Guide · Pour-over
Grind size for pour over: V60, Chemex and Kalita Wave
Medium for a V60 or Kalita Wave, medium-coarse for a Chemex: what each maker recommends, what it looks like, and how to adjust using brew time and taste.
The right grind size for pour over is usually medium: Hario describes it as being like granulated sugar for its V60. But it isn’t the same for every dripper. Chemex recommends a medium-coarse grind, and Kalita a medium grind for its flat-bottomed Wave. This guide sets out what each maker recommends, the brew times to aim for, and how to adjust your grind by time and taste. We haven’t tested this in person. Our guidance comes from Hario, Chemex and Kalita’s published instructions. Read how we compare.
Grind size for pour over: what the makers say
| Dripper | Maker’s grind | Maker’s starting recipe | Brew time to aim for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hario V60 | Medium, like granulated sugar | 15g coffee to 250g water | 2:30 to 3:00 |
| Kalita Wave | Medium | 20g coffee to 320g water (1:16) | 2 to 3 minutes |
| Chemex | Medium-coarse | One rounded tablespoon per 5oz cup | Not stated |
These are starting points. Beans, grinder and pouring style all affect the result, so expect to adjust.
Hario V60
Hario UK’s V60 guide recommends a medium grind with the texture of granulated sugar, using 15g of coffee to 250g of water at 92 to 94°C. It says the brew should finish between 2:30 and 3:00. Hario gives a ratio range of 1:15 to 1:17.
The V60’s cone has a single large hole, and Hario says the flow rate is up to you, which is why grind and pouring speed matter so much on this dripper. For the full method, see how to use a V60. A plastic V60 size 02 was £9.00 at Hario UK, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a forgiving brewer. Small changes in grind show up quickly in the brew time.
Kalita Wave
Kalita’s Wave instructions recommend a medium grind, with 20g of coffee and water up to 320g for a 1:16 ratio, though it says 1:15 or 1:17 can taste great too. After a 30 to 45 second bloom, you pour in continuous circles. Kalita says the total brew time should be between 2 and 3 minutes. If it isn’t, you may need to adjust your pour or grind.
The Wave has a flat bottom, and Kalita suggests a gentle shake to level the coffee bed before you pour.
Chemex
Chemex’s brochure says to grind your beans to a medium-coarse grind, the coarsest of the three makers here. It suggests one rounded tablespoon of ground coffee per 5oz cup, adding more if you like it stronger. Chemex also recommends a burr grinder, saying it gives a more consistent particle size for a more even extraction.
Chemex doesn’t give a target brew time in its brochure, so use taste as your guide (see below).
Who it isn’t for: anyone using pre-ground filter coffee and expecting a perfect match. Supermarket filter grinds aren’t labelled by dripper, so check how quickly it drains and adjust your dose if you need to.
What pour-over grind looks like
Words like “medium” mean different things on different grinders, so use these as reference points:
- Finer: espresso grind. See grind size for espresso.
- Medium (V60, Kalita Wave): Hario compares it to granulated sugar.
- Medium-coarse (Chemex): coarser than a V60 grind.
- Coarse: French press grind. See grind size for a French press.
The best reference is your own brew time. If you hit the maker’s time and the coffee tastes good, your grind is right for your setup.
How to adjust your grind
Hario’s V60 troubleshooting advice works as a general rule for pour over:
- Thin, sour or watery: under-extracted. Grind finer, pour more slowly, or raise the water temperature by a degree or two.
- Harsh, bitter or drying: over-extracted. Grind coarser or pour a little faster.
- Taking much longer than expected: Hario says that if a V60 brew goes past 3.5 minutes, it’s almost certainly the grind. Go coarser.
- Racing through: check that water isn’t running down the edges of the paper and that the coffee bed is flat, as uneven flow (channelling) can make it drain too fast.
Change one thing at a time, and make small grind adjustments so you can tell what made the difference.
Do you need a burr grinder?
Chemex recommends one for a more consistent particle size. If you’re choosing a grinder, see the best coffee grinders for pour over. For the drippers themselves, see the best pour-over coffee makers.
FAQ
What grind size is best for a V60? Hario recommends a medium grind, similar in texture to granulated sugar.
Is Chemex grind coarser than V60? Yes. Chemex recommends medium-coarse, while Hario recommends medium for the V60.
How long should a pour over take? Hario says a V60 brew should finish between 2:30 and 3:00, and Kalita says 2 to 3 minutes for the Wave.
Should you grind finer or coarser if pour over tastes sour? Finer. Hario says thin, sour or watery coffee is under-extracted.