Filter Coffee
Explore our favourite coffees for filter brewing—whether you use a pour over, AeroPress or batch brewer. Expect clarity of flavour, layered sweetness, and a crisp, balanced cup.
We recommend the following coffees for filter brewing. Looking for more choice? Browse our full range.
Selection Bundles
Struggling to decide? Get a curated selection of Union classics and best sellers.
Why choose Union for your filter?
Union filter coffees are carefully roasted to order in small batches to bring out vibrant flavour and clarity in every cup.
Sourced ethically through Union Direct Trade, we foster long-term relationships supporting responsible farming and stronger communities at origin.
Common filter coffee questions
1. What is filter coffee?
Filter coffee is brewed by slowly pouring hot water over ground coffee, allowing it to drip through a filter. It’s clean, smooth, and great for bringing out delicate flavours.
2. How is filter coffee different from espresso?
While espresso is concentrated and brewed under pressure, filter coffee is slower and gentler. This brings out more of the coffee’s subtle, complex notes -perfect for enjoying light to medium roasts.
3. What brewing methods fall under filter coffee?
Methods like pour over (V60, Chemex), batch brewers (filter machines) and AeroPress fall under the filter coffee umbrella. They all use hot water and a filter to extract flavour, just with different techniques.
4. What kind of coffee is best for filter brewing?
Light to medium roasts really shine in filter brews. They tend to highlight floral, fruity, or citrus notes - so you can taste the coffee’s origin and character more clearly.
5. What’s the ideal grind size for filter coffee?
It depends on your brew method. Pour over and drip machines work best with a medium grind (like sand). Getting the grind right helps avoid bitterness or weak brews.
6. How much coffee should I use?
A good starting point is 60g of coffee per litre of water (or roughly 1g per 16g of water). From there, adjust to taste. A scale can help you dial things in.
7. What’s the best water temperature for filter coffee?
Between 90°C and 96°C is ideal. Too cool, and the flavours won’t extract fully. Too hot, and you risk bitterness.
8. How long should filter coffee take to brew?
The ideal water temperature for brewing espresso is between 90°C and 96°C. This range ensures optimal extraction without burning the coffee.
9. How should I store my filter coffee beans?
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We recommend enjoying your coffee within 4 weeks of the roast date for the best flavour.
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To keep it fresh at home, store your coffee in an airtight container, away from light, heat and moisture. We don’t recommend storing it in the fridge, as condensation can build up over time - causing the coffee to stale more quickly.
If you’re not planning to use your coffee for a while, or you tend to brew slowly, freezing it is an option. Just be sure to freeze the coffee once, in an airtight container, and avoid taking it in and out of the freezer. Repeated exposure to air and changing temperatures will cause condensation, which can damage the beans. Once you're ready to enjoy it again, remove the coffee from the freezer and store it in a sealed container at room temperature - don’t re-freeze.
10. Why does filter coffee highlight flavour so well?
The slower brew time and paper filter allow subtle flavour compounds to develop fully - so you get a cup that’s clean, balanced, and true to origin.