How to Clean a Reusable Coffee Filter: 5 Easy Methods
Reusable coffee filters are a great way to cut down on the cost of buying new paper filters. And, they’re a simple way to limit waste! Once you know how to clean a reusable coffee filter, it’s super easy to keep using it over and over without having to worry about continually buying more filters to make your next cup of coffee.
We got hooked on a cloth reusable filter years ago when we started using a Chemex to make pour overs. While you can get simple filters for a drip coffee maker for just pennies, other types of filters (such as for a Chemex) can be a more significant addition to the coffee budget.
After buying a few $20 boxes of the thicker paper filters for making pour overs, we started looking into other options! The cloth filter became the most effective option for us, but there are other types of reusable filters, too (metal is another common option). With proper care, these filters can last basically forever and keep you from having to continually buy expensive filters just to dispose of them.
Plus, cleaning them is easy! In this post, we’ll show you simple steps for daily maintenance (it only takes 1-2 minutes per day!) as well as how to deep clean your filter every month or two.
Pin This Post for Later!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can view our full disclosure here.
Why Use a Reusable Coffee Filter?
- They’re cost effective. The main reason we started using a reusable filter is because we don’t love buying things just to throw them away! Although disposable filters for regular drip coffee maker can be quite cheap, we were getting tired of paying $20 each time we bought disposable paper filters for making pour overs in the Chemex. While a reusable filter can cost around the same amount as a box of paper coffee filters, it lasts much longer when cared for properly!
- Reduces waste. Using a reusable filter for your pour over set, french press, or standard coffee machine is an effective way to reduce waste. Paper makes up about 26% of landfill waste. Might as well cut down on it a bit while saving some money, too!
- Easy to use. With the proper cleaning techniques, reusable coffee filters are just as easy to use as any other filter. Most of the time, all it takes is a quick removal of leftover coffee grounds, a good rinse to get rid of coffee residue, and thorough drying before the next use.
The Importance of Cleaning Your Filter Regularly
Reusable coffee filters are a great way to save money and cut down on waste, and when done regularly, the cleaning process takes just a couple of minutes per day.
Although cleaning your filter isn’t hard to do, it is very important. Without regular cleaning and drying, any kind of reusable coffee filter can be prone to collecting germs and mold as well as hard water buildup. It’s super important to not only make sure that you get a clean filter after each use, but also that it’s never sitting wet. Thorough drying is vital to making sure that mold and bacteria don’t grow on your filter, whether it’s cloth, metal, or paper.
In addition to hygiene factors, clean coffee filters will give you a fresher taste on your next batch! Using a dirty filter can lead to stale-tasting or bitter coffee.
Types of Filters
The main types of reusable coffee filters include cloth, metal, and paper.
1. Cloth
We’re partial to using a cloth filter (or fabric filter) for our Chemex. These are sometimes also referred to as “coffee socks”.
The benefits of fabric filters are that they can filter out more of the fine particles and create a richer coffee taste. They also allow more of the coffee oils through the filter, which often leads to a smoother taste.
Here’s the reusable cloth coffee filter that we use for our Chemex!
2. Metal
Metal coffee filters (also referred to as a filter basket) are quite common – they’re easy to use, durable, and easy to clean, too. Most reusable metal filter options are made of stainless steel.
French press filters are also commonly made of stainless steel or fine mesh.
There are a few downsides of using a metal coffee filter, though. Because they’re not as fine as cloth or paper, they can allow more grounds to pass through, creating a muddier cup of coffee. Some coffee drinkers also notice a metallic taste.
3. Paper
Some paper filters can often be reused, but not nearly as many times as a cloth or metal filter. Reusing your paper filter a few times can cut down on waste and save on the cost of buying disposable filters. This only works well with thicker paper filters, but it can still be quite hard to rinse them thoroughly and get them clean (and then dry) without leaving grounds and residue in the filter and/or having them rip.
How to Clean a Coffee Filter
Coffee filters are not nearly as difficult to clean as you might think! For most filters, you can do basic daily maintenance in just 1-2 minutes. Just make sure you shake out any excess water and allow your filter to adequately dry so that it doesn’t breed mold and bacteria.
