Chemex vs. Hario V60 Brewing

Chemex and the Hario V60 are both pour-over coffee drippers, and comparing them reveals how much the form of a brewing device shapes the ritual of making coffee. Chemex is an hourglass-shaped glass carafe with a wooden collar and leather tie designed by Peter Schlumbohm in 1941. It brews directly into the serving vessel so the object you make coffee in is the object you pour from. The V60 is a ceramic or plastic cone that sits on top of any mug or carafe. Spiral ridges inside channel water at a specific rate through a single large hole at the bottom. Chemex uses a proprietary thick paper filter that removes most oils and produces a clean, light-bodied cup. The V60 uses a thinner filter that lets more oils through for a richer result. I think the Chemex wins on aesthetics, its design is in MoMA's permanent collection. The V60 wins on control because the cone shape and drainage hole give you more influence over extraction speed. At $45 for the Chemex versus $8 for the V60, that price difference reflects materials rather than performance. Both require a gooseneck kettle and a scale, and the total pour-over investment runs about $100 regardless of which dripper you choose. I use the V60 daily because cleanup is faster. I bring out the Chemex when friends visit because the brewing process is more visible and the carafe holds enough for 4 people.