Hario V60 vs Kalita Wave: My thoughts...

A lot of people say that the Kalita Wave is great for beginners. DON'T listen to them. Here's my take on these two drippers.
➡️ In-depth explanation about the Kalita Wave issues:
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➡️ More cool drippers here:
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➡️ My Favorite Coffee Gear:
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Some people say that it’s easier to brew with a flat bottomed dripper like the Kalita Wave compared to the cone-shaped one, because there’s some flow restriction going on. Personally, I don’t think that’s the case at all.
In my opinion, beginners are better suited with cone-shaped brewers such as the Hario V60 since they are more likely to brew darker roasted coffee or coffee of lower quality.
Both Hario V60 and the Kalita Wave have their own pros and cons, and I use them for different purposes. Let’s use an audio analogy to better understand what’s going on:
The Hario is like a set of speakers with plenty of bass and treble. I think audio geeks call this calibration ‘fun sounding’.
Flat bottom drippers are typically more like a set of neutral studio monitors. They give a clear, unbiased representation sound stage with a balanced EQ. For this reason the Kalita Wave lends itself better to high-end light roasted coffee, where you want to be able to pick out a bunch of different flavor notes at the same time.
Which dripper I prefer depends on the mood and the beans that I have at hand.
A good rule of thumb, though, is that coffees under 82 points often need the extra oomph you get from the cone shape - attributes like increased acidity and complexity in the aftertaste.
🎶 Music Credit: Dixxy: Mellow Morning
/ mellow-morning

[@coffeechronicler]

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[@sabergermd]

I started with the V60 Glass 4 months ago with un-tabbed Hario filters. I use a Baratza Virtuoso grinder and Timemore scale. I try to be consistent in technique. I use a 1:15 ratio. The results are very variable. I get great cups and not so great cups. I then tried the Kalita Wave 185 ceramic. The results have been much more consistently good and with a lot more tolerance for small changes in technique. Just my experience. Thanks for the helpful videos.

[@tradycyjnegoleniezbartgee]

Try Tetsu Kasuya 4:6 method. Every time delicious coffee. You don't need a goose neck kettle even when using this method.

[@alexlozano75]

I used to make coffee in v60,but since i start use kalita Wave,fell in love with the extraction results

[@thefatiguedpalate]

As a earphone enthusiast, that speaker analogy was so helpful :')

[@coffeechronicler]

😅

[@katenashef2800]

Yes! Me too! About to buy myself a Kalita now :)

[@ximono]

Hario = Grado

[@pushslice]

for those of us older music freaks, akin to the classic 'West Coast Sound' (JBL) vs 'East Coast Sound' (Advent, AR)?

[@susumu12]

Found you because of the 1Zpresso JX review on your blog. Great videos, keep it up! Big fan of the in depth approach. The algorithm cant keep quality channels like this hidden forever. Also, if you do a video review for 1Zpresso grinders, 1 in Chinese is Yi and sounds like the letter E. So it's E Z presso.

[@coffeechronicler]

Thanks for the kind words Richard! I'm actually planning on making a video review of the Jx soon, so will remember that pronounciation hack 😉

[@DanielleEmberley]

I prefer the V60 primarily because I find it much easier to separate and properly place the filters when I half awake in the morning.

[@joelmontesdeoca6572]

Awesome review but the audio was super low.

[@coffeechronicler]

Thanks Joel. Yeah, know about the audio, it should better in my recent videos.

[@loodog555]

@@coffeechronicler Thanks!

[@Kamuri93]

Great review. Thank you! I totally agree with the V60 plastic as I have broken 2 ceramics lol Plastic drippers are way more difficult to break and are fairly inexpensive. I have both V60 and Kalita. If you are a coffee enthusiast, always nice to have both and see what differences you may notice with the 2 different drippers snd filters.

[@coffeechronicler]

Thanks for the kind words! Yes, plastic drippers have their use. I have also broken a few of them over the years, but they do take a lot of abuse :)

[@CoffeeShowcase]

I have the Tsubame version of the Wave and it is easily my most prized piece of coffee gear. Glad you made this video, even if it was a long time ago. Still great to see.

[@beaver6d9]

I think I got my first v60 around 2005 and the brew methods were very different back then compared to now. Honestly, they were a lot more dependent on pouring technique compared to flat bottom style methods now, so I ended up moving to the kalita. I randomly started watching v60 methods again and they were much easier, so that's my go-to now. I like the wave a lot but I get so annoyed dealing with filters that lose their shape, so I'm not going back any time soon lol.

[@mclark4218]

So glad you mentioned Hario filter quality now poor. I thought it was just me. My last batch is noticeably different and not in a good way. Lighter in color and rougher feeling. Very disappointing when something that was good is now bad and not dependable. Don’t fix what isn’t broken!

