Uniquely versatile: the valve lets owners switch between full immersion, standard percolation, and hybrid recipes, and it can be used as a normal V60 whenever they want
Easy and forgiving to use day-to-day — several owners call it less finicky than a plain V60, with the basic 'fill, wait, drain' method being nearly foolproof for beginners and experts alike
Produces excellent, well-extracted cups — owners describe a pleasant, buttery mouthfeel and rate it among their favorite manual brewers on the market
Owners complain about
A meaningful number of owners eventually drift back to a plain V60, leaving the Switch sitting unused in a cabinet once the novelty wears off
In full-immersion mode, paper filters can clog with fine grounds and slow the draw-down, sometimes producing inconsistent or 'disastrous' cups until dialed in
Some owners worry about fragility — fear of the glass/ceramic shattering with regular use, plus anxiety over the small stainless steel ball falling out and down the drain
“I got a December Dripper that I nearly never brew with.
It's just a less-useful, more complicated, Clever that's hard to handle while in use. Add in that I have to buy either grocer flat-bottom or Wave filters, it's just more work to make shine than it's worth.”
“The Hario Switch is a fantastic pour over gadget. Really. Dead easy to use as the basic mode is fill up the funnel with hot water, let it sit for a bit and drain.”
“The reasons I prefer the Switch are (i) better range of filters (Cafec Abaca!), (ii) dishwasher safe if you remove the ball and plastic switch, and (iii) more versatile with hybrid recipes.”
December Dripper vs V60 Switch Immersion Dripper 02: frequently asked questions
Is the December Dripper or the V60 Switch Immersion Dripper 02 better?
Real owners lean toward the V60 Switch Immersion Dripper 02: 72% of 46 owners recommend it, vs 45% of 33 for the December Dripper.
Who should get the December Dripper?
Owners point the December Dripper at kalita Wave users who want adjustable flow control, and tinkerers who like experimenting with coarse grinds.
Who should get the V60 Switch Immersion Dripper 02?
Owners point the V60 Switch Immersion Dripper 02 at v60 fans who want immersion and hybrid recipes without buying a second brewer, and home brewers who like tinkering with pour-over, percolation, and steep times.
What do owners complain about?
The most-cited downside of the December Dripper is leaks, especially early gasket issues. For the V60 Switch Immersion Dripper 02, it's a meaningful number of owners eventually drift back to a plain V60, leaving the Switch sitting unused in a cabinet once the novelty wears off.