Looking forward to learning the tips and tricks of using the Kalita Wave? Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Kalita Wave for the best possible results. Read on!
With unique, wavy contours, and stainless steel finish, Kalita Wave pleases coffee and design enthusiasts alike. When it comes to pour-over brewing, many people stick to Kalita because of its convenient on-the-go outlook. The flat-bottom filter and even extraction add more to its appeal. However, to make the most of your Kalita Wave brewer, it’s essential to master the slow spiral pouring technique.
If you have already got or are going to bring this mind-blowing brewer but don’t know how to use it properly, check out this definitive guide. It shows how to use Kalita Wave pour-over to brew world-class cups in minutes.
A Glance at Kalita Wave
Kalita brand was established in 1958 at Nihonbashi, Tokyo, and it’s enjoying its journey as a state-of-the-art coffee equipment manufacturer for over half a century. At first glance, the Wave may look just like your average pour-over brewer. However, in actuality, it goes far beyond. Boasting a flat 3-hole bottom, the Kalita Wave strategically restricts the water flow, which simplifies the entire brewing process.
Due to Kalita’s unique design feature, it produces more concentrated coffee than other contemporary drippers. Kalita’s rigid filters let the air balance the flow of the water. Besides, they do the job of the insulators, which keep your brew warm. This approachable device is highly admired because of its tangible ability to brew flavorful yet bold cups.
How to use Kalita Wave?
Brewing with Kalita Wave
Equipment
- Kalita pour-over coffee maker
- Water filter
- Scale
- Coffee grinder
- Gooseneck kettle Gooseneck kettle helps with better control over pouring
- Thermometer Recommended temperature is 195-205 degrees, hotter or colder can result in unevenness
Ingredients
- 320 Grams Water
- 20 Grams Coffee beans
Instructions
- Take a gooseneck kettle and heat up water. Take the thermometer and ensure that the water temperature has reached 195-205 degrees Celsius.
- Take the filter and place it into the dripper. Now start pouring hot water over the filter. It will help you saturate it and remove the papery taste. Once done, discard the hot water.
- Grind single-origin medium to dark roast coffee beans. The ideal grind size for Kalita pour-over coffee is medium. A little grit may do the job. However, ensure that there is no visible chunk identical to sea salt. The ideal gold-standard ratio is 1:16; that's why in this recipe, 20 grams of coffee and 320 grams of coffee are used.
- Now add coffee to the Kalita brewer. Distribute the coffee grids evenly by giving your brewer a light shake. This will help you level out the coffee grounds. Use your scale to keep the measurement right.
- Now you are done with the preparation, and it's time to start the bloom. The objective of this step is to saturate the ground coffee with around 60 grams of water. It will allow the CO2 gasses to release, and you will witness a bubbly action. Bloom can take around 30-40 seconds so wait until it's done.
- Once the bloom is over, slowly add water in consistent and controlled circles. Continue the process until the water level reaches 320 grams.
- Now, wait 2-3 minutes so the coffee drains into your cup. Now you can discard the used grounds and filter, pour coffee into a mug, and enjoy.
Video
*Note: You can experiment with the coffee-to-water ratio. A 1:15 or 1:17 ratio can also do wonders depending on the coffee beans, grinder, and taste preferences.
Why should you rely on Kalita?
Now that you know how to use your Kalita Wave pour-over maker, here we will introduce you to a few facts that will help you understand why your investment in Kalita is justified.
Kalita Wave justifies its namesake
The name of Wave line pour-over makers from Kalita has derived from its horizontal ridges that descend down its wall in a wavy design. This white cone with a flat three-hole plate eliminates any channeling of water in the coffee bed, which ensures clean, bold, and crisp cups.
You can leverage the hands-on nature of pour-over brewing
Kalita Wave is your perfect pick if you are an experienced barista who loves the control offered by the pour-over brewing method. It lets you explore each curve associated with pour-over brewing, rendering you a satisfactory brewing experience.
Wave looks good
If you have heard the old saying “the devil is in the details,” Wave is an implementation of the same. Keeping the good old shape of pour-over makers intact, the manufacturer has designed Wave in a more classic way than modern.
A stout and wide cone, a flat base plate that wraps around the bottom, which allows your maker to rest atop your cup or carafe, and an ergonomic handle add more to its aesthetics. Though the stainless steel version of Wave is more popular, it also comes in ceramic and glass varieties. However, the working methodology of all three versions is the same.
Play with the size
When it comes to choosing the size of your pour-over, Wave gives you a free hand. It comes in two different sizes. While the 155 one is meant for single-cup brewing, the 185 one can brew 3-4 cups at a time.
Wave = Convenience
The Kalita Wave offers a guarantee of even extraction, which is no less than a blessing when it comes to pour-over brewing. The Paper filters of Kalita Wave look almost like oversized cupcakes. Their large ridges keep the bed of grounds away from the walls of the maker.
This facilitates adequate air circulation, which hastens the flow of water along the sides, and this makes the flow rate even and perfects the overall extraction. However, you should store these filters carefully, so they don’t lose shape. You should always keep them upright, ensuring zero tossing or twerking.
Wrapping up
Hope now you know your Kalita Wave pretty well! Get your hands dirty with pour-over brewing using Kalita Wave and enjoy rejuvenating cups without paying your hard-earned bucks to your local cafes every day. We have also placed Kalita Wave on our favorite coffee makers list!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Kalita Wave 155 and 185?
The Kalita Wave comes in two different sizes. The basic difference between 155 and 185 is their serving sizes. While the 155 is strictly meant for single-cup brewing, the 185 is capable of accommodating 2-3 cups.
What is so special about the Kalita Wave?
With the use of a slow spiral pour, you can get to enjoy avant-garde pour-over coffee with the Kalita Wave. Its stainless steel design and wavy contours make it efficient in brewing and aesthetically appealing at the same time. All this together makes the Kalita Wave one of the best picks when it comes to pour-over brewing for domestic use.
How to know if coffee is over-pulled?
Extraction is the key to a great-tasting coffee when you are using pour-over. If you find that your coffee is tasting bitter and lacks the balance between sweetness and bitterness, then probably your coffee has been over-pulled.
Are Kalita filters bleached?
To make it environmentally sustainable and maintain your coffee’s perfectly balanced taste, Kalita filters come with oxygen bleach.
Where is the Kalita Wave manufactured?
The Wave series is a premium range from the house of Kalita and is manufactured in Japan.