KalitaWave Series Wave Dripper 155# 04021 [1-2 Person] (Japan Import)

At first look, this thing is tiny, but it's also cute as a button, and it works like a charm. I actually have both sizes, this 155 size, for single cups, and the 185 size for 2-3 cups.At first I thought the 185 size would be ok for a single cup, and it is, but the 155 is tapered in such a way that it holds the smaller filter more straight up and down, giving a more even bed for the smaller amount of coffee grounds needed for only one cup, as well as letting the pouring spout be right at the level of the bed, rather than way above it.Let me put it this way, it's simply a more elegant way of preparing one cup of coffee, and after all, that's really what I'm after, a small ritual to start my day that involves a bit of science, a bit of art, and a bit of mystery.It would be easy to use a coffee maker, but I've opted for something that takes me back to the essence of what coffee brewing is all about, having total control over the entire brewing process. I love the thoughtful design of the Kalita system, the way the filters are designed to keep the brewing coffee away from the side wall, the way the flat bottom with 3 holes gives a precise bed of grounds that allows for perfectly even extraction, and the nicely built stainless steel dripper that is lovely to use, and a breeze to clean up.So,how does the coffee taste? Well, that depends on so many things. At this level, the dripper is merely one part of the process, including where and how the beans are grown, the roasting process, the age of the roasted beans, the type of grind, the heat of the water, and finally, the method of extraction, which in this case is the Kalita 155 Wave Dripper. Use exceptional beans, roasted properly and used quickly, along with the proper grind done at the time brewing, and the Kalita 155 will deliver a cup of coffee that celebrates everything that coffee has to offer.For me, the Kalita 155 Wave Dripper is one of those little things that makes each day just a bit more special.

I was hesitant to buy this dripper after reading all the reviews that said it is good only for a tiny cup of coffee. Then I decided to try (thankfully, there is always a return option) and I am glad I did. It makes a perfect cup, and the size is not at all an issue. So what if the water should be added in several stages? It is a dripper after all, not a French press! It still takes only a couple of minutes and not longer than brewing with Espro of Fellow drippers (I have both and think I like Kalita 155 better). Just make sure to grind your coffee medium-coarse (I used 6 on Fellow grinder), then use 18-20 g of coffee, which leaves enough room for water. I had to fill it to the top 3 (maybe 4) times and had perfect 340 ml of coffee in no time. Don’t worry about the size, really. Apparently, Kalita people know their stuff when they say this is a dripper for those who want 1 cup of coffee. If this is you, go for it!

I like the Karita Wave Dripper and filter system. They work as advertised.Since I am the only one in the household who drinks coffee, this is a good and reasonably priced single cup solution. The coffee tastes good.The stainless steel is easy to clean and store.In hindsight I probably should have purchased the 185 system for those occasional times when I want a large cup of coffee or someone else wants a cup.

This is a great pour over dripper. I love my larger porcelain dripper from Kalita, but this is for the RV and needs to be less fragile. It is a 1-cup size, and the numbers imply it is for more than 1 - but that isn't American standard cups of coffee, so think shots not cups (as in not 8 oz). But perfect for small sigle cups. Get the matching filters

Pour over coffee is amazing if you've ever had a cup that was brewed correctly, i.e. a perfect Chemex pour. But that's not always practical for a single person, hence I ordered the Kalita Wave 155. This was a big hit with me at first, but over time, things got worse... and worse... and worse. What was going on? I finally figured it out today (took me long enough): the 155 is not appropriate for brewing anything more than about 8 oz., maybe 10, which to me is the absolute minimum I would ever want to brew for myself (let alone a couple of folks). Maybe in Japan they don't overindulge in coffee like I do, but the problem with pour over coffee is that (when done right) it is so delicious that it's hard to stop drinking it.Basically, the issue is that while you can technically brew larger volumes in the 155, the smaller cone shape causes the water to travel through a longer "column" of coffee and it over-extracts it once you go beyond the volumes I listed above. I routinely want to make 27 g into 350 ml of water, which is too much for this. The result is decent, but (in my best possible description) has a dark overtone like something acidic has been over-extracted. Maybe with the lesser surface area, more oils can get through. In a 185 dripper, the same recipe (27 g/350 ml) produces an amazing cup of coffee that makes me wonder why I'd ever pay someone else to make it. When I scale back to 20-22 g in this dripper (same water ratio), I get almost as good of a cup as that. Between 16-20 g, I'd guess, is where "perfect cups" may start happening. But I never want that tiny amount of coffee in one sitting.There's one more flaw... The filters for this format are much more prone to being deformed right out of the box than its big brother, and they are also more prone to collapse while pre-wetting (the cone is closer to a 90 degree angle, I suspect that is why). So annoying. I switched to the 185 and I'm getting great brews from between 20 and 40 g coffee, with my 27 g/350 ml recipe producing an incredible cup. The matching Kalita carafe for this is great if you don't want to brew straight into a mug.The short version: Unless you like tiny servings of coffee, do yourself a favor and run screaming to the 185. The 155 is not for you. (I'm still giving it 4 stars for the folks who like tiny portions, because there, this thing produces a very good cup.) Normal folks will spend years in the wilderness trying to perfect this format for a decent coffee serving.