Coffee filters are absolutely necessary for certain brewing methods that involve drip brewing. Even when they are not imperative, they make the brews smoother by removing excess oils and fine particles. They also help you achieve consistency in brewing.

There are three major types of coffee filters - paper filter, cloth filter and metal filter. Paper filters are easy to use and disposable, metal filters and cloth filters are reusable. Each type of filter comes with its own set of advantages.

Paper filters provide smoother and cleaner cups of coffee. Metal filters enhance the coffee's mouthfeel and aroma. With cloth filters, you can find a middle ground since they produce a full-bodied cup with less sediment than metal filters.