Filter your way to flavour: How to choose the best coffee filter paper?

If you’re intrigued by filter papers but feeling a bit lost with so many choices, you’ve come to the right place! It’s time to get oriented on filters.

Filter papers come in various shapes and sizes, offering an easy, flavourful, and eco-friendly brewing option. 

But what type of filter paper should you get? It depends on your preferred brewing method. Are you a pour-over fan, drip coffee aficionado, or perhaps you swear by your trusty espresso? Each method calls for a specific kind of filter paper to help you achieve your desired brew.

What’s your preferred brewing method?

Let’s demystify some common types of drinks you can make and which filter papers are best suited for each.

Pour-over coffee

For those who appreciate the art of pour-over coffee, a conical filter is your best friend. With this method, you can expect to make coffee in smaller batches, 1 to 2 cups, at a time. Conical filters, like those used with a V60 brewer, distribute water evenly over the coffee grounds. This helps draw out those subtle flavours that make each brew unique.

Then you’ll be choosing between bleached (white) and unbleached (brown) filter papers – and yes, it really does make a difference! Bleached filters give you a clean, bright taste, while unbleached filters offer a more natural, earthy flavour. It’s a small choice with a big impact on how your coffee tastes.

Drip coffee

Drip coffee is a method that brews in larger batches into a pot or carafe.For those using a drip coffee maker, flat-bottom filters and basket filters are the right choice. These filters are designed to fit into a pot or machine so that coffee grounds can evenly spread across the surface, resulting in a balanced extraction.

Basket filters have more depth than flat bottom filters and can also hold more coffee grounds. Depending on your machine, you might need a size-specific filter, so check compatibility!

French Press

If you enjoy the grit flavour of French Press coffee, you might be surprised to learn that traditional metal or cloth filters are usually recommended, as they allow oils to pass through for a richer body​. However, if you like the convenience of paper filters better, choose those specifically designed for the French press—just remember that you'll miss out on some of those delicious oils.

AeroPress

The AeroPress works with an immersion chamber and plunger system, and uses disc filters.

When you insert the plunger into the chamber, it creates a vacuum that stops your brew from dripping prematurely into the cup. Hot water mixes with the coffee grounds through immersion, and when you steadily apply pressure to the plunger, the brewed coffee is pushed through the filter. This process is known as aeropressing.

The disc filters used with AeroPress are compact and can either be paper or metal. The metal filters allow more oils through for a full-bodied cup, while paper filters will give you a cleaner brew.

The standard size of AeroPress filter papers is 63 mm in diameter.

Espresso

The big question with espresso is: To use or not to use a filter paper?

If you're keen on enhancing shot clarity, disc-shaped filter papers are a worthy addition to your portafilter basket.  By properly tampering the coffee grounds and using filter papers in an espresso machine, you can minimize channeling, where water flows evenly through the coffee grounds. Channeling happens when water finds a path of least resistance through the coffee puck, sometimes leading to uneven extraction.
For the exact size for disc filter paper, always check your espresso machine's specifications or the manufacturer’s guide.

Coffee for iced drinks

For iced coffee, cold brew or iced lattes, brewing hot coffee over ice Japanese-style and straining through a paper filter can yield a less bitter and smoother flavor.

Best filters to use with these types of drinks are cone filters or large basket filters.

Now that you’ve decided what type of coffee you’re making, it’s time to pick the filter paper:

• Conical paper filters: Ideal for pour-over methods, comes in both bleached and unbleached forms. Check out this assortment of cone filters by Edesia Espress for exact specifications. These filter papers are biodegradable and will eventually decompose, and make clean-up after brewing effortless.
  
  
• Basket paper filters: Best for drip and pour-over coffee making, they hold coffee grounds while allowing brewed coffee to flow through and into the pot or carafe.  Oh, and just a heads up, Edesia Espress has got a variety basket filters here that might catch your interest.
  
  
• Disc paper filter: Great for AeroPress, Espresso and French Press methods. These filters help achieve a cleaner cup by reducing sediment, while also enhancing flavour extraction, making them a favourite among many coffee aficionados. Take moment to explore these delightful disc filters for your next brew.
  
  
• Flat-bottom paper filter: Most recommended for standard drip coffee makers. Check size compatibility with your machine as these are mostly offered in larger packs.

Brew Your Best Cup Yet?

Getting the right filter paper can make a world of difference in your coffee experience.

Paper filters preserve flavor while also reducing cholesterol-related compounds, making your coffee healthier.

Whether you’re after something light and crisp or prefer a deeper, more robust flavour, the right filter paper can bring out the best in your beans.

Before you go, bookmark this guide so that the next time you find yourself standing in the coffee aisle or browsing an online store, you can navigate your filter paper choices with ease.

So, what kind of coffee adventure are you brewing next?