A coffee filter impacts a coffee’s flavour by dictating how many coffee oils and fines (finely ground coffee) it lets through into the cup ( 6).

Their pour-over filter is as beautiful as it is functional, especially if you opt for our favourite copper-coated version – which you might as well pair with their equally gorgeous copper gooseneck kettle to complete the set! This turned out to be a pretty long article, but you may still have a few questions about Chemex filters. Because the coffee filters are made in the same way but are simply cut differently, you won’t notice a difference in taste. Engineering models were used to determine that their specific pattern of square and round holes is the best way to promote an even flow of water through the ground coffee. Pouring water over the grounds to let them “bloom” for about 30-45 seconds really allowed me to taste deeper notes with richer flavors – definitely worth taking note of.The design of these specialized filters ensures that most of the oils and sediment remain contained within them, allowing only the flavorful liquid to pass when you brew your coffee. The silicone ring around the top kept everything securely in place while also being super simple to remove when cleaning became necessary. Yes, that is an extra step, so if you don’t have lots of time, the bleached options are more convenient.

As the water starts to drain, continue adding more water until your kettle is empty (if you’re using an eight cup Chemex), or until you’ve reached just below the wood handle. First things first: CoffeeSock recommends boiling your new filter for ten minutes in fresh water to sanitize and pre-shrink. Chemex filters are 20-30% thicker than regular coffee filters which filters out bitterness, oils and grounds. So when it comes to Chemex coffee filters and alternatives, it’s not about which one is objectively best. Personally, while I like the classic Chemex brew, I’ve been impressed by the consistency and depth of flavor that can be achieved with the cloth filter.

However, I did discover that rinsing unbleached filters with hot water several times before using them can eliminate this taste. The Chemex brewer is famous for (among other things) the coffee it produces: light, clean, with a delicate body.