The short version
If you already brew on a V60 and you're happy with it, you don't need the Pegasus. But that's not the same as saying it's a bad brewer. It isn't. It makes a good cup, it's easier to use than a V60, and for some people it might be the better fit.
It's probably for you if:
you want a brew that works from the first try, without chasing grind size
you drink mostly light roasts (the slower drawdown helps pull more out of them, and you can grind a little coarser)
you like a fuller-bodied cup
you're curious and just want to try something different
You can probably skip it if:
you already own a V60 and like it
you like a fast drawdown, or you want your coffee quick
you mostly drink dark roasts (that slow drawdown can over-extract them if you're not careful with grind)
you like changing filters to change the cup
The Hario Pegasus Dripper: An Honest Assessment for Coffee Enthusiasts
When it comes to pour-over coffee equipment, the market seems to release a new dripper every few months, each promising to revolutionize your morning brew. The Hario Pegasus Dripper is one such device that's been generating buzz in the specialty coffee community. But does it live up to the hype, or is it just another piece of gear that'll end up collecting dust in your cupboard?
After spending considerable time with the Hario Pegasus, testing it alongside the equipment I use daily, I've developed some strong opinions about where this dripper fits in the coffee brewing landscape. This isn't about chasing the latest trend or adding another brewer to an ever-growing collection. It's about understanding what actually makes a difference in your daily coffee routine and what's just marketing noise.
What makes it different from a V60
The Pegasus is a Hario, but its design is different from the V60's. The V60 is a 60-degree cone with one big hole. The Pegasus brews into a V-shaped bed and drains through two small holes, and in my brews it runs roughly 20 to 25 percent slower. That slower flow is most of the story. It's what makes it forgiving on light roasts, and it's what makes it easy to overshoot on dark ones.
One thing still bugs me. The two holes don't drain together. One usually drips straight through while the other puddles for a bit. I'm not sure it hurts the extraction, and the cups I've made on it have been good. It still bugs me.
Size 02, size 03, and how much coffee it makes
Mine is a size 02, and it isn't big. It sits about where a size 02 V60 does. I've brewed 20, 30, even 40 grams of coffee in it. The paper runs a little high, but it gets the job done. There's a size 03 too. Either way, it's a dripper for one to three people.
Which filters fit the Pegasus
This is where it loses me. The Pegasus takes trapezoid papers, the same wedge shape a Clever dripper uses, and I've used the filters from my Clever in it without trouble. They sit a little high, but they work.
The problem is choice. Trapezoid papers come in one or two sizes, and there's no fast or slow version to reach for. You can't drop in a cone filter or a flat-bottom filter to change how the coffee drains, either. On a V60, the paper is one of the biggest levers I have. On the Pegasus, it's mostly fixed. That's my preference, and it's one of the two reasons it isn't my everyday brewer.
The Versatility Question
The heart of the issue with the Pegasus is versatility, or rather, the lack of it. Great coffee equipment should open up possibilities, not close them off. The beauty of pour-over brewing lies in the ability to adjust variables and experiment with different approaches. You might use a faster-flowing filter for a light roast Ethiopian coffee to emphasize bright, fruity notes, then switch to a slower filter for a darker roasted Colombian to manage sweetness and body.
The Pegasus doesn't offer this flexibility. You're locked into a specific brewing approach with limited filter options and a drainage pattern that doesn't inspire confidence. Compare this to a standard V60, which has become the industry standard precisely because it's a blank canvas for coffee brewing. You can find hundreds of recipes online, each adapted for different coffees, grinders, and taste preferences. That community knowledge and shared experimentation is valuable.
What You Should Actually Buy
If you don't own a pour-over dripper yet, pick the V60 if you want room to grow and change things, or the Pegasus if you want something simple that works from the first brew.
For those who already own a V60, there's simply no compelling reason to add a Pegasus to your collection. You won't notice a significant improvement in cup quality, and you'll find yourself reaching for your V60 more often anyway because of its superior versatility.
The Bigger Picture
This assessment of the Pegasus speaks to a larger issue in the coffee equipment world: not every new release is an improvement or even a necessary addition. The specialty coffee industry sometimes falls into the trap of creating solutions for problems that don't exist, driven more by the need to release new products than by genuine innovation.
As coffee enthusiasts, our goal should be making consistently excellent coffee without accumulating gear that doesn't serve a clear purpose. Every piece of equipment in your brewing arsenal should either do something unique or do something common exceptionally well. The Pegasus does a common thing well. Whether that earns it a spot depends on what's already on your counter.
Making Great Coffee Consistently
At the end of the day, brewing excellent coffee comes down to understanding fundamentals: proper coffee-to-water ratios, appropriate grind size, water temperature, and technique. Your dripper is just one variable in this equation. While having the right tools matters, having too many similar tools that don't offer distinct advantages only clutters your process and your counter space.
The Pegasus can make good coffee. That's not in question. You can dial in a recipe, use quality beans, and produce a delicious cup. But you can achieve the same result with equipment that offers more flexibility for future experimentation and learning.
Why limit yourself with a brewer that boxes you into specific approaches when alternatives exist that encourage exploration?
What the Pegasus taught me
Every brewer I own teaches me something about what I like in my coffee, including the ones I don't reach for. The Pegasus taught me how much I care about being able to change the filter. That's worth knowing before you buy any brewer. So the question I'd ask isn't "is the Pegasus good?" It's "what do I want to be able to change?"
The verdict
The Hario Pegasus works, and it works well. It brews a good, fuller-bodied cup and it's easier to get right than a V60. What it gives up is range: one shape of paper, a slower flow you can only speed up by grinding coarser, and two holes that don't drain together.
If you already own a V60 and like it, keep your money for coffee. If you don't own a pour-over brewer yet and you want something simple, the Pegasus is a fair place to start. They cost about the same, so the real question is which one fits the way you like to brew.
Hario Pegasus FAQ
Is the Hario Pegasus a good dripper?
Yes. It makes a good, fuller-bodied cup and it's easier to use than a V60. Most people who already own a V60 don't need one, though.
What filters does the Hario Pegasus use?
Trapezoid papers, the wedge shape a Clever dripper takes. I use my Clever filters in mine. They sit a little high but work fine. You get fewer choices than with cone filters, and no fast or slow option.
How much coffee does the Pegasus 02 make?
I've brewed 20 to 40 grams in mine. It's a one-to-three-person dripper, even in the larger size 03.
Hario Pegasus or V60: which should I get?
Want range and a faster drawdown? The V60. Want simple, and drink mostly light roasts? The Pegasus. They cost about the same.
If you'd rather see it than read about it, I walk through the Pegasus on the channel: the two holes, the filter fit, and who I think it's for. Watch the Pegasus video on YouTube →
And if you've got your brewer sorted and want a coffee to brew on it, that's what we roast: our everyday Medium Roast. Shop the coffee →