$34.11
9.4/ 10
Why we love it
The Kalita Wave 185 is the pour over we recommend to everyone who asks. The flat-bottom design with three small drainage holes is the key insight: instead of funneling water through a single point (like the V60), it distributes flow evenly across the entire bed. That means your technique matters a lot less. Sloppy pours, inconsistent flow — the flat bed compensates for you. The wave-shaped paper filters are equally clever: they stand away from the dripper walls, so heat stays in the coffee bed instead of radiating into the dripper. At $30–40, it's cheap enough to own in multiple materials — glass, stainless, ceramic — but one is all you need.
Pros
- Flat-bottom design promotes even, forgiving extraction
- Wave filters reduce channeling and heat loss
- Works with imperfect pour technique — great for beginners
- Available in glass, stainless steel, and ceramic
- Very affordable
Cons
- Proprietary wave filters — can't use generic cone filters
- Wave filters cost slightly more than standard V60 filters
- Single-cup design only
- Less control ceiling for advanced brewers
