The Kalita Wave is a Japanese pour-over coffee brewer that’s known for consistent results and predictable extraction. Whether you’re a seasoned pour-over fanatic or are new to the experience, the Kalita Wave is a great tool for making a delicious cup of coffee.
At a Glance: Best Kalita Wave Filter Alternatives
This pour-over system uses wavy, flat-bottomed filters that look similar to the ones you’d find in the coffee aisle at your grocery store, but they’re not exactly the same.
If you’ve run out of Kalita filters and can’t get more, don’t panic! We’ve rounded up some quality alternatives that will have you brewing again in no time. We’ll also go through some reusable options for our eco-conscious coffee experts out there.
Quick Summary: Best Kalita Wave Filter Alternatives
 | Our Top Choice Bolio Organic Hemp Reusable Coffee Filter |
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 | Quell Reusable Coffee Filter for Kalita 185 |
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 | GINO Paper Coffee Filters |
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 | CoffeeSock - Kalita Wave Style |
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 | Saint Anthony Industries F70 Perfect Paper Filters |
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Bolio Organic Hemp Reusable Coffee Filter
If you’re looking for a sustainable, reusable filter option, consider the Bolio Organic Hemp Reusable Filter. Hemp is a strong fiber, which makes it especially well-suited as a filter. It won’t wear out quickly, and you won’t find bits of the cloth in your cup of joe.
Hemp is also widely recognized as an eco-friendly fiber, requiring less water than cotton to grow.
Hemp and paper are equal in their ability to filter. As well, users report that less sediment finds its way into their coffee when using a hemp filter than other reusable options, like a stainless steel filter.
These filters can be washed, dried, and reused hundreds of times and claim to impart no additional taste to your coffee, which might appeal to coffee lovers with a sensitive palate who notice a papery or cardboard taste when using a paper filter.
These filters cost a bit less than a 100-pack of Kalita Wave filters. Since they can be reused hundreds of times, the cost works out to be lower.
Of course, it will take time to see the savings, especially if you want to invest in more than one Bolio filter to account for washing/ drying time.
What We Like:
- 100% Organic and Unbleached
- Eco-friendly hemp fiber
- No papery taste
- Reusable hundred of times
What We Don’t Like:
- Washing and drying a reusable filter is less convenient than using a paper filter
- Up-front investment is slightly higher in order to have more than one in rotation
Quell Reusable Coffee Filter for Kalita 185
The Quell reusable coffee filter is a stainless steel filter. This filter can be reused indefinitely, making it an extremely eco-friendly option and ideal for coffee drinkers who are concerned about waste from paper filters.
The Quell filter won’t leech any chemicals into your coffee and won’t impart any papery flavors into the brew, which may appeal to coffee aficionados and the health-conscious.
Stainless steel filters like the Quell filter allow more coffee oils to flow into the cup rather than being trapped as they are in a paper filter. This results in a final brew that tastes rich and smooth, somewhere between a traditional drip paper filter brew and a French press coffee.
Some reviewers note that the water flows more quickly through this filter than a paper filter, so users may have to experiment with grind size or their pour to achieve the same results.
Things We Like:
- Infinitely reusable and eco-friendly
- No papery taste
- No leeched chemicals in your brew
- More coffee oils in the final brew, resulting in a profile similar to French Press coffee
Things We Don’t:
- Higher up-front cost
- Water flows through more quickly than a paper filter
- Reusable filters require more work and time to clean than paper filters
GINO Paper Coffee Filters
Made by the notNeutral company, these filters are made in the USA from natural wood pulp.
These filters are whitened using ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) whitening, which is widely considered to be a more sustainable choice than typical bleaching. They’re also biodegradable and can be safely composted.
These filters do not impart a taste into the coffee and are comparable in price to the Kalita Wave filters, making them a good eco-friendly choice that isn’t overly costly.
Things We Like:
- Made in the USA
- Doesn’t give the coffee a paper flavor
- Biodegradable and compostable
Things We Don’t:
- A fully unbleached version is not available
CoffeeSock – Kalita Wave Style
The CoffeeSock is a reusable filter that is made in the USA from organic cotton, which is a sustainable, renewable resource that can be composted.
These filters are designed to be reusable for around one year, so while they are long-lasting, they’re not as sturdy as a stainless steel filter.
Cotton absorbs some of the oils from the coffee, so coffee drinkers who find French Press coffee too heavy and oily may prefer this filter.
Cotton is insoluble in water, so these filters shouldn’t change the taste of the coffee and won’t break down and drop grounds into your cup.
