Not all coffee filters are created equal. The type you choose for your daily coffee ritual can have a major impact on your overall coffee experience. The aroma, the body, the acidity, the way the flavors blend together - all of these are affected by the type of coffee filter you have.
By understanding how different coffee filters work, you can make an informed decision about how you want your coffee to taste at home and when you're at the coffee shop. You want to know which coffee best suits your taste preferences, right? Then learn the basic filter types!
But it goes beyond the sensory experience. Each coffee filter type has a slightly different impact on your brewing routine, so there may be one that suits your values and lifestyle more than others.
Let's dive right into the different coffee filter types - paper and metal - so you can get a good idea of which filter best suits your taste preferences and lifestyle.
Stainless Steel Coffee Filter
When making coffee, you may think of paper filters. They line the shelves of supermarkets, not far from drip coffee pots, and can be found in most home cabinets.
Paper filters are tightly woven and highly absorbent, filtering out most oils and fine powders. This is a good thing and a bad thing.
On the one hand, the absence of oils and micronized powders produces a thinner, more accessible and sediment-free beverage. However, without them, the coffee loses a lot of flavor and aroma, and the lack of micro substrates tends to make the acids seem more pronounced and stronger (even if they aren't actually stronger - it's a perception thing).
Thankfully, quality coffee is more common than ever, and paper filters are not as necessary as they once were. Nonetheless, paper filters are still preferred by many who enjoy the light, crisp, bright, and clean experience that paper filters provide.
Stainless Steel Coffee Filter
As far as cleanup is concerned, paper filters are very easy. You simply place the entire filter (including the coffee grounds) in the trash or compost pile. While it's convenient, it also creates paper waste - and lots of it.
Paper coffee filters in a nutshell
Flavor profile: light, crisp, bright, clean
Cleanup: quick and easy
Waste: high
When you enjoy a cup of coffee made with a metal filter, it may sound a little strange for you to drink micronized powder and oil. Allow me to explain.
The natural oils of coffee are responsible for most of the aroma that coffee can have - over 800 of them! These oils are barely noticeable in terms of texture, but they make a huge contribution to the overall flavor experience. Many flavors are only possible when coffee oils are present, including blueberry, rose and many other lighter, sweeter flavors.
Micronized powders will add to the taste of your coffee, but not in a strangely crude way. Your coffee will not feel pure and clean but will feel slightly heavier. These coffee grounds don't completely reduce the acidity of the coffee, but they do make your taste buds feel less like they are so strong, intense, and biting.
Sometimes, a thin layer of microscopic deposits can form at the bottom of a cup with a metal filter. This is completely harmless and allows for a sip of flavor-filled food - but if you don't like the texture, don't feel like you have to drink this layer.
Cleaning metal filters isn't the easiest thing to do, but if you take care of them, they can last a lifetime (or two), which means zero paper waste. The process of cleaning metal coffee filters is not tedious, but you should check it out for yourself.
Metal coffee filters in a nutshell
Flavor profile: aromatic, strong, full-bodied, rich
Cleanup: 30 to 60 seconds
Waste: zero
Stainless Steel Coffe Filter designed to fit on most cups, mugs, thermoses, small pots, and even carafes. Laser-cut 18/10 stainless steel double filter ensures that no grounds end up in your cup. Our pour-over coffee filter does not absorb essential oils from coffee beans, allowing you to make a perfectly clear and flavorful coffee every single time.
If you want to get more information about the best coffee filters, welcome to contact us today or request a quote.