Then, about every 6-8 weeks (or if you notice your filter looks dirty or has accumulated a significant amount of coffee oils), you can do a deeper clean using vinegar, lemon juice, or baking soda. There are various methods for doing this and not really one “right way” to clean your filter – so choose the one that works best for you!
Regular Maintenance
Cleaning your cloth, metal, or paper filter after you use it each day is simple!
- First, shake out any leftover coffee grounds. (Coffee grounds are excellent for compost, so shake them into your kitchen compost bin if you have one! Check out these tips for how to compost your coffee grounds if you’ve never done it before!)
- Next, just rinse your filter under warm running water to remove any remaining grounds and buildup. For daily maintenance, you don’t need to use any other rinsing agents other than fresh water. It’s best to rinse your filter within 30 minutes of use.
- Once it’s clean, simply hang it to dry in a place that gets good airflow. We like to hang ours right in the kitchen windowsill, since sunshine is one of the best disinfectants out there!
How to Deep Clean Your Reusable Coffee Filter
About every 6-8 weeks, it’s a good idea to give your filter a deeper clean. This will help to keep it in good condition and keep the coffee oils from accumulating so that you can get a better brewing process and enjoy that perfect cup of coffee each day.
There are a few ways you can clean your filter. Although your filter’s manufacturer might suggest a best way, most of these methods will work well for most filters. Choose the one that works best for you!
No matter what method you use, to give your filter a thorough cleaning, you should always finish by rinsing it in clean water, then drying well. You can use a clean, dry cloth or paper towels to remove excess water from your filter, then allow it to air dry thoroughly until there’s no moisture left. Again, we love using sunshine to aid the drying process! Hanging it on a dowel, thin glass jar or vase, or even a piece of upright silverware in your kitchen window can work well.
Method 1: Boil your filter
Add your filter to a pot of hot water and boil it for 10 minutes to sanitize and remove any buildup. For extra cleaning power, add a scoop of baking soda to your water.
Method 2: Soapy water
Although soap is not a good choice for cloth filters (and definitely not for paper!), it’s okay to use soap on stainless steel filters. Simply use some mild dish soap on a soft-bristled scrub brush to scrub any buildup off your filter. Then, rinse the soap suds off under warm water. For extra cleaning, you can soak your metal coffee filter in a soapy water mixture, then just use a small cleaning brush to remove any loosened coffee grounds or residue.
Method 3: Vinegar solution
Distilled white vinegar is an excellent natural cleaning agent. Vinegar is an acidic property that kills bacteria, removes odors and grease, and breaks down mineral stains. A vinegar solution of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water can do wonders!
To use this method, simply mix a solution of equal parts vinegar and clean water and allow your filter to soak in the mixture for about 10 minutes. For an extra deep cleaning, you can leave it overnight. When it’s done soaking, you can use a small cleaning brush to remove any loosened used grounds if necessary. When you’re finished, simply rinse your filter off with warm water.
Method 4: Baking soda solution
Baking soda is another natural cleaner that not only neutralizes odors, but is also great for using as an abrasive. Scrubbing with baking soda is an excellent way to loosen and remove any grease and grime.
To use this method, simply mix 1 part baking soda with 2 parts water. (For best results, be careful not to add too much water, or it will become too thin to get a good scrub.) Then, use a soft brush to scrub the baking soda around on your filter, using it to loosen any debris or buildup.
Rinse thoroughly.
Method 5: Lemon juice
You can use lemon juice to clean your filter in much the same way as you would use vinegar. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which is great for cutting grease and is also a natural disinfectant.
To clean your filter with lemon juice, simply mix 1 part lemon juice with 1 part hot water and allow your filter to soak for about 10 minutes. Then, rinse and dry!
Enjoy Your Coffee!
Clean tools lead to a better cup of coffee! There are various materials and natural cleaning options you can use to make sure your reusable filter stays in great shape so that you can enjoy a better brew. Keep an eye on your filter to watch for buildup so that you know when it’s time for a deep clean. And again – always, always make sure to dry your filter thoroughly in order to prevent bacteria growth.
More Blog Posts About Coffee
- Can You Compost Coffee Grounds?
- What’s the Best Aldi Coffee?
- How to Make Coffee Without Electricity
- How to Save Money Grinding Your Own Coffee Beans
- How to Make Whole Bean Coffee Without Grinding It
