My brother in law swore by paper filters over metal ones for pour over coffee

So my brother in law Dave has been into coffee for years and he kept telling me to ditch my metal mesh filter for paper ones. Said the oils would make my brew taste muddy and flat. I thought he was just being a snob because I liked the thicker body from the metal filter. Finally after three months of him bugging me I grabbed a box of those V60 paper filters for like 8 bucks. First cup I made with it was so much cleaner and brighter I could actually taste the citrus notes in this Ethiopian bean I was using. Now I feel dumb for resisting so long. Has anyone else had a similar switch and noticed a big difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

colemartinez1mo agoMost Upvoted

Hold on, I actually went the OTHER way and switched FROM paper TO metal and I'm NEVER going back. That thick body you mentioned is exactly what I WANT, paper filters strip out all the natural oils that give coffee its mouthfeel and character. I tried paper for a week with my favorite Colombian roast and it came out tasting like tea, weak and thin. With my metal filter I get all that rich, silky texture and the flavor is way more intense. Guess it just depends on what you're after, but I'll take the "muddy" over watery any day.

lilychen1mo ago

Oh man, that's funny you say that. A buddy of mine actually went through the exact same thing as you but in reverse. He was a paper filter loyalist for years, then his metal filter loving neighbor convinced him to try it. First cup with the metal filter he said it tasted like he was drinking straight dirt water. He tried a few more times with different beans and finally gave up. @colemartinez I get why you like the thicker body though, different strokes and all that. My friend just could not get past the grit and silt at the bottom of his mug, said it reminded him of camping where you chew your coffee. I guess it really does come down to what kind of experience you're after.

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