Paper filters Paper coffee filters are the most common type of coffee filter because of their affordability and ease of use. They are disposable, but biodegradable, although they can produce excess waste if they are not composted. Cone-shaped coffee filters are often the favorites of the most dedicated domestic baristas. Two basic types of filters fall under the cone category.
One is shaped like a standard cone and looks a bit like a party hat. The other is different in the sense that, instead of reaching a point at the tip, it has two sides that taper to form a shorter line. If you have a manual coffee maker, you'll probably want to use the first style of conical filters. The second type is mainly found in permanent filters designed for automatic coffee machines.
Either way, the filters work essentially the same way. Using a paper filter removes most of the coffee oils and sediment from the cup, resulting in a light, crisp and clean cup of coffee. The paper is made thin and porous enough that water can pass through, but none of the coffee grounds can enter the coffee cup. By filtering sediment and leaving coffee oils in it, fabric filters produce clean but intensely rich and tasty coffee.
The filter is 26% washable and reusable and allows the natural oils of coffee to pass through to improve the flavor and provide coffee with all the flavor. Using a paper filter is also potentially healthier, since paper more effectively prevents coffee oils from entering the cup, which lowers the cholesterol level in the coffee. When it comes to choosing a coffee filter, the most important thing is getting the right size and shape for your coffee maker. Depending on the type of coffee you use, you may need to gently scrub the reusable coffee filter with a brush.
Larger cold coffee systems pass water through a brewing container that holds a good amount of water and coffee beans. Experienced coffee growers will notice the good taste of coffee when it is filtered through them, as they allow all the oils to reach the infusion. If you want to have a little more peace of mind knowing that you won't find ground coffee in the cup, there are ways to fold the paper towels so that they have the right shape for your coffee maker. These filters will contain all the particles from the coffee grounds and, even so, they will let the oils in that coffee through.
The wide, flat bottoms of the basket-type coffee filters distribute the coffee more evenly, making the extraction of ground coffee uneven. But there's a tradeoff: these coffee oils, called terpenes, may also be associated with higher cholesterol levels in heavy coffee drinkers. We'll explore those differences in the types of coffee filters so that you can prepare the best-tasting coffee possible. Your Keurig single-cup coffee maker will need regular changes to its charcoal water filter so that each cup of coffee tastes the same as the last.
