What is the Kalita Wave?
The Kalita Wave is a flat-bottomed pour-over dripper from Japanese maker Kalita. Unlike cone-shaped brewers such as the V60, it has three small holes in a flat base. That slows and evens out the flow of water through the coffee bed, so small changes in your pouring matter less.
Wave filter papers are crimped into waves, which holds the paper away from much of the dripper wall. Water flows evenly through the coffee bed.
The result is a clean cup with good clarity. The Wave works particularly well with light to medium roasts and copes with darker coffees too.
How to brew with a Kalita Wave
There are two recipes: one for a single cup and a larger one for two. Both use the same pouring pattern, scaled to the amount of coffee and water.
Single cup
15g coffee, medium filter grind
Kalita Wave 155
250g water at 93°C
Total brew time: 2:30 to 3:00
- Place a Wave 155 filter paper in the dripper and rinse it thoroughly with hot water. This removes any papery taste and warms the dripper and your mug or server. Discard the rinse water.
- Put the Wave on your scale over a pre-warmed mug or server and tare. Add 15g of medium-ground coffee and gently shake the dripper to level the coffee bed.
- Start your timer and pour 50g of water evenly over the coffee, using a gentle circular motion to wet all the grounds. Leave it to bloom until 0:30.
- At 0:30, pour another 100g of water: about 50g in gentle circles across the coffee bed, then a 50g pour into the centre. The total is now 150g.
- At 1:10, pour the remaining 100g in the same way, around 50g in gentle circles followed by 50g through the centre. The total is now 250g.
- Let the coffee drain fully, aiming for a total brew time of 2:30 to 3:00. Once the dripping has slowed to a stop, remove the dripper and serve.
Brew for two
30g coffee, medium filter grind
Kalita Wave 185
500g water at 93°C
Total brew time: 3:30 to 4:00
- Place a Wave 185 filter paper in the dripper and rinse it thoroughly with hot water. This removes any papery taste and warms the dripper and server. Discard the rinse water.
- Put the Wave on your scale over a pre-warmed server and tare. Add 30g of medium-ground coffee and gently shake the dripper to level the coffee bed.
- Start your timer and pour 100g of water evenly over the coffee, using a gentle circular motion to wet all the grounds. Leave it to bloom until 0:30.
- At 0:30, pour another 200g of water: about 100g in gentle circles across the coffee bed, then a 100g pour into the centre. The total is now 300g.
- At 1:30, pour the remaining 200g in the same way, around 100g in gentle circles followed by 100g through the centre. The total is now 500g.
- Let the coffee drain fully, aiming for a total brew time of 3:30 to 4:00. Once the dripping has slowed to a stop, remove the dripper and serve.
Which Kalita Wave size should I use?
The Wave 155 suits single brews of around 200 to 250ml. The larger 185 suits brews of around 400 to 500ml or more. You can use the 185 for a 200 to 250ml brew, but its larger brewing area makes the coffee bed wider and shallower, so you may need to adjust your grind or recipe.
If you mostly brew one cup for yourself, go for the 155. If you regularly brew for two, or simply like a bigger mug, the 185 is the better fit.
Can I use this method with other flat-bottom brewers?
Yes. The recipes were developed for the Kalita Wave, but the same approach is a good starting point for other flat-bottom and Wave-style brewers.
The Orea, Origami and Graycano can all take flat-bottom or Wave-style filters. Each has its own design, flow and quirks, so you may need to adjust your grind size, pouring style or brew time to suit the brewer and filter you're using.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the Kalita Wave 155 and 185?
The numbers are the approximate width in millimetres of the dripper and its matching filter paper. The 155 suits single brews of around 200 to 250ml. The 185 suits brews of around 400 to 500ml or more. You can brew a smaller cup in the 185, but the wider, shallower coffee bed may need a grind adjustment.
What grind size should I use?
Start with a medium filter grind, similar to what you'd use for a Clever Dripper and a little coarser than a V60. Let taste guide you. If the coffee tastes sour or under-extracted, grind finer. If it tastes bitter, dry or heavy, grind coarser. Brew time can confirm the change, but it isn't a rigid target.
Do I need to use Kalita Wave filter papers?
Yes. Wave brewers are designed for Wave filter papers, whose crimped shape suits the flat-bottomed dripper. Use 155 filters with a 155 dripper and 185 filters with a 185 dripper. We stock Kalita Wave filter papers in both sizes.
How does the Kalita Wave compare to a V60?
The V60 has a conical shape and a single large drainage hole, which gives you more control over flow and makes it more sensitive to pouring technique. The Wave has a flat coffee bed and a three-hole base, which makes it more forgiving and consistent. Choose the Wave for a straightforward pour-over with less technique to worry about.
Which Kalita Wave should I buy?
Choose the 155 if you mainly brew single cups. Choose the 185 if you regularly brew 400 to 500ml or make coffee for two. The 185 can brew smaller cups too, though the wider bed may need a grind tweak. Whichever you pick, buy the matching Wave filters.
What coffee works best in a Kalita Wave?
Light to medium roasts work particularly well, especially coffees with bright, fruity or floral flavours, where the Wave's clarity shows them off. Medium and darker roasts make balanced, sweet cups too. Browse our full coffee range to find something to try.
Should I wait for the water to drain between pours?
No. For this recipe, follow the timings rather than waiting for the coffee bed to drain between pours. The Wave's flow is slow enough that there's usually still water above the coffee when the next pour is due.
