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Hario V60 Filters White vs Natural Brown: Which to Buy?

A white and a natural brown cone-shaped paper coffee filter side by side, with a small stack of folded filters, on a wooden table

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Short answer: For most people, get the white Hario V60 filters (VCF-02-100W). Hario USA charges the same $10.25 for 100 white or natural brown filters in size 02, and Japanese testers found the white paper adds less paper smell. Hario says the white ones are oxygen-bleached, not chlorine-bleached. Pick the natural brown (VCF-02-100M, “Misarashi”) if you prefer unbleached paper, and rinse it with hot water before you brew. Whichever color you choose, match the size to your dripper: 01, 02 or 03.

How we compare: every spec and price in this article comes from Hario’s official pages (starting with Hario USA’s V60 02 filter page and Hario Japan’s paper filter page), all listed under Sources below. We don’t run hands-on tests. Where we quote taste comparisons, they come from Japanese testers, and we say so. Last updated: November 2026.

Check price: V60 02 White, 100 ct (VCF-02-100W)
Check price: V60 02 Natural Brown, 100 ct (VCF-02-100M)

Hario’s V60 paper filters are the cone-shaped papers made for the V60 dripper, made in Japan. Every size comes in two colors: White, with model numbers ending in W, and Natural Brown, ending in M for “Misarashi,” Japanese for unbleached. The two colors use the same cone shape and seam and have the same capacity, and in the U.S. they cost the same. So the choice comes down to how the paper is made and whether you notice any paper taste. This guide compares the most popular size, 02, and then shows which size fits which dripper.

Quick Comparison Table

Spec White (VCF-02-100W) Natural Brown (VCF-02-100M)
Paper 100% oxygen-bleached paper pulp (Hario Australia) 100% unbleached paper pulp (Hario Australia)
Hario’s color name W: White / “Bleached” (Hario Europe) M: Natural Brown, “Misarashi” in Japanese
Fits V60 02 drippers (and Switch 02) Same
Capacity (Hario) 1-4 cups 1-4 cups
Shape 60° cone with a side seam Same
Hario USA claims Chemical free, made without glue, FSC certified Same
Made in Japan Japan
Hario USA price, 100 ct $10.25 (about 10¢ per filter) $10.25 (about 10¢ per filter)
Hario USA price, 40 ct $6.50 $6.50
Hario USA price, 100 ct boxed $10.75 (sold out Nov 1, 2026) $10.75
Japan suggested retail, 100 ct (tax incl.) ¥407 ¥440

Paper type from Hario Australia’s official store; color names from Hario Europe and Hario USA; capacity, claims and U.S. prices from Hario USA’s online store (hario-usa.com), checked November 1, 2026, when every 02 option was listed as available except the boxed white 100-count. Japanese prices are Hario Japan’s suggested retail prices, tax included. Per-filter costs are our math.

Key differences at a glance

  • Paper: White is 100% oxygen-bleached paper pulp. Natural Brown is 100% unbleached paper pulp.
  • Paper smell: Japanese testers who poured hot water through both found a stronger paper smell from the brown filter. Rinsing reduces it.
  • Price: same in the U.S. ($10.25 per 100 in size 02). In Japan, the brown filters cost slightly more (¥440 vs ¥407).
  • Same on both: 60° cone shape, 1-4 cup capacity in size 02, no glue, FSC certified, made in Japan, and the same 40 ct, 100 ct and boxed 100 ct packs.

1. Bleached vs Unbleached: What Hario Says

Hario’s regional stores describe the two papers plainly. Hario Australia lists the materials as “White: 100% oxygen bleached paper pulp” and “Natural: 100% unbleached paper pulp.” Hario Europe says the paper is “either natural or oxygen bleached (and therefore chemical-free).” Hario USA lists the material as paper pulp and describes the filters as chemical free, made without glue and FSC certified.

In Japan, Hario’s FAQ answers the common worry directly: the raw material is natural pulp, and no harmful chemicals are used. So if you have been avoiding white filters because you picture chlorine bleach, Hario’s own descriptions say that is not how its white filters are made.

Hario doesn’t present the brown paper as a different-performing filter, either. It gives both colors the same capacity, and its USA listing uses one description for both: “specially designed to fit our V60 drippers, with limited flow restriction to enhance clarity and balance in the coffee.” Hario does not publish separate flow-rate or thickness figures for the two colors.

2. Paper Taste and Rinsing

The practical difference people notice is paper smell. Hario Europe’s product page says: “Before brewing your coffee, make sure to rinse with boiling water to get rid of any unwanted flavours contained in the paper.” That advice is for both colors.

Hario’s V60 filter paper manual gives the steps:

  1. Fold the paper filter along the seam and place it in the dripper.
  2. Rinse the filter with hot water, then pour that water out of the server.
  3. Add medium-fine ground coffee and shake the dripper lightly to level it. Hario suggests 10-12 g of coffee per 120 ml (4 oz) serving.
  4. Pour a little hot water to wet the grounds, wait about 30 seconds, then keep pouring slowly in circles. Hario says to finish within 3 minutes.

