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How to Make Pour-Over Coffee Filter Paper Fit Properly? What's the Role of the Dripper? Key Points for Folding Filter Paper!

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, As we all know, "filter paper" is a coffee filtration tool primarily used for pour-over coffee. Although it may seem less conspicuous compared to other pour-over equipment, its importance is by no means inferior. After all, without it, pour-over coffee drippers cannot perform their functions effectively. However, for most drippers,要想发

As we all know, "filter paper" is a coffee filtering tool mainly used for pour-over coffee. Although it may seem less conspicuous compared to other pour-over tools, its importance is by no means low. After all, without it, pour-over filter cups cannot perform their function effectively.

For most filter cups to showcase their advantages, the filter paper must first fit perfectly with them. Take the current popular "star"—the V60 filter cup for example. If the filter paper doesn't fit properly, its flow-boosting ribs can play very little role. Therefore, many people insist on wetting the filter paper before brewing coffee! This is not only to remove odors and dust but also to ensure the filter paper adheres to the filter cup.

While making filter paper adhere might sound simple, many people find that their filter paper doesn't become as flat as expected after wetting. Instead, it becomes uneven and lumpy! Like this↓

As you can see, the filter paper can be quite "mischievous"! It doesn't obediently adhere to the filter cup as we wish, which can affect our extraction process (friends with OCD find this completely unbearable). Therefore, when wetting the filter paper, we need to employ some techniques to make it behave properly and adhere to the filter cup. Besides the wetting technique, whether the folding method is correct also affects the degree of adherence. So before that, we can first understand the correct way to fold filter paper!

Folding Methods for Filter Paper

Currently, there are three main types of filter paper on the market: conical filter paper, trapezoidal filter paper, and cake filter paper. The first two require folding, so let's discuss how these two types should be folded! First, let's start with conical filter paper!

You can see that one edge of the filter paper has a seam line. Obviously, it's telling us we need to fold along this line. So let's follow the suggestion and fold along this seam line! (You can fold a little extra, but not less.) After folding, we use two fingers to open the filter paper, then gently press where it's opened! This action shapes the filter paper, preventing it from easily reverting to a flat state. Once pressed properly, it can be placed in the filter cup for wetting!

As for trapezoidal filter paper, although it has one more crease than conical filter paper, the process remains the same—it just requires one additional fold. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee won't elaborate further here.

How to Make Filter Paper Adhere

It's actually quite simple. The reason filter paper doesn't adhere properly is because it's positioned incorrectly, causing some parts to be unable to find a point to adhere to when wetted, resulting in protrusion. Therefore, to make the filter paper adhere to the filter cup, we just need to ensure it's in the correct position before wetting! Pressing is an action that helps us find the correct position and allows the filter paper to fit perfectly!

Applying pressure to position filter paper

The specific method is: when placing the filter paper, use two fingers on both sides to apply pressure and make the filter paper move downward. When the filter paper stops moving downward, it means it's in the correct position. At this point, we can pour clean water to wet it, and it will adhere perfectly!