If you’re like most coffee drinkers, you go through coffee filters like crazy. They seem to disappear faster than coffee beans! If you’re looking for a cheap and unique coffee filter substitute, look no further. This blog post will discuss 10 different substitutes that you can use to brew your coffee. Some of these substitutes are more common than others, but all of them are affordable and easy to find. So what are you waiting for? Start brewing coffee with some of these creative substitutes today!
Table of Contents
What are coffee filters made of?
Coffee filters are made of paper, and some coffee filters come with a brown color while others have a bleached white color. Some brands would offer you unbleached coffee filters, which can also be biodegradable. The brown filters are recycled paper, while the bleached ones are not. The unbleached coffee filters will also have a small environmental footprint. However, some people say that they can taste the chlorine in the water if it is used with white coffee filters.
Coffee filters are quite inexpensive to buy, and you can easily find them in the market. However, there are times when the coffee maker will not work or is out of the coffee filter.
How to make a coffee filter substitute?
You can use a coffee filter substitute for your daily cup of joe if you run out of filters. There are some instances when you’re in a pinch and need to make do with what’s around you, so it is nice to know that there are other ways to get your morning fix. Here are ten unique and inexpensive coffee filter substitutes:
- A piece of nylon stocking or pantyhose. Cut a square out of the stocking and tie it around the end of your French press plunger. This will help to keep the grounds from going into your cup.
- A paper towel. Place one or two layers of paper towel over the bottom of your coffee cup. This will help to catch any stray grounds.
- A fine mesh strainer. Place the strainer over your coffee cup and pour in your hot water. The grounds will collect in the filter while the brewed coffee flows through it into your cup.
- An ice cube tray. Pour your ground coffee into each section of the ice cube tray. Once it is frozen, pop out the coffee cubes and place them in a Ziploc bag. When you’re ready to brew your coffee, add water to the desired strength and drop it in a few cubes.
- A clean paintbrush. If you have an old paintbrush lying around, rinse it out and use it as a coffee filter substitute. The bristles will help to keep the grounds from slipping through.
- Cheesecloth. Place a double layer of cheesecloth over your coffee cup and pour in your hot water. The grounds will collect in the cloth while the brewed coffee flows through it into your cup.
- A nut milk bag. These reusable mesh bags are often used for making homemade nut milk, but they can also be used as a coffee filter substitute.
The benefits of using a coffee filter substitute
There are many benefits to using a coffee filter substitute. First, it can save you money. Coffee filters can be expensive, and if you use a lot of coffee, that expense can add up quickly. Second, using a different coffee filter can give your coffee a new flavor or aroma. Finally, if you’re looking to be more eco-friendly, using a coffee filter substitute will help you avoid throwing away all those paper filters.
You can use just about any type of cloth to strain your ground coffee beans or tea leaves (depending on what type of drink you’re making). You should choose something that is not too thick but still allows liquid through, such as linen or cheesecloth. Ensure to wash and rinse the cloth thoroughly before using it for brewing your drink so that no dirt or other particles get into the brew.
Some people use a fine mesh strainer instead of a coffee filter substitute because they do not want grounds in their cups of coffee. The type of strainer you use will depend on what type of coffee maker you have. Some coffee makers come with a small mesh strainer that fits over the top of the carafe, so any grounds can be caught before they get into your cup. Other coffee makers have large metal filters placed inside the machine and catch all particles as water flows through them during the brewing process.
How to make a coffee filter substitute from everyday materials
There are many ways to make a coffee filter substitute from everyday materials. Here are ten unique and inexpensive ideas:
- Use a mesh onion bag as a coffee filter. Cut a hole in the bottom of the bag, place it over your coffee cup, and pour in hot water.
- Make a coffee filter out of cheesecloth. Place the cheesecloth in a coffee cone or filter, pour in hot water, and let the coffee drip through.
- Use a paper towel as a coffee filter. Please fold the paper towel into fourths, then place it in a coffee cone or filter, pour in hot water, and let the coffee drip through.
- Make a coffee filter out of a paper towel. Please fold the paper towel into fourths, place it over your coffee cup, and pour in hot water.
- Use a tea strainer as a coffee filter substitute. Place the tea strainer over your coffee cup and pour in hot water.
- Make a coffee filter out of an old T-shirt or other pieces of cloth. Cut the cloth into a square, then fold in half to create a filter shape. Place it in a coffee cone or over your coffee cup, and pour in hot water.
- Make a coffee filter out of an old sock. Cut the sock off at the ankle so that you have a long piece of fabric, then tie a knot in one end. Cut a small hole in the other end, place it over your coffee cup, and pour in hot water.
- Make a coffee filter out of an old pantyhose. Cut the pantyhose off at the waistband so that you have a long piece of fabric, then tie a knot in one end. Cut a small hole in the other end, place it over your coffee cup, and pour in hot water.
- Make a coffee filter out of an old sheet. Cut the sheet into a square, then fold in half to create a filter shape. Place it in a coffee cone or over your coffee cup, and pour in hot water.
