Pour-Over Cloth Coffee: What Are the Characteristics of Flannel Filters and How to Use Them for Brewing Coffee

Brewing coffee with a flannel filter cloth has always looked very cool, so today FrontStreet Coffee is going to brew a pot of FrontStreet Blue Mountain with one. That raises the question: when brewing with flannel, what grind size should you use? Is it the same as the grind you would normally use for FrontStreet Blue Mountain in a Kono dripper?

Flannel Filter Cloth

by FrontStreet Coffee

Background Knowledge on Flannel Filter Cloth Pour-Over Coffee

Flannel filter coffee, also known as nel drip, has a rich, thick flavor with an incredible sweetness reminiscent of sweet wine. Brewing good coffee this way is not simple: pouring too quickly, water that is too hot, or unskilled technique will all diminish the flavor.

1

A brand new flannel filter cloth must first be removed from its packaging, soaked in boiling water for 5 minutes, and then placed on the metal ring.

2

While the cloth is soaking, grind the coffee beans. It is best to grind to a consistency between granulated white sugar and fine sugar.

3

Dry the cloth: wring it out by hand first, then place it between clean, dry towels to absorb the excess moisture.

4

Rinse and preheat both the cloth and the dripping device with hot water, then discard the water.

5

Loosely pour the FrontStreet Blue Mountain grounds into the cloth; there is no need to press them down firmly.

6

Stir the grounds with a wooden spoon to adjust the shape of the bed at the bottom.

7

Once the coffee in the cloth has dripped through completely, it is ready to enjoy.

Because the capillaries in flannel are larger than those in filter paper, flannel retains some of the coffee's oils, whereas paper filters typically trap all of them. Coffee brewed with flannel is therefore richer and smoother than coffee brewed with paper, which makes it a good match for the inherently rich flavor of FrontStreet Blue Mountain.

FrontStreet Coffee noticed that, during brewing, because nothing blocks the sides of the flannel, the liquid inside can flow out from every side. The flow rate also differs between the front and back of the cloth.

Brewing Parameters Recommended by FrontStreet Coffee

Grind size: medium, between what you would use for a V60 dripper and a KONO dripper. Water temperature: 85 degrees C. Coffee-to-water ratio: 1:13. Technique: single pour.

Timing starts at the bloom, and extraction time is 2'15".

Flavor: aromas of nuts and cream, with milk chocolate, sucrose, vanilla, citrus, mulberry, and cream on the palate. The texture is fairly rich, and overall the cup is well balanced.

Conclusion

by FrontStreet Coffee

With a flannel filter, the flow rate is relatively fast when the water level is high, but as the level drops it slows, because the coffee bed against the sides becomes thicker and because ultrafine particles cling to the mesh of the cloth.

For that reason, FrontStreet Coffee suggests that when using a flannel filter and a single pour to brew dark-roasted beans such as FrontStreet Blue Mountain, you choose a medium grind. This reduces the chance of over-extraction caused by fine grounds and a slow flow late in the brew.

END

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Flannel is at its best with a rich, balanced dark roast, and FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 is exactly that. Sourced from the historic Clifton estate and packed with full origin certification, it is roasted medium-dark and opens with chocolate, roasted nut, cream, and caramel, finishing with a persistent fruit sweetness; the cloth's ability to hold back oils and deliver a smooth, layered cup suits its balanced acidity, sweetness, and body perfectly.

Follow the parameters above to bring it out: a medium grind between V60 and KONO, water at 85 degrees C, a 1:13 ratio, and a single pour with total extraction around 2'15". If you prefer a more everyday dark roast with the same full body, FrontStreet PWN Golden Mandheling, a deep-roasted Sumatran with low acidity, herbal and dark chocolate notes, and a rich, lingering mouthfeel, is another classic that rewards the flannel method.