Kalita Wave 185 dripper
A forgiving flat-bottomed steel dripper that only takes Wave 185 filters, sold separately.
By Chris Abraham. Last checked Oct 19, 2026. Prices change; we check them by hand.
Grab a cupThey're new to pour-over and own almost nothing for it.
A forgiving flat-bottomed steel dripper that only takes Wave 185 filters, sold separately.
Also good: the TIMEMORE Basic 2.0 scale ($55, espresso picks), a Hario V60 "Simply" glass kit or V60 Switch (under $50), a plastic Hario V60 with filters (under $25), or a Timemore Chestnut C3s or 1Zpresso Q2 S hand grinder (under $100).
They brew most days and want every cup as good as their best.

A reliable, repairable grinder for brewed coffee, though espresso isn't its strength.
It shows a live flow rate as they pour, not just the weight.
Also good: the Chemex Eight Cup, for brewing for friends, on our under $100 picks.
They own a dripper, a grinder and a scale already.
A 64 mm flat-burr electric grinder made for brewed coffee only, not espresso.
Home Coffee Expert gave its grind consistency 10 out of 10 for light roasts.
A light-roast Gesha from a farm that's won Mexico's Cup of Excellence repeatedly.
Also good: an Onyx Coffee Lab gift subscription, on our under $100 picks.
If they don't own a burr grinder, get the Baratza Encore ($149.95). If they do, a scale with a timer or a bag of rare beans fits any setup.
A dripper and filters, a scale, a burr grinder, whole beans and a kettle. The Kalita Wave 185 is a forgiving first dripper, $55 with filters.
For most people, the Baratza Encore ($149.95). For a step up, the Fellow Ode Gen 2 ($399.95) for brewed coffee only, or the 1Zpresso ZP6 Special ($209) hand grinder for light roasts.
Not strictly, but pour-over recipes are written in grams, so a scale makes a good cup easier to repeat. The Acaia Pearl ($150) adds a live flow-rate indicator.
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