- Use an empty egg carton as a coffee filter substitute. Poke small holes in the bottom of each egg carton cup, then place it over your coffee cup and pour in hot water.
10 Unique and Inexpensive Coffee Filter Substitutes
Whether we like our coffee brewed at home or in a nearby café, there is always a paper filter sitting in the bottom of the cup holding back the grounds and letting only the liquid through. However, when you realize that much of that paper ends up in landfills, you begin to wonder if there isn’t something else out there.
Well, consider this your lucky day because we’ve found ten unique and inexpensive coffee filter substitutes for you.
1. Fabric Coffee Filter
This often-cited option is made simply by cutting an ordinary cloth napkin in two, stitching one half closed with a drawstring, and putting it over the traditional paper filter in your coffeemaker when you want to make coffee. It is meant to be used again and again, just like the paper filter.
You can also buy reusable non-woven cloth filters if you want one specially made for this purpose. These go for $5 or 6 dollars at Amazon, where you’ll find all sorts of other options. Just keep in mind that they don’t come with the drawstrings, so you may want to purchase some if you don’t already have them around.
2. Steel Mesh Coffee Filter
One advantage of this is that it’s reusable and completely dishwasher-safe. It also eliminates waste and doesn’t produce contaminants or filter inconsistencies like paper and plastic.
Finally, it is 100% recyclable.
3. Cheesecloth Coffee Filter
This filter can be reused as long as you let it dry out between uses. It’s also reusable if small enough that you don’t mind washing it after every use.
There are a few disadvantages, though. It cannot be easy to clean and should only be done by hand. It also makes a mess when pouring the coffee into your cup because of all the filtering material that’s still clinging to the grounds.
4. A Hacky Sacking Lid
This creative option is worth looking into, even though it requires some time and patience to prepare.
What you’re going to do is tie together three cotton balls with twine in the middle of about six inches of string, then cut them open so that they lie flat. After that, you’ll attach this “bag” to the top of a mug and pour in your freshly brewed coffee.
The cotton balls will filter out all the grounds and give you a smooth, strong cup without paper or plastic waste.
5. The Sock/Twine Method
This method is almost the same as using a cheesecloth. You’ll need a sock with toes or some other type of cloth with a drawstring that’s stretched open and anchored down to keep it from closing around your coffee cup, which you’ll use instead of a traditional paper filter.
You can also purchase reusable flat-bottomed filters made out of stainless steel specifically for this purpose.
6. French Press Filters
This clever option works perfectly if you have a French press coffeemaker, but some people have found it useful even with drip-style coffee makers. It consists of a stainless steel mesh filter, two screens, and a handle.
All you have to do is put the stainless steel mesh filter in the French press chamber, then place the two other screens on top of it with the handle facing up. Fill this contraption with ground coffee that’s coarsely ground or has larger flakes, then pour hot water into it slowly while moving the handle up and down until all of your water has been filtered through.
7. Non-Dairy Creamer Can Lid
This might sound like one of the weirdest coffee filter substitutes we’ve ever mentioned, but it works pretty well. Just place your freshly brewed coffee inside the creamer can use the creamer lid to cover it, and screw on the band tightly. Then hold your hand over the top of the opening where you pour out your coffee, shake lightly for about 10 seconds or until all of your grounds have settled at the bottom.
8. The Bandana Method
You’ll need a bandana, but this is one of the simplest ways to filter your coffee because you don’t have to do anything other than drink it. Just place the ground beans in the center of the bandana and twist the ends together, tying them at both ends with a tight knot. Then place this contraption over your coffee cup and pour hot water over it until all of your grounds have been saturated.
Remove it from your cup once the pouch is full and set it aside to cool off. When you open up the bandana, you’ll find a clean brew without any chunks or grinds in it.
The only downside is that you’ll need to use a fresh bandana every time, and this method is not ideal for large batches.
9. The DIY Convenient Store Alternative
Do you miss the convenience of disposable coffee filters? This is one of the simplest ways to get around using them without going out and buying a reusable one. All you have to do is fold up about four paper towels, then roll them tightly and stick them in the center of your coffee filter, so they form a spout.
When you’re ready to pour hot water over your ground beans, place the coffee filter with the paper towel “spout” inside your mug, add the coffee and hot water, then remove the paper towel when you’re done.
10. The Emergency Method
This one is a last resort option since it doesn’t always work very well and usually ends up with coffee that has tiny pieces of grinds in it, but you can try it if all else fails. All you have to do is flatten out a piece of paper and cut a small hole in the center, then place this filter over your mug and pour hot water through it.
The problem with this method is that the paper will absorb a lot of the oils and flavors from the coffee, so the taste may not be very good.
Conclusion
So there you have it – 10 unique and inexpensive coffee filter substitutes for when you’re in a bind. With just a little bit of creativity, you can brew up your favorite cup of Joe using any one of these alternatives. Do you have a favorite coffee filter substitute that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
