Review on HARIO VHS 60B Double Vacuum Structure by John Bosch

I like to experiment with pour-over recipes at home. For breakfast or lunch, I usually make 12 to 16 ounces of coffee at a time. This pot keeps my coffee warm throughout the meal, which means it does what I wanted it to do. According to another reviewer, Nancy J. Brower, "What it doesn't do is retain heat. Coffee comes out lukewarm within 30 minutes. Then I put my coffee mug in the microwave.” When considering this purchase, Nancy's 2-star rating was cause for hesitation. Heat retention was one of the main features I was looking for. Luckily, my experience with the Hario VHS-60B has so far allayed those concerns. Maybe Nancy's was defective, or her definition of lukewarm is different from my own. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (at WHO), regular drinking of very hot beverages (65 degrees Celsius/149 Fahrenheit or higher) is a probable carcinogen. I'm not interested in developing esophageal cancer, so my ideal drinking temperature may be lower than Nancy's. I hope you find the data and my opinion useful. Heat retention/insulation test first: I started with 500ml of 90 degree Celsius water. As shown in the picture, it cooled to 85 degrees when poured into the pot. I immediately closed the lid after this measurement. After that I opened the lid every 30 minutes to measure the temperature. I finished this experiment after 3 hours and 30 minutes to go to bed. Each reading had the lid open for about 20 seconds, during which time the temperature dropped at least an additional half a degree (Celsius) or so. Therefore, it can keep a higher temperature longer in real use; However, in this experiment, I did not simulate consumption by gradually pouring out the contents. 500ml stayed in the pot until the end. The temperatures below are given in Celsius. Here are the dates. 1st reading: 85.82 (30 minutes) : 81.23 (60 minutes) : 78.14 (90 minutes) : 75.25 (120 minutes) : 72.96 (150 minutes) : 70.37 (180 minutes) : 68.08. (210 mins): 66.0 After 3 1/2 hours it was still warmer than what I would call "lukewarm" at 66 degrees Celsius (150.8 Fahrenheit). Second, Size and Weight: Height: Approximately 14 cm or 5.5" Width at base: 12.7 cm or 5" Weight: 492.7 grams or 17.37 ounces Third, Pouring Features: As other reviews have noted , it's a bit awkward to cast (hence one star less). Filled with 500ml (I did the experiment with 500ml of water) it started pouring at about a 75 degree angle. To continue the flow rate, I quickly increased this angle to 90 degrees. After maintaining this 90 degree angle for about 350ml, I had to angle my spout at 110120 degrees to empty the remaining 150ml. If you don't increase the angle at the end, it behaves like it's empty, which is a bit strange at first. I got used to it quickly, so I don't think it's a deal breaker. Your mileage may vary. Final Thoughts: This is a stylish little pot that will keep its contents warm for a reasonable amount of time. Its short stature and wide base make it well suited as a pour-over platform. My Hario v60 (size 02) fits it perfectly. I don't think there are many competitive options in its intended role as a double walled/insulated small portion stainless steel coffee container. Revain has cheaper insulated stainless steel coffee carafes, but they are all larger and have a larger capacity (typically 1.5 litres). There are some double-walled glass carafes in this size/shape class. If this doesn't meet your specific needs, these may be your best bets. I'd love to see improved casting properties in future versions (without sacrificing current isolation properties), but this iteration works well enough to recommend.