The Hario Mugen, released in 2019, is Hario's answer to a common complaint about the V60: that it requires too much pour technique. The Mugen keeps the 60-degree cone and single-hole drainage of a V60 but replaces the spiral ribs with a smooth interior. The missing ribs mean the filter seals more tightly against the wall, slowing flow dramatically.
The idea is to make the dripper less sensitive to pour skill. With restricted drainage, you can use a one-pour recipe — dump all the water in and wait — and still get a balanced extraction. The word mugen translates roughly as "infinite" or "no technique needed", which summarises the design philosophy well. The cup is sweeter and rounder than a classic V60 at identical grind, with slightly less top-note articulation.
A simple recipe that matches the spirit of the Mugen: 15 g of coffee to 250 g of water (1:16), medium grind, water at 94 °C, a single pour of all 250 g within 30 seconds, total drawdown in 3:00 to 3:30. Uses standard V60 02 paper filters. It is an excellent first V60 for a beginner or a low-fuss option for someone who brews V60 daily but does not want to concentrate every morning.
