What are Hario V60 02 filters?
The consumable the most popular pour over brewer in the world runs on.
Hario publishes natural unbleached paper, a cone shape sized for the 02 dripper, a capacity of one to four cups, 200 sheets per pack, and manufacture in Japan.
The V60 itself is a cone with ribs and a large single hole. Almost everything that makes it behave the way it does happens in the paper.
Why the paper is part of the brewer, not an accessory to it
A V60 without the right filter is a funnel.
The V60's design gives the water almost nothing to push against: one big hole, no flat bed, no restriction. What controls the flow rate is the paper, and specifically how thick it is and how finely it filters.
That is why V60 recipes are so sensitive to the filter, and why substituting a generic cone filter changes the brew noticeably even when the size is right. Third-party papers are often thicker or looser, and either shifts the contact time in a way you then have to correct with grind size.
Hario's own papers are what every published V60 recipe was developed on. Using them removes a variable rather than adding one.
Size 02, and the mistake people make
The number on the box has to match the number on the dripper.
Hario sells 01, 02 and 03 drippers and a matching filter for each. 02 is the common one, rated at one to four cups, and it is what most people own without knowing there is a choice.
An 01 filter in an 02 dripper does not reach the top and folds over; an 03 filter in an 02 crumples against the ribs and blocks the flow. Both produce a bad brew that gets blamed on technique. Check the dripper before ordering.
Natural against bleached
Hario sells both, and this is the natural one.
Natural filters are unbleached and brown. Bleached ones are white and go through an oxygen or chlorine-free process. Both are food safe.
The practical difference is taste at the start: unbleached paper carries more of a papery character, which is why rinsing the filter before brewing matters more with these. Rinse either kind with hot water before you add coffee and the difference largely disappears. People who skip the rinse generally prefer bleached.
Hario papers vs a reusable metal filter
Two different cups, and the choice is not really about money.
Paper holds back oils and the finest particles, which is what gives pour over its clarity and its clean finish. A reusable metal filter lets both through, producing a heavier, more textured cup closer to a French press.
Neither is better. But if you bought a V60 because you liked how pour over tasted somewhere else, that taste came through paper, and switching to metal to save money changes the thing you were buying.
Are they worth it?
Yes, and the price per brew is trivial.
200 sheets is most of a year for a daily single-cup drinker, at a few pence a cup. Against generic cone filters the premium is small and it buys the paper the brewer was designed for.
Hario publishes no weight, no thickness figure and no dimensions on this listing, which is a pity because thickness is exactly the specification that would let you compare papers properly.
Who should buy them (and who should not)
Buy them if you own an 02 V60, which is most V60 owners.
They suit anybody following a published V60 recipe, since that is what those recipes assume. 200 sheets is the sensible pack size for a household brewing daily.
Do not buy this pack for an 01 or 03 dripper. And if you want a heavier body and no consumables, a metal filter is the different answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size V60 filter do I need?
Match the number on the dripper. 02 is the common size, rated one to four cups. An 01 filter is too small for an 02 and an 03 is too large.
Should I rinse the filter first?
Yes, especially with natural unbleached paper. A rinse with hot water removes the papery taste and preheats the dripper.
Is natural better than bleached?
Neither is better. Unbleached carries slightly more paper character if unrinsed; both are food safe and taste the same after a rinse.
Can I use another brand of cone filter?
You can, but flow rate changes with the paper, and V60 recipes are written around Hario's own. Expect to adjust your grind if you switch.
