Have you ever heard of a Kalita wave? It’s a great (and simple) brew method that I think every coffee lover should know how to use! I’m going to show you how to use a Kalita Wave — if you’ve been thinking about brewing a cup of coffee with one, then read on.
What is a Kalita Wave?
The Kalita Wave is made of durable stainless steel, with a flat-bottom filter that allows for complete immersion in water during the brewing process. The resulting cup has an even body and a balanced flavor profile.
It’s recommended by some of the most respected roasters and baristas in the country, including Blue Bottle Coffee, Ceremony Coffee, and Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea.
If you’re unfamiliar with pour-overs, they’re basically just filters that sit on top of your cup and let you drip hot water through ground coffee into your cup. As long as there are no big pieces of grounds floating around in your brew (which will happen if you don’t grind your beans correctly), it should stay relatively tight and consistent throughout the brewing process.
That’s How You Brew Your Coffee with a Kalita Wave
Brewing coffee with a Kalita Wave is a lot like brewing coffee with any other pour-over filter. You just need to ensure that you have the right water temperature, grind size, and brew time.
Ingredients Required
- Kalita Wave
- Coffee Grinder
- Kettle
- Coffee beans
- Water
- Coffee Scale
Instructions
Step 1: Preparation
- I recommend that you rinse your Kalita Wave filter directly over the sink rather than over the carafe.
- Grind fresh single-origin beans to a medium grind size (16 grams).
- Bring water to a boil (at least 200ml).
- Add beans to the Kalita Wave once it has been rinsed.
Step 2: Setting it up!
- Pour 100g of filtered ice into the carafe or cup.
- Weigh the carafe and Kalita Wave on an electronic scale (I recommend using the Acaia Pearl)
- Add ground beans to the Kalita Wave and give a gentle shake, so the grinds are evenly distributed.
- Tare the scale.
Step 3: Blooming the Coffee Beans
You are now ready to bloom the beans. Pour 45g (1.5 tablespoons) of water in concentric circles around the grinds bed. Give a gentle swirl to ensure all the beans are evenly saturated. Wait for 45 seconds, which helps extract more from the beans.
Step 4: Pouring Water
Once the bloom has subsided, pour the remaining water in concentric circles. The total weight of the water should be 150g. Try to stretch the extraction time to 2-3 minutes if possible.
Step 5: You’re all done; enjoy Your Coffee!
When you are finished using all the water, remove the Kalita filter and rinse it with clean water. Then dispose of the grinds and your used filter in a trash receptacle.
To make the perfect cup of iced coffee, add 2-3 ice cubes or a single large cube to your favorite mug. Then pour in the cold brew and enjoy.
Conclusion
So it turns out that Kalita Wave is an excellent way for a novice coffee brewer to improve their coffee-brewing skills by having more control over the brewing process and getting better extraction from their favorite beans. The disadvantages are few and minor, but perhaps the greatest disadvantage would be in its limited ability to be used as a travel brewer. If you’re looking for a more portable coffee brewing solution—a handheld coffee dripper might be a better option.
