Kalita Wave 185 Recipe For Perfect Coffee Every Time

If you’re a coffee enthusiast looking to elevate your home brewing game, the Kalita Wave 185 is a fantastic choice that combines ease of use with exceptional flavor clarity. Known for its flat-bottomed dripper and wave-shaped filters, this brewer ensures a consistent extraction, highlighting the subtle nuances of your favorite coffee beans.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced barista, mastering a dependable Kalita Wave 185 recipe can transform your daily cup into a café-quality experience.

In this post, I will guide you through a detailed step-by-step recipe to brew a perfectly balanced and flavorful cup using the Kalita Wave 185. From selecting the right grind size to pouring technique, every detail matters when it comes to unlocking the full potential of your coffee.

So, grab your favorite beans, and let’s dive into the art of Kalita Wave brewing!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The Kalita Wave 185 recipe I’m sharing today is designed for consistency and ease. One of the biggest challenges in manual brewing is achieving a balanced extraction without over- or under-extracting your coffee.

This method uses precise measurements, timed pours, and a gentle bloom to create a cup that is smooth, bright, and rich in flavor.

This recipe is also highly adaptable. Whether you prefer a lighter, more acidic cup or a fuller-bodied brew, slight tweaks to grind size and brew time can adjust the flavor profile to your liking.

Plus, the Kalita Wave’s flat-bottom design helps to reduce channeling, making it more forgiving for beginners.

Ingredients

• 20 grams of freshly roasted coffee beans (medium grind, similar to table salt)
• 300 ml of filtered water, heated to 93°C (200°F)

Equipment

• Kalita Wave 185 dripper with Wave filters
• Gooseneck kettle for precise pouring
• Digital scale for accurate measurement
• Burr grinder for consistent grind size
• Timer or stopwatch
• Serving vessel such as a server or mug

Instructions

1. Prepare your equipment: Rinse the Kalita Wave filter with hot water to remove any paper taste and preheat your dripper and server. Discard the rinse water.
2. Grind your coffee: Use a burr grinder to grind 20 grams of coffee to a medium consistency, about the texture of table salt.
3. Add coffee to the filter: Place the ground coffee evenly in the Kalita Wave filter, gently leveling the bed for an even extraction.
4. Start the bloom: Start your timer and pour 40 ml of hot water over the grounds in a gentle spiral motion, ensuring all grounds are saturated. Allow the coffee to bloom for 30-45 seconds. This step releases trapped CO₂ and prepares the grounds for extraction.
5. Continue pouring: Slowly pour the remaining 260 ml of water in 2-3 increments over 2 minutes. Pour in a controlled spiral motion from the center outward, avoiding the edges to maintain an even extraction.
6. Wait for the drip: Allow the water to fully drain through the coffee bed, aiming for a total brew time of 2:30 to 3:00 minutes.
7. Serve and enjoy: Remove the dripper and give your coffee a gentle swirl to mix flavors. Pour into your favorite cup and savor the bright, clean taste.

Tips & Variations

“Adjusting your grind size is key to dialing in the perfect cup. If your brew time is too fast, try a finer grind.

If it’s too slow, coarsen the grind slightly.”

• Water Temperature: Experiment with water between 90°C and 96°C to find the ideal balance of acidity and sweetness.
• Bloom Time: Extending the bloom up to 60 seconds can enhance flavor clarity, especially with freshly roasted beans.
• Experiment with Coffee Origin: Single-origin beans from Ethiopia or Colombia tend to highlight the Kalita Wave’s bright and clean profile.
• Try Different Ratios: While 1:15 (coffee to water) is standard, adjusting between 1:14 and 1:16 can change strength and mouthfeel.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Suggestions

The clean and balanced cup produced by the Kalita Wave 185 pairs beautifully with light breakfast foods such as fresh fruit, yogurt, or a flaky croissant. The crisp acidity highlights fresh flavors, making it a delightful companion to citrus-based desserts or mild cheeses.

For an afternoon pick-me-up, try serving your brew alongside nutty biscotti or almond cookies to complement the coffee’s natural sweetness. If you prefer a creamy finish, a splash of oat milk or your preferred dairy alternative enhances texture without overpowering the delicate flavors.

Conclusion

The Kalita Wave 185 is an exceptional brewing device that offers both beginners and experienced coffee lovers a reliable way to create a delicious cup with clarity and consistency. This recipe emphasizes precision and control, allowing the unique characteristics of your coffee beans to shine through.

With just a few simple steps and mindful technique, you can enjoy a rich, full-bodied brew that rivals your favorite café.

Remember, coffee brewing is an art as much as a science — don’t hesitate to experiment with grind size, water temperature, or pouring style to find what works best for your palate. Whether you’re starting your day or taking a mindful coffee break, the Kalita Wave 185 recipe is a satisfying ritual that brings joy in every sip.

Happy brewing!

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