The Hario NEO: Same Cone, Different Conversation

Seventy-two ribs. That number sits at the centre of everything Hario changed when they redesigned the V60, and it explains why a dripper that looks nearly identical to its predecessor behaves like a different tool entirely.

The original V60 has been on bar counters and kitchen shelves since 2004. Its spiral-ribbed interior and 60-degree cone became the template for pour-over brewing worldwide, copied by dozens of manufacturers and adopted by specialty cafés from Tokyo to Sofia. For anyone who has spent time behind an espresso machine or dialling in a morning brew, the V60 is less a piece of equipment than a shared reference point.

So when Hario announced the NEO, the question was immediate: why redesign something that already works?

What Changed Inside

The exterior remains familiar. Same cone angle, same single outlet, same compatibility with standard V60 filter papers. The NEO comes in two sizes (01 for one to two cups, 02 for up to four) and three colours (black, amber, transparent), with a handle-free body made from Tritan PCT resin and a silicone rubber base that grips the server underneath.

The transformation is internal. Where the classic V60 uses spiral ribs twisting downward, the NEO replaces this with 72 ultra-fine vertical ribs running straight down the interior, converging into 9 larger ribs at the base.

In a classic V60, those spiral ribs can create uneven pressure zones in the coffee bed. Water occasionally finds lateral pathways, the filter can partially seal against the wall in low-rib sections, and the result is a brew that rewards precise pouring and punishes inconsistency. The NEO's vertical ribs distribute air channels evenly around the full circumference. Water is guided straight down rather than encouraged to wander. The flow rate is faster, more stable, and the pressure dynamics across the coffee bed are more even.

Brewing Behaviour

The bloom drains noticeably quickly on the NEO. Gas escapes easily, and there is none of the dramatic pooling that sometimes happens with a classic V60 on very fresh, gassy coffee. A centre-out pour motion works well: start in the middle, gradually work outward, keep the bed covered between pours. No spiral choreography required.

One practical note: because the NEO's interior is so uniform between the ribs, the paper seam sits more prominently than in a classic V60. A careful, deliberate fold is worth the extra few seconds. Rinsing the filter before brewing helps it sit flatter and reduces bypass channels.

Target brew time sits between two and a half and three minutes. The draw-down is smooth and the bed settles flat at the end. For anyone who has nailed a V60 one morning and produced something unrecognisable the next, that predictability has real value.

What Ends Up in the Cup

The NEO produces a rounder, fuller cup than the classic V60. Body is more present, sweetness comes through clearly, and the overall profile is less angular. On naturals and anaerobic-processed coffees, where fruit-forward notes and texture are part of what you are after, the NEO handles beautifully.

The trade-off appears with high-clarity washed coffees and delicate light roasts where brightness, florals, and acidity are the point. The NEO softens these. Floral notes are more muted. Acidity is present but less vivid. For a terroir-focused Panamanian geisha or a high-altitude washed Ethiopian, the classic V60 remains the sharper tool.

The NEO smooths what the V60 sharpens. Depending on the coffee and the drinker, that is either a feature or a trade-off.

Who Should Consider It

The NEO suits beginners who want V60-style cups without mastering spiral pour technique, and intermediate brewers who have found the classic V60 frustrating. For anyone using the Hario Switch, pairing it with the NEO is worth exploring; the vertical ribs produce a clean, even draw-down once the Switch is opened.

It is less suited to V60 purists who value maximum reactivity, or to anyone whose current setup already produces exactly the results they want.

The honest assessment: the NEO removes variables, builds confidence, and produces reliable results without feeling like a compromise. For most mornings and most coffees, that is enough.