Kalita Wave Brew Guide: How to Make Perfect Pour-Over Coffee

The Kalita Wave is a unique pour-over brewer that uses tailor-made filters to provide a “fool-proof” brewing experience. 

The filters for the Kalita Wave feature a 20-wave design that limits the amount of contact between the filter and the brew chamber. This unique design allows the water to flow freely over the ground coffee and prevents it from accumulating, ensuring even extraction without bitterness from over-immersion.

This brewer is simple to use and makes great coffee. In this brew guide, you'll learn how to use the Kalita Wave and the different brews you can make with it.

Kalita Wave Brewing Specs:

• Brew Time: 3–5 minutes
• Coffee/Water Ratio: 1:12
• Grind: Medium-coarse 
• Water Temperature: 208ºF (98ºC) 
• Recommended Coffee: DaLat (100% Arabica)

Kalita Wave Brewing Summary

1. Boil a kettle of water. 
2. Measure and grind the coffee. 
3. Soak the filter and preheat the equipment. 
4. Add the coffee to the brew chamber.
5. Bloom the coffee.
6. Add the rest of the water and wait for it to brew. 
7. Remove the brew chamber and enjoy your coffee. 

What You Need to Brew Coffee With a Kalita Wave

You don't need much to make fantastic coffee with the Kalita Wave pour-over brewer. High-quality coffee and Kalita filters are the most important aspects of the brew. 

Here's what you need to brew coffee with the Kalita Wave:

Tools Needed

1. Kalita Wave — These are available in two sizes (the 185 and the 155). However, the size difference is minimal.
2. Kalita Wave Paper Filters — These tailor-made filters are essential for brewing coffee with the Kalita Wave pour-over. 
3. Coffee Grinder — The best coffee is made with freshly ground coffee. Use a burr or blade grinder to produce the medium-coarse grind needed for the Kalita Wave.
4. Kettle — The Kalita Wave works by pouring hot water over ground coffee. You'll need an electric or stovetop kettle to heat the water. A gooseneck kettle provides the most control. 
5. Coffee Measure — Use a coffee measure or weighing scale to accurately measure your beans.
6. Coffee Cup — If you want to brew single servings directly into a cup, make sure it fits well underneath the brewer. 

Ingredients

1. High-Quality Coffee — Opt for a high-quality, whole-bean arabica coffee. 
2. Water — Use fresh, filtered water to produce a clean pour-over brew.
3. Sugar (Optional) — You can sweeten this brew with sugar if desired. 
4. Milk (Optional) — Add a splash of milk for a white coffee. 

Coffee Recommendations: Kalita Wave Brewer

We recommend using 100% arabica coffee such as DaLat, to brew with the Kalita Wave. Dark-roast arabica coffee produces a well-rounded, balanced brew that's bold, smooth, and sweet. This coffee offers a mild caffeine content and notes of nuts, chocolate, caramel, and stone fruit. 

If you want to brew the most complex cup of coffee using the Kalita Wave, we recommend purchasing a whole-bean coffee. Grinding coffee beans fresh produces a cup with a more complex flavor profile and a silkier mouthfeel. 

If you don't want to grind coffee beans yourself, make sure to opt for a recently ground, high-quality pre-ground arabica. 

Step-by-Step Brewing Instructions: The Kalita Wave

As Kalita puts it, “brewing great coffee with the Kalita Wave is fool-proof.” While this is true to some extent, you still need to know the ins and outs of pour-over brewing. 

Here's how to make coffee with the Kalita Wave pour-over brewer:

1. Boil a Kettle of Water

First, boil a kettle of water. Use fresh, filtered water for the cleanest brew. You'll need to boil enough water for the amount of coffee you wish to brew and some extra for rinsing the filter and pre-heating.

2. Measure and Grind the Coffee

Next, measure and grind your coffee. We recommend choosing a dark roast arabica and grinding it to a medium-coarse consistency. 

The amount of coffee you need to grind depends on the size of your Kalita Wave and how much coffee you wish to brew.

Use the guide below to work out how much coffee and water you need:

3. Prepare the Filter

Place your Kalita Wave on top of your mug or Kalita carafe. Pour some hot water over the filter and allow it to drip through into the container below. Discard the water once it has all dripped through.

This does two things — it washes the impurities out of the filter and preheats the equipment. 

4. Add the Coffee

Next, add your ground coffee to the filter in the brew chamber and disperse them evenly. 