If you rinse every time, the gap between the two colors gets smaller (see what Japanese testers found, below). If you tend to skip the rinse on busy mornings, white is the safer pick.

3. Which Size Fits Your Dripper: 01 vs 02 vs 03

Color is a matter of taste, but the size has to be right. Hario Japan’s page reminds buyers to check that the dripper size and paper size match. The number in the model (VCF-01, VCF-02, VCF-03) matches the number on the dripper.

Filter size Fits Hario capacity About how much coffee (our math) Hario USA, 100 ct Hario USA, 40 ct Model numbers (W / M)
01 V60 01 drippers 1-2 cups Up to about 240 ml (8 oz) $9.25 $6.00 VCF-01-100W / VCF-01-100M
02 V60 02 drippers, Switch 02 1-4 cups Up to about 480 ml (16 oz) $10.25 $6.50 VCF-02-100W / VCF-02-100M
03 V60 03 drippers, Switch 03 1-6 cups Up to about 720 ml (24 oz) $11.50 $7.00 VCF-03-100W / VCF-03-100M

Capacity and prices from Hario USA (checked November 1, 2026; all 01 and 03 options in stock). The ml and oz column is our estimate, multiplying Hario’s cup rating by the 120 ml serving used in Hario’s filter manual. Hario USA also sells boxed 100-count packs for 01 ($9.75) and 02 ($10.75); there is no boxed 03.

  • V60 01 owners need 01 filters. Our V60 01 vs 02 plastic dripper guide covers which cone to get.
  • V60 02 plastic, ceramic or glass drippers take 02 filters. So does the Hario Switch 02. Hario USA says the Switch takes “a standard 02 V60 filter” (see our Switch 02 vs V60 02 comparison).
  • V60 03 and Switch 03 owners need 03 filters, which cost $11.50 per 100.
  • Kalita 102 and other flat-bottom drippers use different, trapezoid-shaped filters, not V60 cones. See our Kalita 102 vs Hario V60 02 guide.

Small 01 buyers can find the 01 papers as VCF-01-100W (white) and VCF-01-100M (natural brown). Both are $9.25 per 100 at Hario USA.

4. Pack Sizes and Price per Filter

In size 02, Hario USA sells each color in three packs: 40 count ($6.50), 100 count ($10.25) and 100 count boxed ($10.75). Our math puts a 100-count bag at about 10¢ per filter, compared with about 16¢ from a 40-count bag. If you brew once a day, 100 filters last a little over three months. On November 1, 2026, Hario USA listed the boxed white 02 (VCF-02-100WK) as sold out. The bagged white and both brown versions were available.

If you see V60 “Meteor” filters, those are a different product. Hario USA says the Meteor (VCF-01-50-MT, VCF-02-50-MT) is made from paper, abaca and PLA and has nearly 3 times the permeation rate of the classic V60 filters, to highlight acidity and clarity. It is sold in white only, at $26.50 and $28.50 per 50, or about 53-57¢ a filter. For everyday brewing, the classic white or brown filters cost far less.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose White (VCF-02-100W) if you:

  • Brew light roasts or delicate coffees and want as little paper taste as possible
  • Sometimes skip rinsing the filter
  • Want to see the coffee bed clearly, one reason a Japanese retailer says baristas pick white
  • Want the lower paper smell at the same $10.25 price

Choose Natural Brown (VCF-02-100M) if you:

  • Prefer unbleached paper
  • Always rinse the filter with hot water first, as Hario recommends
  • Like the look of the natural paper

A View from Japan

In Japan, Hario sells these as the V60用ペーパーフィルター (“paper filter for V60”). The brown version has a name you won’t see on most U.S. labels: みさらし (misarashi), meaning “unbleached.” Hario Japan’s product page lists the same model numbers as the U.S. store, made in Japan, and gives natural pulp as the material.

One detail runs opposite to what many U.S. buyers expect. In Japan, the unbleached brown filters cost slightly more than the white ones: ¥440 vs ¥407 for 100 sheets of size 02, at Hario’s suggested retail prices. In the U.S., Hario charges the same for both. Hario Japan also sells a pack the U.S. store doesn’t list: VCF-02-50M-F, 50 brown sheets with a hole for hanging, at ¥220.

