Step-by-Step Guide: Brewing Coffee with the Kalita Wave
Brewing with this beauty requires the right setup to bring out those amazing flavors. So let me explain the steps you'll need:
Equipment
- Kalita Wave Dripper: Size 185 or 155, depending on your cup size preference
- Kalita Wave Filters: Specifically designed for this dripper. They make a difference.
- Gooseneck kettle Precise control for an even pour
- Coffee Scale: Accuracy matters, especially with pour-overs
- Grinder: A good burr grinder will ensure a consistent grind
- Timer: Optional but helpful for timing your pour
Ingredients
- Freshly roasted coffee beans: I love using Verve Coffee's Sermon blend with the Kalita Wave; its fruity, rich notes really shine through
- Filtered water: Around 205°F (just below boiling)
- The right coffee-to-water ratio: Typically 1:16 for pour-over; about 25 grams of coffee for 400 grams of water
Instructions
- Prep the Kalita Wave and Filter: Place the Kalita Wave on your mug or server, add a filter, and rinse it with hot water. This warms up your gear and removes any paper taste from the filter.
- Weigh and Grind the Coffee: Measure out about 25 grams of coffee. Grind it to a medium-coarse consistency, somewhere between table salt and sand. You want a grind fine enough for full extraction but not so fine that it clogs the filter.
- Bloom the Grounds: Add your coffee grounds to the filter, giving them a little shake to level the bed. Start pouring with about 50 grams of water, just enough to cover all the grounds. Let it sit for 30-45 seconds. This “bloom” phase lets gases escape and prepares the grounds for even extraction.
- First Pour: After the bloom, slowly pour water in a spiral motion until you reach 200 grams. This steady pour helps saturate all the grounds evenly, unlocking the rich flavors Verve’s Sermon blend has to offer.
- Second Pour: Once the first pour has mostly filtered through, pour another 200 grams, bringing the total to 400 grams. Keep your spiral controlled and steady—Kalita’s flat bottom makes this easy and gives you that well-rounded taste.
- Wait and Enjoy: Allow all the water to filter through, which should take around 3-4 minutes total. Remove the Kalita Wave, give your coffee a little swirl, and take in the aroma before that first sip.
Video
Notes
With the Kalita Wave and a quality coffee like Verve's, you’ll get a balanced cup that highlights those subtle, fruity notes without any harshness. Enjoy the process and the payoff—you’ve earned it!