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Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper 02 vs Kalita Wave 185 Stainless Steel Dripper
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Hario V60 is the best all-round pour-over: cheap, endlessly supported, and capable of the widest range of great cups once you learn it. If you want that quality without the learning curve, the Kalita Wave 185 is the more forgiving pick.
Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper 02
Buy itThe most versatile and best-supported cone on the market, rewarding anyone willing to learn the pour.
- Conical shape and open spiral ribs give the pourer full command over flow rate and extraction
- Enormous ecosystem of cheap, widely stocked paper filters and accessories
- Ceramic holds heat well and the design is genuinely attractive on a counter
- Steep learning curve; results swing with grind, pour technique, and kettle control
- Effectively requires a gooseneck kettle and a scale to be consistent
Kalita Wave 185 Stainless Steel Dripper
Buy itThe most forgiving pour-over made, turning a shaky pour into a reliably good cup.
- Flat bed and three small holes even out extraction, so sloppy pours still land well
- Stainless build is close to indestructible and heats up fast
- The single most consistent brewer here for newcomers
- Uses wavy flat-bottom filters that some retailers stock less reliably than cone papers
- Offers less ceiling for the tinkerer chasing a specific extraction than a V60
Side by side
| Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper 02 | Kalita Wave 185 Stainless Steel Dripper | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Hands-on drinkers who want maximum control and one brewer that adapts to any bean. | Beginners and anyone who wants a dependable cup without babysitting the pour. |
| Price tier | $ · budget | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper 02 - The most versatile and best-supported cone on the market, rewarding anyone willing to learn the pour. Choose the Kalita Wave 185 Stainless Steel Dripper instead if beginners and anyone who wants a dependable cup without babysitting the pour.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).