Kalita Wave 185

Equipment notes

Kalita, a Japanese coffee equipment maker founded in Tokyo in 1958, offers its Wave series in two sizes, and the 185 is the larger one. At a time when conical shapes dominated pour-over, the Wave brought in a flat coffee bed, a design that aims for even extraction relying less on pouring technique. The flat base and its three exit holes spread the flow to help limit channeling, while the dedicated 20-wave filter reduces contact with the wall so hot water does not pool at the bottom; the air layer around the filter is also said to help keep the temperature steady. Wider than the 155, the 185 keeps the bed from getting too deep at multi-cup doses so water can pass through the coffee evenly, and Kalita rates it for two to four cups, which makes it a flexible size for everyday use. Preheat the dripper, start with a medium grind, bloom, then pour in several gentle spiral additions. The cup tends to gain body as the dose goes up, which suits everyday multi-cup brewing. It is a dripper for daily brewers who want one tool to cover everything from a single cup to three or four.

Filters that fit

• Kalita Wave 185Default
• Kalita Wave 185 (Unbleached)Original
• HIFLUX Purity Wave 185Compatible
• HIFLUX Wave 185Compatible
• Orea Wave (V4)Compatible
• Sibarist B3 Flat MCompatible
• Sibarist B3 Wave MCompatible
• Sibarist FAST Flat MCompatible
• Sibarist FAST Wave MCompatible