Why Japanese Coffee Lovers Prefer Flannel Filters Over Paper
When it comes to flannel filters, many coffee lovers may have only seen them in Japanese movies or through videos by Japanese baristas. Compared with the common paper filter and dripper combo, the flannel filter is far less popular outside of Japan. Most people’s first encounter with it comes from Japanese coffee culture itself. That naturally raises the question: why do Japanese people love brewing coffee with a piece of flannel cloth? What makes coffee brewed with flannel so different from coffee filtered through paper? What’s Special About Flannel Filters? If you’ve read my posts before, you’ve probably seen me mention this: flannel filters produce coffee that’s richer and more aromatic . The reason is simple — flannel doesn’t filter out oils and insoluble compounds as thoroughly as paper does. Flannel is a soft, fuzzy fabric that originated in Wales, England. Since its invention, it’s been used in countless applications thanks to its versatility. As a coffee filtration tool,...