Kalita Wave 185 Drippers

I've gotten to fairly silly levels of obsession trying out various coffee brewing methods, with some of my recent favorites being the Chemex, AeroPress, and Hario V60 pour-over. The Kalita Wave 185 was the next one I "had to try" and I think it's a keeper. NOTE: I would start my review with the caveat that before you even bother obsessing over different brewing methods, look into your coffee grinder situation and upgrade that department first. Super fine, pulverized grinds (or poor consistency in grind size), as are virtually inevitable with the $15 blade grinders many of us used at one time or another, are going to frustrate your efforts at great coffee. It will result in over-extraction and bitterness, plus a very inconsistent brewing experience from one attempt to the next. I have a $100 Capresso Infinity that does a pretty good job at work. I have a lesser quality burr grinder at home and the difference is noticeable, but still a big improvement over a blade grinder. I'm a bit of skeptic when it comes to all the different shapes and filter types for pour-over methods, yet I seem to be trying them all anyway! I think that with a proper grind, fresh coffee, and correct water temperature, just about any method can be used for an acceptable cup of coffee. That being said, the Kalita Wave 185 does a nice job and is among my favorite options right now. PROS - The Wave 185 comes in a variety of materials, but I opted for the metal cone, which I believe is stainless steel. It's surprisingly lightweight and easy to clean. The metal helps with heat retention, also, as I have to think that the stainless dripper heats up more quickly than glass or ceramic (but may cool off afterwards, as well). The stainless model is also a nice option to have if you need to travel with the dripper, and I worry less about slamming it down on a cup or glass carafe. I should note I use the same pour-over carafe designed for my Hario V60 with the Wave 185 - it fits great. I've used the Melitta "size 2" pour-over drippers, and liked them less than either the Wave 185 or V60. One of the problems with some Melitta drippers is that they tend to clog up and not allow the water to sift through fast enough. I wondered if that would be an issue with the Wave 185 - which has 3 small holes in the bottom - but, actually, it worked just as I hoped with a medium/drip grind. I tend to prefer light-to-medium roasts and a lot of the African blends, and these tasted excellent with the Wave 185. It's also ideal for brewing about 300 to 450ml (1-2 cups) of coffee, though the 185 model will probably allow up to 700ml or probably even more. CONS - The primary complaint I would have about the Kalita Wave involves its signature feature, which are the wavy/rippled filters. I find them difficult to separate from each other in the package and then it can be tricky to get coffee into them without dumping grounds around the edges and into the cone itself (which obviously is no good). I've heard people recommend using the funnel that comes with an AeroPress to add grinds, and I suspect that will help. It should also be pointed out that the Kalita Wave filters are a little expensive and generally can only be found online or in specialty shops. This is also true of the Hario V60 filters, though perhaps to a lesser degree. Overall, I'd be hard pressed to say if the Wave 185 is better or worse than the Hario V60 - I like them both. But I do like the results I get with the Wave 185, and the stainless steel model, in particular, is a nice option to have for travel.

For easily the past decade, I’ve been a stickler for my daily french-pressed coffee. Some called me a coffee ‘snob’. I’ve worked in the past as a coffee-slinging barista for nearly three years, so I do have some knowledge on the subject of brewing coffee. That being said, I only recently decided to switch to the pour-over method, mostly due to changing tastes and developing aversion to the often oily, gritty mouthfeel of the French-press method. There’s a few big names in the pour-over industry, such as Chemex and Hario. I didn’t want to purchase a system that required it’s own carafe, and I wasn’t particularly excited about anything glass with a toddler running around. I wanted something I could use my existing double-insulated stainless steel carafe with- and the Kalita Wave 185 fit that bill for me. It’s small and very easy to clean (quick rinse after use, occasional hand-washing). It’s not taking up much space in my cupboards or my counter, and, paired with the paper filters, it’s incredibly easy to use. It can be tricky getting your grind dialed in perfectly, but that’s all part of the process. When you’ve got your grind and proportions figured out, using this daily becomes kind of a daily meditation. It’s more involved than any other coffee brewing method I’ve used, but the reward is a great tasting cup of coffee that is smooth and clean. It’s the most enjoyable home coffee experience I’ve had for quite some time. The Kalita 185 size is enough to fit 45g of coffee grounds, through which I pour 750ml of water, making right around 25 ounces, which is just the right amount for the two mugs I use. It’s simple, smooth, clean coffee every time.

Purchased the stainless-steel version of this dripper and it is perfect! Very nicely crafted and looks stunning. Will never break or chip like glass or ceramic, and not as heavy. Makes fantastic pour-over coffee. Flow rate is perfect once you have the proper grind set. Versatile fit for just about any carafe. Some reviewers have noted rusted handle rivets. I have not experienced this but am also well-aware almost all stainless will rust if not appropriately cleaned and dried. Even the box it comes in is charming. Made in Japan. Bought another for the office and my co-workers were impressed.

This filter basket sits perfectly atop a typical American mug, so it's absolutely perfect for a single 10-12 oz. serving. I use 10g of ground coffee for my serving, but I imagine it could also be used for a small carafe of 20 oz. capacity. This is a wonderfully designed basket, neatly ingenious in that clever Japanese way. I have only used it with the Kalita paper filters, which are top quality, too. I have a larger pot for more people, but for one person, this is a brilliant design.

I've been doing paper filtered pour over since the early 80s. I've always ended up breaking ceramic or glass filter holders so our old stand by has been the plastic Melitta no 4 filter holder. But no matter how well I cleaned the the day before they always look grungy when I pop that filter in in the morning. I also slightly cringe at the thought of pouring near boiling water through plastic and then drinking what comes through on a daily basis. That may or may not be a wholly rational notion but it's there. You know the old 'the closer plastic is to the mouth the closer cancer is to the liver' thing. This Kalita solved both of my issues. It's easy to clean and looks clean the next morning and no more drinking coffee that's infused with plastic if only in thought. It's three small drain holes drain in about the same time as Melitta's one large hole so no learning curve there. Perfect. I also like the fact that we're using #2 filters now instead of #4. They don't cost less and we buy the natural brown ones so we can safely compost them but we're using 50% less paper. Now if someone would just develop a permanent filter with the same characteristics as paper we can cut that down to zero. But they haven't. Finally this puppy is expensive at $25 and I'm cheap! But after using for a week I ordered a second one for my wife so I guess I feel it's a good value. I hope I live long enough that I can say I'm sure of that. Because this thing is lasting forever. LOL

I would give this five stars in a heartbeat... even ten stars! Love it that much, but it is WAY overpriced. Still, it was worth it to me. This thing is heirloom quality. Very nice stainless steel, and while my husband still uses an electric drip coffee maker, I would never go back to that. This pour over makes FABULOUS really fresh tasty coffee. Much better than drip makers. We grind our beans for each use so it's really fresh and this pour over makes it even better! No stale or chemical tastes that you can get from electric drip coffee makers. FAR superior! This thing is built like a tank... very sturdy stainless steel. Good Quality! Highly recommend. Toss it in your suitcase for trips too!

Good quality dripper

I've been using this device daily to make my pourover coffee. I use my DF-54 to grind whole beans, and an inexpensive gooseneck electric kettle to boil water. It works flawlessly every time with standard brown paper filters. I prefer 15 g coffee with 240 g of water, but that might change based on taste.