Brew Guide - Kalita Wave 185

Brian Webb
Dec 20, 2025
2 min read

Pourover coffee brewing follows the same general principles for pretty much every coffee. However, Kona coffee requires its own subtly different approach to brewing in order to maximize flavor potential.

Below is an outline of how we brew our coffees at The Coffee LAB. It's a good place to start when dialing in your home brewing setup, but every grinder is different and every water source is different, so it's important to follow your tastebuds and experiment to find just the right parameters for you!

What we’re optimizing for

Round sweetness, softly sparkling acidity, and clear origin character without flattening florals or introducing bitterness.

The Kalita Wave’s flat-bottom design and restricted flow are well-suited to Kona because they promote even wetting and consistent diffusion without requiring aggressive pouring.

What you will need

A kettle for heating water - preferably with a gooseneck spout. (We use the Fellow Products Stagg EKG)
A pourover brewing device and filter. This recipe is optimized for the Kalita Wave 185 Stainless.
A timer.

Recipe

Dose: 25 g coffee
Grind: Medium
Water: 400 g
Water temp: 205°F
Ratio: 1:16
Total time: 3:00

Method

Rinse filter thoroughly and preheat the brewer.
Add coffee and gently level the bed.
Bloom: Start your timer and pour 30 grams of water. Wait 30 seconds. (Use a gentle pour in concentric circles to wet all coffee.)
Pour height: Raise the spout of your kettle about 6 inches above the surface of the coffee.
First pour: Slowly pour up to 150 grams by 1:30.
Second pour: Pour to 250 grams by ~2:15.
Final pour: Bring your kettle so the spout is as close as possible to the surface of the coffee and pour up to 400 grams.
Let the water draw down.
Total brew time: 2:45-3:00.

Why this works for Kona Coffee

The high pour height through the first two pours ensures complete early extraction (fruit acids, aromatics) and middle notes (sweetness, body).
Limiting the number of pours and reducing kettle height in the final pour prevent over-agitation during later phases, which helps preserve clarity and avoid bitter and drying notes.

This recipe prioritizes evenness over intensity, which suits Kona’s subtle structure.

You will need to dial in the correct grind size for your combination of water and grinder, but this recipe should get you headed in the right direction to get the best out of our 100% Kona coffee at home.

Happy brewing!