How many times have you been standing puzzled in front of the menu board in your local coffee shop? I bet quite often. As alternative brewing methods gained popularity, coffee shops started offering a wider range of brewing methods.
One of the most frequent ways to brew coffee is to drip it. All you need is ground coffee, hot water, and coffee filters. But not to leave you confused there too, we’ve tested 25 products and prepared a list of the 16 best coffee filters. At the top is our Editor’s Choice, the Melitta #6 Super Premium Cone Coffee Filters. Here you’ll find paper filters for a grounds-free brew, metal ones – for an oily and flavorful cup of joe but with some small grinds, and cloth ones that take best from both of those mentioned above. All options are compatible with most brewing equipment, from coffee makers and pour-overs like Chemex or V-60.
More features: Microfine flavor enhancing perforations
These cone-shaped coffee filters were made to be able to fit into the Melitta 10-cup Pour-Over coffee maker. They are made from all-natural brown paper and are designed with a secondary safety crimp that increases strength and durability. This design helps to protect the filter from bursting.
Another great feature of this filter’s design is its innovative Microfine Flavor Enhancing perforations. This feature allows as much of your coffee’s full flavor to filter through into your coffee cup and makes it the best paper coffee filter around. You will be able to brew a fantastic, rich, full-flavored cup of coffee with ease.
With Melitta filters, you’re getting over one hundred years of coffee filtration experience and care. They manufacture many coffee-related products, from the coffee itself to carafes, so they are intimately familiar with the needs and expectations of their customer base.
The natural, unbleached paper pulp that makes up this filter is environmentally safe, eco-friendly, and conforms to the growing concern and demand for environmentally conscious products. In addition to making the products with better practices than most of their competitors, Melitta makes annual contributions to the American Forests Global Releaf Fund.
More features: taller walls, environmentally friendly
The Tupkee Commercial Large Coffee Filters are great if you plan on serving a lot of people, or you drink a particularly large amount of coffee every day. These filters are made for high-quality, 6-cup industrial coffee makers.
The premium heavy-weight paper filters are processed with an elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching method. This ensures that there is no detectable level of dioxin in your filters and that none will pass into your coffee during the brewing period. This quality of production ensures that your coffee’s flavor is not compromised and that the water will flow through your filter slowly enough to perfectly steep your grounds.
Adding on to the method of production is the manufactured design itself. These large-sized coffee filters make brewing easy and worry-free. The high sides and walls of the filter were designed explicitly to keep your coffee grounds from overflowing during the brewing process. Since coffee overflow messes can be a common and daunting problem for smaller filters, this is a welcome improvement on the basic filter design.
More features: machine capacity 8–12 cups
There are many benefits to choosing a coffee filter that has a cone shape rather than a flat or basket shape. For starters, uneven brewing can be a problem when you use a flat-bottom filter. The coffee grounds in these types of filters are spread out over the entire surface of the filter, and may not receive the same amount of contact with the heated water you’re hoping to steep the grounds in. Cone-shaped filters alleviate this problem, since they act as a funnel. The water flows through the grounds evenly, brewing all of the grounds simultaneously.
This particular pack of cone filters comes with 400 size #4 filters. These filters will fit in most coffee makers that will accept a #4 cone filter. If you’re unsure, you can always double-check with the filter manufacturer or your coffee maker’s manufacturer to be on the safe side. It’s worth it to have the best cone coffee filter out there.
The firm, crepe textured paper that this filter is made of offers superior coffee filtration. Cone filters typically have finer pores for the coffee to seep through during the brewing process, and this allows for a slower flow of hot water. This provides a stronger, more flavorful coffee as a result.
More features: natural and durable material
These no-mess disposable coffee filter bags make brewing your favorite cold coffee a breeze. With these bags, you simply fill, steep, and dispose.
