Does the color of the filter bag matter? The expert gives the answer.
Putting the filter bag in the coffee maker is part of the morning routine of many Finns. JARNO JUTI
You can’t brew filter coffee without a filter bag, so many of us have to think about the filter bag issue.
The question is: Does the filter bag affect the taste of the coffee?
Filter paper is especially important for extracting coffee, says the Helsinki Coffee Festival’s press release.
The small pores of the filter paper regulate the flow of water and influence how well the coffee aromas dissolve. A properly functioning filter paper reduces bitterness and helps bring out the fullness of the coffee.
A paper filter filters oils and small particles from the coffee, which affects the purity, balance and aroma of the drink compared to e.g. metal filters. The material and structure can therefore change the flavor profile of the coffee poured into the cup.
When hot water passes through a dry paper filter, it can bring out natural flavors or odors – to some it feels “papery” or “cardboardy”.
Experts recommend rinsing the filter bag before adding coffee grounds. Fredman
– The filter bag should preferably be rinsed with hot water before adding the coffee grounds, so that possible very fine paper dust is washed away and the bag stays better in place in the filter, advises Fredman’s marketing director Riikka Raatikainen in the bulletin.
Does the color of the filter bag change the taste of the coffee?
The color of the filter bag itself does not significantly change the taste of the coffee, states the release. Instead, the way the paper is manufactured and processed, as well as the thickness and porosity of the paper, has more of an effect.
– The brown filter bag is mainly made of unbleached fiber. The white filter bag is oxygen bleached. It is said that bleaching the paper neutralizes the tastes and odors of the filter bag, Raatikainen says.
He reminds us that the raw material, i.e. high-quality coffee, coffee dosage, grinding, water temperature and the cleanliness of the coffee maker, have the greatest influence on the taste of coffee.
Raatikainen states that it is not a good idea to pour water into the tank with a coffee pot, as the coffee fats will affect the taste of the coffee. Instead, you should always pour the water in a separate, clean jug.
At the Helsinki Coffee Festivals on April 17-19, 2026, a comparison of filter bags will be organized for the first time. Visitors can taste the year’s filter coffee at the event and compare whether the color of the filter paper affects the taste of the coffee.