The filter might be the last thing you’re concerned about when making freshly brewed coffee at home. However, just like the beans, grinder, and brewing method, choosing the right filter for your coffee is essential.
Now, you might be wondering, does it matter what type of filter you use? Coffee Lover’s Cup and other experts say, yes, it does. Hence, let’s discuss the different types of coffee filters.
Common Types of Coffee Filters
There are five common types of coffee filters used for brewing coffee, namely:
- Paper Filter
- Metal Filter
- Cloth Filter
- Nylon Filter
- Specialty Filter
Paper Filters
Paper filters are inexpensive and readily available coffee filters. They are best to use if you’re after clarity of flavor, especially if you’re buying gourmet, single-origin beans.
These filters work great in soaking up oil from your beans and preventing sediments from passing through. As a result, you get a smooth cup of coffee.
Another advantage of using paper filters is they are easy to find. You can purchase them from your local grocer or specialty coffee store.
Basic paper filters are available in basket and conical styles. Conical paper filters are widely used for pour-overs as they help the water to quickly and evenly extract coffee from the grounds.
Meanwhile, basket filters are best for large-capacity drip machines. They have wide, flat bottoms, so they are also called cupcake filters.
Paper filters are easy to use but they are not reusable. Thus, they are less eco-friendly, and you have to keep buying them.
Metal Filters
Metal filters are typically made of perforated stainless steel or aluminum, but some filters are made of finely woven wire mesh. They are sometimes called “gold tone” filters because the stainless steel frame has gold plating.
Metal filters have tiny holes but are not enough to keep extra-fine grounds from passing through. Therefore, you get a thicker, stronger coffee but with a little bit of sediment at the bottom of the cup.
Nonetheless, this type of filter doesn’t absorb oils from your beans, which means your cup will have a strong flavor and aroma. Thus, they are the go-to filter if you want a bold, strong, and very aromatic coffee.
Many coffee makers have built-in metal filters. However, you can also buy one for your pour-over brew.
Metal filters are available in flat and cone-shaped styles to fit all types of coffee makers. That said, you can also find ones shaped like discs and baskets.
Metal filters cost way more than paper filters, but they are reusable and can last for a long time. It also means that they are more eco-friendly than paper filters.
Cloth Filters
The third type of coffee filter is made of cloth and works similarly to paper filters. These filters are capable of absorbing oil and trapping even the finest grounds. Thus, they create a smooth cup of Joe and are best for pour-over brewing.
They are reusable, but cleaning them takes a while. You have to rinse the filter thoroughly, or else it will absorb oil and flavor. Also, you have to dry it until your next use. Some manufacturers even recommend boiling them for several minutes and sanitizing the cloth.
If you use different types of beans, you may want to buy a dedicated cloth filter for each as the aroma, oil, and flavor tend to stick to the fabric. Nonetheless, it’s very reusable, and because of that, cloth filters are eco-friendly.
Nylon Filters
Some filters are made with nylon mesh mounted to a plastic basket. They are available in cone and flat-bottomed styles. However, they are less sturdy than metal filters but are easier to clean than cloth filters.
Specialty Filters
Some coffee makers feature special filters, such as charcoal filters that can remove impurities from water, such as chlorine and other minerals. You will also find cold brew filters in the market.
Choosing the Right Coffee Filter Matters
When looking for the right filter for your needs, you need to consider taste. Remember that the type of filter you use affects the taste of your brew. Paper and cloth filters are highly absorbent; thus, they will soak up more flavor from your beans.
Meanwhile, metal filters will allow the oil to pass through, giving you a strong and bold coffee flavor, although there might be a bit of sediment passing through the filter.
You should also consider your convenience when choosing a coffee filter. As noted earlier, some filters take time to clean while others are disposable. It all depends on your personal preference.
Lastly, consider the cost. How much are you willing to spend on your coffee filters? While paper filters are very cheap, you have to keep buying them. Meanwhile, cloth and metal filters cost more, but since they are reusable, you get to save money in the long run.
