What are the Advantages of a Gold Coffee Filter?
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A number of coffee enthusiasts have made the switch from disposable paper coffee filters to the permanent gold coffee filter provided by such names as Braun, Black and Decker and Swiss Gold. A majority of those who use a gold coffee filter regularly say there is a definite difference in the flavor of their brews. Many gold coffee filter reviews use words such as 'brighter', 'livelier' or 'more complex' to describe this difference. So, what are some of the advantages of using a gold coffee filter?
One major advantage of a gold coffee filter is longevity. Paper coffee filters are designed to be disposable, so eventually users need to purchase a new box or two. For a relatively small investment, 8 to 25 US dollars (USD), coffee drinkers can purchase a gold-toned or 23-karat gold coffee filter designed to last for years.
A gold-toned coffee filter is constructed from stainless steel that has been enhanced with gold plating. A Swiss Gold coffee filter is made from real 23-karat gold, which gives it even more longevity. Both types of gold coffee filter eliminate the need for paper filter replacement.
Another advantage of a gold coffee filter is flavor enhancement. Paper filters are designed to absorb much of the oil surrounding the ground and roasted coffee beans. While some oil absorption may eliminate bitterness, paper filters often remove too much of the coffee's complex flavors contained in that oil. A gold coffee filter allows more oils to remain in the finished coffee, giving it a richer and more intense flavor. The mesh of a gold coffee filter holds back unwanted coffee grounds like a paper filter, but some smaller grinds may be present in the finished product. The gold in a gold coffee filter does not impart any metallic taste to the brew.
A final advantage of a gold coffee filter is easier clean-up and maintenance. Paper coffee filters can be very messy to remove and discard, being filled with hot coffee grounds and oils. To empty a gold coffee filter, all one must do is pour out the contents and rinse thoroughly. A gold coffee filter can even be put in a standard dishwasher for a more thorough cleaning. Unlike a traditional paper filter, a gold filter holds all of the grounds securely during the brewing process. If a paper filter is not aligned precisely, the water and grounds may spill out of the top and into the holding well and carafe.
A gold coffee filter may not suit every coffee drinker's budget, but an initial investment can reduce the possibility of running out of paper filters at an inopportune moment. Just knowing the boss will always get the morning coffee on time should be incentive enough to consider a permanent gold coffee filter for the office coffee station.
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New: Discuss this ArticlePosted by: anon21811
Is there any advantage to using 23K gold filter? I have been using gold tone filters for several years and are happy with them. The gold tone filters last about a year or so. Will the 23K gold filter last longer?
Posted by: anon18336
Good article. Informative. People need to stop freaking out about sexism. The reality is that there is gender inequality in the workplace and that's the way the world is at the moment. You can get annoyed and complain about it in places like this or you could actually do something more meaningful to change it. What that is, I don't know, but it's not complaining here.
Posted by: anon12835
Good article, and we love the flavor of our bought-whole and ground-ourselves, fair-traded Arabica, gold-filtered coffee, but actually we've recently had the devil of a time with our latest gold-toned filter letting grounds sift into the coffee maker basket, clog up the drain hole, and overflow all over the counter. We didn't have this trouble with our first filter (they do eventually wear out). Wish I could figure out why it was happening.
Posted by: anon6771
Now the article is sexist the other way. Just because a woman complained doesn't mean you should change the pronoun in her favor.
Editor's reply: You have a point! I think I figured out a way to make everyone happy. Remember, good coffee knows no gender!
Posted by: anon5373
Gold filters:
'Anonymous' doesn't read very carefully - the article doesn't specify the gender of the office assistant. I am a female, I am a 'boss' and I live in a part of the world where those who serve tea and coffee are, by tradition, male. (The part of the world in which this is the case is larger than that in which it is not). However, I buy my morning espresso to avoid reinforcing an unproductive office hierarchy. I found the article very useful. I may be wrong, but I think that the volatile oils removed by paper filters include not only various flavors, but the stimulant for which we all drink our morning 'java' (or arabica) - caffeine. Posted by: anon3360
"Just knowing the boss will always get his morning cup of coffee on time should be incentive enough to consider a permanent gold coffee filter for the office coffee station."
Nice! Thanks for letting us ladies know our place!
Editor's reply: Made a slight change to the article. It's far more acceptable to me, now. Hope you agree...
Posted by: jmay1116
You accurately point out the advantages of a gold coffee filter vs a paper filter. However, I am concerned that you failed to discuss the potential disadvantages of the gold filter. The enhanced flavor is most likely due to lipids which are filtered out by paper and not by the gold. Two of these lipids, cafestol and kahweol, have been shown to have an adverse impact on serum lipids. This should be a part of this discussion as increased consumption of Arabica bean coffees could result in increased cardiovascular risks.
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Michael Pollick
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