Let's test and see the effect of coffee filter paper on coffee

As big fans of pour-over coffee, we decided to join hands with the coffee teaching team to have a discussion on coffee filters to see if the choice of coffee filter paper affects the result of coffee extraction. Spoiler: it really does!

First of all, one of our main goals for this experiment was to find out how filter paper affects the flavor of coffee, and for this purpose we knew we needed to rule out brewing method and experiment with filter paper alone.

In our first experiment, we filtered water through filter paper to see what the paper tasted like. We then filtered water through the filter paper again to see what flavors would be extracted from the soaked filter paper along with the coffee when brewed.

Barista's tip: Always soak your filter paper before brewing coffee! This will filter out the flavor and dust of the filter paper itself, and also warm up the filter pot.

The second experiment we conducted was to taste the coffee brewed with different filters. So, we brewed coffee in the same way with filters and tasted the difference in taste.

※ Bleached filter paper vs unbleached filter paper vs filter bag

Chemex Filter

The Chemex filter itself is the cleanest and most stable. The coffee extracted with the Chemex has a lower consistency, can bring out the aroma of flowers, and has a slightly dry taste.

Melitta Oxygen Bleached

This bleached filter paper has a little bit of residual flavor when soaked. The extracted coffee has a thicker consistency overall and there is no noticeable paper taste.

Melitta unbleache Natural

This unbleached filter paper has a noticeable woody sweetness in both the first and second infusions. The extracted coffee has the aroma of the filter paper and a very noticeable dry taste.

Hario V60

The filter has a grassy taste on the first soak, but the second soak is clean. The extracted coffee has a bright and refreshing fruity flavor.

Sock Cloth Filter

This filter has the strongest odor, and let us tell you: it is not a good one. The brewed coffee has a noticeable aftertaste, which is like a wet wool coat; one person said it reminded him of a thrift store in Eugene, Oregon.

※ suggestion

Choose something like Melitta Oxygen Bleached, Chemex or Hario V60! If you insist on using natural filter paper, soak it thoroughly. Throw away the filter bag!

※ Findings other than experimental results:

We were surprised by how different the Hario V60 filter was – made in Japan from high-quality paper, it’s lighter and more textured. The coffee we extracted was floral and bright, with a cleaner taste than the Melitta, and more citrusy than the other filters.

※ Filter paper vs metal filter

Able Kone

The Able Kone is actually a filter rather than a filter. It is basically a stainless steel cone filter with many small holes.

Although the shape of this filter is designed to fit the size of a Chemex jug, you can brew coffee in any container that can support it. There is a big difference in the flavor of coffee brewed using a Chemex filter and an Able Kone.

The Chemex filter is the heaviest filter, so it produces very clean, clear coffee, while the Able Knoe produces a thicker, fines-(tiny coffee particles) coffee, oiliness, and sediment. The taste and texture of the coffee brewed with the Able Knoe is similar to that of coffee brewed with a French press.

Able Disk

Able also designed a stainless steel filter for the AeroPress, which they call a Disk. The disks come in two sizes: standard and ultra-fine, with different mesh sizes and different shelf life. The standard disk brews coffee with a thicker consistency and slightly more powder. The more attractive thing is that this disk can be used for several years, and its durability is three times that of an ultra-fine disk of the same thickness. The ultra-fine disk brews coffee that is clearer and has very sparse powder. The ultra-fine disk is more delicate and must be used with care.

Now you can find a big difference between filter paper and metal filter: compared with metal filter, filter paper filters out most of the powder and oil, so the brewed coffee will have less subtle flavor changes. If you like a clearer taste, please choose filter paper; if you like a thicker taste, or want to find a brewing method without filter paper, try the filter plate.