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How to Use Coffee Filter Paper and Important Considerations! How to Fold Coffee Filter Paper? Tips for Folding Conical Filter Paper! What to Do When Non-woven Filter Paper Doesn't Fit the Dripper?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, When brewing coffee, we habitually wet the filter paper. Besides removing paper taste and dust, the purpose of wetting is to make the filter paper conform to the dripper. Because most dripper walls are designed with outward protruding ribs, their main function is to support the filter paper and increase

Introduction: Why Wetting Filter Paper Matters

When brewing coffee, we're all accustomed to wetting the filter paper. Beyond removing paper taste and dust, another purpose is to ensure the filter paper conforms properly to the filter cup.

Most filter cups are designed with outward-protruding ribs on their inner walls. Their primary function is to support the filter paper and create ventilation channels during brewing, thereby increasing the coffee's flow rate. To make these ribs effective, we need the filter paper to adhere closely to the filter cup. The better the adherence, the more complete the effect.

However, many beginners struggle to achieve proper adherence between filter paper and filter cup, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of these ribs. This is why friends often visit our shop, amazed at how perfectly FrontStreet Coffee's filter paper conforms to the filter cup, and ask how we achieve this. If you're facing the same challenge, don't worry! Today, FrontStreet Coffee will share several tips for making filter paper conform perfectly to your filter cup.

1. Properly Folding Filter Paper

Yes, you read that correctly - FrontStreet Coffee's first tip is "how to properly fold filter paper"! Many people can't achieve perfect adhesion between filter paper and filter cup mainly because their folding technique is improper, resulting in angles and shapes that don't match the filter cup. So FrontStreet Coffee will first share how to properly fold filter paper.

The mainstream filter papers on the market are mainly divided into three types: conical, fan-shaped, and cake filters. Among these, only conical and fan-shaped filters require folding, so our sharing will focus on these two types. Whether conical or fan-shaped, filter paper folding can be done in just three steps: ① First, fold along the seam line at the edge of the filter paper; ② Then use two fingers to open the filter paper from the inside; ③ Finally, gently press at the opened position to prevent it from easily reverting to a flat sheet. This completes the folding of one filter paper.

Fan-shaped filters follow the same method, except they cannot be folded in half, so when pressing at the final step, don't apply too much force - just ensure it doesn't easily revert to a flat sheet.

As long as our folding is standard, the resulting filter paper can perfectly fit most filter cups. Yes, just most! Some filter cups, due to their design, have certain differences from standard filter paper shapes, such as Kono filter cups or ceramic filter cups, which cannot perfectly fit with standard-folded conical filter paper. For these types of filter cups, FrontStreet Coffee recommends folding the filter paper slightly beyond the standard - folding just a little extra. (Left image shows normal folding, right shows folding a bit more)

Comparison of normal folding and extra folding

By simply folding the bottom part of the filter paper a little extra, the shape of the filter paper changes, allowing it to adapt to the filter cup's shape and achieve perfect adherence. Keep in mind that FrontStreet Coffee has only provided one example here. Different filter cups may require different folding methods for optimal adaptation, so use this as a reference to find the best folding technique for different filter cups.

2. Pressing the Filter Paper While Wetting

Many filter papers fail to adhere to the filter cup because they don't make contact with the filter cup during the wetting process, preventing proper adhesion. Therefore, before wetting, we can press the filter paper by hand in advance to ensure contact with the filter cup during wetting, thus guaranteeing perfect adherence.

The specific method is quite simple! Taking FrontStreet Coffee as an example, after placing the filter paper in the filter cup, we use our index finger and thumb (other fingers work too) to press both sides of the filter paper. Gently press the filter paper until it can no longer move downward, then pour water to wet it. You'll find that the filter paper adheres perfectly to the filter cup.

Of course, you don't have to use your hands! There are now specialized tools on the market designed specifically for pressing filter paper, though their prices might be somewhat... "touching."

3. Using Hot Water for Wetting

Some filter papers fail to adhere to the filter cup mainly due to their material, such as non-woven filter papers. Because of their higher hardness, room temperature water struggles to make them conform to the filter cup.

In such cases, we need to use higher temperature hot water for wetting. The high temperature helps soften the filter paper, reducing the difficulty of achieving proper adherence.

The above are several common tips that FrontStreet Coffee uses to make filter paper conform perfectly to filter cups. If you have other better methods, feel free to leave a comment and share with everyone!