If you have a Kalita Wave, you know how tasty the coffee can be. But this specialty pour-over brewer is not foolproof, so you will want the right Kalita Wave recipe to help you brew. Why not avoid the pitfalls of bitter or weak coffee and skip straight to the perfect cup?
Scroll down to find our easy recipe, complete with brewing tips, pictures, and simple steps. You will be a Kalita Wave expert in no time! So grab your equipment and coffee beans and let’s get started.
How to Use a Kalita Wave:
- Fresh coffee beans
- Filtered water
- Gooseneck kettle
- Coffee grinder
- Kalita Wave brewer
- Kalita paper filter
- Coffee cup or mug
- Scale and timer (optional)
1. Set up your Wave and rinse the filter.
Put your Kalita Wave on a coffee mug and add the paper filter. Pour a small amount of water over the filter to rinse it. Then throw the water away.
2. Grind your coffee beans.
Grind 3 tablespoons of coffee to a medium-fine consistency. A high-quality burr grinder (like the Hario Skerton Pro, which has conical ceramic burrs) will help you evenly grind your beans. Pour the grounds into your coffee filter and gently tap the sides to level them. If you’re using a scale, place it under the mug and push the tare button.
3. Boil water.
Boil about 12 ounces of filtered water. Use a gooseneck kettle if you can, as this will help you make the best possible coffee. You want the water at 200 to 205°F, so if your kettle doesn’t have a built-in thermometer, we recommend letting it sit for about 30 seconds after boiling.
4. Start pouring in the water.
Start the timer if you’re using one. Pour a small amount of water (about 60 grams or 2 ounces) over the bed of grounds. You want to evenly saturate the grounds and avoid pouring too much in any one area.
5. Let the coffee bloom.
After you’ve saturated the grounds, let them sit for about 30 seconds. You should see bubbling, which is the coffee blooming. This means that your coffee beans are fresh and flavorful!
6. Pour in the rest of the water.
Your timer should now be at 45 seconds. Slowly pour the rest of the water in, making gentle circles over the bed of grounds. Make sure you don’t go above the level of the coffee. You can add small amounts of water every 10 or 15 seconds to keep the extraction even.
TIP: You’ll know that you’re doing it right if the grounds lie flat after the water drains through them. That means that you’ve evenly distributed the water, resulting in perfect extraction!
7. Remove the Kalita Wave and enjoy!
The whole process should take about 3 minutes. Once the water has fully passed through your coffee grounds, you can remove the brewer and enjoy your barista-quality coffee!
Kalita Wave Pour-Over Brewing Tips
What’s Unique About the Kalita Wave?
When you look at the Wave, you’ll see that it has an unusual design. The sides of the brewer are rippled and the bottom is flat. There are three small holes in the bottom. All of these design elements contribute to the extraction of your coffee, tempering the water flow so that it’s not too fast or too slow.
Read more in our Kalita Wave review!
Do You Really Need a Gooseneck Kettle, Timer, and Scale?
All you really need to brew with a Kalita Wave is the Wave, Kalita’s special paper filters, coffee, and water. But investing in these three additional pieces of equipment can help you level up your coffee experience. That means better tasting, more professional-quality coffee!
The gooseneck kettle helps you control the water flow, which is vital for pour-over brewing. Think about regular kettles: the water comes out in wide, difficult-to-aim splashes. That’s fine if you’re pouring into a carafe, but not very precise if you’re using a small Kalita Wave.
The timer and scale are more optional, but still important if you want the best possible Kalita coffee. They’ll help you monitor the amount of water you’re adding and how quickly you’re doing it — both key to getting even extraction.
The bottom line? You don’t need a gooseneck kettle, timer, or scale to brew with the Kalita Wave — but you may want to invest in them if you want to get the most out of your brewer.
Conclusion
That wasn’t so hard, was it? We hope this Kalita Wave recipe helps you brew an impressive cup of coffee every time. With a little extra attention (and a few recommended coffee accessories), you can brew barista-quality Kalita Wave coffee in the comfort of your kitchen. Say goodbye to that fancy coffee shop and hello to a new skill! We hope you enjoy your perfectly brewed cups of pour-over coffee.
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