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If you love your morning cup of coffee, you might worry about what it’s doing to the environment.
This isn’t just because of the plastic cup you might be using to get your caffeine fix but also the paper coffee filters that get thrown out after use.
These can end up in landfills if you throw them into the bin – yup, it’s time to get a reusable coffee filter!
What’s a reusable coffee filter made of?
There are various materials that are used to make reusable coffee filters. These include stainless steel and organic fabrics such as hemp.
They’re not only better for the environment, but they can also enhance the taste of your favorite coffee.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five of the best reusable coffee filters for 2021. Make your cup of coffee greener and tastier!
Our Reviews Of The Reusable Coffee Filters on the Market
Nice Lucky’s Reusable Cone Shape Coffee Filter
BEST OVERALL
This coffee filter by Nice Lucky comes in at number one as the best reusable coffee filter on the market.
It’s the all-round winner when it comes to a better-tasting cup of coffee – here are the reasons why.
Benefits
- This coffee filter can make 10 to 12 cups of coffee and it’s versatile because you can use it in a variety of coffee makers that use 4# cone filters.
- It’s made of stainless steel to give you much eco-friendlier coffee because you can reuse it over and over again.
- The use of surgical-grade steel instead of paper has another important benefit: it ensures that no fragrant oils are lost in the making of the coffee.
Extra Features
- Users who’ve purchased the product have reported that it’s really easy to clean, which is a nice bonus if you consider that the appeal of paper coffee filters is that you don’t have to clean them after use.
- The use of stainless steel in the construction of this coffee filter makes the coffee you brew taste much better than when you use plastic filters. Users have reported that the taste of their coffee is delicious thanks to this product.
Drawbacks
- Some people who’ve purchased the product have reported that sometimes one side of the handle snaps off, such as when a large quantity of grounds is used, but this is a small point because the handle can be easily reattached.
Buying Guide
These reusable coffee filters cost under $20. They’re good for the environment while offering value for money and being really easy to use as well as clean.
In the long run, this will definitely save you more money than if you use single-use paper filters on a daily basis
E-PRANCE Honeycombed Stainless Steel Coffee Filter
RUNNER-UP
This is another reusable coffee filter that’s made of high-quality stainless steel, but it’s got quite a few differences when compared to the Nice Lucky product. Let’s dive into its features.
Benefits
- The filter cup has a double layer of mesh. This ensures that the coffee grounds are kept in the filter but the nutrients from them can move through to create a more delicious cup of coffee – and it can brew one to four cups at a time.
- It’s got a honeycomb design that ensures greater filtering properties: the smallest coffee grounds will be filtered away, preventing the hassle of clogs. This is an important feature if you consider that paper filters are praised for how well they can prevent coffee sediments. Now you don’t have to stick to paper filters because you have the E-Prance reusable filter at your disposal.
- One of the best features of this coffee filter is that it comes with a stainless-steel stand. This can accommodate most mugs, cups, and carafes, and it makes it much more user-friendly all round.
Extra Features
- The base of this filter has edges that prevent your coffee filter from slipping away from the cup you’re using. This makes it easier and safer to use. You don’t want to get hot coffee all over your hands first thing in the morning!
- This coffee filter has a smart heat-resistant silicone handle (that’s the trendy color of orange) which is a nice touch to keep you safe.
Drawbacks
- Users have commented that the cone is of average size and not conducive to make a larger cup of coffee.
Buying Guide
This stainless-steel coffee filter costs under $20.
Although you only get one filter, you get extra features, such as the heat-resistant silicone handle and sturdy base, that make it a valuable splurge.
DI ORO – MaxBrew 24K GOLD K-Cup Reusable Filter
BEST ALTERNATIVE
As soon as you see the Di Oro reusable coffee filter, you’ll fall in love with its striking gold and purple design.
The gold is not just there to be aesthetically pleasing – it’s there for a good reason! Let’s take a look at what makes this the best keurig reusable coffee filter.
Benefits
- The Di Oro MaxBrew 24K gold K-Cup Reusable Filter really has a 24K gold filter. This prevents your coffee from taking on the taste of your filter – which is something all coffee lovers can attest to hating – because the gold doesn’t absorb flavors.
- One of the biggest advantages of this reusable coffee filter is that it’s healthy and environmentally-friendly. It’s free of harmful chemicals such as lead and BPA.
