic.
Bonus: it’s reliably fresh and ships fast. Check out the coffee beans right here!
2. Lifeboost Coffee – Light Roast Single Origin
This one’s for my fellow low-acid coffee lovers.
Lifeboost’s light roast is organic, single-origin, and roasted with health in mind, without compromising on taste.
You get a smooth, mellow body with subtle fruitiness and a clean finish. It’s an excellent daily brew that’s gentle on the stomach and always consistent in quality:
This Non-Gmo organic coffee is low acid and high in flavor; The beans are sun dried, and spring water washed; The result is pure, clean coffee derived straight from nature
3. Counter Culture – Big Trouble
Big Trouble is the cozy sweater of coffee. It’s sweet, nutty, and round with caramel, toasted almond, and a touch of cocoa.
While it’s technically a medium roast, it still performs beautifully in a V60.
If you’re not in the mood for fruit-forward brightness but still want clarity and depth, this is a reliable and comforting choice:
Medium roasted coffee beans with a caramel and nutty flavor
4. Fresh Roasted Coffee – Kenya AA
Looking for something punchy and fruit-packed? Kenyan AA beans are known for their berry-like acidity and winey finish, and this one delivers.
Think blackberry, blackcurrant, maybe even cranberry, depending on how you brew.
I love using this when I want a cup with some zing. It’s complex, juicy, and surprisingly affordable for the quality:
This African coffee is bright, complex, exceptionally sweet, and shares a perfect balance and floral fragrance that most wet-processed Kenyan coffees possess
5. Volcanica – Sumatra Mandheling
If you love earthy, bold coffee with depth, this one’s a standout.
Volcanica’s Sumatra Mandheling brings rich chocolate, cedar, and a touch of spice — all with incredibly low acidity and a smooth, full body.
It’s a deeper, more grounded cup than the typical bright V60 brew, but that contrast is what makes it interesting.
Try a slightly finer grind and slower pour so it blooms beautifully:
You can check the beans out right here!
6. Volcanica Coffee – Panama
The following coffee is soft, balanced, and floral with hints of citrus, honey, and tropical fruit.
In the V60, it comes through as silky and nuanced, almost tea-like but with a more punchy flavor profile.
It’s a fantastic pick when you want something delicate but not too fancy; perfect for quiet mornings or a slow afternoon cup.
7. Stumptown Coffee – Holler Mountain
A true crowd-pleaser. Holler Mountain blends Central and South American beans along with East African coffee for a creamy, caramel base with just a hint of citrus brightness.
It’s an ideal choice if you want a bit more body and comfort from your pour over, and don’t want to fuss too much with dialing in flavors.
It’s also a great intro for anyone new to the V60:
Holler Mountain delivers a burst of citrus and berry jam rounded out with notes of creamy caramel. 100% Arabica coffee
8. Verve Coffee – Ethiopian Blend
This blend showcases everything I love about Ethiopian coffees: floral aromas, stone fruit sweetness, and a clean, juicy finish.
It’s roasted a bit more accessibly than some single origins, which makes it super forgiving and versatile for home brewers.
Verve is one of my favorite roasters for consistent quality, and this one never disappoints in the V60:
Sourced from Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, The Aster Blend is a vibrant and sweet blend
A few quick brewing tips for V60
Brewing that perfect cup of coffee with a Hario V60 takes a few tries. Here’s what works best for me after years of dialing in:
- Grind size: Medium-fine (like sea salt). Adjust if your brew runs too fast or tastes off
- Water temperature: 92–96°C (197–205°F). Don’t boil the water and pour straight, then wait 30 seconds. The water temperature depends on the coffee roast
- Ratio: I start with 15g coffee to 250g water (1:16). You can adjust this to your taste and the amount of coffee you’re brewing
- Pour technique: Use a gooseneck and pour in slow spirals. Start with a 40g bloom, wait 30 seconds, then continue to pour the remaining water
V60 starter bundle (perfect for beginners)
If you’re just getting started with pour over, here’s what I recommend picking up to brew like a pro from day one.
Here’s what my favorite V60 starter setup looks like:
- Hario V60 02 plastic dripper
- Hario paper filters
- Gooseneck kettle (for a precise flow)
- Digital scale with built-in timer
- Freshly roasted coffee beans (like the ones above)
If you don’t have a Hario V60, I suggest starting with the plastic version. This rather cheap coffee brewer will help you get started on this adventure.
After learning to brew with the V60, you can always upgrade to a ceramic version for better heat retention, or just because it looks and feels nicer!
Once you’ve got the gear and beans in place, all that’s left is a good technique, and a few quiet minutes to enjoy the ritual.
If you want to learn how to brew coffee with the Hario V60, you can check out this in-depth guide!
Conclusion
The Hario V60 is a beautiful tool, but it truly shines when paired with the right beans.
Whether you lean fruity and bright or balanced and smooth, choosing a high-quality light or medium roast makes all the difference.
If you’re unsure where to start, I highly recommend trying Volcanica’s Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. It’s consistently fresh, vibrant, and brings out everything the V60 does best.
Let me know what you end up brewing, or if you have a favorite V60 bean I should try next!
