Just curious what kind of filters everyone uses, and why?
We’re using the gold one now, to avoid using up the paper ones, but I might switch back, because grounds leak through and get into the bottom of the pot. I can’t tell a difference in taste myself.
We use papers and keep the goldtone basket for emergencies. Haven’t had an emergency yet.
We don’t use either.
Once we got a French Press we’ve been spoiled and will never go back to drip.
I use the gold filter, but I have found that I use more coffee to get the same strength; the paper filter seems to retard the flow a bit more, and the coffee seems to be stronger. But, I always forget to get filters when I’m shopping so…
The theory is that the goldy foil filter lets through the aromatic oils that make the coffee smell so wonderful. In practice, you may not notice any difference, except that the last cup will be chewy.
I’ve been known to use paper towels in a pinch.
Don’t tell anyone though.
Damn! I had no idea that was an option. (Files it under “good things to know”).
Really? I’ve been using napkins for a while now. I don’t feel as bad wasting one. Careful taking them out though.
Ditto! Except, there has got to be an easier way of cleaning that thing.
When we used a drip coffeemaker, we used the cone-shaped paper filters from Braun.
I was telling Ivylad that there needs to be some sort of basket at the bottom of a French press, and you could pull it up when you’re done and dump the grounds.
I normally take the thing outside and hose it out. The coffee grounds are good for the lawn and I don’t flush anything into our septic tank.
The reusable metal-basket type. I don’t really have much preference one way or other, but when we got married, my wife had the better coffeepot, so that’s what we use.
I’ve tried a French press (aka “Freedom Press,” of course), but didn’t care for it much. I found that the coffee tasted bitter, maybe because the grounds sat in there and soaked for so much longer than they do with filter-coffee? Or hell, maybe I was just doing it wrong; I only tried it once.
You did it wrong.
The coffee should be whole bean, ground coarsely. Bring the water to a boil, then pull it off the burner for 15 seconds before pouring it into the French Press. You don’t want to pour boiling water directly on the grounds. Stir to distribute.
Let steep for four minutes. Four minutes. No more, no less.
Push down the plunger and enjoy.
Of course, you have to start out with good coffee and filtered water to begin with. I find there’s more of a a coffee “bite,” that the flavor is “brighter” and drip coffee now tastes “muddy.”
I’m a dumper; not a taker-outer. I’ve gone down that dark road before. No good can come of it.
Mostly I use a stovetop espresso pot; no filter needed. I have a drip cone that fits over a coffee cup, and I have the gold-tone filter for that. I do admit that it lets through a lot of grounds. I didn’t notice that the coffee tastes better than with a paper filter. That’s something to watch out for in the future.
I got a gold filter, used it twice, and went back to paper, because it was such a pain to clean.
Reusable filter, since I’m a dirty hippie. Was using a French press, but now we’re lazier and set up the coffee machine to automatically run in the morning before we’re out of bed and the french press won’t do that. We also kept breaking carafes in morning precaffeinated stupor in a porcelain sink, and those things are expensive.
On french press: even better, steep for 4 minutes, then decant into a thermos!
Gold basket thingy but I’m liking the sound of that french press action. Hmmmm, perhaps I shall make the switch then I won’t have to wonder if I left the coffee pot on either. Can I just nuke the water to make it hot or do I have to buy a kettle? Aw hell, I should probably buy a kettle for making tea anyway.
Well, here’s another tip for you and the other paper filter users among us. Don’t waste your money on those outrageously high-priced custom-shaped filters they make to specifically fit the one-cup drip funnel. Buy the basket-shaped filters they make for Mr. Coffee-type machines. They’re sold by the 100s, and they are much, much cheaper. Yet they are essentially just circles of filter paper, like the expensive filters. Poke one into the drip funnel, wet it, and it will cling to the sides for a “custom” fit. You’re set to go.
For the record, I’ve used napkins and paper towels in a pinch too. But they drip too fast, giving you a weak brew. Plus, they get mighty flimsy when wet, making clean-up a potentially messy business.