The Kalita Wave 185 is the perfect dripper for your at-home pour over coffee brewing.
Featuring an unbreakable stainless steel construction, ideal flow rate, and perfectly-fitted "cupcake" paper filters, the Wave is a great choice for many home baristas. Explore the Wave at Brew Gear for more.
Recommended Brewing Parameters
Brewing Volume: 12 - 24 fl oz
Coffee Brewing Ratio (Grounds:Poured Water): 1:17 - 1:15
Grind: Medium-Coarse
Brewing Time: 3 - 3.5 minutes
Brewing Temperature: Set Kettle to 205℉
Step-by-Step
1. Think about how much coffee you'd like to brew (12 - 24 fl oz). The equivalent amount of Poured Water will be 400 - 800g. Begin heating this amount of water and just a little more, ideally in BonaVITA Variable Temperature Kettle.
2. Divide your Poured Water number by 15 for a stronger cup and 17 for a weaker cup (or anywhere in-between the two Coffee Brewing Ratios) to figure out how much ground coffee you should use. Grind this amount of fresh, wholebean coffee medium-coarsely (roughly the size of kosher salt).
3. Place your Kalita Wave 185 on a 1 Liter decanter or favorite coffee thermos (at least 12 fl oz in volume to avoid overflow). Gently set one Kalita paper filter in the brewer, then set the whole kit on a scale and tare to zero.
4. Weigh out your ground coffee dose and re-tare to zero. When your kettle is at 205℉, you are ready to pour in three stages.
5. Start a timer and begin pouring slowly from about four inches above the bed of grounds, right into the center. Your pour should be straight up-and-down and move in slow, concentric circles roughly the size of a silver dollar. If your pour has an arc, then you are likely pouring too quickly. The amount of your first pour is determined by multiplying your dose times two. Ex. Dosed 30g of ground coffee? Your first pour should be 60g of water.
6. At 0:45 seconds into brewing, begin your second pour. Maintain the same pouring dynamics as above, but this time, pour until you are 2/3rds of the way through with your Poured Water amount. Ex. Pour to 400g on the scale if your total Poured Water will be 600g at finish.
7. At 2:00 minutes into brewing, begin your third and final pour. This time, begin by pouring around the rim of the Wave's filter, drawing all coffee grounds down into the slurry. Once done, resume your centered pouring dynamics as described in #6. It is very important you stop pouring when your pre-determined Poured Water amount has been reached.
8. Note what time the coffee finishes dripping out - it should be between 3 and 3.5 minutes. If the brewing finishes earlier, consider whether your pour was slow and steady enough. If your pour was slow enough, you likely need to grind a little finer.
9. Smell and once it cools enough, taste the brew. Little Waves coffees should exhibit a nice sweetness (like honey, caramel, ripe fruit), a moderately intense aroma, and medium-full body with a balanced mouthfeel.
10. If the coffee tastes overly bitter, consider coarsening your grind one notch. If it tastes overly sour, consider fining your grind one notch. If it feels weak, consider using a slightly stronger Coffee Brewing Ratio. If the coffee feels strong, consider using a slightly weaker CBR (always within the 1:17 - 1:15 range).
11. Most importantly, enjoy your freshly brewed coffee!