Things We Like:
- Organic, unbleached, and non-GMO
- The reusable filter replaces 4 or more boxes of paper filters in a year
- Sustainably sourced and compostable
Things We Don’t:
- Can be difficult to clean
- Some users report that the shape isn’t a perfect fit for the brewer
Saint Anthony Industries F70 Perfect Paper Filters
These filters are high-quality, bleached paper filters made from Saint Anthony Industries’ proprietary paper blend. They’re sturdy and the construction is symmetrical, making it easy to get a great pour.
Many reviewers notice that the flow rate is fast and consistent when using these filters, and they don’t clog.
Because these filters are made from paper, some coffee drinkers find that they give the resulting coffee a slightly papery taste. This can be avoided by pre-wetting the filter before brewing. It’s a small extra step, but it could be annoying or off-putting for some.
Things We Like:
- Fast and consistent flow rate
- Doesn’t clog easily
- Affordable cost
Things We Don’t:
- Can give the coffee a slightly papery flavor
Things to Know Before Choosing a Filter
Background on the Kalita Wave
The Kalita Wave is a pour-over coffee dripper made by the Japanese company Kalita. It has a flat bottom with three small holes, giving it a consistent, predictable extraction that is easier for many pour-over newbies than similar setups.
It comes in two sizes- the Kalita 155, which brews a single cup, and the Kalita 185, which is suitable for brewing 2-3 cups of coffee.
Kalita markets a paper filter for use in this drip brewer. Kalita’s paper filters have large, vertical ripples that serve to keep air flowing around the bed of grounds, which insulates the coffee and contributes to the even and consistent flow of coffee from the dripper.
These filters aren’t a perfect fit for every coffee drinker, though. They’re rather flimsy, making it difficult to store them without crushing or crumpling your filter stockpile. Some users also report that they give the coffee a papery or cardboard taste.
Types of Paper Filter
Kalita makes two types of paper filters: bleached and unbleached. This is in line with the paper filters made by most companies, including the ones you’d find at your standard grocery store.
Kalita uses oxygen bleaching for its bleached filters, which don’t use chlorine and are more environmentally friendly.
These unbleached filters are brown and undergo less processing than bleached filters. Both are safe to use, but if you’re especially concerned about the environmental impact of your filter, consider the unbleached version.
Types of Reusable Filters
Coffee aficionados might consider choosing a reusable filter for a variety of reasons, including cost savings over time, sustainability, or the convenience of never having to shop for or order coffee filters.
Reusable filters can be made from a variety of materials, and each one has its pros and cons.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel filters don’t produce any paper or plastic waste, and they can be reused nearly indefinitely. That makes them a great choice for anyone whose main concern is longevity and waste reduction.
Using stainless steel rather than a paper or cloth filter does lead to some changes in the flavor profile of the coffee.
Coffees made with a metal filter tend to be rich, aromatic, and full-bodied, thanks to the natural oils that are able to make their way through this type of filter. If you’ve ever had French Press coffee, you’re familiar with this profile.
That being said, those who enjoy a lighter coffee might not be satisfied with a stainless steel filter. For results more similar to paper filters, consider a cloth option instead.
Stainless steel filters can also be somewhat difficult to clean, and if you don’t remove all of the coffee residues, your next brew might taste bitter or stale.
Hemp
Hemp is usually sustainably grown and is a renewable resource, making it a good option for eco-conscious consumers.
Hemp filters are similar to paper in their filtering ability, catching large sediment and most coffee oils before they reach your cup of java. If you enjoy the flavor profile of your coffee when brewed with a paper filter, hemp makes a good reusable approximation.
While they can be washed and reused, hemp filters are typically only viable for around 3-6 months, so they’re not the longest-lasting option on the market.
As well, you’ll have to wash your hemp filter after every use to ensure that no coffee grounds and oils stick around to gunk up your next brew.
Cotton
Cotton is a renewable resource, but it should be noted that even the organic kind is not without its environmental issues.
These filters are a good option for reducing your one-time paper use, but the most eco-conscious might want to look elsewhere.
When using a cloth filter, you might have to make a slight adjustment to your grind size, but you’ll achieve a brew that is lighter and more oily than French Press coffee and more robust than what a very thick paper filter produces.
In other words, you should be able to achieve results similar to your Kalita paper filters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use Regular Filters in a Kalita Wave?
While Kalita’s proprietary filters have similar wavy sides to those you see at the grocery store, they’re not the same size. You’ll need to buy Kalita’s filters or an alternative product that was designed to fit this brewer.
Should You Rinse Kalita Filters?
Rinsing your Kalita paper filters is a good idea. It reduces the papery taste that the filters can sometimes impart into the coffee and also helps the filter cling to the brew basket.
Is It Okay To Put Coffee Filters In Compost?
Paper coffee filters are biodegradable, and they break down very quickly. Feel free to throw yours into the compost pile!
Happy Caffeinating!
