What is a Cloth Coffee Filter?

There are many ways to brew pour over coffee, regardless of what dripper or method you use all of these will require a filter of some kind.

The most popular coffee filters are paper as they are readily available and cost effective but paper filters are not the first way humans brewed coffee, cloth coffee filters are thought to be the very first means to filter coffee.

Recently cloth has come back into fashion due to its unique properties and taste profile, not to mention it’s sustainability and versatility.

What Makes Cloth Filters Unique?

Unlike paper filters that can absorb essential coffee oils, cloth filters allow more oils to pass through, resulting in a cup that's richer and more full-bodied. It's not just about taste, though.

Sustainability plays a key role here, with cloth filters being reusable and reducing waste most cloth filters last 6-12 months while Aji Filters surpass this by lasting up to 2-3 years drastically improving the lifespan and reducing so much more waste comparatively.

What Grind Size Should You Use For Cloth Coffee Filters?

Taste is a very personal component, there is no right way to answer this and to further my point different styles and brew methods result in different expressions of the exact same coffee.

In saying all of this we like to use around 15-22 clicks on the Comandante (450-660 microns).

Using our Aji Circle Filter at 20 Clicks on the Comandante C40 paired with the Orea V3 Dripper we were able to achieve a TDS of 1.63 and an Extraction of 20.54%.

You can read about our results of this experiment here.

Pour Over Coffee Recipe using Cloth Coffee Filter:

Using an Orea V3 Dripper and our Aji Circle Filter here is a basic pour over coffee recipe to make an easy tasty coffee.

20g dose (Comandante 22 clicks)

300g water at 96ºc

3x pours of 100g

WDT agitation after bloom

1. Start by setting your Aji Circle Filter into the Orea V3 Dripper, add 20 grams of filter roasted coffee and pour 100g of water at 96ºc.

2. Once your water draws down completely start your next pour of 100g.

3. Repeat step 2 and enjoy your coffee.

Does the cotton matter?

Yes, when developing our first cloth coffee filter we spent so much time testing many different materials ranging from hemp, cotton, woven, knitted and even blends of multiple materials.

The cotton we landed on wasn’t the cheapest option available but did have the best results when it came to brewing and longevity.

Different materials have a range of different hole sizes resulting in different brew times and a range of different flavour expressions for the one coffee.

Can you make other coffees with Cloth Coffee Filters?

Cloth filters are actually really versatile in this sense, people use cloth coffee filters for an array of other styles of drinks and even recipes completly different from coffee. Whether it be a cold brew coffee sock, making oat milk or using a coffee filter as a museline cheescloth.

Aji Filters in particular are designed specifically for making pour over coffee.

Why Cotton is the Future

Cotton filters like the Aji Filter represent a return to traditional brewing methods while addressing modern environmental concerns. They offer a richer tasting coffee and reduce waste with every brew, aligning with the growing trend of sustainable coffee consumption.

The Aji Filter, in particular is a nod to this sustainable future, marrying the old traditional coffee brewing experience with the new in a harmonious (and well balanced) brew.

Why We Made the Aji Filter

The creation of the Aji Filter was born out of a desire to enhance the coffee experience while honouring the environment. In a world where convenience often trumps quality, the Aji Filter stands as a symbol of mindful consumption, encouraging coffee lovers to slow down, savour the process, and enjoy a cup that's both delicious and doing good for the environment.