They’re made of durable, natural, compostable fine corn fibers. This means that they can be disposed of in an eco-friendly way. They are both biodegradable as well as compostable. The drawstring of this bag is made of 100% woven cotton fiber as well. The filter materials are impressively strong and will resist tearing while filtering, steeping, and being removed from the container. The seams of these filter bags are reinforced and are guaranteed not to separate or otherwise split.
Using this filter could not be easier, especially if you’re someone that likes to plan their coffee fixes ahead of time. Simply fill with about 100g of grounds, or to whatever your coffee tastes demand up to that point, and then submerge in a container of water. Let it steep and brew for anywhere between 12 and 24 hours, again depending on your preferences, with the drawstring hanging out of the container. After the time is up, remove the bag and you’ll have delicious, flavorful, cold brew coffee ready to drink.
Aside from being incredibly easy to use, this product comes with a 100% money-back guarantee within 90 days of purchase. So if your bags arrive and anything at all is wrong with them, the HOMYHEE customer service team will make it right with a free replacement or total refund.
More features: designed to fit the Bozeman percolator exactly
While these disc coffee filters were designed to be an exact fit for the Bozeman percolator, they will also fit any other percolator that has a 3.5” brew basket. These discs are great at minimizing the number of grounds that sometimes find their way into your coffee otherwise.
The high-quality, medical-grade fibers resist boiling water much better than paper filters do. The fibers will maintain their integrity and filtration capabilities during the brewing process without fail and will ensure that there is a barrier between your coffee grounds and the filtered coffee you intend to drink.
These filters are BPA free and SGS-tested, so you can rest assured that they are safe to use. The fibers are non-toxic and FDA food-grade, as well, so you won’t have to worry about any unfavorable chemicals creeping into your coffee during the filtration process.
More features: reusable, 100% BPA Safety
Keurig is arguably one of the most popular ways to make coffee, especially in offices and in the homes of particularly busy people who want a fast, easy way to brew themselves a morning cup of coffee.
These impressive Keurig filters are made of food-grade stainless steel. These mesh filters are sturdy and durable, allowing you to get plenty of use out of them. They will consistently provide you with delicious, fresh coffee every time.
These filters come are all come in a universal fit for any of your everyday coffee filtering needs.
The heat-resistant one-piece mesh system allows a maximum flow of flavor during brewing. Additionally, these filter cups are reusable and environmentally friendly. Simply clean the filter gently after use. The high-quality design with a tight lid helps to secure the filter’s sturdiness while also ensuring that there are no leaks, residue, or escaped coffee grounds.
These filters have a 100% BPA safety rating, and can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher.
More features: spoon with a cleaning function, lifetime warranty
This basket filter is the largest filter of its type on our list, and for those of you that drink a lot of coffee, you should definitely consider this filter and one of its compatible machines for your use.
The small, fine mesh of this basket filter keeps the grounds from flowing out while still allowing the flavor to fully filter through into your pot of coffee. It’s made of a durable, food-grade 18/8 stainless steel and rejects unpleasant scents, rusts, and more. It remains a healthy way to filter your coffee and is completely safe, though you should absolutely still clean it regularly.
This reusable filter is eco-friendly and will ultimately save you money over disposable filter options. The initial purchase price may be higher than a pack of disposable filters, however, this filter will last for years when cared for properly. This filter resists rust and is completely dishwasher safe, just make sure you wipe out the grounds before you put it in the washer.
It is fully compatible with most 8-12 cup coffee makers, though it was made specifically to perfectly fit the Black and Decker and Mr. Coffee makers and brewers.
The manufacturer offers lifetime quality assurance services, and if you aren’t happy with this filter, you can get a full refund. However, we think you’ll enjoy it.
More features: wide rim; extra-wide base; sustainable; sealed tip
The Apace Living Pour Over Coffee Filter is a beautiful piece. It will add an elegant touch to your kitchen countertop even when not in use. Perhaps the wide rim of the filter holder is a feature worth mentioning. The wide top of the filter fits over most of the popular pour-over coffee makers. A filter that fits nicely doesn’t stick in your coffee mug when you need to remove it for cleaning. The designers for these filters made double-layer mesh with holes perfectly sized for coffee filtration. The perforations on the mesh are the perfect size to ensure extraction without clogging while making it easy to clean.
