AeroPress Metal Filter Review

It’s no secret that AeroPress is my favorite coffee maker… ever.

And I happen to think it’s the best coffee maker ever! It’s super versatile.

But I talk about that in other articles.

One of the really cool things about AeroPress is that when you buy it, they include 350 paper filters!

That’s a pretty great deal.

I’ve had mine for over two years and I still haven’t used all of them!

However, as I’ve written about here, there are certainly pros and cons about paper vs. metal coffee filters, in general.

And that’s basically exactly what I’m going to talk about today, but the AeroPress version.

If you’re not very familiar with how this coffee maker works, it uses small circular filters.

And I was blessed to get a metal AeroPress filter for Christmas this year, so along with enjoying it of course, one thing that I had to do was review it and compare with the paper filters so that you know the low down on it.

 

==> Click here to see the best deal on AeroPress’ stainless steel metal filter! <==

 

*I receive commissions from purchases made through product links in this post. I sincerely appreciate if you use my links if you decide to buy something and help me in this way! And if not, no problem. To learn more click here. Coffee cheers!*

 

So with all that being said, let’s get into my AeroPress metal filter review, pros and cons, and which one I think is better!

Metal Vs. Paper

AeroPress, like other coffee brewing methods, started with paper filters.

There are pros and cons about each, and I’ll get to that in the next section…

But since AeroPress gives a whopping 350 paper filters when you purchase an AeroPress, I’ve been using those for a long time.

It was later after the development of AeroPress that metal filters were created.

And after at least a bit of time using both, I’m a bit surprised at how different they are!

By the way, if you click my links (which I always really appreciate very much), the filter I am promoting is the official AeroPress metal filter, which is an excellent choice.

The one that I have is an off-brand version, but more or less the same in many ways as the official AeroPress one.

I think you’ll find it interesting to read about the differences between paper or metal.

The good thing is that either way, whatever material you go with, you’ll still be making a great cup of coffee with AeroPress!

Differences, And Pros & Cons

Aside from the obvious difference between a paper and metal filter…

Let’s look at some of the nuances of each of them.

The thing that surprised me most when I started using the metal filter was how fast and easily it pressed/poured in relation to the paper filters.

Some people double up on their paper filters when they brew AeroPress, which would make pressing quite the workout.

But even with just one paper filter, it still takes a bit of muscle to press.

From the first time I brewed with the metal filter, I noticed how easy it was to press, and for a minute I thought I did something wrong like maybe ground my coffee too coarse or something.

But I’ve found out that this is just how the metal filters are.

This may result in a slightly different taste, but the difference is truly ever-so-slight and is pretty difficult to taste.

But let’s look at the pros & cons

 

Pros & Cons of Paper

Pros:

• Makes a nice strong cup of coffee
• Easy disposal

Cons:

• You have to buy more eventually

 

Pros & Cons of Metal

Pros:

• Easy to wash
• Reusable
• Easier to press

Cons:

• Possibly a thinner coffee

 

Those are the good and bad about each of them, in my opinion.

Let’s explore these a little more…

For paper filters, you can be sure that you’ll have that nice strong semi-espresso brew you may be looking for.

If you try to see through a paper AeroPress filter, you can’t.

They are pretty thick.

And because of this, you will have to press pretty hard when you brew with them, which also means you can be sure you’re going to get that bold taste.

They are also very easy to dispose.

This is one thing to love about any paper filter; the cleanup is all too easy.

Just take it out, and throw it away. It’s great.

But as a sidenote, you can reuse AeroPress’ paper filters, which I’ve done for some time, maybe 2 or 3 times.

If you do this, washing them off and setting them back in takes more work than with a metal filter, so the cleanup can be kind of a two-sided coin.

I have trouble thinking about many cons of paper filters, except the most obvious one, that you’ll have to buy more eventually.

The good thing about AeroPress’ filters though is that they last for a long time because you get 350 of them, and they’re not very expensive.

When it comes to metal filters, there are some really nice things about them.

They are super easy to wash, you never have to buy more of them, and they’re easier to press because the holes are bigger.

If you try to see through a metal filter, you actually can see through at least a bit, so it tells you there’s certainly a difference between the metal and paper filters.

They’re so easy to wash, to be honest, most of the time I just leave mine in the AeroPress cap and just rinse it with water, and shake it off.

It takes about 3 seconds total. And the filter doesn’t get dirty this way.

The other obvious pro about the metal filters is that you never have to buy more of them.

So you save money in the long run and it’s probably a bit more healthy for the planet.

For me, that’s really appealing.

Lastly, it’s noticeably easier to press an AeroPress with a metal filter.

If you’ve been using paper for a while, like I did, I’m sure you’ll notice the difference!

This is kind of nice, considering that it can be a bit strenuous to brew with AeroPress.

But that with being said, there’s a potential that the coffee might be more thin.

This is because the brew time becomes a tiny bit shorter, which can possibly effect the strength of the coffee.

A way to have more control and have this not be an issue though is just to do the inverted AeroPress method, which is fun and a great way to brew.

I haven’t been able to notice a difference in taste, but for the reason that I just said, the potential is there I guess.

Which One’s Better!?

This is maybe the question you really want answered.

And I’ll give you my personal opinion.

And no, it’s not something annoying like ‘none of them is better it’s up to your personal preference’.

I hate when people say that.

Because of the convenience and ease of cleaning, the fact that you never have to buy more, and still getting that same amazing, delicious AeroPress taste, I think the metal AeroPress filter is better.

Now, it doesn’t necessarily win by a landslide; I do really love the paper filters too.

There really is something about the taste they yield… and they’re also super convenient because you just throw them away when you use them.

But I love the sleek look and feel of the metal filter, along with the other things I mentioned, and saving some money in the long run is also kind of nice.

You may disagree if you’re a purist, and I wouldn’t blame you for that.

So if you want an uncompromising strong taste and you feel that you’re maybe an AeroPress purist, you might want to just stick with paper.

But I’m going to say that I prefer the metal filter myself, just a bit over paper.

 

==> Click here to see the best deal on AeroPress’ stainless steel metal filter! <==

 

In Conclusion

These are my thoughts about paper vs. metal AeroPress filters.

It’s definitely hard to say which one’s “better”, because they’re both great.

In my humble opinion, why not have both kinds of filters and you can switch it up sometimes?

That way maybe you will find which one you prefer, and you wouldn’t have spent much money either way.

I think it’s nice to have the choice.

But I do hope that if you try the metal filter you’ll really enjoy it like I do.

If you try it and have feedback, I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments section below!

Also, feel free to write if you have any other questions or comments, and I’ll be happy to hear from you.

I really think that AeroPress is such an amazing brewing method, that either way with paper or metal filters, you still get wonderful coffee, but maybe just a slightly different experience.

And with that, enjoy your coffee… coffee cheers!