We rarely talk about coffee filters, don’t we? It’s because all our attention goes to the coffee beans, makers, and roasts.
But it’s important to know that our coffee’s flavour also differs from the coffee filter we use. They absorb more or less coffee oil, influencing a particular coffee blend.
While there are many coffee filters, it can be confusing to pick the right one.
Did you know that coffee filters are an important part of making a great cup of coffee at home?
The coffee filters help to make sure that the coffee is smooth and not too watery or too strong. They help by letting the water pass through slowly, creating a nice flavour and taste.
No matter how carefully and lovingly you prepare your coffee beans, the coffee filter is a vital part of the coffee making process. It’s the gatekeeper for your delicious brew. And here’s why that is.
Why coffee filters are important?
Coffee requires coffee filters! If you want to drink coffee, you need filters to make coffee. They are very important in your coffee making process. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to make coffee at all! They are placed inside your coffee machine and are as essential as the water that’s heated up to make the coffee. They keep your coffee from going all over the place and make sure that it goes into your cup and not on your table or the floor.
TYPES OF COFFEE FILTER MATERIALS
Let’s understand how to select the best coffee filter materials in a simple and easy to understand way:
PAPER
Paper Filters are great at absorbing coffee oils and sediments. Compared to others, they give a clearer and cleaner flavour to the coffee. You don’t have to clean them up as they are for a one-time purpose. So, just throw them away after brewing (avoiding the clean-up is always a plus!) It is available in all sizes and shapes to suit various baskets of coffee makers.
Even though it’s less environmentally friendly as it’s a one time use, as it’s made from paper, it can be popped into the compost along with your old coffee grinds.
METAL
This filter type is produced from woven wire mesh. The mesh extracts the grounds but fails to filter the oil much. If you are in love with rich, strong-flavoured coffee, then this one’s for you. Moreover, they endure for a longer period. But, cleansing a metal filter takes a lot more time than discarding a paper filter.
NYLON
Nylon Filters are formed by affixing a coarse nylon mesh to a plastic basket. They have akin filtration properties to the metal ones. When compared to metal filters, nylon seems to fit in the budget and appear less sturdy. However, proper cleansing and care can give it a longer life.
CLOTH
Natural fabrics such as cotton or muslin are commonly used to make cloth coffee filters. They have bigger holes than the paper filters resulting in passing more coffee grounds. You can reuse them for several months. However, this one also takes time to clean.
KEY FACTORS TO KEEP IN MIND:
TASTE
For a strong caffeine taste, plastic and metal filters are a good choice. And, if you want to reduce your cholesterol, then go for a paper filter.
COST
Paper filters are the cheapest alternative, but you have to buy them in bulk since they are not reusable. On the contrary, metals are a bit pricey but long-lasting.
ENVIRONMENTAL-FRIENDLY
Unbleached paper filters are best for recycling. In contrast, you cannot recycle the wire mesh easily.
Did you know you can pop coffee grinds into your compost? This means you paper filter can get popped straight in there too, so you don’t have to feel too bad about using a one time use filter.
Cleaning a coffee filter
Coffee filters are usually an afterthought for most people. By focusing your attention on getting the filter as clean as possible, you can ensure the best tasting coffee possible. There are a few ways you can go about washing a coffee filter.
The first is using hot water and soap. The second is using a spice grinder with a metal filter, which will clean the filter without any residue. And the third way is to simply wash the filter by hand. The most important thing is not to use bleach on your filter as it will alter the taste of your coffee.
TIP FOR THE BEST BREW WITH A COFFEE FILTER
Freshly ground coffee beans! The coffee beans contain oils that give the coffee its full bodied flavour. This oil is extracted when the beans are ground and the roasting process brings out the flavour. To get the most flavour, it is best to grind the beans just before brewing.
If you are looking to make a coffee at home, and you don’t have your own grinder – We can grind the beans for you. If you are buying the beans in store just ask our friendly basista, they will be happy to help.
Considering all these points can help you get the maximum flavour from your brew through a coffee filter. So, try out filtering your freshly roasted coffee delivered to your door from Coffee For The People with the right coffee filter today!
We recommend three different paper coffee filters:
- HARIO V60 PAPER FILTER 02
- BRUER PAPER FILTERS 350PK PRESS COFFEE MAKER
- FILTROPA FILTER PAPERS #4
If you have an Aeropress you will need to pair it with the BRUER PAPER FILTERS 350PK PRESS COFFEE MAKER
For a poor over drip coffee, we recommend the FILTROPA FILTER PAPERS #4 and HARIO V60 PAPER FILTER 02.
We sell both on our online store, or in our Seaford cafe.
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