Paper coffee filters have been used to brew coffee for decades, but they can only be used once and often end up in landfills. So if you're trying to reduce your waste, switch to a reusable coffee filter! Reusable products are made of either metal or cloth and work as well, if not better, than paper ones. In fact, neither material will absorb or impart a flavor to your coffee and will bring you a rich, clean-tasting coffee.
After combing through online shopping sites, we've found 10 reusable coffee filters that are highly recommended by reviewers. LHS's Pour Over Coffee Dripper truly impressed us, as it's crafted with durable stainless steel and comes with a supporting stand that fits nicely on top of a regular-sized cup for making drip coffee. There are many other products on our list of favorites that can surely pique your interest, so check them out! And for some useful tips on how to choose the right product, scroll down to our buying guide at the end.
Next up, let us introduce to you our recommendations for some of the best reusable coffee filters you can get your hands on. All of them are accompanied by a specification table, so you can take a look and find what you need.
$12.99
Material | Stainless steel |
---|---|
Compatible devices | Can be used on its own |
RJ3
$21.99
Material | Stainless steel |
---|---|
Compatible devices | Fits most pour-over carafes, Chemex 6, 8, 10 cup, Hario V60 2.0 and 3.0 |
$11.99
Material | Stainless steel |
---|---|
Compatible devices | 8 - 12-cup basket coffee makers |
$8.99
Material | Plastic, metal |
---|---|
Compatible devices | 6 - 12-cup cone coffee makers |
$11.97
Material | Gold-plated stainless steel, plastic |
---|---|
Compatible devices | Keurig 2.0 and 1.0 models |
$8.48
Material | 55% hemp, 45% organic cotton |
---|---|
Compatible devices | Cone, basket, pour-over and V-cone types available |
80675
$10.85
Material | Stainless steel and plastic |
---|---|
Compatible devices | 8 - 12-cup basket coffee makers |
$17.97
Material | Stainless steel |
---|---|
Compatible devices | Fits most pour-over carafes, Chemex 6, 8, 10 cup, Hario V60 2.0 and 3.0, Bodum |
2 pack
$17.88
Material | Gold-plated stainless steel, plastic |
---|---|
Compatible devices | Keurig 2.0, K200 to K500 |
$17.99
Material | Stainless steel |
---|---|
Compatible devices | Can be used on its own and fits most pour-over carafes |
Image | 1 ![]() LHS | 2 ![]() Ovalware | 3 ![]() Yeosen | 4 ![]() Nicelucky | 5 ![]() Di Oro Living | 6 ![]() Pinyon | 7 ![]() Hamilton Beach | 8 ![]() Apace Living | 9 ![]() Fill N Save | 10 ![]() E-Prance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Pour Over Coffee Dripper | Stainless Steel Filter | Coffee Filter | #4 Cone Coffee Filter | MaxBrew Filter | Cloth Coffee Filter | Permanent Gold Tone Filter | Pour Over Coffee Filter | Reusable K-Cups | Pour Over Coffee Dripper With Stand |
Features | Coffee Filter With a Pour-Over Design | Dual Filter Technology to Leave No Coffee Grounds Behind | Stainless Steel Coffee Filter for 12-Cup Coffee Makers | Cone-Shaped Filter That's Easy to Use | Gold Filter for Keurig Coffee Makers | Filters Made of Hemp and Cotton in a Variety of Styles | Basket Coffee Filter With a Very Fine Mesh | Coffee Filter With a Double-Layer Mesh | Silicone O-Ring to Prevent Leakage | Use it by Itself or in Your Carafe |
Price | $12.99 | $21.99 | $11.99 | $8.99 | $11.97 | $8.48 | $10.85 | $17.97 | $17.88 | $17.99 |
Material | Stainless steel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel | Plastic, metal | Gold-plated stainless steel, plastic | 55% hemp, 45% organic cotton | Stainless steel and plastic | Stainless steel | Gold-plated stainless steel, plastic | Stainless steel |
Compatible devices | Can be used on its own | Fits most pour-over carafes, Chemex 6, 8, 10 cup, Hario V60 2.0 and 3.0 | 8 - 12-cup basket coffee makers | 6 - 12-cup cone coffee makers | Keurig 2.0 and 1.0 models | Cone, basket, pour-over and V-cone types available | 8 - 12-cup basket coffee makers | Fits most pour-over carafes, Chemex 6, 8, 10 cup, Hario V60 2.0 and 3.0, Bodum | Keurig 2.0, K200 to K500 | Can be used on its own and fits most pour-over carafes |
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When shopping for your reusable coffee filter, there are a few things that you'll need to take into consideration, including the material, capacity, and also which coffee maker models the filter is compatible with. Continue reading for the specifics!