The stainless steel that makes the filter is durable, and you can toss the filter in your dishwasher if you feel lazy to wash it by hand. To keep it in good condition, you should soak it in vinegar occasionally. With other filters, you must have a well-calculated pouring technique when making your coffee, but not with this coffee filter. The sealed tip feature in this filter saves you the trouble. It ensures complete extraction of flavor from the coffee grounds giving you a perfect cup of drip coffee.
More features: optimized for all cup sizes; eco-friendly; easy to clean
Keurig My K-Cup Universal Reusable Ground Coffee Filter is the only Keurig-approved reusable filter for nearly all Keurig home coffee makers. It is a simple yet convenient way to brew your ground coffee using your Keurig coffee maker. In addition to the wide variety of delicious K pods, you can make a bigger assortment of coffee. What you need to do is fill the My K Cup reusable Filter to one of the two fill lines, then put it in your coffee maker. Voila. There is your cup of hot, delicious coffee from the best k cup reusable coffee filter.
The designers of this cup have the traveler in mind, and so this filter comes in both the cup and travel mug brew sizes to suit your specific need. The removable lid makes the filling and cleaning of the filter easy and hassle-free. What’s more, the Keurig My K-Cup is durable, and you can wash it in the top rack of your dishwasher. You don’t need to worry about the safety of the materials that make it. The reusable filter is BPA free, and the materials meet the highest standards of quality and safety. The Keurig Universal Reusable Filter also comes with a Plus series Adapter that you can use with the Keurig Plus series, which is a big bonus.
More features: detachable design; no filter paper required; convenient; hardware design
AINAAN Honeycombed Stainless Steel Coffee Filter features beautiful stainless steel construction with a double layer mesh filter. The double-layer controls the extraction time, ensuring that no coffee sediments end up in your coffee cup. It also allows the nutrients and flavor oil to pass through, unlike the case with paper coffee filters. Something that you might find impressive about the AINAAN Coffee Filter is that it is easy to carry and a perfect fit for business trips, traveling, camping, and the office. The heat-resistant silicone handle makes the filter easy to handle and clean.
The detachable design in this model makes it fit for most mugs, including Chemex, HarioV60, and other coffee makers. It is also easy to operate and clean. You can clean it in a dishwasher, or you can rinse it manually with warm water, and it’s ready to use again. It’s good to note that coffee grounds can be difficult to clean after they dry, so ensure you clean the filter immediately after use. Besides, you can rest assured of high quality in this product. The manufacturer offers you a 100% refund if you’re not completely fine using the filter. You can do this within 180 days from the day of purchase.
More features: dual filter construction; eco-friendly
Oval is a brand that dedicates itself to making coffee brewing simple and gives you the pleasure as you brew your coffee at home. The eco-friendly, long term investment doesn’t put a dent in your pocket. It is a sleek complement to your kitchen equipment and fits most branded carafes, thermoses, drippers, coffee mugs, and mugs. The double filters use a high-quality mesh on the inside, perfectly paired with a laser-cut filter on the outside, which prevents coffee grounds from spoiling your coffee.
This stainless-steel filter saves you money and preserves the essential oils and nutrients in your coffee. It comes with a complete BPA free silicone grip that grips the rim of your cup securely. This makes it easy to handle and clean.
Additionally, the filter is dishwasher safe, meaning you can save your time and energy. If you got some time in your hands, you only need to dump the coffee ground remains and rinse the filter in warm running water. The manufacturers of this product are sure of the awesome quality, and that’s why they confidently offer you a full refund in the event you don’t like the filter. You may return the product within 90 days after purchase.
