Kalita Wave series 185 Lotto 2-4 persons 02035 japan import

I bought the Kalita as it is what you see at the best coffee shops. It did not disappoint. In fact, I love it. The coffee is amazing, though a bit dependent on your technique. I think the Kalita filters must help because if you pour in a decent amount of water, the coffee grounds actually move into the grooves and up the filter. It makes sense to me that the water will be in greater contact with the grounds. I can pour a strong coffee with any pour over, but strongest with the Kalita. Compared to Chemex (I have one at work), I think I can pour a stronger cup with the Kalita. The Kalita is super easy to clean and store, which is a major plus for me. I do get a slightly different flavor with Chemex, but it may be due to SS filter. They are both awesome, but I think the Kalita is a little "smoother" and my coffee retains its temperature better than the Chemex by the time I actually get to drink it. The down side to the Kalita is the size. If you want to make a decent pot of coffee, there isn't nearly as much volume for grounds and water as the Chemex. So, in summary, for my personal use at home, I prefer the Kalita (and for taste), but for work, the Chemex is functionally better. Bonus on the Kalita, is you can travel with it very easily! Cleaning is a simple rinse and drip dry. Read more

I can only compare the Kalita to the aeropress. I've been using the Kalita for about 2 years and at least 5 with the aeropress (does not get much use anymore). Side note, I use the 155 (stainless) if I am only making a cup for myself (250g) and 185 (ceramic) for my wife and I (620g). In general, I believe the Kalita makes a superior cup than the aeropress but it takes more experimentation to make that great cup. In my experience, I had to put in more time in getting the right grind size, ratio, and pour technique to get great results but you will be rewarded. A quality burr grinder (I use the Lido 2), scale, and gooseneck pourer (the slower the better) are essential. With the aeropress you can "throw anything at it" and the coffee is very good and it does not require any special pour technique - just pour from a pot. I'll also add, at least for me, the experience of making coffee with the Kalita is very pleasant/more relaxing - it takes more time but I enjoy the procedure. If you are not patient my recommendation is to not purchase this. Finally, the Kalita is as easy as it gets to clean - throw out filter and short water rinse and you are done. I look at it as the total time is about equal to the aeropress but I rather spend more time brewing and less with cleaning than the opposite. Good Luck. Read more

I use this product to make “pour over” coffee at home. The Kalita Wave is my preferred method for making pour overs. It’s a bit more forgiving than a V60. I’ve had the stainless steel version of this but wanted to try the ceramic one to see if it helps with the pour over. It does. The flow was a bit better with the ceramic one as well. I highly recommend preheating with hot water before making your cup of coffee. Read more

I went back and forth for weeks debating getting this pricier pour over, or a cheaper version. I am so glad I opted for this. It is made of heavy, durable material, similar to the sturdy ceramic you might find in a diner. The unique shape and three holes make for the perfect brew. I think this thing will last for years to come. Read more

If you’re into the ritual of meticulously brewing your pour over, get a Hario V60, but if you’re kinda lazy like me, then you’re looking at the best dripper. - Get the porcelain version. The glass one is too flimsy and the metal one drains too slowly. - Get the 185. The 185 isn’t terribly large so there’s no use in getting the 155. I usually brew 16 oz in my 185. - The Kalita Wave requires the use of their special flat-bottom filters, so make sure to grab some. The Kalita Wave is my everyday coffee brewer since: 1) it makes a great tasting cup of coffee with little fuss 2) clean-up is a breeze... after you're done, you just toss the filter/grounds and rinse the dripper... you don't have to take anything apart or clean multiple pieces... there's no de-scaling like you have to do with machines... and there's no chance of drinking mold like you may do if you don't clean your machine regularly 3) I don't like drinking plastic.... a number of other brewers on the market involve hot water sitting in plastic: many machines, Clever Dripper, AeroPress, Espro, etc. The Kalita Wave takes the effort out of brewing a great pour over. You just put your grounds in and pour your hot water on top. I don't bother pouring the water in any special manner; I just make sure all the grounds get wet at some point. Since I typically brew 16 oz at a time, there isn’t enough room to just dump all the water in at once, so I just have to top it off a few times before walking away for the last minute or so to let it finish. When brewing 16 oz, there's no need to bloom the grounds, but if you brew a smaller amount (say, 8 oz), you probably want to do so; otherwise, the water will drip through too quickly. But as lazy as I am, I still grind my beans fresh and use a good temperature-controlled electric kettle for my water, so be sure you have a good grinder and kettle on hand for an excellent, relatively low fuss cup of coffee. Read more

I have used many pour-over methods, and I think this is my favorite. It cleverly combines cone and flat bottom filter theories in a way that, I think, helps the coffee absorb flavor but not become bitter. The filers help here, as the riffled edges keep the coffee from sticking to the sides. It is a bit pricey, but for the quick afternoon cup of coffee, it is simply perfect. I'd buy it again and would gift it to my coffee-loving friends. Read more