Kalita Wave vs V60: Clarity vs Consistency (Data Inside)

Overview

Kalita Wave favors repeatability; V60 favors clarity & expressiveness. We compare geometry, flow, and taste.

Geometry Differences

• Wave: flat bed, pleated paper, multi-point drainage
• V60: cone + spiral ribs, single-point drainage

Flow Behavior

V60 is highly responsive to pouring skill; Wave is more forgiving—but Wave papers can be inconsistent out of the box.

Results: TDS & Sensory

• V60: higher clarity, brighter acidity; larger variance cup-to-cup
• Wave: smoother body, tighter variance; may be slightly muted if papers deform

Which to Choose

• New to pour-over or need repeatability → Wave
• Chasing maximum clarity & skill expression → V60

Stabilizing Wave with V-Fold

Use V-Fold 155 to normalize Wave 155 papers to 38.3°, reducing fines carry-over and improving drawdown stability.

FAQ

Is Wave slower than V60? Not necessarily—when geometry is consistent, times can be similar; the difference is sensitivity.