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Kalita 102 vs Hario V60 02: Which Plastic Dripper to Buy?

Illustration of a cone-shaped and a flat-bottom wedge-shaped plastic coffee dripper on glass servers on a wooden counter

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yotsuba347

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Short answer: Both are Japanese-made plastic drippers for a few cups, and their 40-count filter packs cost the same $6.50. Get the Kalita 102 ($15.99 at Kalita USA) if you want a forgiving flat-bottom wedge whose three small holes pace the flow for you. Get the Hario V60 02 ($13-14 at Hario USA) if you want a cone with one large opening, where your pouring speed shapes the taste.

How we compare: every spec in this article comes from official manufacturer specifications and product pages (starting with Kalita USA’s 102 plastic dripper page and Hario USA’s V60 02 plastic dripper page), all listed under Sources below. We don’t run hands-on tests, and if a spec isn’t published, we say so. Last updated: October 2026.

Check price: Kalita 102 Plastic Dripper
Check price: Hario V60 02 Plastic Dripper

I live in Japan, where both of these are inexpensive first drippers from two of the best-known Japanese coffee-gear makers. Kalita Japan lists the 102-D at ¥440 and Hario Japan lists the clear V60 02 at ¥660, so the choice comes down to brewing style, not price.

I haven’t tested these side by side. Everything below comes from the manufacturers’ official product pages, linked at the end. If a spec isn’t published, I say so instead of guessing.

Quick Comparison Table

Spec Kalita 102 (102-D) Hario V60 02 Plastic
Shape Wedge with flat bottom Cone
Drain holes 3 small holes 1 large opening
Capacity 2-4 cups 1-4 cups
Size 126 x 106 x 85 mm (Kalita Japan) 137 x 116 x 102 mm (W x D x H)
Base / mouth Base 4 in diameter Mouth 116 mm (Hario Japan)
Weight 68 g (Kalita Japan) Not published (about 200 g with retail box, Hario Japan)
Material Clear: AS resin; black: polypropylene Clear: AS resin
Filters Kalita 102 filters V60 02 filters
Filter price (40 ct) $6.50 (Kalita USA) $6.50 (Hario USA)
Included Small coffee scoop Not stated
Dishwasher Dishwasher safe Not stated
US list price $15.99 (Kalita USA) $13 white or red, $14 clear (Hario USA)
Japan list price ¥440 ¥660 (clear)
Made in Japan Japan

Figures are from Kalita USA, Kalita Japan, Hario USA and Hario Japan product pages, checked October 2026. US prices are the makers’ own store prices, not Amazon prices. Hario publishes only a boxed weight for the V60 02, so we don’t compare dripper weights directly.

Key differences at a glance

  • Flow design: The Kalita 102 is a flat-bottom wedge with three small holes, while the V60 02 is a cone with one large opening and spiral ridges.
  • Capacity: Kalita rates the 102 for 2-4 cups, and Hario rates the V60 02 for 1-4 cups.
  • Size: The V60 02 is larger, at 137 x 116 x 102 mm versus 126 x 106 x 85 mm for the Kalita.
  • Price: Kalita USA lists the 102 at $15.99, and Hario USA lists the V60 02 at $13-14. A 40-count box of either brand’s filters is $6.50.
  • What stays the same: Both are inexpensive plastic drippers made in Japan, and both need their own brand’s filter shape.

The 4 Differences That Matter

1. Who controls the flow

Kalita says its three-hole design drips out the good flavor before harsh, muddy notes come through. The three small holes set a steady pace even if your pour is uneven. Hario says the V60’s cone gives a deeper bed of grounds, and its spiral ridges and lack of flow restriction let you pour quickly for a delicate body or slowly for a heavier flavor. In practice, the Kalita does more of the work for you, and the V60 gives you more control.

2. How many cups

The V60 02 is rated for 1-4 cups, so it handles a single mug comfortably. The Kalita 102 is rated for 2-4 cups. If you mostly brew one cup, the V60 02 is the closer fit. If you brew for two, either works.

3. Filters

Each dripper needs its own filter shape: wedge-shaped Kalita 102 filters or cone-shaped V60 02 filters. The official 40-count boxes cost the same $6.50. Kalita USA says its 102 filters also fit most #2 cone coffee makers, which can make them easier to share with other gear.

4. Price and what’s in the box

The V60 02 costs $13-14 at Hario USA and the Kalita 102 costs $15.99 at Kalita USA. Kalita includes a small coffee scoop and lists the dripper as dishwasher safe. Hario USA’s page doesn’t mention a scoop or dishwasher use.

What’s the same

Both are inexpensive plastic pour-over drippers made in Japan, both sit directly on a mug or server, and both use paper filters sold for about the same price. Kalita USA notes that plastic needs less preheating than glass or stainless steel, which applies to both.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Kalita 102 if you:

  • Want consistent cups with less technique
  • Usually brew 2 or more cups
  • Want a scoop and dishwasher-safe dripper

Choose the Hario V60 02 if you:

  • Want to adjust taste by pouring speed
  • Often brew a single mug
  • Want the lower price

The View from Japan

Kalita Japan lists the 102-D at ¥440 including tax. It is AS resin, rated for 2-4 people and made in Japan. Kalita’s Japanese description sums up its design: three holes that drip only the good flavor before off-notes come out. Hario Japan lists the clear V60 02 (part number VDR-02-T) at ¥660, and in Japan the white and red versions are polypropylene. Both makers also sell ceramic, glass and metal versions at higher prices, so the plastic models are the entry point in both lineups.

Japanese reviewers who compare the two tend to call the Kalita 102 the steadier, more forgiving dripper and the V60 the one with more room to adjust. A coffee blogger at Cafe Obrigado writes that the Kalita’s flat bottom and three holes give a stable, classic cup that is hard to get wrong. The same blogger says the V60’s large hole lets your pour change the taste, which is fun but easier to miss, and that it is easier to steer toward a clean, light cup. A coffee-loving tax accountant’s blog rated the Kalita 102 as intermediate and the V60 as advanced, and tasted the Kalita as more bitter and the V60 as more acidic, or brighter. (Third-party reviews, not our own testing.)

Already set on a V60 but unsure of the size? See Hario V60 01 vs 02 Plastic Dripper.

Kalita 102 vs Hario V60 02: Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kalita 102 or the Hario V60 better for beginners?

Kalita says its three small holes pace the flow, so the brew is less sensitive to how you pour. Japanese reviewers often call the Kalita 102 more forgiving and the V60 more demanding but more adjustable.

Do the Kalita 102 and Hario V60 02 use the same filters?

No. The Kalita 102 needs wedge-shaped Kalita 102 filters and the V60 02 needs cone-shaped V60 02 filters. A 40-count box of either is $6.50 at the makers’ US stores.

How many cups does each make?

Kalita rates the 102 for 2-4 cups. Hario rates the V60 02 for 1-4 cups.

Are both made in Japan?

Yes. Kalita USA and Hario USA both list their plastic drippers as made in Japan.

Is the Kalita 102 dishwasher safe?

Kalita USA lists the 102 plastic dripper as dishwasher safe. Hario USA’s V60 02 page doesn’t say either way.

Check current listings

Prices and colors change often, so check the current listing before buying.

Check price: Kalita 102 Plastic Dripper
Check price: Hario V60 02 Plastic Dripper

Sources

Specs checked October 2026. Prices and availability change, so check the current listing before buying.

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