[@joshuahalls29]

These filters are supposed to be great. Fast flowing so you can grind finer. shop.squaremilecoffee.com/products/fast-coffee-filter

[@thebarak]

I've tried and taste tested them all. I found the Hario was my 3rd favorite. The humble Melitta was my 2nd favorite. The Kalita won for me. The thing is, I have the metal one and there is never a stall or a clog, unless the grind is too fine. But I use the smaller 155 size since I am the only coffee person in this house. Perhaps the issue you speak of is unique to the larger 185 size in metal. I drop everything so the metal is perfect for me! All three brands make great coffee though, and paper filtered coffee is proven to be healthier.

[@igalk474]

i have both , the v60 is cheaper and is more accessible at stores as well as it's filters easy to find , but kalita has higher extraction and great body ,has less channeling and has better taste and repeatability, if you get kalita , get the larger 185 glass one , not 155 filters , i really like kalita wave style , better then v60 and chemex , quality stuff , i use this for light roast coarser grind then espresso , and for espresso find grind dark roast i use cafelat robot, v60 is very delicate with how you pour water , kalita is more forgiving and consistent, so it's a great shot every time , i usually use bottled water , and melodrip gives great results for drip coffee

[@coffeechronicler]

Yeah, I think the 155 model can be a bit awkward to fit the filters into. However, the glass version of 185 is a bit fragile for my taste, so I usually recommend Hasami ceramic

[@JorgeAlvarado-nx9tv]

When you have both, the choice depends on the profile of your coffee beans. A tall, washed, very fruity coffee with high acidity, let's say a Yirgacheffe from Ethiopia, goes much better in a V60. On the other hand, a natutal or honey bean from Costa Rica, medium roasted, evidently calls more a Kalita.

[@emirdemirhan1186]

I want to use the kalita but i cpuld t find any filter for it. Can the regular v60 filter be used on it

[@igalk474]

@@emirdemirhan1186 i order those from: The Coffee Collective website

[@emirdemirhan1186]

@@igalk474 for me its some time and costs like *2 more.

[@redderpom]

Enjoyed your analysis. You made points no one else has made, so this is a very unique video and brings fresh content. Unfortunately, your conclusions are also the polar opposite of the “conventional wisdom,” in terms of which is recommended for beginners. Your well-reasoned advice is noted and appreciated.

[@coffeechronicler]

Thanks! Sometimes the conventional wisdom needs an update, that's one of the goals with this channel :)

[@themeowzers93]

This makes so much sense as I have replaced the kalita stainless steel filter cup with the similar one from tiamo, because tiamo has a nifty design in the bottom to allow better drainage.

[@montagdp]

I have a V60 and just ordered a 155 glass wave, kind of on a whim. I like that with the filter design it should have good heat retention without the need to use plastic, plus I just wanted to try a flat bottom brewer. Sounds like the glass version shouldn't have much of an issue with stalling. I'll have to be extra careful not to drop it like I did with my ceramic V60.

[@itellsri]

Awesome review as always Asser...Very informative. Looks you like v60 better than kalita.....and I have 2 questions. Which is better for a single cup 15 grams of coffee #1 or #2 size v60 ? Does increased bed depth on a smaller cone deliver better results ? Also when brewing with permanent stainless filters ( like Zulay’ kitchen) on a v60 do the ribs even matter. Once you go paperless , I feel it’s altogether a different brewer with a different taste. What’s your take ?

[@coffeechronicler]

I like them both, but find the V60 easier to recommend to most people. Which is a bit ironic, since the usual advice is the other way around :) As far as I know, the drain hole and the geometry should be the same on both size 1 and 2, so the bed would be identical. The only real improvement with size 1 would then be that you can get the kettle closer to the brew bed. However, even though it's probably just placebo on my side, it does feel a bit more suitable to brew small doses in small brewers. I haven't really used steel filters so can't say much about them.

[@itellsri]

The Coffee Chronicler sounds good...I have been using the stainless steel from Zulays kitchen and I don’t really miss paper filters anymore. Coffee tastes much better. They are better than the Swiss gold I have ....

[@soandysirable]

thank you for this video!! i'm getting the plastic V60 so i dont have to worry about breaking anything and i like that it's more "fun" as you say hehe, plus the V60 filters are easier to find (from where i'm from) and easier, and less fussy to store. thank you for your great points esp about the differences between the metal vs ceramic kalitas.

