In 2023, I sometimes receive inquiries from different coffee friends, asking me which filter cup I am most impressed by/used the most?
I think the coffee filter cup I have been exposed to the most is the Kalita series - Kalita wave 155/ Kalita WDC 155 / Kalita WDS 155, etc. In the early days, there were also Kalita WDG-155 and Kalita SG-155. You may not know what the above models represent, don’t worry. , I will sort out the information for you later.
Back to the topic, the above models are one of the most frequently used filter cups for my daily hand-brewed coffee. Seeing this, you may ask, why do you prefer the Kalita 155 series among so many filter cups? What are the benefits of brewing with it? Or does the technique help to extract evenly?
Pros and cons of using the Kalita dripper in coffee extraction
Based on my experience of using it in recent years, I use 20 grams of coffee powder each time. After I put the filter paper and then add hot water, most of the bottom of the Kalita filter cup can be flat against the bottom of my filter paper. If it is a model with pits on the bottom such as sandstone model or Kalita Wave, all the "convection positions" will not be sealed, so the extraction can be smoother than others. After talking about the bottom of the filter paper, let’s talk about its height.
Disadvantages of Kalita filter coffee extraction
Although the Kalita 155/185 series all use filter paper, most of Kalita's have a three-hole design at the bottom to leave space for placing the filter paper. Due to the creases of the filter paper on the "wall", there will be an appropriate amount of moisture after placement. The empty space is used for convection. I would describe it as having air convection at the top, forming a negative pressure that causes the coffee liquid to flow to the three holes below, and finally the coffee comes out. But when all the coffee liquid is almost finished flowing out, the flow rate will slow down, or the coffee liquid will stop above the filter cup (but the sandstone and Wave series have pits on the bottom, so the coffee liquid does not need to be sucked by the filter cup) . Other models also suffer from this at the end of brewing, but the overall extraction is very stable unless you are very concerned about missing a few grams of coffee...
I think the above is the only (supposedly) drawback of living with it for so long. In fact, I should use a video to express this part, but I found out after I finished writing that I will mention this part again later, in the form of a video. Forgive me for being a bit long-winded.
Advantages of Kalita filter coffee extraction
But you ask me, is this kind of extraction good? I think it's good. The best thing about it is that "the filter cup range is narrow enough, and the extraction can be more concentrated." In addition to the use of filter paper, it is basically very suitable for "dove brewing/new coffee beans" in the morning. There are also coffee friends. I have tried grinding finer and reducing the amount of coffee powder (for example, from 20 grams to 10-12 grams). Sometimes for expensive beans, brewing a little more carefully can achieve a nearly consistent flavor.
Does the material of Kalita's different filter cups affect the extraction flavor?
I think among the various filter cups in the Kalita 155 series, apart from the problems of thermal conductivity, heat transfer and heat retention, I basically haven’t noticed any difference in flavor when brewing...
Appearance and cleaning precautions of Kalita dripper
I think the above two points should answer the questions in the minds of most coffee friends, so if the above advantages and disadvantages are acceptable, then the next thing you consider is the price and appearance.
If you want to buy Kalita - wave/WDC-155/WDS-155, friends who mainly buy copper and metal models should pay attention. Remember to clean it immediately after use, otherwise the metal will oxidize. The silver part in the copper model will not be used after brewing coffee. Finally, if the coffee powder in the filter cup is not removed, it will slowly oxidize and turn black. After washing, you must wipe off the water stains as soon as possible to prevent oxidation.
As for the stainless steel model, it should be processed within a day, otherwise it will also produce oxidation reaction over time. Although it is said to be stainless steel, it may still happen... (Experience of people who have been there) Other models are much friendlier, but they will The most important sense of ritual is missing.
Summary - If you want to have a sense of ritual when brewing coffee, Kalita is a very good choice
If I could only collect a few of them, it would definitely be on my list, and I think it would also be one of your best choices if you want to get new people into the game.
Because its operation difficulty is relatively low, you can easily make a very stable cup of hand-brewed coffee. With this series, over-extraction will rarely occur. Even if your grinder is not good enough, I think its The fault tolerance rate is also very high.
If you want to get into it, you can pay attention.
Comparison of model names for this sharing:
Kalita & TSUBAME WDC-155 Copper Dripper
Kalita & TSUBAME WDC-155 copper filter cup features:
- Three-hole drip filter design: Reduce coffee to stay in the bottom gap, avoid the generation of foreign flavors, and make the coffee extraction taste better.
- Copper heat conduction: Efficient heat conduction makes coffee brewing more balanced, no need to heat the cup, and the taste is purer.
- Handmade by Japanese craftsmen: Carrying Japanese craft tradition, every filter cup is a work of art.
You can check detailed information and make purchases at the following link:
Kalita & TSUBAME WDC-155 Copper Dripper | Coffee Stage coffee stage (mycoffeestage.com)
Kalita & TSUBAME WDS-155 Stainless Steel Filter Bowl
Kalita & TSUBAME WDS-155 Stainless Steel Filter Bowl Product Features:
- Three-hole filter design: The unique three-hole filter design of Kalita & TSUBAME WDS-155 stainless steel filter cup ensures fast and even filtration, greatly reducing the odor in the coffee, making every cup of coffee delicious. Delivers perfect flavor.
- Handmade in Japan: Each filter cup is handmade by professional craftsmen in Japan's famous stainless steel product production area, which ensures the accuracy and durability of the product and also highlights the traditional craftsmanship. Exquisite craftsmanship.
- High-quality stainless steel material: Made of high-quality stainless steel, it is not only strong and durable, but also has excellent heat conductivity and acid resistance, ensuring that the flavor of the coffee can be best preserved every time you brew it.
You can check detailed information and make purchases at the following link:
Kalita & TSUBAME WDS-155 Stainless Steel Filter Bowl | Coffee Stage coffee stage (mycoffeestage.com)
Kalita Wave 155 S Stainless Steel Wave Coffee Filter Cup
Kalita Wave 155 S Stainless Steel Wave Coffee Filter Cup Product Features:
- Unique corrugated design - The corrugated design ensures that the coffee powder is evenly soaked, making the coffee flavor even better.
- Stainless steel material - Made of high-quality stainless steel, durable and easy to clean.
- Special filter paper design - Used with Kalita Wave special filter paper to achieve the best brewing effect.
- Three-hole extraction - Provides a uniform water flow rate to reduce bitterness and off-flavors.
- Made in Japan quality - Exquisite production, quality assurance.
- Fast and even extraction: This filter cup extracts quickly but ensures the taste of the coffee.
- Applicable to all kinds of coffee beans: Whether it is light roasted or dark roasted coffee beans, it can brew its unique flavor.
You can check detailed information and make purchases at the following link: