After years of a French press, I switched to a Hario V60. Short version: it’s more work, and it’s better.

What changed

  • Clarity. Paper filters strip out the oils, so the cup tastes cleaner and more tea-like.
  • Control. Grind size, water temperature, and pour rate all matter — which is either a feature or a bug depending on your mood.
  • Consistency. Once you dial it in, the same beans taste the same every morning.

What I’d tell past me

Buy a scale before you buy anything else. The grinder matters more than the dripper. Don’t read forums.