[@coffeechronicler]

Thanks Andrea. The plastic V60 is a corner stone in most coffee lover's tool kit, so I'm sure you'll be happy 🙂

[@AnatolBogun]

I have both the V60 and the Kalita Wave (Tsubame version). In comparison, in my experience the Wave is blowing the V60 out of the water every time. Results on the Wave, to me, are much sweeter, have more clarity and a nice aftertaste and are overall more interesting and complex, yet smooth. On the V60 I have had consistently underwhelming results. Maybe it's just not a taste profile that I like. Having said that, I rather blame my own user error than the equipment since the V60 appears to be a very well-known quality brewer. Because I consistently had way better results on the Wave, I barely touch the V60 any more, but now I want to challenge myself to get a decent result out of this brewer. I had both brewers quite early on in my coffee-making journey, and I found the Wave rather easy to use, so I can't really agree that the Wave isn't for beginners. I have the tsubame version, so your experience with other Wave versions may vary. UPDATE: So since I made this comment a week ago I tried to get better results with the V60, and it worked! The key was the Cafec Abaca filters which I bought after watching this video. The difference is like night and day. How disappointing that the original Hario V60 filters create such poor results. I was amazed that filters can make such a difference. From now on the V60 dripper will no longer collect dust.

[@RedwoodEmpire925]

V60 for the win. Although I think the april brewer would be the best flat bottom dripper from research I've done.

[@mikekeller5202]

I like your videos. Great content. Keep em coming. I use both drippers everyday but find the opposite results as you. When I use the wave the coffee has a thicker body than the v60 and a harsher acidity with light roast. With the v60 I get more flavor clarity. Lately I’ve been using the osmotic technique you showed with the v60 n I’ve been getting fantastic results. Still can’t decide which dripper I like more tho.

[@loodog555]

Thanks for the video. I could repeat the same things you've already heard a bunch of times from the other commenters about volume, but I think you got it! I am frustrated that KZbin doesn't let you upload a replacement version of a video while keeping the views, url, etc... Instead you have to hear the exact same complaints for the rest of your life! Overall, I am very surprised that you basically come to the opposite conclusions of what the "common wisdom" is i.e. that the V60 is more fickle and for experts, but that Wave is more consistent for beginners. I'd really be interested in some kind of metric that measures what people are talking about. You've got a handy little graphic there involving flow rates. Is there a way to put measurement and numbers to the claims about which one is more consistent? I just get frustrated that there are so many opinions about these things without any way to weigh the opinions. Anyway, thanks for your contribution to the coffee world! Pourover is the one coffee method I haven't created a video for, mostly because I can't imagine adding anything to James Hoffman's Ultimate V60 technique video.

[@richardt.1119]

The Tsubame Wave doesn't need a diffuser, as the bottom of the filter does not come in contact with the brewer (elevated by about 15 millimeters)

[@bonnies7507]

Great information..thank you ! Fyi..somethings wrong with the audio. I had to turn my volume up to 50 something to barely hear you. I just watched other videos and they were fine...

[@dilmurodavalbaev1392]

Very informative video, thanks Asser. V60 is my go to brewer these days. I used to mostly use Aeropress before, but I find V60 gives me more sweetness and clean taste. Plus I really enjoy the process of making it

[@coffeechronicler]

That's great to hear! Yes, usually V60 is a lot more crisp and sweet compared to the AP. Generally, I also like it more...

[@cityonfoot6023]

I think it’s the difference in the filters used that gives the cleaner taste. While the Aeropress microfilter has smaller pores to block out particles, it also has a smaller surface area to absorb the oil. A pour over keeps a lot of that out of the server/cup.

[@paulmillerick4092]

As always, thorough & informative. Great video! Especially helpful to know differences in Kalita drippers! I'm trying out the Fellow XF - have you used one yet? Despite the expense & specialty filters, it works well for me with various coffees. Thank you

[@margot6041]

Where did you find the screen for the bottom of the kalita stainless steel? What is the diameter?

[@j0hnnykn0xv1lle]

The NYTimes gave the opposite opinion - saying the Hario is for the advanced brewer and the Wave is for the beginner, I value your opinion a lot more than the NYTIMES.

[@ferdinandludo8851]

Is there a difference between the stainless, sandstone, ceramic Kalita ??

[@doston1]

Are these meant to be used with a moccamaster? You reviewed that machine and mentioned these drippers, but I wasn't sure if you meant they could be used with the technivorm moccamaster. I have a moccamaster coming in the mail today and want to make the most of it.

[@coffeechronicler]

Not at all, I was just doing some fun experiments. Moccamaster is good as is 👍

[@kakaisthecat]

Could you do a Espro Bloom review and comparison? I am still trying to decide if I should purchase this new product.

[@coffeechronicler]

Maybe in the future. It seems pretty interesting...

[@JuliusSP1]

would you say it is difficult to uniformly saturate the grounds in a Kalita Wave, particularly those that are within the folded portions of the filter?

