I don’t mean this to be an advertisement, but I have tried a few metal coffee filters, and have not been able to find one that works as well as one from a company called Ovalware. Its the only one I could find that lists a micron size for the inner mesh (40 μm). I’ve found that this draw down time is faster than a paper filter, it is still slower than other mesh filters. And while it doesn’t quite eliminate fines, it does a great job keeping most of them out of my coffee compared to other mesh filters. I’ve also not had any trouble with the filter coming apart at the seams, or getting coffee grounds stuck between the inner and outer layers.
Has anyone tried this filter? Or have you found other metal filters that you’ve liked?
I’ve been using the Coava cone off and on for a few years and I like it. Lately I’ve moved back to paper for the most part, as I’m trying to learn “the right way” to do a V60. But this morning I did a metal cone actually… and it didn’t work out well. It was kind of an experiment to see what’d happen if I pre-sifted out the fines (I have a 500 micron sieve). Alas, this led to an extremely fast drawdown. I knew that fines slowed drawdown in paper, but people don’t talk about metal out here very much, hence the experiment.
I’m not sure of the micron size of the Coava…
Damn. You found the one metal filter priceier than the Able Kone! Have any good reasons for choosing this one?
This discussion has me interested in trying one and Kone seems to be largely the go to standard. Someone brewed me a coffee sock cup once though, and I was blown away, I may try that instead but I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with the clean up and maintenance on that thing.
Ooh, the sock thing looks cool, but I’m in the same boat as you on it! Maybe someday.
The reason I picked the Coava was, I live in Portland and they’ve been one of my favorite local roasters. They do their in-shop pourovers on those things and I always loved how they came out, so, I splurged one father’s day and got myself one. Of course, I don’t have a zillion-dollar grinder, so mine don’t come out quite as good as theirs…
Do you get a lot of fines if you don’t pre-sift? And what grind size do you use? What went wrong? I’m guessing it was under extracted because the water flowed too fast.
I wonder if metal filters work better with a Hario Switch type of coffee maker, where you can stop the flow down of water and let the grinds steep for a bit longer.
I’m very new to sifting, and that was my very first time sifting for the metal filter. I think you’re right that I’m better off with an immersion method if I’m sifting and using metal. I could do the ol’ inverted AeroPress+metal instead. I think you’re right on about it being underextracted because of the too-fast flow. Although, I’ll say, before I ever messed around with sifting, I got some great cups with the metal cone, and a medium-fine grind. More body than a V60 of course, but probably sacrificing some clarity? Not sure… amateur speaking here. :)