What you'll need:
- Kalita Wave dripper
- Kalita filter
- Gooseneck pouring kettle (we like the Fellow Stagg)
- Filtered water at optimal brewing temp of 195 - 205° F
- Decanter large enough to brew into
- Scale
- Timer
Instructions:
1. Weigh out 24 grams of coffee. Don't be intimidated by the use of a scale - it actually helps you be more precise when making pour overs and leads to greater consistency.
2. Place the filter in the Kalita Wave, and then place the Kalita Wave on top of the decanter.
3. Rinse the filter with hot water. This eliminate paper taste and preheats the Kalita Wave and the decanter.
4. Discard hot water from the decanter, and discard any excess water from the Kalita that may be retained under the filter.
5. Put at least 16 ounces of filtered water (around 500ml), heated to the optimal brewing temperature of 195 - 205° F, in your pouring kettle. You can get water to this temperature by bringing it to a boil, and then letting it sit for 30 seconds to a minute.
6. Grind your coffee using a medium grind setting. It's best to grind recently roasted whole bean coffee, and to do this right before you brew, as you'll be using the freshest coffee possible.
7. Again place the Kalita Wave on top of the decanter.
8. Pour the coffee grounds into the Kalita Wave's filter, and tap the Wave, or gently shake back and forth to flatten out the grounds. This helps to remove air pockets and create a flat surface to work with.
9. Place the Kalita Wave and your decanter on the scale, and tare it out (zero out the scale). This will allow you to measure how much water you use during the brewing process.
10. If you're ready to begin, start your timer and begin pouring water over the coffee grounds. Wet all coffee grounds evenly, and then stop pouring. Use just enough water to fully saturate the grounds.
11. Watch the coffee bloom (bubbles) for about 30-45 seconds, after which the bubbles will stop forming. This is a great chance to take a sniff - it will smell wonderful.
12. After the bloom, slowly and continuously pour in small circles until you reach 400 grams on your scale. Note that some baristas like to "pulse pour," or pour for 10-20 seconds, then stop to take a short break, before beginning to pour again.
13. Extraction should be complete after 2:30 to 3:00. If it took longer than 3:00, your grind was likely too fine. If extraction took much less time than this, your grind may be too coarse. Adjust your settings and try again. (Don't be afraid to keep trying new and different variables, all coffees are different!).
14. Remove the Kalita Wave from the decanter, and swirl the decanter to ensure coffee integration.
15. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy!
16. Discard or compost your used coffee grounds.
Want to try this at home? Order a Kalita Wave and filters from us and start hand brewing your coffee!
