Brew Method
Kalita 101 vs. 102: Filters, Sizes and a Simple Recipe
Kalita 101 and 102 are classic three-hole pour-over drippers that use trapezoid paper filters. The 101 is the smaller size; the 102 gives you more room for larger batches. Neither uses the pleated basket papers made for the Kalita Wave.
On This Page9 Sections
Key Takeaways
- 1Choose 101 for smaller batches or 102 for more capacity. Kalita rates the classic sizes for 1–2 and 2–4 people; these are not promises of full-size mugs.
- 2Buy matching 101 or 102 trapezoid paper. Wave 155/185 papers are a different shape, even though both brewer families have three outlets.
- 3For the 102, our home starting point is 20 g coffee and 320 g water, medium grind, around 93°C. Measure the coffee collected rather than calling water input the serving size.
Highlights
- 102 coffee dose
- 20 g
- Brewing water
- 320 g input; 1:16
- Starting grind
- Medium
- Brew window
- About 3–4 minutes
Kalita 101 vs. 102: Which Size?
The main choice is capacity, followed by material and the filters you can buy locally. Kalita's ceramic 101 and 102 product records identify both as three-hole brewers. They list the 101 for 1–2 people and the 102 for 2–4; the listed ceramic bodies are 120 × 100 × 70 mm and 138 × 110 × 88 mm respectively.
Those dimensions describe those specific ceramic models, not every plastic, metal or collaboration edition. The serving labels are also equipment categories, not defined beverage volumes. If you want two large mugs, plan the actual water dose and server capacity rather than assuming “2–4” means four café drinks.
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| Choice | What to buy | Useful starting decision |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | 101 dripper and 101 trapezoid papers | For a smaller home brew, try 15 g coffee with 240 g water; this is our suggested 1:16 input ratio. |
| 102 | 102 dripper and 102 trapezoid papers | Our main recipe uses 20 g coffee with 320 g water, with space for controlled pouring. |
| Wave 155 or 185 | Matching pleated Wave basket papers | A separate brewer family. Do not use its size number as a substitute for 101 or 102. |
The suggested doses above are editorial starting points, not the manufacturer's maximum capacity or an assertion that either size can only brew that amount. A shallow bed and an overfilled filter can both be harder to manage than a comfortably sized batch.
Which Filters Fit Kalita 101 and 102?
Use the size marked for your brewer: 101 paper in a 101, 102 paper in a 102. These are fan-shaped or trapezoid papers, with a seam along the bottom and side. Open the paper after folding its seams and settle it into the brewer without tearing or forcing it.
The bottom of the classic dripper is a narrow trough with three holes in a row. It is not the broad circular bed of a Kalita Wave. Paper that merely sits inside a brewer is not necessarily a good fit: the seam should sit properly, the walls should be supported, and there should be enough filter height above the slurry.
Some shops describe trapezoid papers with different numbering systems. Labels such as “102” and “No. 2” do not establish compatibility across every manufacturer's filters. Compare the stated fit and actual shape; choosing paper explicitly sold for Kalita 102 is the simplest baseline. See the coffee filters guide for paper-shape differences.
Kalita 102 Recipe
This makes one batch with 20 g coffee and 320 g brewing water. Serve the collected coffee in one mug or divide it into two small cups. Allow around six minutes including setup; the brewing portion is an initial 3–4 minute target, not a deadline that establishes good extraction.
Ingredients and Equipment
- 20 g medium-ground coffee
- 320 g brewing water at about 93°C, plus separate water for rinsing
- Kalita 102 dripper and matching 102 paper
- Heatproof server or mug with at least 400 ml capacity, kettle, grinder, scale and timer
The water target of 93°C is about 199°F. The 400 ml figure is vessel capacity, not the expected yield. A controllable kettle makes gentle pouring easier. If you are still learning the motion, the pour-over guide covers the general technique.
Method
- Fold the matching 102 filter along its seams, fit it into the dripper and rinse with hot water. Empty the rinse water from the server.
- Add 20 g medium-ground coffee, level the bed and tare the scale with the brewer and server in place.
- Start the timer and gently wet the grounds with 40 g water at about 93°C. Wait until 0:40.
- Pour gently over the grounds to 180 g total, pausing if the water rises close to the paper edge. Continue to 320 g total without overflowing.
