How Many Times Can You Use an Aeropress Filter? (Solved & Explained!)

Aeropress comes with paper filters which are single-use and disposable. These filters can be used once before being disposed of with coffee grounds in household waste. Aeropress paper filters are biodegradable and compostable, so add to a compost pile to make fertilizer for more sustainable use. Metal mesh filters are reusable and can last anywhere from seven years to decades.

We will explore which filters to use in Aeropress, how many times you can use an Aeropress filter and the pros and cons of different types of coffee filters.

Can You Reuse an Aeropress Filter?

If you are using a standard paper Aeropress filter it cannot be reused. After brewing the coffee and filtering the grounds you remove the paper filter and dispose of it in the household waste or in a compost pile. If you are using a mesh filter in your Aeropress it can be reused again for years to come.

Is Aeropress Coffee Filtered?

Aeropress is a type of filtered coffee. The device works by steeping coffee grounds in hot water for a couple of minutes before plunging them through a filter. If using a paper filter the coffee is filtered, but if using a metal filter the coffee is technically unfiltered as the grounds are steeped directly in water without being filtered out.

Which Filters Can Be Used in An Aeropress?

Aeropress coffee makers come with their own standard paper filters. Replacement filters can be purchased from the Aeropress website and come in a pack of 350. You can also purchase mesh discs made of stainless-steel which fit into an Aeropress and act as a permanent reusable filter.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Paper Filters in An Aeropress?

Pros:

• Smoothness – there is no sediment as paper catches fine ground coffee.
• Health – harmful substances such as cafestol, kahweol, excess oil and caffeine are caught on the paper and prevented from getting into the coffee.
• Convenience – these filters are very easy to use and can just be disposed of afterwards into a trashcan or compost pile along with the used grounds.

Cons:

• Taste – filtered coffee has a milder, or weaker, taste than unfiltered. It is lighter, cleaner, and smoother, which can be people’s taste preference. But some believe that paper filters can compromise the coffee taste or add a papery taste.
• Not sustainable – these filters are disposable and are made by chopping trees, so they are not the most eco-friendly option. Aeropress standard paper filters are biodegradable so can be placed into a compost pile to make fertilizer.
• Cost – these filters are cheap to purchase but are an ongoing cost that adds up over time.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Metal Filters in An Aeropress?

Pros:

• Taste – unfiltered coffee is known for its rich, robust, and strong flavors. All the aromas and oils are extracted from the grounds to create the most flavorful coffee.
• Eco-friendly – stainless-steel filters are reusable and can last for decades.
• Cost – these filters could be more of a cost upfront but as you only need to purchase one it is a cheaper option long term.

Cons:

• Sediment – the wider gaps mean fine grounds can get through and cause sediment particles in coffee.
• Health – harmful substances such as cafestol, kahweol, and caffeine are saturated directly into the water so this coffee contains high amounts of them.

• Convenience – these filters require thorough cleaning after every use to ensure any loose grounds and oil build-up is removed.

Which Filter Is Best for Aeropress Coffee?

Aeropress come with paper filters and this is the recommended option. This is because Aeropress only steeps the coffee for a short amount of time, and so smaller coffee grinds would work best with this method as finer grounds can be extracted more quickly. Paper filters can catch any fine grounds to prevent sediment and bitterness getting into the coffee.

Metal filters can only be used with coarse grounds. Coarse grounds could be used in an Aeropress but they have more surface area and so the flavors will not be extracted as quickly, leading to a weaker tasting coffee without as much flavor.

What Are Other Types of Coffee Filters?

• Cloth filters: Can be made of cotton, hemp, muslin, or cheesecloth. These can be reused for around six months but need to be washed after each use as they absorb the oils from the coffee. This oil build-up can get into the coffee and make it taste bitter or stale. Cloth filters can catch finer coffee grinds like paper.
• Nylon filters: These synthetic filters can be reused for around a year but then could leave an acidic taste in coffee.
• Gold filters: Can be made entirely of gold or stainless steel with gold plating. Can be used for several years and are as durable as other metal filters, though are more expensive.
• Dual filters: Some reusable filters have two layers – an interior and exterior filter. This helps to filter finer coffee grounds in a similar way to paper.

Why Does Coffee Need to Be Filtered?

Filters catch the oils, caffeine, and potentially harmful substances such as cafestol and kahweol to prevent them from getting into the coffee. Filters also catch any sediment or residue to create a smoother cup of coffee without any bitterness.

How Does Unfiltered Coffee Raise Cholesterol?

Cafestol and kahweol are diterpenes which are found in coffee and can raise cholesterol levels, also increasing the risk of liver damage. Cafestol and kahweol prevent the body from effectively producing bile. If there is not enough bile to break down fatty acids and metabolize them, then cholesterol cannot be maintained and will rise.

What Are Other Uses for Paper Aeropress Filters?

• Packaging and storage: use paper coffee filters to pack fragile items such as plates or glasses when moving items or placing them in storage.
• Gardening and planting: paper coffee filters are compostable and can be used as liners in the bottom of plant pots.