5. Bloom the Coffee

Blooming your coffee is extremely important if you want to brew the perfect cup. To do this, pour enough water to just cover the grounds. Wait for 45 seconds to allow the gasses to escape. 

6. Brew the Coffee 

Once you've bloomed the coffee, add the rest of your water. Move in a slow, gentle circular motion being careful not to disturb the grounds too much.

You'll notice the first drips pass through the flat bottom of your Kalita Wave within around 30 to 45 seconds. The brewing process will complete after three to five minutes. 

7. Adjust and Enjoy

Remove the Kalita Wave pour-over from your coffee mug and discard the filter and spent grounds. 

Enjoy the brew black or sweeten it with sugar and cream with milk if desired. 

Beverage Ideas: Kalita Wave Dripper

The Kalita Wave makes high-quality pour-over coffee. Coffee made with this brewer is delicious on its own. However, you can make more than just black coffee with this brewer. 

Here are five beverages you can make with the Kalita Wave pour-over:

1. White Coffee

You can easily make a white coffee with the Kalita Wave. If you enjoy sweet, milky coffee, adding milk and sugar can achieve this. You can also add coffee creamer or sweetened condensed milk to create a rich, indulgent white coffee. 

Consider adjusting the coffee-to-water ratio slightly to increase the strength of the brew — this ensures the flavors of the coffee shine through the creaminess of the milk.

To make white coffee with the Kalita Wave, simply brew a cup as normal and add a splash of milk or creamer and a spoonful of sugar to taste. 

2. Iced Coffee

Iced coffee is easy to make with the Kalita Wave. By increasing the coffee-to-water ratio, cooling the brew, and combining it with milk, you can make a delicious, indulgent, chilled brew in minutes. 

Here's how to make iced coffee with the Kalita wave:

1. Grind the Coffee — Grind the coffee. You will need around 25 grams per serving but you'll reduce the amount of water used for extraction. We recommend robusta coffee or blends such as Saigon OG for iced coffee. 
2. Brew the Coffee — Brew the coffee as you normally would (use the brew guide above). However, use around 50% less water. This will create a concentrated shot of coffee.
3. Cool the Coffee — Cool the concentrated coffee down to room temperature. You can do this by waiting or speed up the process by adding an ice cube to the brew. 
4. Assemble the Brew — In a glass, add ice followed by the concentrated shot of coffee. Then, top the rest of the glass up with milk. Sweeten with your favorite syrup or powdered sugar. 
5. Garnish and Serve — Add a dollop of whipped cream (if desired), serve, and enjoy your iced coffee while cold. 

3. Flash Brew Coffee

Flash brew is a Japanese brewing method that makes a complex iced coffee in minutes. By brewing coffee directly over ice, you can create a chilled brew with delicate flavors and the flavor notes of a hot brew. Flash brew coffee can be consumed black or combined with milk and sugar. 

Here's how to make flash brew coffee with a Kalita Wave: 

1. Prepare the Pour-Over — Prepare the Kalita Wave as normal. Add a filter, rinse it, and discard the water. 
2. Add Ice — Add plenty of ice to your carafe or coffee mug. You'll brew the coffee directly over this. 
3. Brew the Coffee — Bloom and brew the coffee directly over the ice (follow the brew guide above). Once the brew is complete, stir it to ensure the flavors are evenly distributed.
4. Adjust and Serve — Add a touch of milk and sugar (optional) or enjoy the brew black. 

4. Mocha Coffee

Mocha coffee combines the flavors of chocolate, coffee, and cream. Making mocha coffee with a Kalita Wave is simple and can be achieved in minutes. 

Here's how to make mocha coffee with the Kalita Wave:

1. Prepare the Chocolate — Chop a serving of dark chocolate into small shards using a sharp knife. Place it in your cup and add a small amount of freshly boiled water. Stir until a chocolate syrup is produced. 
2. Brew the Coffee — Brew a cup of coffee using the Kalita Wave. Reduce the amount of water used by around 25% to create a slightly more concentrated brew. Brew the coffee directly onto the chocolate syrup.
3. Sweeten the Brew (Optional) — Add a spoonful of sugar or coffee syrup to sweeten your brew if desired. 
4. Add Milk or Cream — Add a good dash of milk, cream, or coffee creamer. Stir the coffee to combine all the elements. 
5. Serve and Enjoy — Garnish with cream and top with chocolate shavings if desired. Serve and enjoy while warm. 

