Do Reusable Coffee Filters Save Money?by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 09 Mar 2007 05:20 AM
Reusable coffee filters are one avenue to explore for savings. Instead of spending money on paper filters that are used once and thrown away, you can save by reducing a purchase, one of the main principals of living a frugal lifestyle (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). Reusable filters come in two different types. One is a hard mesh filter, generally covered in gold. It is very durable and can be easily cleaned with a simple rinse. There is nothing to store, because the filter goes right back into the coffee machine after it is cleaned. You will need to be careful not to bend or dent the filter. I believe it was Braun that first introduced this type of filter. You can buy a reusable filter that will fit other brands of coffee makers, too. The cost of this type of filter is generally anywhere from $4 to $13, depending on the design and durability. You can also buy reusable filters made out of hemp or cloth. This type of filter can be easily washed as well, but it does require a little more work to rinse. These types of filters generally last about three years before they need to be replaced. A great benefit of these types of reusable filters is that they are very inexpensive, costing between $2 and $3, making them a really great alternative to those paper filters. Make sure to look for an organic hemp filter. They don't really cost any more, and you may avoid some pesticides. Just for comparison, a box of 100 paper filters, in my area grocery store, costs about $1.25 to purchase. Not a great expense, but it can add up over time. So I would say that reusable coffee filters definitely save money. Many people also like to use them because they say the coffee actually tastes better. Chemicals from the paper filters don't leach into the coffee. What products do you use that save money? Other products that save you money: Save Money on Home Heating: Install a Dryer Diverter One Simple Way to Lower Your Heating Cost Related Articles: The First Principle of A Frugal Lifestyle: Reduce The Second Principal of A Frugal Lifestyle: Reuse The Third Principle of A Frugal Lifestyle: Recycle Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments  Lisa P (24013) 09 Mar 2007 04:51 PMI use a reusable gold filter and I wouldn't use anything else. I can always taste the paper when I have coffee made with a paper filter now. I've had this same filter for about 8 years now. it has definitely paid for itself several times over! AKAMyAlias (242) 09 Mar 2007 08:07 PMI use the metal mesh one that came with my coffee maker.  Mary Ann Romans (27200) 10 Mar 2007 04:30 AMLisa, thanks for the comment. Just curious about the gold filter--has the gold ever chipped? Gold is safe to consume, so no worries there! Mary Ann Romans (27200) 10 Mar 2007 04:31 AMAKA, would you recommend that coffee maker? Thanks for the comment! jonesx6 (1607) 10 Mar 2007 05:08 AMWe have tried, many times, to use the re-usable filter, but they never work properly. I just buy the brown filters. Laura  Alexandra Oliveira (68) 10 Mar 2007 10:01 AMAfter having worked in a coffeehouse, I have stuck to metal filters. Still, making sure that you drink your coffee at home already saves so much money. This is another tip that can save you some. Don't waste leftover coffee. I always will make a certain amount (making too little in a coffeemaker will really waste roast) and then whatever is leftover I will put in a pitcher and leave it in the refrigerator until I want an iced latted. This only works for the day the coffee was made. But I am pretty sure many of us have more than one coffee a day...  Sara Denomme (1063) 12 Mar 2007 06:59 PMI too save my coffee from the morning by putting it in the refridgerator! It certainly makes it easier to grab a quick cup, and I like it cold too sometimes :) Alexandra Oliveira (68) 15 Mar 2007 11:42 AMHere are some tips for iced coffee: 1- Save the morning coffee in the refrigerator in a pitcher 2- Fill tall glass with ice cubes 3- Pour the coffee and either milk or soy milk, sugar to taste Iced mochas are the same thing but first coat the bottom with chocolate syrup. If you really want a special treat: blend it in a blender that can slush ice. Make sure if you use sugar to sweeten things, that you remember that the glass is tall and that ice makes you think you need to sweeten more than you do. I use splenda or stevia. Coffee syrups like hazelnut also make the coffee feel fancy but at a much lower cost. You can find coffee syrups online and in supermarkets including sugar-free versions. I also have put in a drop of vanilla or a bit of mint leaf in the blender. What you should NOT do: keep the coffee in the burner heating for a long time. This makes the coffee bitter and the bitterness is especially accentuated when the coffee is cold. barefootbookslady (201) 20 Mar 2007 10:32 PMI totally forgot until I read this blog but we use a french press and no more coffee filters. Hmm. Community Tags coffee, filter, reuse Discuss this article
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With the price of coffee rising, isn't it nice to know that there are some ways you can reduce your cost per cup?
