So you've found your perfect coffeemaker and mastered the ideal grind, but what about the filter? Until my recent stop at Verve Coffee Roasters in Santa Cruz, I thought the only options were paper or permanent (the metal mesh variety). It turns out that cloth might be the filter of choice for coffee brewers in the know.
Above: Cloth coffee filters are reusable, brew with more body than paper filters (and without the paper taste), and allow through less sediment than metal mesh filters. All they require is a rinse with water and storage in an air-tight container after use. Photograph via Verve Coffee Roasters.
Skeptical? Perhaps a test is in order. Coffee Geek attests that "when you make the move from paper to cloth, you notice the difference immediately." Cloth allows more oils to pass through into the cup and results in "a great balance in between an unfiltered French press and a paper-filtered brew. The result is a clean, full-bodied cup." Watch Verve Coffee Roasters' Cloth Filter Pour-Over Tutorial.
Above: From Japanese company Hario, the Woodneck Manual Pour-Over Coffee Brewer comes with a cloth filter. The design consists of a glass carafe with a two-piece wooden collar held together by a leather tie. The cloth filter is attached to a metal hoop with a wooden handle, and rests on the rim of the pot. The ensemble is available in two sizes: 8 and 16 ounce; $39.95 and $50, respectively, from Verve Coffee Roasters.
Above: A package of three Hario Woodneck Cloth Filters is available for $15 at Williams-Sonoma.
Above: A Chemex user? Consider replacing your square paper filters with the CoffeeSock for Chemex Cloth Filter made in the US of two-ply organic cotton. Sized to fit the 6-, 8-, and 10-cup Chemex models, they require a slightly finer grind than you use with Chemex paper filters; $15.48 for a package of two at Prima Coffee.
Above: Cloth filters can also be used in standard drip coffee machines in lieu of paper or permanent filters. Photograph via Stems and All.
Above: These Reusable Cotton Flannel Drip Coffee Filters are made of 100 percent organic cotton unbleached, undyed, dense flannel and organic cotton thread, and are bias-taped to prevent them from collapsing. Available in sizes 2 and 4; $10 and $12, respectively, from Etsy shop Wheatberry.
Above: Averse to cotton? Consider reusable Hemp Coffee Filters offered in standard drip-maker filter sizes (2, 4, and 6), as well as basket shapes; $7.49 to $7.98 each (depending on size) at the Grass Roots Store.
For tips on getting the perfect cup, read Expert Advice: Coffee-Brewing Tips from Alice Gao. And for more coffee-making equipment, see:
- A Coffeemaker Designed by a Portland Brewer
- 10 Easy Pieces: Coffee Grinders
- 10 Artful Coffee Drippers
- Scandi Coffee Secrets from a Family of Caffeine Fiends
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