Review on HARIO VHS 60B Double Vacuum Structure by Lauren Allen

I was a little apprehensive about some of the lukewarm reviews of this product but I don't really find them to be a problem. In fact, as another reviewer noted, for so many niche coffee products, there aren't many reasonably priced, temperature-maintaining carafes that can compete with the Hario VHS-60B. For now, at least, my rating is 5 stars, which I break down as follows: HEAT RETENTION: Let's get that point out of the way quickly, with one point that should be obvious to anyone taking the time to use single-variety beans , a gooseneck kettle and special pour-over filtration - you won't go to all that trouble to get a great tasting coffee and then let it sit for 4 hours to get all stale and weird. The most I would possibly need to keep pour over coffee warm is maybe 2-3 hours. But more realistically, I just want it to stay at drinking temperature long enough to pour a cup or two, which Hario's and other company's glass servers can't do. The heat retention of the VHS-60B seems perfectly acceptable to me. It's nothing fancy and functionally no different than a $15 vacuum travel mug. But, as I'll discuss below, it gets the job done in a pour-over-ready form factor. BUILD QUALITY AND FIT WITH HARIO V60: I use several pour over machines, including the Chemex and Kalita Wave, but the V60 is probably the most ubiquitous among coffee drinkers for infusion and for various reasons (ease of use, consistency across different coffee types, filter cost, etc. ) my first choice. So the main problem is finding a carafe that has both a spout and an opening that is the right size for a Hario V60 to stand on without tipping over. (Note: I believe most Kalita Wave and Melllita devices would also work as the part that rests on the carafe is similar in size and shape). Because the VHS-60B was designed to do just that, it performs great, is well built and comes in a variety of colors. I liked the white but opted for the matte black thinking it would age better. The pour knob seems sturdy enough and I don't plan on putting it on its side or upside down so I'm not worried if that would cause coffee to spill out at the top or not The reviews were the problems people claimed Pouring coffee from the carafe. To be honest, I don't see that as a problem at all. Yes, you need to increase the angle to get all the coffee out when the carafe empties. Physics should largely explain why this is so. (Note: the more specific reason is that the carafe narrows at the top to allow for the vacuum seal, so some of the last bits of your coffee are likely to get stuck in there. Again, no big deal). I believe the actual storage capacity is 550 mils or 18.6 fl oz (they also make a larger version) and when you start pouring from a full carafe the angle I used was closer to 45 degrees, not 90 or 120 degrees as suggested There are also pictures and complaints of drips running down the side. Again, I really don't see it. Release the button while you're still tipping the carafe, and the coffee that's in the spout and top mechanism is ready to pour. If you just quickly tip it back without interrupting the flow of coffee, then yes, you're likely to spill something down the side! I'm not saying Hario couldn't have been a little more creative with the spout or otherwise improved the design, but if you've ever used a Chemex, a glass pour-over carafe, or even a damn measuring cup, it's pretty simple like that. Show me a better one in the same price range and I would have bought this one but didn't see it when I made the purchase. If I were to give a review it would be said it's a bit on the expensive side for what it does. This is basically no different than the Contigo vacuum travel mugs you'd buy at Target or see on the (overpriced) shelves of a Starbucks. These will keep your coffee just as warm, but they're not formatted to be poured directly with coffee and then served with a spout. That's what the Hario VHS-60B is for, which I think meets all the requirements quite well.