More features: has a stand and a cleaning brush; non-slip; portable
The LHS pour-over filter is an excellent option with a stainless-steel mesh filter that ensures unwanted coffee grounds do not end up in your coffee. Made of high-quality food-grade stainless steel, you can be sure that your coffee retains its original taste. The extra-fine mesh towards the bottom of the filter prevents any particles from squeezing in and getting into the mug or thermos. Its perfect size makes it suitable for most cups, tumblers, and mugs since it secures firmly on most of the rims. Perhaps one of the features we find appealing in this model is the wide cup stand with a silicon ring.
The metallic stand is removable. It gives your over coffee filter a strong, stable, and safe position as you brew your coffee. You don’t need to worry about it moving as you pour the water. The light portable compact design for the LHS makes it suitable for travel, meaning you can also carry it to the office without fussing. Besides, this kitchen gadget is super easy to clean. You can clean it in your dishwasher, or you can opt for handwashing. The small brush that comes with the filter will make your cleaning easier and fast.
More features: double-layered; versatile; long-lasting
Kavako Pour Over Coffee Dripper is a highly durable stainless-steel double filter. The manufacturers of this pour-over coffee are the original innovators of the double-layered filter methods. Paper filters will trap the oils in your coffee, robbing your coffee of the flavor you love. The double filter employs tiny laser-cut holes on the outside and a stainless-steel mesh on the inside. Unlike other brewing methods, pour-over coffee has a much smoother feeling and eliminates any bitter taste in your coffee. This is among the best reusable pour-over coffee filter on we have on our list.
The versatility of this filter means that you can use it with most coffee carafes. This includes the Chemex, HarioV60, Osaka, Bodum, and others. You don’t need to do trial and error when making your favorite cup of coffee by using paper filters. Getting a permanent filter allows you to use and reuse your filter. This not only saves you some bucks and protects the environment but also your coffee tastes much better. The rubber grip allows this filter to fit on multiple carafes. The cone can produce up to 12 cups (5oz.) of coffee. Kavako Pour Over Coffee Dripper is dishwasher safe, but you can also rinse it by hand.
More features: bacteria-resistant material; makes coffee flavor better
Unlike what you may initially think when you first see this filter, you can use this coffee filter hundreds of times. Hemp is slowly but surely gaining popularity as the most eco-friendly coffee filter material. The Bolio is wholly organic and safe for use. These filters are durable; they’re typically stronger than cotton and require less water to grow. You can make smooth, natural tasting coffee using the Bolio Reusable Hemp Coffee Filter. While Hemp and paper function nearly the same way in the filter process, the result is different. Paper filters tend to introduce a woody flavor while the Hemp doesn’t change your coffee taste.
These filters offer you the benefits of particle filtration while allowing essential coffee oils to reach your coffee. If you’re not sure which filter to pick between the no.4 and v60 conical hemp filter, we can advise. You can use the no.4 with the Bolio Coffee Carafe. It grips so nicely around the top of the container when full of coffee grounds. It will never slouch downwards. What’s more, Hemp is naturally bacterial and mildew resistant, making it very suitable as a reusable coffee filter. The Bolio hemp filter is easy to lift out and clean. You need to rinse it in hot water and hang it out to dry it for the next use.
More features: removable non-slip silicone ring, dual filtration
This filter is made of a high-quality stainless steel mesh. Its unique, one-of-a-kind laser-cut honeycomb filter design allows an optimal amount of oils and flavoring to pass from your coffee grounds to your cup. The 18/8 stainless steel and innovative dual filtration design prevents any unwanted grounds from getting into your coffee while still allowing the oils, flavors, and nutrients to pass into your cup. This provides you with the best-tasting cup of coffee possible.
It fits securely into most branded coffee carafes and eliminates the need for disposable paper filters. It has a removable non-slip silicone ring that grips the glass rim of your carafe without scratching or otherwise damaging it. Additionally, if you use a Chemex carafe, it matches the wood accents of it for a complimentary, attractive design.