One of the most crucial factors to keep in mind is the shape and size of the filter. Most filters come in either a cone or a bucket shape. The size of a filter also varies, so make sure that both the size and the design work for your coffee maker model.
If you're a fan of drip coffee, you'll want to keep some cone filters on hand. Although they are more expensive than the basket type, their shape with a narrow bottom helps concentrate the coffee grounds under the flow of water and allows for better flavor extraction. This means you'll end up with a bold and flavorful cup of coffee.
They come in four standard sizes, designated as #1, #2, #4 and #6, which correlate to the type of coffee maker you use. These are consistent across brands, and they work with both electric and non-electric coffee makers.
Some cone filters also come with a supporting stand that fits on top of any standard coffee cup. They will help you make drip coffee even if you don't own a coffee maker at all.
Compared to cone filters, basket ones are more affordable. They have a wide, flat base, but due to the width of the filter, the coffee grounds are more spread out. So some of them will be less extracted and others might be overly extracted. Therefore, you might end up with a milder cup of coffee.
However, if you're using a large coffeemaker model that makes over eight cups of coffee, you'll need to look for a bucket-shaped filter.
The two most common materials for reusable coffee filters are stainless steel and cloth. Each type has its own pros and cons, so consider them before making a decision!
Stainless steel is a durable material that is corrosion-resistant, so it'll last you a long time. Stainless steel products don't absorb or impart a weird taste to your coffee.
The mesh of metal filters has larger pores, so it doesn't filter out all the natural oils of the coffee grounds like paper filters. This will make your coffee taste much richer. But, you are likely to end up with some grounds at the bottom of your cup.
While searching for a stainless steel filter, you might also encounter some products that are coated with 24-karat gold. The gold-coated filters are a bit more durable than stainless steel models. Moreover, gold doesn't alter or absorb the flavor of the coffee.
Keep in mind that stainless steel filters can come with either a single-layer or a double-layer mesh. A single-layer mesh is usually easier to clean.
On the other hand, with a double-layer mesh, coffee grounds might build up between the two layers and create clogs that can prevent the mesh from doing its job. So make sure you rinse it thoroughly with water and a bit of dish soap after each use.
Finely-woven cloth helps trap all of the coffee grounds to give you a clean-tasting and smooth cup of coffee without any sediment. Cloth filters are often made from hemp, cotton, or a mixture of both. Hemp is a sustainable material that requires much less water than cotton and doesn't need fertilizers or pesticides to grow.
Cotton imparts zero flavors to your coffee and is another great alternative to regular paper filters. However, cotton is usually grown using fertilizers and pesticides for faster growth and better yields. If you want to avoid artificial additives and chemicals, go for organic cotton.
Cloth filters are a bit more difficult to clean in comparison to metal. You'll need to rinse out all of the coffee grounds stuck to the cloth, wash it with soap and water, and let the filter naturally air-dry.
To make it easy to remove the filter from your coffee maker, look for a product designed with a handle.
However, take into consideration the size of the handle. If the handle is too big, it might not fit in your coffee maker. Check to see the models that a filter is compatible with and also read through the review section to see what buyers experienced.
You should also keep in mind the material of your handle. Usually, a handle made of plastic or silicone is highly heat-resistant and comfortable to hold. A metal one might get quite hot and can burn your hand, but it is highly durable and won't break off easily.
Some manufacturers include handy accessories such as a cleaning brush to help you get into hard-to-clean areas and remove the left-over coffee grounds. Some products also come with a measuring scoop to help you get the right amount of coffee grounds.
Those accessories can make brewing coffee much easier and more convenient. So look for them when you are searching for your product as well!
Want to make some barista-worthy coffee at home? With the right tools, you can surely do so! Check out our articles to browse some gadgets that can improve your coffee-making experience.
Not all reusable coffee filters are made equal. Depending on factors such as the shape and material of the filter, the aroma and flavor profile of your coffee might be slightly different.
In fact, metal coffee filters don't take away the oils from the coffee beans and can produce a rich, bold cup of coffee. Meanwhile, cloth filters are more efficient than their metal cousins in trapping all the coffee grounds, resulting in cleaner-tasting coffee. So consider the pros and cons of each material before making a final decision.
Author: Thuy Nguyen
Make the rest of your coffee routine eco-friendly, too! To help you out, here's a reusable coffee mug recommended by skincare, beauty, and latte expert Aman.
$23.90
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