How Your Choice of Filter Affects the Taste of Your Coffee

Talk about a pandemic pivot; iconic coffee filter maker, Melitta, tweaked the production line at their Minden, Germany factory in April last year and produced 10 million face masks within a month. Although the masks were in the shape of their coffee filter, they were manufactured from the fibre material used in vacuum cleaner bags. Good on ya, Melitta!

That bit of coffee industry news got us thinking about coffee filters, and we started discussing paper versus metal and asking the question; does filter affect the taste of your coffee? The answer is yes, it does, but it's all about how you want your coffee to taste.

The aroma, body, and acidity in your cup of coffee are a result of the brewing method. Various pour-over brewers require the correct paper filter, and you're guaranteed a clean, no-sediment cup of coffee. For example, in the Chemex system, their thick specialty fibre filter design permits the proper infusion time and blocks any impurities and bitter elements from flowing through. More than a few home baristas have experimented with a substitute filter and been sorely disappointed as the filter collapses into the Chemex carafe.

Made in Japan, the Hario V60 filter is much lighter weight, with more texture to trap the sediments. Top-quality filters come either natural or are oxygen bleached, and it's recommended that you rinse paper filters with hot water before brewing.

French Press and Aeropress brewers with metal filters tend to produce a robust cup of coffee with more of the oils and a small amount of sediment in the cup. Although Espro, a Canadian company, has created a double micro-filter, significantly reducing sediment.

Not so common in North America, cloth filters are popular in Asia and Latin America. Finely woven cloth traps the grounds, even micro grounds. Cloth filters require more maintenance than paper or metal, and they need to be thoroughly washed between brews.

On a final note, coffee grounds and paper filters are recyclable; just toss them into your green bin instead of the garbage. Any questions about filters? Drop us a comment or come visit, and we can help you find the right filter for your favourite brew.