This drip filter only needs coarse to medium-coarse coffee grounds, a carafe, and hot water to work. It’s an eco-friendly choice for any coffee enthusiast. Clean-up is also incredibly simple, just scoop out the grounds and rinse the mesh filter under warm, running water. Make sure that you dry it thoroughly after use, and every two to three weeks descale the filter with a vinegar-water solution.
Customer service for this product is rated highly. Willow & Everett takes customer satisfaction very seriously, and they’re so confident that you’ll love this filter, they will send you a free replacement with no questions asked. This is definitely the best pour-over coffee filter you’ll ever use.
More features: double-layer ultrafine micro mesh coffee filter, built-in non-clogging feature, larger flow rate of the outer grid, innovative construction
This drip coffee filter maker is our editor’s choice because of its excellent design, which enables you to maximize the potential of your coffee beans. While it prevents any messy splashes when pouring your coffee, you can also brew a cup of delicious and bold coffee in the shortest time possible as the outer grid of the coffee stainless steel is designed to contain a bigger flow rate. In addition, it allows all flavored oils and nutrients to pass freely, as it comes with a double-layer ultra-fine micro mesh coffee filter. It is equally built for average coarse grind. Its other features include a reusable dripper, large brewing capacity, heat resistance silicone handle, and easily washable.
This steel pour-over coffee filter is a better option than the paper cone filter for being reusable. It allows for more efficiency, plus the grounds are not stuck between the filters, and of course, it comes with a cleaning brush.
No matter what brewing style you enjoy or prefer, you need a fantastic filter to ensure the best possible result in your coffee cup. If for some reason none of our best-rated coffee filters catch your eye, there are a few tips we can offer as you continue your search for the best coffee filters to suit your specific needs.
There are pros and cons to both disposable and permanent coffee filters, and your preference of which to use will depend on how you feel about these factors individually and wholly.
The biggest advantage of paper or otherwise disposable filters, such as Melitta #6 Super Premium Cone Coffee Filters, is that, well, they’re disposable. There’s no need to clean them after use, you can for all intents and purposes finish brewing your coffee and toss the grinds and filter in the trash all at once.
The other huge advantage that these filter types have is that they are largely biodegradable, or at least eco-friendly in how they can be disposed of. If you have a compost pile you can toss them right into it when you finish making your coffee.
However, particularly with the disposable filters made from paper, you do have to acknowledge that that paper is made from trees. If you’re trying to be as environmentally conscious as possible, that could be a huge reason to avoid using disposable filters, especially if you’re not planning on composting them and growing new trees with the compost.
The flavor of your coffee may also be compromised with certain disposable filters. If you’re a person that likes particularly rich, strong coffee, this can be a problem – if not, it’s not such a big deal and might even be a perk.
Compared with the repeat costs of using disposable filters, a reusable filter will save you a lot of money, especially if you’re someone that likes to have coffee every day, as Reusable 8-12 Cup Basket Coffee Filter and Pour-Over Coffee Filter actually do. Prices range depending on the filter type and materials that they’re made of. But considering that even the nylon reusable filters can last for approximately a year, you’d still be saving money. Added to that, the stainless steel filters can last for up to seven years.
The only real downsides to using the reusable filters over the disposable ones are that you have to be absolutely certain that the filter you purchase will fit your machine, and you do have to clean them after using them. It’s easiest to purchase filters specifically suggested by your machine’s manufacturer based on the make and model of your coffee maker.
There are some important factors to consider when you start your hunt for the best coffee filter. Here are several of the most pertinent things to keep in mind when your search begins.
The first factor you might want to consider is: what type of filter are you looking for? What kinds of materials would you like to use? There are many to choose from, but they all fall into three main categories: paper, metal, and cloth.
Paper: Paper filters are extremely common – you can find them in any store that might even think about selling coffee, from convenience stores to grocery stores and even big wholesale stores. They are the most common of disposable filters, and will give you a grounds-free brew. However, they also tend to sap out some of the rich, full flavors of your coffee.