[@coffeechronicler]

Not that difficult if you have a gooseneck kettle

[@BatPotatoes]

Maybe I should look into a dispersion screen for my Kalita. I notice the draw down will occasionally slow down drastically like you mentioned. I keep both at home, different coffees will favor one or the other. I really dislike working with the kalita filters, they crinkle, lose their shape, tend to bunch up while I'm rinsing with hot water. The v60 filters aren't nearly as fussy

[@coffeechronicler]

A good hack is to use a tap water center pour for rinsing until the cone is around half full. After that the shape is locked in place and then it becomes a lot easier to rinse. Btw. I will test another Kalita hack soon that might be better than the dispersion screen.

[@dukmunky]

What dispersion screen do you use? Does it work with the 155 size kalita?

[@bluesfool1]

I ordered both and will try each.

[@paulmillerick4092]

Would you say adding the Flair dispersion screen to this Kalita Wave metal dripper makes it's flow rate more like the other other Kalita drippers? Is it that much of a game changer? Also just curious: can i use the Flair dispersion screen in the other Kalita Wave Drippers - like glass or Ceramic? Thank you!

[@coffeechronicler]

The dispersion screen helps quite a bit. I also drilled bigger holes in the steel Kalita, so can't remember how much impact each of the hacks made. But combined they make it act like the other Kalitas. The screen also fits the other models.

[@paulmillerick4092]

@@coffeechronicler I saw your video on drilling the holes. Not my thing so i'm glad the dispersion screen will help at least. Thank you!

[@DJaquithFL]

Fantastic information and a sincere thank you. The ceramic Kalita Wave 155 it's on the top of my list now. 👍👍

[@fiendishshape]

I own a lot of brewing devices and the only one I regret buying is the Kalita Wave - the way it constantly clogs is infuriating or just randomly brews too fast if I grind too coarse. Rather than recommend the wave to beginners I think the clever dripper should be the standard suggestion. Lately I've become pretty fond of the Kalita 102 V shaped dripper. I'm surprised this and the Beehouse don't get more attention.

[@nindythelittlebarista]

i like both...kalita makes coffee sweeter?

[@coffeechronicler]

Probably not scientifically sweeter, but it brings out some of those characteristics

[@cyclopsamurai]

What do you think of CAFEC SFP (Support Forest Paper) filters? Thanks!

[@drdiaosez]

great video! audio is a bit quiet and muffled

[@coffeechronicler]

Thanks, working on the audio for the next video!

[@katevs7541]

Hello! Have you tried using an origami dripper? How could you compare it with the kalita? Thank u!

[@coffeechronicler]

Yes, in one of my most recent videos I cover the origami 🙂

[@4broadacre]

Thanks for the video. If possible would it be possible to do brewing technique videos?

[@coffeechronicler]

For the Kalita Wave, you can see my video from a few weeks ago. Hario V60 recipe coming in the near future :)

[@pandaownage]

Nice insightful comparison! Reading your article I'm curious about the Cafec dripper. If you have them all, I would love to see them all side by side brewing. Also, I'm curious how you brew with each brewer. I'm sure some are more fun than others, and to some extent the differences between drippers are minimal enough that it's just for fun or aesthetics haha

[@coffeechronicler]

Thanks Derek. You can check out my IG profile, I have a story about V60 vs Cafec over there. I will do more dripper comparisons in the future. But yes you're right - at some point it veers more into aesthetics and subjective opinions rather than objective coffee science :) My brewing style on all of them is pretty similar to the Kalita Wave method I laid out in the previous video.

[@bartjoboy]

Lots of people say that the V60 is actually a lot harder to start with since your pour technique affects the brew more than on the Kalita Wave. I still started out with the V60 though and got amazing results so far :)

[@coffeechronicler]

Yup, it's just a very persistent myth. V60 is great to start on 👍

[@Scandinavianalpscoffeeroasters]

Just did an episode on this topic

[@Johannesduelund]

Great stuff; fresh and important thoughts to spread in the Coffee Community.

[@AlT-qk4iq]

Hi, where can i buy the dispersion screen for the kalita 155 steel? Thanks

[@coffeechronicler]

Flair Espresso's website.. For the Pro model.

[@dds4911]

Thanks for this vid. !!!

[@Tkufoy]

Nice videos but the quality will improve by using a better microphone. Volume is very low. Thank you

[@margot6041]

Good video no hype which is nice!

[@YustyParadigma]

For all Kalita wave version. Which is best for maintaining temperature consistency?

[@coffeechronicler]

Probably glass or steel, but I still like the ceramic more

[@YustyParadigma]

@@coffeechronicler thanks

[@MrArdytube]

❤ thanks

[@Jorge-hn1ye]

Anyone in the comments who lives in Germany ? (I need recommendations for v60)

[@stinkdyr301]

What, no blind taste test?

[@Cherokie89]

SPEEK UP BORTHER I CAINT HEER YEW

[@Igor-q3f]

Fello stag x

[@jackhmchang]

can't hear a shit