Kalita Wave 155 Complete Guide: Geometry, Flow, Grind, Recipes & V-Fold Forming

Overview

Kalita Wave 155 is a flat-bottom dripper emphasizing stability and repeatability. The biggest real-world variable is paper geometry after stacked packaging.

Geometry & the 38.3° Target

Reverse-engineering Wave 155 shows a stable contact/pleat angle around 38.3°. Out-of-box papers can range ~30–50°, which shifts resistance and drawdown time.

Flow Dynamics & Stability

• Collapsed ribs ⇒ localized over-extraction
• Angle variance ⇒ inconsistent resistance
• Normalized angle ⇒ tighter TDS variance, cleaner cups

Grind Size Matrix

• EK43: 7.5–8.5 (medium-fine, adjust by coffee & roast)
• 64 mm flat: espresso − 8–10 clicks (typical medium)
• Conicals: target a 2:20–2:40 total time as baseline

Use time as feedback: faster than 2:10 → a bit finer; slower than 2:50 → a bit coarser.

Pro Recipes (155)

Recipe A (clean cup)

• 15 g coffee, 230 g water, 94 °C
• Bloom 50 g / 25 s → two 90 g pours to 230 g
• Target 2:20–2:40

Recipe B (richer texture)

• 16 g coffee, 240 g water, 93 °C
• Pulse pours (40–60 g each) with gentle agitation

Fixing Paper Variance with V-Fold 155

V-Fold 155 reshapes Kalita Wave 155 papers to 38.3° in 1–2 s, improving flow stability and reducing fines carry-over. Use before each brew for the most consistent results.

FAQ

Does forming change flavor? Yes—more stable drawdown, cleaner profile, and better repeatability.

Will it slow my brew? It stabilizes rate; total time depends on grind and pouring style.