The Kalita Wave 155 Stainless Steel Dripper is the small version of Kalita's flat-bottomed pour over dripper, made of stainless steel in Japan and sized for one or two cups. Kalita USA sells it for $38.00, says it is dishwasher safe, and pairs it with its own Wave 155 paper filters, which the dripper requires.
What is the Kalita Wave 155 dripper?
It is a pour over cone that is not a cone. Where most drippers narrow to a point, the Wave has a flat bed of coffee at the bottom and three small holes for the water to leave through. Kalita pairs that shape with a pleated paper filter of its own design, and the two together are what the company calls the Wave system. The 155 is the smaller of the two Wave sizes; the Kalita Wave 185 Dripper is the larger one.
Kalita USA describes the 155 as small and compact, says it is the company's most popular choice for camping and travel, and says cafés like it for its durability. That positions it clearly: a single-cup brewer for people who make one or two mugs at a time, at home or away from it, rather than a dripper for a shared pot.
Kalita Wave 155 specs
| Type | Flat-bottomed pour over dripper |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Capacity | 1 to 2 cups (Kalita USA: 1 to 2 doses) |
| Drainage | 3 small extraction holes |
| Filter | Kalita Wave 155 paper filters, 20 waves |
| Filter price | $12.00 per 100 on Kalita USA |
| Made in | Japan |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Price | $38.00 on Kalita USA |
That is what Kalita USA publishes for this model. It gives no dimensions, no weight and no capacity in milliliters for the 155, so none are given here. The same store lists a Wave 155 in glass at $36.00 and the stainless Wave 185 at $42.00, which makes the stainless 155 the cheaper of the two steel Waves by $4.
How the Kalita Wave flat-bottom design works
Kalita's explanation has two parts. First, the filter: a Wave paper has 20 pleats around its side, and those pleats hold the paper away from the dripper wall so the two touch as little as possible. Kalita says this lets water flow freely, evenly and at the right pace. A cone dripper does the same job with ribs molded into its wall; on the Wave, the filter itself does it.
Second, the bottom. Water that has passed through the coffee meets a flat base with three small holes. Kalita says this flat, three-hole design stops water from pooling in the dripper, so the extraction stays even and bitterness is avoided. In practice, the flat bed means the grounds sit in an even layer rather than piling into the point of a cone, and the three small holes limit how fast the water can run out, so the brew time depends less on how carefully you pour.
Kalita USA adds one brewing tip on the product page: warm the dripper before you start. Steel takes heat out of the first pour if it starts cold, so rinsing the dripper with hot water, which also rinses the paper, is part of the routine.
Kalita Wave 155 vs Wave 185: which size?
The two are the same design at different sizes. Kalita USA lists the 155 for 1 to 2 doses and the 185 for 2 to 4. The Wave 185 is published at up to 500 ml, enough for a small carafe; the 155 is meant for a mug or two. Filters are not shared: each size takes its own Wave paper, so the choice also fixes which box of filters you buy from then on.
For one person brewing one cup, the 155 is the better fit. A small dose in a large flat bed spreads thin, and a smaller dripper keeps the bed deeper for the same amount of coffee. For two people, or for anyone who makes a second cup at the same time, the 185 gives the headroom the 155 does not. The steel 185 costs $42.00 on Kalita USA against $38.00 for the steel 155.
Kalita Wave 155 vs Hario V60
The Hario V60 is the other dripper most people compare it with, and the two take opposite approaches. The V60 is a cone with one large hole and spiral ribs, so the speed of your pour largely controls the speed of the brew. That gives an experienced brewer a lot of control and makes the V60 less forgiving of an uneven pour. The Wave's three small holes and flat bed slow and steady the drawdown, which is the reason it is often recommended to people who want the same cup every morning with less technique.
Filters also differ. V60 papers are a common shape that many companies make, while the Wave 155 requires Kalita's own Wave 155 papers. Kalita USA sells them at $12.00 for 100, so the running cost is known, but you are buying into one maker's filter for as long as you use the dripper.
Is the Kalita Wave 155 worth it?
At $38.00 it costs more than a plastic cone and less than most glass and steel brewing kits. What the price buys is a stainless steel body that Kalita says cafés choose for durability, a dishwasher safe build, and a design whose whole purpose is an even, repeatable extraction. For a single-cup brewer who wants pour over without learning to control every pour, that is the case for it.
The case against is the filter. A proprietary paper is a small recurring cost and one more thing to keep in stock, and if you ever lose access to Wave 155 papers, the dripper stops being useful. The other limit is size: anyone who regularly brews for two or more will outgrow the 155 and should start with the 185 instead. You can see the alternatives side by side in our pour over coffee makers category.
Who should buy the Kalita Wave 155 (and who should not)
Buy it if you brew one or two cups at a time, want a pour over dripper that is forgiving of an imperfect pour, or want something small and steel to take camping or traveling, which is the use Kalita USA says it is most popular for. It also suits anyone who already likes the Wave 185 and wants a smaller one for a single mug.
Skip it if you brew for a household, since the 1 to 2 cup capacity is the whole design, or if you want to use any filter you can find in a supermarket. People who enjoy controlling the brew through pour speed may also prefer a fast cone like the V60, where that control is the point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What filters does the Kalita Wave 155 use?
It requires Kalita Wave 155 filters. Wave 185 filters are a different size and do not fit. Kalita USA sells the 155 filters at $12.00 for a pack of 100.
How many cups does the Kalita Wave 155 make?
Kalita USA says it is for 1 to 2 cups. The larger Wave 185 is listed for 2 to 4.
Is the Kalita Wave 155 dishwasher safe?
Yes. Kalita USA lists the stainless steel 155 as dishwasher safe.
Where is the Kalita Wave 155 made?
In Japan, according to Kalita USA. Kalita has made coffee products in Japan since 1958.
Should I preheat the Kalita Wave 155?
Kalita recommends it. The product page says to warm the dripper before brewing for better results, which with steel usually means rinsing it and the filter with hot water first.
Is the Kalita Wave 155 good for beginners?
Its design is meant to be forgiving. The flat bed and three small holes slow the water and keep it from pooling, so the result depends less on a precise pouring technique than it does with a single-hole cone.
