Should you use 2 coffee filters when brewing a cup of coffee? Is is true that using 2 coffee filters brews stronger and more flavorful cup of coffee? Let’s answer these questions today.
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Will using 2 coffee filters brew stronger coffee? Should I use two coffee filters when preparing my cup of coffee? Are there any benefits?
Owly Choice reader Cheryl
Cheryl reached out to ask with a question that many of our readers wonder on a daily basis: should I use 2 coffee filters to brew coffee?
The legend has it that using 2 paper coffee filters will yield a much stronger, flavorful and better extracted coffee. Many coffee lovers wonder whether, and, if so, why 2 paper filters yield a stronger coffee.
The short answer is: you should not be using 2 coffee filters routinely. Using 2 paper filters when brewing coffee increases the brew time. The flow of water is slower, as water needs to pass through 2 layers of filter. Therefore, coffee typically comes out stronger, but over-extracted and bitter.
Furthermore, using 2 coffee filters in an automatic coffee maker like a drip coffee machine can clog the machine and water can overflow.
Using 2 coffee filters and stronger coffee
There is no doubt that using 2 coffee filters yields stronger and bolder coffee. Why? Before we answer this question, we need to understand what coffee filters do in the coffee brewing process.
A coffee filter has a couple of functions. In addition to filtering out certain coffee elements, a coffee filter slows down the flow of water. This, thus, allows for a full and complete extraction of coffee grounds in the water.
Typically, a coffee filter allows just the right amount of time to perfectly extract coffee flavors from coffee grounds.
With all that being said, using 2 coffee filters will significantly increase the brewing time of coffee. The water will take much longer to pass through 2 layers of filters. Because the contact of coffee grounds with water is much longer, the coffee will be much stronger due to longer extraction time.
Why using 2 coffee filters is typically a bad idea
Though coffee might come out a bit stronger, we typically discourage the use of 2 coffee filters in brewing coffee. There are at least 2 reasons for this:
- Coffee will be over-extracted, bitter and horribly-tasting. Coffee filters are designed to allow just the right amount of time of extraction. Using 2 coffee filters will significantly extend the extraction time, thus yielding a cup of over-extracted and bitter coffee.
- Using 2 coffee filters can clog the drip coffee machine. Because of this extended extraction time, a drip coffee machine can easily overflow and break as a result.
Owly’s conclusion
Using 2 coffee filters can yield stronger and bolder coffee due to an extended extraction time. However, we do not recommend using 2 filters in brewing coffee. Not only will you brew a cup of bitter and over-extracted coffee, but you will risk breaking your automatic coffee maker.
If you would like to brew stronger coffee, we recommend trying some other coffee grounds, such as ethically sourced coffee grounds.
What do you think?
Should you use 2 coffee paper filters? Have you ever used 2 filters to brew coffee? What was the final outcome?
Let us know in the comments!
I have been using three filters for years and the coffee does not seem bitter or stronger to me. In addition, although the water remains over the coffee longer, it has never run over the filters. I use three filters to reduce the amount of oil passed through to the cup.
Just had that idea. Works well with Mr. Coffee. My aim was to reduce the oils a filter traps. I am on a no oil diet.
Using two coffee filters is not counter-productive. I’ve used two filters for years within my Mr. Coffee drip machine. The brewing time is no longer than using one filter and the coffee is neither noticeably bitter or has it ever damaged the machine.
I would not, however, use more than two filters. Two are just fine and I have found; they work and do no harm.
I agree on the 2 filter system because it reduces cafestol, is not bitter and allows me to enjoy coffee with gastritis.
Does using the 2 filters help with removing the “stain” to teeth.
Hi, Cathy,
No, unfortunately not!
-Owly