STORY

Is there a difference in taste between "white" and "brown" coffee filters?

If you are using drip extraction using a paper filter, you probably know that there are white and brown filters.

Many coffee shops use "white" paper filters, but have you ever wondered what effect the different colors have?

In this article, I would like to compare the differences between paper filter colors.

Why are there different colors?

The difference in color of paper filters depends on whether or not the filters have been bleached.
Brown is "unbleached" and white is "bleached".
 
Left: Bleached (white) Right: Unbleached (brown)

Paper filters made from pulp take on the color of the original tree, resulting in a brown filter.
However, it is said that the disadvantage of leaving it as is is that the smell of the raw material (paper) will remain and that aroma will be transferred to the coffee.

Therefore, it has become common to bleach paper filters to remove the paper odor, which is a disadvantage.

First, I tried running hot water.

Before actually testing it with coffee, I tried running just hot water to see the difference.
 
Left: Hot water passed through a white filter Right: Hot water passed through a brown filter
 
There was a slight difference in the color of the water.
The white one (left) is transparent, but the brown one (right) has a slightly yellowish tint, probably because the color of the filter has faded.

When I tried drinking the hot water that had passed through it, the water with the white filter tasted like normal water, but the water with the brown filter tasted like paper.

Regarding the way the scent was released when hot water was passed through it, the brown filter had a paper scent as soon as the hot water was applied to it.

I actually tried brewing coffee

We tried to extract coffee by standardizing the conditions as much as possible, such as brands and extraction methods.
 
Left: Extracted with a white filter Right: Extracted with a brown filter
 
I couldn't feel the difference in the color of the liquid as much as when I poured it through hot water, but I could feel the difference in taste.

Similarly, when using hot water, the brown filter gives the impression that the taste of paper is mixed in a little.
I especially feel it after.
Compared to the white color, the brown color had a more bitter aftertaste and a rougher feel to it.

When using the brown filter, a paper smell rose up while extracting.
When brewing, I had to check the aroma of the coffee as it rose, so I got the impression that the scent of the paper got in the way and interfered with the extraction process.

What did you think?

This time, by actually trying out the extraction, I was able to experience the difference depending on the color of the paper filter.

If you are concerned about bleach, we recommend using a brown filter, but oxygen bleaching is now commonplace and is said to have no effect on your health.

We recommend using a white filter to enjoy the original brand of coffee.

I think you can clearly see the difference when you actually extract it.
Everyone, please try it at least once!


2024.02.22
Hiroto Usukura