Unfiltered coffee isn’t bad by any means, but there are benefits to consuming filtered coffee. Read on to find out why you should filter your coffee more often.
It is undeniable that brewing unfiltered coffee has its advantages. It takes minimal effort to brew, and you won’t need any special equipment or skill to make it. What takes time is finely grinding the coffee beans, but that is about it.
However, there are several reasons why you should still consider filtering your coffee. Sure, you can argue that an unfiltered cup is stronger and bolder, but a well-filtered cup has a certain edge. Here are the reasons why you should go for filtered coffee!
1. You Learn New Skills From Different Brewing Equipment
Filtering your coffee requires effort and attention, and as a coffee lover, you might want to widen your coffee know-how. You can learn many filtering techniques from different types of brewing equipment.
Take the pour-over method, for example. Under this method alone, you have some equipment to choose from, such as the Chemex, the Hario V60, and the Kalita Wave Dripper, each with unique features you can utilize to brew a quality cup. Case in point, the Kalita’s wavy body and flat-bottomed design make pour-over brewing much easier for first-timers.
Here is an interesting method I recently learned for the Clever Dripper; contrary to the usual technique, which is to put the coffee in first and then water, if you do the opposite, the extraction and draw-down time become faster to give you a quality cup in just over a minute. You might also be interested in discovering the best coffee for filter machines.
2. You Experiment With The Strength Of Your Coffee
You get to determine how your coffee will turn out by selecting the coffee bean variety, the type of roast, and the kind of grind that will work best with your chosen filtering method. For instance, medium roast and medium-coarse work best in Chemex, while light roast and medium-fine should be used for the Aeropress.
For those that love pour-over, even the most specific details, such as the water’s temperature, ratio, and pouring speed, will dictate how light or bold your coffee will be. Our Aeropress vs. pour-over guide will help you determine which system is best.
Meanwhile, the Moka pot gets a bit of flak for producing a much bitter-tasting coffee. But understanding the equipment and mastering how to brew with it will always ensure a quality cup of Joe. You might want to check out our Moka pot coffee brewing guide.
3. The Coffee Drinking Experience Is Less Messy
I won’t judge if you prefer a bit of texture in your cup of Joe, but you can’t deny that filtered coffee offers a much smoother drinking experience compared to the unfiltered.
You’ll notice residues will gather at the bottom of your cup when you make unfiltered coffee. These can make for an unpleasant texture on your tongue and throat. You also risk having a coughing fit if you don’t swallow it properly.
Be prepared to also have sludges at the bottom of your cup, particularly if you are a dark roast kind of drinker when drinking unfiltered coffee. Dark roasts are more oily, so the chance of having sludges after you finish your java is higher.
4. Filtering Is A Flexible Brewing Practice
You might wonder why I mentioned the Moka pot earlier, given that it doesn’t need a paper coffee filter when brewing. That is because you can always add the paper filter. Adding one in a Moka pot will surprisingly give you a much stronger and tastier cup of Joe than when it is just the metal filter.
You can also use a paper filter in French Press or siphon for a clearer and healthier brew! The filter you use can also influence the flavor and mouthfeel of your coffee. You can check out our list of the best coffee filters to maximize the taste of your hot beverage!
5. Filtered Coffee Is Healthier
Paper coffee filters aid in removing some of the java’s excess oils and chemicals. Unfiltered coffee has higher concentrations of diterpenes, a phytochemical that can raise cholesterol.
Norwegian researchers found a 15% risk reduction in premature death for those who drank filtered coffee compared to the unfiltered. Additionally, since unfiltered coffee has a high concentration of cafestol and kahweol, daily drinkers have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Interestingly, the Norwegian study also found that those who enjoy filtered coffee up to four times a day recorded the lowest mortality rate compared to those who prefer unfiltered coffee or those who don’t drink coffee at all! I am not saying you should quit unfiltered coffee outright, but try to limit consumption or slowly make the switch!
6. It May Reduce Cancer Risk
According to a study published by BMC Cancer and conducted on more than 100,000 women, those who moderately consume filtered coffee were associated with a decreased risk of malignant melanoma.
Meanwhile, another study suggested that increased filtered coffee consumption can reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. Although more studies need to be conducted to fully understand the hindering effect of filtered coffee when it comes to cancer, the results are promising.
FAQs On Filtering Your Coffee
Is Instant Coffee Filtered Or Unfiltered?
Instant coffee is neither filtered nor unfiltered. Instant coffee is a whole new category, but it resembles filtered coffee because most of the oils have been extracted.
Instant coffee undergoes a process, either freeze-drying or spray-drying, that turns the pre-grinded coffee beans into a dehydrated coffee solution that dissolves when added to water.
Does Coffee Filtering Also Filter Your Water?
If you are using tap water, you can expect its minerals to get filtered, as paper coffee filters are excellent water purifiers. I recommend filtering the tap water on a separate paper filter first before you use it to brew your coffee. Your cup of Joe will taste better!
Is There A Downside To Filtered Coffee?
The main disadvantage of filtered coffee is that the flavor can be too one-dimensional and lacks depth compared to unfiltered ones, especially if you are not used to the practice. Trying to learn different coffee filtering methods can also be a pain if you don’t have the patience.
