When we drink coffee we would prefer not to be chewing brewed coffee grounds as well. This is one of the reasons why we use filters to strain out the coffee grounds from our brewed coffee. Another good reason that many folks are not aware of is that by using a paper filter we also remove chemicals that can give rise to “bad” LDL cholesterol and cause an increased risk of heart disease. Are all ways to filter coffee the same or should you know how to filter coffee to obtain the results that you wish?
Filtering Coffee With a French Press
Many of us enjoy coffee made using a French press setup. This device has a metal filter instead of a cloth or paper one. How does that work? The benefit of the metal filter in a French press is that it strains out the coffee grounds and any other particulates from your final brew. It leave rich tasting oils in the coffee providing an excellent taste. Thus, if you are concerned about compounds that might raise your low density cholesterol, they remain in French Press coffee while chewy grounds and other solid matter is removed.
Filtering Coffee With a Pour Over Setup
Traditional pour over coffee is made by placing coffee grounds in a cloth bag attached to a ring that sits on the pop where your coffee will be poured. The cotton cloth does an excellent job of removing particulates. Just like when you use a paper filter this method also blocks cholesterol raising compounds from getting into your final brew. However, to a degree the effectiveness of this approach for preventing cholesterol issues will depend on the type of cloth that you use, The cloth filter does not eliminate all such compounds from getting through but lowers the amount significantly.
Percolator Coffee Using a Paper Filter
Your basic coffee maker or percolator uses a paper filter to remove particulates from the final brew and, incidentally, to block cholesterol raising compounds from getting into your cup of Java. The close mesh of a paper filter physically traps the lipid compounds that can raise low density lipid levels. This is not a chemical reaction but rather a physical blocking. This is a simple approach that does not require anything but inserting a new filter with each new batch of coffee and disposing of the old filter. You can reuse your paper coffee filters a few times but we do not recommend doing so as this results in less aroma, poorer taste and particulates that start getting into the final brew.
Do You Have to Use a Filter When You Make Coffee?
The short answer is “no.” You are not obliged to use a filter when you make coffee. Folks have been making Turkish coffee for hundreds of years by boiling coffee with sugar in a small pot and serving without the use of a filter. The coffee is very finely ground so that any coffee grounds that end up in your cup are tiny but, no, you do not need to filter your coffee. It is a matter of taste and preference. The issue of raising low density lipids is a recent one that only came to light based on medical research. If you do not have a cholesterol issue and love the taste of Turkish coffee, egg coffee, or French Press coffee, skip the paper or cloth coffee filter and enjoy your traditional brew!