- Let the coffee drain, using about 3–4 minutes from the first pour as a starting observation. Remove the dripper, stir and measure the collected coffee before serving.
The scale targets are cumulative: 40 → 180 → 320 g. They mean additions of 40, 140 and 140 g, not three separate doses totaling 540 g. Keep the kettle stream over the coffee rather than washing water down bare paper above the grounds.
Our measured formulation applies ordinary pour-over technique to the classic 102. Kalita's product records establish the brewer's design and size; they do not validate this exact dose, temperature or pouring schedule. We have not performed a controlled taste or extraction test of this formulation.
Grind, Ratio and Drainage: What to Change First
Start with a medium grind, record the result, and change one setting at a time. “Medium” is a starting description rather than a universal grinder number. Our grind-size guide helps relate the word to the equipment you own.
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| What you notice | First check | Next brew |
|---|---|---|
| Water rises toward the paper edge | Pause pouring; check paper fit and that the server is stable. | Use gentler pours; if drainage stays very slow, try a slightly coarser grind. |
| Fast drainage and a thin, sharp cup | Confirm the water total and that all grounds became wet. | Try slightly finer grounds with the same dose and water. |
| Harsh cup with a long drawdown | Look for very fine grounds and excessive agitation. | Coarsen a little before changing the ratio as well. |
| Balanced flavor but too concentrated | Distinguish strength from bitterness. | Add a little hot water to the served cup, record it, then decide whether to change the next recipe. |
Three outlets do not guarantee a particular brew speed or taste. Paper, grind distribution, dose and pouring still matter. Compare the same coffee and inputs when trying another brewer; otherwise, a supposed “dripper difference” may simply be a different recipe.
Kalita Classic vs. Wave, Melitta and V60
The classic 101/102 pair is useful when you want a familiar wedge-shaped paper brewer with a straightforward workflow. The Wave changes the paper and bed to a pleated, flat circular basket. Both are Kalita products, but their consumables and brewing behavior should not be collapsed into one recipe page.
A Melitta cone is the closer shape comparison, though outlet design varies by model. A V60 uses a pointed cone and a large central opening. A Blue Bottle Dripper uses a flat bed, dedicated pleated paper and one small outlet. None of those shapes establishes that one is automatically sweeter or less bitter with every coffee.
Caffeine, Calories and Serving Size
For orientation, 200 g of generic plain brewed coffee is about 80 mg caffeine, 2 kcal and 0 g sugar. This calculation uses USDA's reference values of 40 mg caffeine and 1 kcal per 100 g, not a measurement of our Kalita recipe. Caffeine is listed on page 548 of the USDA beverage tables.
The brewer does not set a fixed caffeine dose. Beans, dry dose, extraction and the portion you drink affect it. 320 g is water poured in; grounds and paper retain some of it. Weigh the collected brew if you want to record or divide the serving. Milk and sugar are additions with their own nutrition, not part of this black-coffee recipe.
Common Questions
Can I Use a 102 for One Cup?
Yes. The 20 g / 320 g input recipe here produces one mug-sized batch, with the final amount determined by collection. A 101 can be convenient for a smaller dose, but a larger model does not require filling it to the rim.
Is Kalita 102 the Same as Wave 185?
No. The 102 is a classic trapezoid brewer with a narrow bottom; the Wave 185 uses a pleated basket paper. Buy filters by the actual brewer family and size.
Must I Wait Until Every Last Drop Falls?
For this recipe, let the main flow finish and remove the dripper rather than extending the brew indefinitely for occasional drops. Record the practical brew time consistently. Time is a diagnostic clue, not a taste verdict by itself.
How Should I Clean It?
Allow the brewer to cool enough to handle, discard the used paper and grounds, then wash and dry the brewer according to the instructions for its material. Ceramic, resin and metal models should not all be assigned one dishwasher rule.
Editor's Take
Sources and Further Reading
4 references
External links open in a new tab
Brewer design and sizing
- Kalita101 ceramic dripperManufacturer record for the classic three-hole 101, listed dimensions and 1–2 person category(opens in a new tab)
- Kalita102 ceramic dripperManufacturer record for the classic three-hole 102, listed dimensions and 2–4 person category(opens in a new tab)
- KalitaThe Kalita methodManufacturer explanation distinguishes classic trapezoid paper from the Wave system; it does not test our recipe(opens in a new tab)