What is filter coffee?
As my home coffee method of choice, filter coffee remains one of the best ways to prepare specialty coffee without the need for expensive machines. It is inexpensive, fast, and delicious. Filter also offers the user some insights into coffee extraction while being forgiving even if preparation went somewhat awry. However, there are a few key things we need to know before we dive headfirst into brewing our coffee with these method(s).
What Filter Coffee isn’t
Before we discuss what it is, let’s go through what it isn’t. The following brew methods are not considered filter coffee:
Espresso
Aeropress*
Mokka Pot / Stovetop
Turkish
*Aeropress - more of an hybrid immersion process than filter
La Marzocco PB Espresso Machine pulling espresso shots into cups
What it is…
We would consider filter coffee as a method that incorporates the use of a paper or metal filter and a pour-over technique. Pour-over means that the coffee is brewed using hot water poured over the grounds and allowed to filter through the coffee bed and into a secondary vessel. Immersion brewing methods, like the French Press and Aeropress* (*hybrid), brew the coffee by steeping it in hot water for a period of time and then diffusing it to separate the brew from the grounds, so they are not considered filters. The following methods would produce delicious filter coffee:
Pour Over
v60, Chemex, Origami, Kalita are all brands that make pour over devices
Batch Brew
Mocca Master is our batch brewer of choice at home
Pour-over is definitely the cheapest way to brew filter coffee, as many of the brewers and paper filters are quite inexpensive. Batch brewers will generally be less expensive than an equivalent espresso machine and are great if you need to make coffee for more than 1–2 people at once.
From left to right - French Press, Aeropress, Chemex, Kalita, v60 brewers
Why filter and not espresso?
Honestly, I love both. I’m regularly tasting espresso shots when dialing in the grinder and evaluating roast degrees and blends. However, espresso is very intense, and I will always take filter coffee over a long or short black. Filters also provide clarity and sweetness to black coffee, which often takes people by surprise. One is not better than the other, but if you are looking to drink more black coffee, I would strongly suggest filter coffee if you haven’t tried it yet. It’s easy to drink, and there is nothing better than exploring the flavors and nuances that specialty coffee has to offer.
What coffee is good for filter?
Start by sourcing your coffee from a specialty coffee roaster like Mosey Coffee Roasters. From there, you can either choose a coffee that aligns with your tastes or have your roaster of choice guide you. Generally, if you like chocolate, caramel, or nutty coffees, try origins or blends that incorporate Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, or even PNG. If you like fruity coffees, try Africans from places like Ethiopia, Burundi, or Kenya. These are not exhaustive suggestions either. Talk to your roaster and see what they have available. They will also be able to provide you with brew recipes and methods to help you get started.
Don’t buy your coffee from the supermarket.
Just don’t. Even the best barista is going to struggle to get sweetness and clarity out of coffee that just doesn’t have them to begin with. Coffee quality, freshness, roast degree, and flavor are just a few qualities that are going to be very low with supermarket-bought coffee. As a rule, stick to the good stuff.
What equipment do you need for filter?
The 3 components to brew filter are as follows:
A Brewer with filter paper
Ground Coffee
Hot Water
Additional items that are optional but we would recommend for better brewing are:
Grinder
A good grinder will enable you to grind coffee fresh prior to brewing instead of using pre-ground coffee. It will also allow you to adjust grind size (finer or coarser) as required. We always suggest that you invest as much as you can into your grinder, be it electric or a hand grinder. This has the biggest positive impact on coffee brewing than any other factor.
Scales
Weighing ground coffee and the water used to brew will help consistency and repeatability of your coffee making. This is true for all brew methods, not just filter. Think of any recipe you make in the kitchen that asks for ingredients to be weighed out. It’s the same for coffee so a good set of scales can help dramatically.
Gooseneck Electric Kettle
This makes pouring slower easier and you can vary the temperature of the water if you like. Many baristas will use a variable gooseneck kettle and they do make it easier, but I’ve brewed many v60 with the normal hotel kettle provided.
The basic setup will cost about $20 and then up to +$600, depending on how prosumer you want to go. I would start with just the v60 and some really good coffee. Get some advice from your specialty roaster and start brewing. See what works, what coffee you like, and keep practicing. The video below gives a detailed method for brewing v60 filter at home. Have fun.