Extra Features
- If you’re regularly making cups of coffee, you want to be sure that you can clean your reusable coffee filter without a hassle. This one is easy to clean, whether by hand or your dishwasher – yes, it’s completely dishwasher-safe so you can simply pop it in with your washing load without a fuss.
Drawbacks
- Quite a few users have complained that they get sediment at the bottom of their coffee cups after using the filter. Perhaps the problem is compatibility. This reusable coffee filter is only compatible with Keurig 2.0/1.0 brewers, which is disappointing considering its great features.
Buying Guide
This k-cup reusable coffee filter costs under $20.
Although this is the price for the small single k-cup, it’s a high-quality product that’s worth purchasing and will look great in your kitchen as a bonus.
Fill N Save 2 Pack Reusable Carafe K-Cups
This coffee filter is compatible with the Keurig 2.0, K200 to K500 machines.
It’s bright orange and gold, which makes it another striking product on our list. But it’s got more than a stylish appearance to offer coffee lovers.
Benefits
- Its gold filter is said to last three times more than stainless steel mesh that you’ll find in other reusable coffee filters.
- This reusable coffee filter for keurig contains a silicone O ring that makes it durable while preventing leakage. This means you won’t get coffee grounds or coffee beans forming a horrible residue in your cup.
Extra Features
- It’s free of harmful BPA and can be washed in the dishwasher, so it’s good for your lifestyle.
Drawbacks
- Some users have commented that this filter’s tops don’t close as tightly as those of other brands.
- Other users have reported that it’s a bit difficult to clean this reusable filter because of its depth and narrow bottom, which can be a bit of a nuisance if you plan on using it all the time.
Buying Guide
This reusable coffee filter costs under $20. While that might seem overpriced, it is a product that’s well made and durable, so it’s sure to last you a long time.
This can make you overlook its potential drawbacks, such as concerning how it’s a bit difficult to clean.
Organic Hemp Cone Coffee Filter Reusable
If you like the idea of making your morning cup of coffee as good for the planet as possible, then you’ll love the Organic Hemp Cone Coffee Filter by Bolio.
Benefits
- This reusable coffee filter cone makes use of hemp to make your coffee. This material has become popular for its eco-friendliness, and some of the reasons for this is because the hemp plant doesn’t require a lot of water in order to be produced.
- This filter is really easy to clean, so you don’t have to hassle with it. Hemp is naturally resistant to bacteria, which is a plus, but when you want to clean the filter just rinse it under hot water and place it somewhere to air dry. Then you can use it again!
Extra Features
- Since the hemp fabric is thick and well made, you can actually use less coffee than you would when using paper filters. This is due to how the coffee steeps for longer in the hemp, which gives you a stronger, more flavorful cup.
Drawbacks
- Some people who’ve purchased this hemp coffee filter have reported that its packaging can be eco-friendlier as the filter comes wrapped in plastic. That is quite a letdown because the actual product is so good for the planet.
Buying Guide
The Organic Hemp filter costs under $10. While you might have expected a more expensive price for an organic product, it’s the most budget-friendly reusable filter on our list!
There’s really no reason why you shouldn’t try it out.
Reusable Coffee Filters FAQ
Now that we’ve looked at the best reusable coffee filter products in our buying guide, let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions regarding coffee filters.
Do you have to change the coffee filter every time?
When making a tasty cup of coffee, you want to collect sediment and excess granules so that they can’t get into your morning mug, but do you have to change your filter every time you make another cup?
That does seem like a bit of a hassle, but here’s the lowdown. If you’re using coffee filters that are made of paper, you might be able to use them more than once.
Some people have stated that they manage to use their paper filters about four or five times before throwing them out.
That sounds incredible, but there is a bit of a catch to consider with this strategy.
Once a paper filter’s been used to make coffee, it probably won’t do such a good job of filtering your coffee again.
The more you use it, the less it’ll work. In addition, reusing a paper coffee filter is probably best if you’re making another cup of coffee immediately after you’ve used the filter.
If you wash it and use it later, it might not work as well because it won’t maintain its shape or be very clean.
This is why having a reusable coffee filter, such as one made of stainless steel or hemp, works much better.
As for the coffee grounds the filter has collected, you might be wondering if you could reuse them instead of throwing them away.
Although you technically can make a second cup of coffee with coffee grounds you’ve already used, the coffee quality is going to be disappointing.