Item Japan (Hario official)
Japanese name V60用ペーパーフィルター (“paper filter for V60”)
Color names ホワイト (White, W) and みさらし / ブラウン (Misarashi, “unbleached,” M)
Material 天然パルプ (natural pulp); Hario’s FAQ says no harmful chemicals are used
02, 100 sheets (tax incl.) White ¥407; Brown ¥440
02, 40 sheets White ¥231; Brown ¥242
02, 100 sheets boxed White ¥583; Brown ¥605
Japan-only pack VCF-02-50M-F: 50 brown sheets with a hanging hole, ¥220
Hario’s reminder Check that the dripper size and paper size match

Japanese names, prices and materials from Hario Japan’s paper filter page (hario.com), Hario Japan’s FAQ (PDF) and Hario’s Japanese online store (shop.hariocorp.co.jp), checked November 1, 2026. Prices include Japanese consumption tax.

Japanese reviewers who compared the two colors side by side mostly lean toward white. A coffee blogger who poured boiling water through Hario V60 01 white and brown filters saw no difference in the water’s color. But they found the brown filter’s water clearly smelled of paper and had an odd astringency, while the white filter’s water had only a faint paper taste. They concluded white is the better pick for pour-over. That test used hot water only, not brewed coffee. A home roaster’s blog said the brown paper can make rinse water slightly cloudy and leave a paper smell, and noted that the drip class they attended recommended white. They added that brown is fine if it’s all your local shop sells, as long as you rinse it first. Another roaster who tested Hario V60 filters found some paper taste even in the rinse water and recommends always rinsing. A Japanese retailer’s magazine that asked Hario was told the two colors no longer differ much: white once used chlorine bleaching but is now oxygen-bleached and odor-free, and baristas often choose white so they can see the extraction more clearly. (Third-party reviews, not our own testing.)

Hario V60 Filters White vs Natural Brown: Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy white or brown Hario V60 filters?

For most people, white (VCF-02-100W). Hario USA charges the same $10.25 for 100 of either color in size 02, and Japanese testers who compared the two found less paper smell from the white one. Choose natural brown (VCF-02-100M) if you prefer unbleached paper. Rinse it with hot water before brewing, which Hario recommends for both colors anyway.

Are white Hario V60 filters bleached with chlorine?

No. Hario Australia lists the white filters as 100% oxygen-bleached paper pulp, and Hario Europe calls them oxygen-bleached and “therefore chemical-free.” Hario Japan’s FAQ says the raw material is natural pulp and that no harmful chemicals are used.

What does “Misarashi” mean on Hario brown filters?

Misarashi (未晒し) is Japanese for “unbleached.” It is Hario’s name for the natural brown filters, model numbers ending in M, such as VCF-02-100M. Hario Australia lists them as 100% unbleached paper pulp.

Do brown V60 filters make coffee taste like paper?

They can add a paper smell, especially if you skip the rinse. Japanese testers who poured hot water through Hario 01 filters found a clear paper smell and a slight astringency from the brown filter, and only a faint one from the white filter. Hario Europe says to rinse any V60 filter with hot water before brewing to remove unwanted flavors, then pour out that water.

Do I need to rinse Hario V60 paper filters?

Hario says yes. Its V60 filter manual says to fold the filter along the seam, put it in the dripper, rinse it with hot water and pour that water out of the server before adding coffee. Rinsing also warms the dripper and server.

Which size V60 filter do I need?

Match the filter number to your dripper: 01 filters for a V60 01 (1-2 cups), 02 filters for a V60 02 or Switch 02 (1-4 cups), and 03 filters for a V60 03 or Switch 03 (1-6 cups). Hario Japan reminds buyers to check that the dripper and paper sizes match. The size is printed on the dripper and in the filter’s model number, such as VCF-02.

Can I use regular flat-bottom coffee filters in a V60?

In a pinch. Hario Japan’s FAQ shows how to fold a trapezoid filter to fit a V60, but says you will brew better coffee with V60 paper filters.

Are Hario V60 filters compostable?

Hario Europe says the V60 filter papers are biodegradable. Hario USA says they are made without glue and FSC certified. Check your local composting rules before adding them to a bin.

What is the difference between V60 filters and V60 Meteor filters?

Meteor filters (VCF-01-50-MT and VCF-02-50-MT) are a newer white filter made from paper, abaca and PLA. Hario USA says they have nearly 3 times the permeation rate of the classic V60 filters. They cost much more: $28.50 for 50 in size 02, about 57¢ each, versus about 10¢ for a classic filter.

Check current listings

Amazon search results for “Hario V60 filters” often mix in other sizes (01, 02, 03), multipacks and boxed versions, the pricier Meteor filters, Hario’s flat-bottom Pegasus filters, and other brands’ cone filters sold as “V60 compatible.” Check the model number before you buy: VCF-02-100W is white and VCF-02-100M is natural brown, both 100 count for 02 drippers. Make sure the size number matches your dripper.

Check price: V60 02 White, 100 ct (VCF-02-100W)
Check price: V60 02 Natural Brown, 100 ct (VCF-02-100M)

Sources

Specs and prices checked November 1, 2026. We found no U.S. CPSC recalls for Hario products when we checked. Prices and availability change, so check the current listing before buying.

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