5. Latte Coffee

Although you can't make a traditional latte with a Kalita Wave — you need an espresso machine for that — you can make a latte-style brew. By frothing warmed milk and creating a concentrated brew with your pour-over, you can make a delicious, light, foamy coffee. 

Here's how to make a latte with the Kalita Wave:

1. Brew the Coffee — Brew a cup of coffee as usual using your Kalita Wave (use the brew guide above) but reduce the amount of water by 50%. This will create a concentrated coffee with espresso-like qualities. 
2. Warm the Milk — In a small pan, warm some whole milk (or a vegan alternative). Make sure to heat the milk slowly without boiling it. 
3. Froth the Milk — Using a milk frother or fine whisk, froth the milk until velvety, smooth, and foamy. 
4. Combine the Ingredients — Gently pour the frothed milk over your concentrated coffee moving in a slow, circular motion. Hold back the microfoam during pouring and add it to the top of the beverage at the end. 
5. Serve and Enjoy — Add a dusting of coffee or powdered cocoa, serve, and enjoy while warm. 

FAQs: The Kalita Wave Drip Brewer

Want to learn more about the Kalita Wave and other drip and pour-over coffee makers?

Check out the answers to the FAQs below:

1. What is a Kalita Wave?

The Kalita Wave is a pour-over coffee brewer that uses tailor-made 20-wave filters that limit the paper's contact with the brewing chamber. This unique design prevents the water from accumulating over the grounds, ensuring efficient flow and even extraction.

2. How Much Caffeine is in a Cup of Pour-Over Coffee?

The amount of caffeine in a cup of pour-over coffee made with a Kalita Wave varies depending on the type of bean and coffee-to-water ratio used. The average 8 oz (240 mL) cup of arabica coffee made with this brewer contains somewhere between 90 and 160 mg of caffeine. 

3. What’s the Best Coffee for Pour-Over?

The best coffee for pour-over brewers such as the Kalita Wave should be high-quality and freshly ground just before brewing. Most people prefer the subtle, smooth, sweet taste of arabica coffee. However, robusta and blends offer a unique experience suited to people who prefer darker, stronger brews. 

4. Can You Add Milk to Pour-Over Coffee?

Yes. You can add milk to pour over coffee. You can also add creamer, syrups, and even condensed milk to create a Vietnamese-style brew. 

5. Is a Drip Coffee Maker the Same as a Kalita Wave?

No. A drip coffee maker is an electric machine that automatically drips hot water over coffee. However, drip coffee makers and pour-over brewers like the Kalita Wave produce similar brews. Drip coffee machines offer convenience but far less control over extraction. The Kalita Wave offers much more control over extraction but less convenience.

6. Is a Coffee Dripper the Same as a French Press?

No. A coffee dripper (pour-over) extracts the flavors and caffeine from coffee through the slow pouring of hot water over ground coffee. The French press is an immersion brewer that extracts the flavors from coffee by submerging the grounds in water for five minutes before straining. 

7. Can You Make Iced Coffee With a Kalita Wave?

Yes. The Kalita Wave is a fantastic brewer to use for making iced coffee. To make iced coffee with this brewer, make a concentrated coffee by increasing the coffee-to-water ratio. Cool the coffee, pour over ice, and add milk and sugar to taste. You can also use this pour-over to make flash brew by adding ice to your cup before brewing the hot coffee over it. 

8. Can You Make Cold Brew With the Kalita Wave? 

No. You can't make cold brew coffee using a Kalita Wave. However, you can use it to separate the grounds from a cold brew that's been steeped in a jug overnight. You can also use it to make flash brew coffee — a rapidly-cooled iced beverage made with hot brewed coffee.

9. Do You Need Filters for the Kalita Wave? 

Yes. You need filters for the Kalita Wave. The benefit of this setup is the filters themselves. Kalita makes tailor-made 20-wave paper filters specifically designed for this pour-over. They're available in packs of 100 for around $15. Monthly subscriptions are also available, which reduce the cost to around $11 for a pack of 100 filters. 

10. What’s the Difference Between Arabica and Robusta?

Arabica and robusta are two different types of coffee beans. Arabica beans produce a smooth, sweet, bold brew with a mild caffeine strength. Robusta beans produce a dark, robust, slightly bitter brew with a strong caffeine content.