Kalita & Kalita Wave — The Complete, Research-Grade Guide

What is Kalita?

Kalita is a Japanese brand famous for its flat-bottom drippers. Unlike cone-shaped brewers, Kalita emphasizes flow stability, predictable extraction, and beginner-friendly consistency.

Why the Kalita Wave Matters

The Wave 155 and 185 feature a flat bed with wave-shaped ribs. The idea is to maintain thermal stability and reduce bypass. However, real-world use reveals a major issue:

Stacking/packaging causes paper deformation, rib collapse, and angle variance.

This leads to inconsistent flow and taste.

Wave Geometry (155/185)

We reverse-engineered both Kalita Wave sizes and discovered the ideal rib angle for stable flow is approximately 38.3°.

Wave papers out of the box vary between 30–50°, causing up to ±15% flow variance.

Fixing Paper Variance — V-Fold 155

The Vihi V-Fold 155 reshapes Kalita Wave 155 paper to a precise 38.3° geometry, restoring predictable flow and reducing trapped fines.

Flow Dynamics & Stability

Kalita’s strength is its flat bed. But:

• Paper deformation → Faster/Slower flow
• Collapsed ribs → Localized over-extraction
• Uneven angles → Inconsistent drawdown

When geometry becomes consistent:

• Drawdown stabilizes
• TDS variance reduces
• Cupping profile is cleaner
• Repeating a recipe becomes much easier

Grind Size Matrix

Recommended grind ranges:

• Wave 155: EK43 → 7.5–8.5
• Wave 185: EK43 → 8.0–9.0

Professional Recipes

Standard 155 Recipe:

• 15g coffee
• 94°C water
• 50g bloom (25s)
• Slow spiral pours → 230g total
• Target time: 2:20–2:40

Kalita vs V60

Kalita is more stable, less sensitive, easier to repeat. V60 produces more clarity but is harder for beginners.

FAQ

Q: Why do Kalita Wave papers need reshaping?
A: Paper stacking causes angle variance and rib collapse, affecting flow.

Q: What angle is ideal?
A: Around 38.3°, derived from geometric measurement.