Coffee filter

Lore & Background

In 1782, Johann Georg Krünitz described a method using blotting paper in a metal filter cone. In Germany and the Netherlands, paper filter inserts were used in conical metal holders called 'Hamburger Spitztrichter' (Hamburg filter). In 1847, Elard Römershausen experimented with paper filters while constructing an early air press coffee machine. In 1885, Heinrich Böhnke-Reich warned against using old wallpaper as filters but described thick wool-style greyish paper cut into shape for quick filters. In 1894, Eugen Wilda's device used single-use cloth filter bags, considered superior to paper filter bags already in use.

On 8 July 1908, Melitta Bentz patented a 94 mm round paper filter disk to remove bitter taste from overbrewing. She founded the Melitta company with her husband and two sons. In 1930/1931, the Blitz-Filter GmbH produced a conical paper filter with rims. In 1931, Paul Ciupka proposed conical paper filters, leading to the 'Brasil Kaffeefilter' in 1932. Melitta bought the rights and introduced the Schnell-Filter cone-shaped holder in 1932. In 1935, Melitta patented the Filtertüte (filter bag), introduced in 1936 or 1937, a conical fan- or boat-shaped paper filter. Melitta holds a trademark on 'Filtertüte' in Germany.

In 1963 or 1965, Melitta developed a new fan- or boat-shaped filter system with '1×' nomenclature, sized so the whole amount of water could be poured in one go. The Hario V60 cone-shaped brewer (60° angle) was released in 2004 and received the Japanese Good Design Award in 2007. Other shapes include Saint Anthony Industries' C70 (2018) and F70 (2019), and various Melitta pyramid, round, basket, and wrap filters.

Reader's Guide

The coffee filter is significant for its role in shaping coffee flavor and health effects. Paper filters remove diterpenes (cafestol and kahweol), which have anti-inflammatory properties; studies indicate mild consumption of paper-filtered coffee may reduce coronary heart disease risk. Metal, nylon, or porcelain mesh filters do not remove these compounds, resulting in a different taste profile—some baristas claim paper filters impart a 'paperish' taste and recommend rinsing with hot water. The choice of filter material thus affects both flavor and health outcomes.

The legacy of the coffee filter includes the standardization of shapes and sizes. Melitta's systems—from the original round disk to the fan- or boat-shaped Filtertüte and the later 1× series—established widely used formats. The Hario V60, with its 60° cone and single large hole, became popular among baristas and World Brewers Cup winners. The variety of filter shapes (cone, fan, basket, pyramid, round) and materials (paper, cloth, metal, porcelain) allows brewers to control extraction and clarity. The filter's design continues to evolve, as seen in the Hario W60 flat-bottom mesh filter developed with 2013 World Barista Champion Pete Licata to address flat-bed brewing concerns.

Did You Know?

• The first commercial paper coffee filter was a 94 mm round disk patented by Melitta Bentz on 8 July 1908.
• Melitta holds a trademark on the term 'Filtertüte' in Germany for its conical fan- or boat-shaped paper filter introduced in 1937.
• The Hario V60 brewer, released in 2004, received the Japanese Good Design Award in 2007.