Coffee filters should be changed in the coffee maker regularly.
Coffee filters come in a variety of different materials, from simple single-use paper filters to cloth or gold filters that can be washed and used over and over again. To make coffee, coffee filters retain ground coffee, preventing dust from entering the coffee. The drink is produced by pouring hot water into the filter and ground coffee.
Coffee filters prevent coffee grounds from getting into the coffee.
Not all coffee machines use coffee filters. Percolation types of coffee makers and espresso machines have small metal cups into which the coffee is placed. They tend to do a good job of keeping coffee grounds out, as do filters, because the holes in the cups that allow coffee to circulate or drain are usually too small for coffee grounds to pass through. French presses also don’t use coffee filters, but instead push the coffee to the bottom of the pot so that when you pour it out of the press, there is little or no grounds left in the coffee.
Most coffee makers that use coffee filters are drip varieties. The simplest are the manual coffee makers, which come in individual cups and also in large pots. Others are automatic drip machines, where again the filter is placed in a conical or round container and the coffee is then poured into it.
It is important to find the right size coffee filters for your coffee machine. Usually the operating instructions for the machine will tell you exactly which type is needed. The simplest filters are paper filters, made from white or unbleached paper. These were once the most popular type of filter, but some are concerned about the continued use of paper and deforestation, which has led to the development of cloth and gold filters.
Cloth filters are a bit more difficult to find. Gold pans can be found in abundance and appear to be made of fine mesh. They may be sold with your coffee maker or you may need to purchase one separately. One advantage of gold filters over paper filters is that you don’t have to spend money to buy paper filters. The initial cost is more expensive, but over time they tend to save money.
There have been some concerns about gold filters and coffee makers like the French press. They may not filter the pesticides and chemicals in the coffee, which are more effectively filtered through the paper. You can somehow avoid this by using organic coffee or switching to paper filters. However, some coffee purists argue that paper filters tend to result in less flavorful coffee, and furthermore, white paper filters can release chemicals that are just as harmful to you. Unbleached paper can help you avoid getting an unhealthy dose of dioxin from bleached paper.
Another downside to paper filters is that if you run out, you won’t be able to make coffee. For veteran coffee drinkers, finding yourself without a coffee filter in the morning can be a tragic experience. There is a little trick if you desperately need a filter and only use one. Carefully pour out the coffee from the used paper filter and rinse the filter carefully. As long as you do this carefully, the filter probably won’t break and you can reuse it. Multiple uses are not recommended, but you can usually get away with at least a second use of a paper filter in a “coffee emergency.”