A Conversation with Daigo Hidaka, Designer of the V60 Dripper NEO at HARIO HQ
The V60 Dripper NEO, recently honored with one of the world’s three most prestigious design awards, the iF Design AWARD 2026, represents a bold evolution of our iconic cone-shaped V60.
It was engineered to help brewers create exceptional pour-over coffee with greater speed, clarity, and consistency while preserving the freedom and creativity that define the V60 experience. After two years of rigorous testing and countless prototypes, the NEO was finally brought to life.
Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes to explore how this next-generation dripper came to be.
Q1: It’s been about 20 years since the original V60 launched. How has the “ideal dripper” changed over that time?
When the V60 was first introduced 20 years ago, the focus was on keeping the coffee grounds immersed long enough to draw out plenty of flavor.
Because of that, some early users even said the water drained too quickly and that it was hard to use because the flavor escaped.
But today, light-roast specialty coffee has become the mainstream. Brewers want to highlight the beans’ delicate acidity and fruity aromas with a clean, transparent cup.
In modern coffee brewing, the key performance factor is how smoothly a dripper can drain before any bitterness or off-flavors have a chance to develop.
Q2: What were the key aspects you were most particular about when creating the V60 Dripper NEO?
Our ultimate goal was to deliver the “rightful evolution of the V60,” and we focused on two core priorities: maximizing water flow speed and improving extraction uniformity.
To achieve this, we redesigned the rib pattern from scratch, refining it with micro-adjustments at sub-millimeter and sub-degree precision.
We also wanted to achieve a design that can fit seamlessly into the modern coffee scene, so we adopted a handle-free, minimal design.
To support that direction, we also chose Tritan™ resin materials for its clarity, durability, and stability during brewing.
Q3: The V60 Dripper NEO uses 72 ultra-fine ribs along the upper body to guide water uniformly. How did you arrive at that number?
From the very beginning, we planned to increase the number of ribs, but to determine the optimal count, we prototyped and tested several variations: 36, 72, and 144 ribs.
A key hint came from observing how water drained in another product, the SUIREN. Through testing, we found that 72 ribs offered the “golden ratio” for the smoothest and most stable water flow.
Q4: Why does the rib count decrease from 72 at the top to just 9 at the bottom?
We intentionally reduced the number of ribs from 72 at the top to 9 at the bottom to prevent clogging.
Our testing showed that if the ribs remained densely packed all the way down, the flow would slow dramatically near the outlet, where coffee grounds and water naturally concentrate, ultimately causing water to stall.
By gradually reducing the ribs toward the bottom, the dripper draws in ample air at the top while letting water exit smoothly at the base, creating an ideal flow path with maximized flow speed.
Q5: Lastly, what would you like to say to HARIO’s customers and everyone reading this?
The V60 Dripper NEO is a product we created with confidence, carrying forward the DNA of the beloved V60 while aiming to become the new global standard.
We hope that not only long-time V60 users, but also those just beginning their pour-over coffee journey will experience the clean, vivid cup made possible by its exceptional flow-through performance.
We would be delighted if the V60 Dripper NEO could add more freedom and enjoyment to your coffee experience!
Discover the V60 Dripper NEO
Inspired by years of research and refinement, the V60 Dripper NEO is designed to deliver a cleaner, faster, and more consistent brewing experience.
Choose your size:
→ V60 Dripper NEO 01 (1–2 cups)
→ V60 Dripper NEO 02 (1–4 cups)
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