Maybe you had a coffee at a friends house, but it was unlike any other coffee you had had before. And it opened your eyes to the world of specialty coffee. And you started dipping your toes into this unexplored ocean.
Maybe you got a burr coffee grinder, maybe you bought a pour over or Moka Pot. And you came to love not simply the taste but the very process of brewing coffee. And then you stumbled onto this giant syringe-looking brewer called an Aeropress and discovered it has an almost cult following. You read the reviews, watched the videos and finally decided to give it a shot.
And you came to love the Aeropress, and got a sense of its almost unlimited versatility and potential. And so the next step was asking the incredibly worthwhile questions; would better Aeropress filters result in even better brews? Would Aeropress metal filters fit the coffee I am trying to brew? Which Aeropress filters are the best? And this article is our attempt to answer those questions for you. I will take it as a given that you already know what an Aeropress is and how to use it.
The purpose of a coffee filter is fairly straightforward. When hot water is added to the ground coffee, the soluble part of the coffee bean dissolves, releasing both the more and less pleasant tasting notes into the liquid. This is the process that we call extraction in the coffee world. From there the coffee filter separates the liquid from the used coffee grounds. That is basically the sum of its purpose.
There are three main types of coffee filters that are commonly used; metal, cloth, and paper. As, to my knowledge there are no cloth filters currently available for Aeropress, we will think exclusively about the difference between paper and metal filters. In conducting this comparison there are a number of criteria we will consider. And from the get go it is important to note that, as is often the case, it does come down to personal preference.
There are Aeropress fanatics who swear by paper filters and there are fans who are die-hard metal coffee filter evangelists. Neither is wrong, it is simply a case of subjective difference.
Obviously the single most important factor in choosing a coffee filter is how is it going to positively or negatively impact the flavor of the brew? And the difference in taste between disposable and reusable coffee filters metal is in large part determined by coffee oils and what is called porosity. A paper filter restricts the coffee oils from making it into the cup. As a result coffee brewed using paper Aeropress coffee filters tends to be lighter and cleaner with a more tea-like texture.
This often helps highlight fruity or floral notes in the coffee beans and is overall a more nuanced and weaker coffee taste that is more about specific flavour notes than that hit of caffeine. It depends of course on which Aeropress recipe and method you opt for, but coffee made with paper filters tends to resemble a V60 or other pour over extraction. Permanent coffee filters metal , contrariwise, tend to have larger holes and allow both the coffee oils and fines to make it into the cup.
This makes for a richer and deeper mouthfeel and a stronger flavor as much flavor is contained within the coffee oils. Coffee made with stainless steel Aeropress filters have more body and a stronger flavor than paper filters. So if you like that hit of caffeine and that classic bitter coffee taste, then metal or Aeropress reusable filters are probably the best option for you.
Again it depends on your chosen method, but Aeropress coffee made through a metal coffee filter often resembles coffee from a Moka Pot or French press that is heavier and richer and almost earthy. As well as the presence or absence of coffee oils, the taste of Aeropress coffee is determined by the porosity of the filter used. Porosity is basically a technical term for the size and consistency of the holes pores in the given Aeropress filter.
So obviously metal filters have bigger and usually visible holes while paper filters have a lot smaller pores that allow the liquid to pass through while restricting the fines and oils. To get a visual but highly technical rundown on the role of porosity in coffee filters see this excellent article here.
The side effect that it is worth being aware of is that the sizes of the holes in the given filter will impact the desirable grind size.
So because metal filters have bigger pores, the extraction will be faster and so to compensate you often need a finer grind setting. And on the flipside of course, paper filters, depending on their thickness and porosity, will have a slower extraction and so can often deal with a slightly more coarse grind setting.
The next criterion to consider is the age old debate regarding sediment in coffee. So if you have ever had a French Press coffee then chances are that at the bottom of the cup you discover a smaller or greater amount of what was effectively coffee sludge. That is what is called sediment or coffee grit and is again impacted by the choice of coffee filter material.
The stereotype is that metal Aeropress filters allow sediment into the cup while paper Aeropress filters restrict it. However, this stereotype is beginning to change as the metal disks are being re-thought and re-engineered. So a number of the more advanced metal filters at least claim to allow very little or even no sediment into the final cup.
An increasing concern in the world of specialty coffee is this whole idea of sustainability. Basically it revolves around the question, what are the environmental impacts that our coffee drinking habits have on our planet?
As is becoming increasingly clear, there are many things we choose to do, especially in Western countries, that are impacting negatively upon the environment in a way both in our time and for the generations to follow.
There are many companies that manufacture filters designed for use in the AeroPress coffee maker made of other materials, particularly metal. We do not object to these other companies selling their filters but none of them can legally use our AeroPress trademark.
It is important to note that the AeroPress limited one year warranty does not cover operation with a filter made by another company or damage to the AeroPress caused by use of such a filter. Created using a method similar to our own filter, the Kaffeology S-Filter features a fine stainless steel mesh surrounded by a strip of steel. The filter has , holes per square inch and allows very little grit into your final mug. Some reviewers struggle to fit the filter to their Aeropress, but Kaffeology does have a fitting guide that demonstrates how every single filter can fit an Aeropress.
I hope this honest Aeropress metal filter roundup has given you some clarity on the options, their benefits, and their weaknesses. From here, the choice is yours. A cheap or dull grinder produces a wide variety of particle sizes and the very small dust-like particles at the fine end of the particle size distribution block the flow around the larger particles, turning the layer of coffee particles into a barrier that blocks your pressing.
Press gently, there is no rush. Pressing hard actually compacts the coffee particles into a barrier, making it harder to press. You can try pressing down half an inch, then hold the plunger there and let the air pressure in the chamber do the pressing for you. Then after 5 or so seconds of waiting, press another half inch down and repeat until finished pressing. Does the AeroPress make real espresso? Can you make cold brew style coffee with AeroPress coffee makers?
Other AeroPress Brewing Methods. I have heard of brewing recipes for the AeroPress that are different from the ones provided in the instructions. What is the best way to brew with the AeroPress? I have heard of people using an "inverted method" with the AeroPress.
Why do they use it? Filter Questions. Is there dioxin in AeroPress paper filters? Do you recommend using a metal filter in the AeroPress? Do you make unbleached filters for use in the AeroPress? AeroPress and Health. Are those elements present in AeroPress brewed coffee?
AeroPress brewed coffee seems gentler on my stomach than coffee brewed other ways. Why is that? Does AeroPress brewed coffee have more or less caffeine than coffee brewed in other devices?
AeroPress Design Questions. Why did you take the numbers off the plunger? Why are there holes in the sides of the filter cap? What are the maximum and minimum mug diameters the AeroPress fits? Why did you remove the four ridges on the outside of the plunger? What is the purpose of the funnel? What are the dimensions of the AeroPress coffee maker? Plunger with Seal: 5.
Do the original AeroPress and the AeroPress Go fit on the same size mugs, or does one fit on a larger size mug than the other? Cleaning an AeroPress. Can I clean the AeroPress in the dishwasher? Seal Troubleshooting. My seal is sticky. How do I clean it? My seal no longer forms a tight seal with the chamber.
What happened? What can I do? The seal came off the plunger. Can I put it back on? How much does the AeroPress weigh?
How do I separate the chamber and plunger? The filter cap is stuck tight onto the chamber. How do I remove it? What is the warranty on AeroPress coffee makers? How do I store the AeroPress? Where is the AeroPress made? What material do you use for the seal? What material is the AeroPress made out of? Is the AeroPress recyclable? View the Artwork W. Search Submit.
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