Here’s why: when coffee is brewed in water, its compounds are released and these enter the water to give it a great, rich taste.
Reusing your coffee grounds that the filter collected means that you’re really using grounds that don’t have those compounds anymore.
This means that your second cup of coffee will probably be weaker in strength and possibly even have a bitter taste.
It’s the same principle as reusing a tea bag. Although you can, it won’t taste as powerful as your first cup.
If you want to avoid a weak, bitter cup of coffee, then don’t reuse the coffee granules.
If you dislike the thought of throwing them into the bin, remember that you don’t have to throw them away.
They can be put into the compost bin, which is an excellent way to reuse them.
Are reusable coffee filters good?
Maybe you’re tired of purchasing paper filters to brew coffee. Maybe you want something that you can buy once and then use for many years.
If you’re interested in replacing paper filters with reusable coffee filters, you’ll be glad to know that they are very good for the environment because of their contribution to your zero-waste lifestyle.
Paper coffee filters that are only used once and then thrown into the trash contribute to the increasing problem of our landfills getting too full and contaminating the environment.
But, there’s another big problem with paper filters: many of them are bleached with chlorine or oxygen.
Although oxygen is more environmentally friendly than chlorine, Perfect Daily Grind reports that it still undergoes a chemical process.
It is a good idea to choose unbleached filters, but even better is to use reusable filters.
Reusable coffee filters can save you money in the long run because you don’t have to throw out single-use paper filters on a daily basis.
In addition, they also work well when it comes to making a tasty cup of coffee.
When they make use of materials such as stainless steel, this can enhance the taste of coffee by ensuring all the coffee compounds and aromatic oils can pass through the filter and into your cup.
On the other hand, coffee filters that are made out of hemp, such as the Organic Hemp Cone Coffee Filter by Bolio that’s featured in our buying guide, can save you money on the coffee that you purchase.
This is because hemp is a thick material and allows the coffee to steep for a longer time than it would on a paper filter, thus making you use less of your favorite coffee brand and helping you save money.
How do you clean a reusable coffee filter?
If you’ve got a coffee machine that’s of the single-brew variety, you probably have a reusable K-cup filter system.
While this can seem difficult to clean, you can make the process much easier and prevent buildup with these tips. Here’s how to clean a reusable coffee filter.
- Empty the coffee rounds. Don’t put them in the bin – pop them in your compost bin or, if you don’t have a compost bin, scatter them in your garden so that the soil will get some valuable slow-release nitrogen. These strategies prevent coffee grounds from ending up in the trash where they go to waste.
- Put the filter under water so that you can get rid of any grounds that are still there.
- Put the filter into a bowl that’s got water and vinegar. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning solution, and it works to keep your coffee filters clean too. As Huffington Post reports, you should have a solution of two parts water to one part white vinegar.
- Leave the filter in this liquid for about half an hour.
- When the time is up, take the filter and wash it gently under water.
- Put it somewhere safe to air dry before using it again.
Some other reusable coffee filters are even easier to clean.
As featured in our reusable coffee filters reviews, the Organic Hemp Cone coffee filter only requires a bit of hot water to be cleaned.
Others are dishwasher-friendly, such as the Di Oro coffee filter, so you can put them in with your washing load and not have to worry about it.
Do you need paper filters for reusable K cups?
If you like K cups, you might wonder if you still need to use paper filters with them.
Sometimes what happens is that if you’re using fine coffee grounds they end up seeping right through the mesh of your reusable coffee filter!
This is a complaint that some coffee drinkers have noted. If this happens to you, using a paper filer can help you to prevent it in the future so you can have a sediment-free cup of coffee.
However, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with using paper filters if you really don’t want to.
By choosing a reusable coffee filter that has a really fine mesh to accommodate your small coffee grounds, you can have sediment-free coffee.
As featured in our buying guide, the E-PRANCE Honeycombed Stainless Steel Coffee Filter is a filter that will catch the smallest granules, thus preventing you from having to use paper filters.
Conclusion
Goodbye, paper filters!
You’ve got lots of options if you want to invest in a reusable coffee filter. In this buying guide, we’ve featured five of the best reusable coffee filters that you can find on Amazon.
They have quite different specs and features, which means you can definitely find the right one to fit your lifestyle, whether you want an organic option or something that’s really easy to clean.
Now that you’ve made the planet a better place with your eco-friendly choice, it’s time for a cup of coffee, don’t you think?
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