Metal: Metal filters are not as tightly-woven as paper filters, and will allow the oils and flavors from your coffee to fully flow into your finished brew. However, this benefit comes with a catch. Some of the smaller, more finely-ground coffee grinds are likely to escape into your brewed coffee with these filters. But, these filters are also easy to clean and you spend a lot less on them than you will on disposable paper filters per year, which is something to consider.
Cloth: Lastly, but far from least, there are cloth filters. These aren’t quite as common as either of the other two options, but we expect they’ll begin to pick up in popularity, as cloth filters offer benefits from both paper and metal filters. They are finely-weaved, enough so to trap all of the coffee grounds for your brew, but not tightly enough to trap the flavorful oils of your coffee grounds. This allows you to brew a full, rich, sediment-free pot of coffee. The downside is that they do take a bit more effort to keep clean and don’t last as long as metal filters.
There are two primary shapes of coffee filter: basket or flat, and cone-shaped. Basket filters won’t fit properly in carafes and makers made for cone filters, and vice versa. Your coffee maker should tell you which filter shape works with that particular machine. Typically, cone-shaped filters are more expensive than their flat counterparts, but they also usually produce a fuller, richer, more evenly-brewed coffee as a result of their shape, the way the water flows through them, and the pore sizes.
This goes hand-in-hand with not only the size and shape aspects but also with your own preferences. You should keep in mind that not all coffee makers use the same size filters or even the same shape as the filter. Beyond that, you have to consider the kinds of materials that will be filtering your coffee, whether you’d like a fuller, richer flavor or something a little more sweet and muted. Also keep things like food-grade materials, weighted paper, the kind of water flow you want, and even the BPA rating of what you’re purchasing. If you’re environmentally conscious, consider your carbon footprint when purchasing your coffee filter, as it’s something you’ll likely be using every day.
This factor refers mostly to the disposable types of filters, so keep that in mind when reading this section. Even semi-reusable filters like the cloth and certain metal mesh filters, like the Anpro Reusable KCup filters on our list, may come in packs of multiples, in which case you should consider a few factors. This includes frequency and intensity of use and regular cleaning and maintenance. However, for the disposable filters, the sky’s the limit – some people like to buy the largest pack of paper filters they can find, while others like to stick to what they can use within a week or two. You should expect to spend anywhere between $0.01 and $0.10 for each filter in the pack, depending on the quality of the paper and manufacturing.
Coffee filters, like most other products on today’s market, come in a variety of sizes. Regardless of any other factors that you look for, you must keep the size of the filter in mind and relative to the size of your coffee maker. If you’re brewing with the pour-over method, you should keep in mind that the filter you use will need to be the right size to fit your carafe while still allowing for adequate flow and enough coffee grounds to suit your flavor needs.
Paper coffee filters might seem like the cheapest option short-term, but those low prices add up, especially if you’re an avid coffee drinker. You can expect reusable filters to cost more at the initial purchase, but since some of them can easily last you for up to seven years, that one-time purchase of $10 to $60 will easily pay for itself and will save you a lot of money in the long-term.
You should always make informed decisions in your life when it comes to purchasing a new product, and coffee filters are no different. Hopefully, after considering the above factors and our top picks for the best filters, we’ve eased some of the general unpleasantness that many face when having to research the best available options.
Our top two choices in the best coffee filters are the Melitta #6 Cone Coffee Filter, and the Tupkee Large Commercial Coffee Filters. Each of these filters has its own, unique features and benefits. These can be seen in the Pour-Over’s dual filtration, honeycomb design, in the Melitta Cone’s unique shape and flavor-enhancing perforations, and in the Tupkee Filter’s large, thick, high-walled design.
We sincerely hope you enjoyed this list and the reviews of all of these wonderful, versatile coffee filters that you can add to your coffee-loving lifestyle.
