<p>This could depend on the brand of filters and the brewing method so it's worthwhile (and fun) to <a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/a/3148/2908">do the experiment</a>. I'd love to see results from more experimenters.</p>
<p><strong>Bamboo vs. Paper Filters:</strong>
I did this experiment. We only had three tasters but the results were statistically significant at the 5% standard -- all three of us could taste the difference. The bamboo filter made sharper coffee (analogous to sharp cheese) while the paper filter made smoother coffee. We did not all have the same preference between those two batches.</p>
<p><strong>Filtering out Diterpenes:</strong>
According to the AeroPress FAQ question &quot;<a href="https://www.aerobie.com/aeropress/faqs/#ui-id-69" rel="nofollow noreferrer">DO YOU RECOMMEND USING A METAL FILTER IN THE AEROPRESS?</a>&quot;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We were originally planning to include a metal filter with each AeroPress but when we conducted blind taste tests comparing paper filtered AeroPress brewed coffee with metal filtered AeroPress brewed coffee, the paper filtered coffee always won.</p>
<p>We also learned using a paper filter is healthier because it removes diterpenes from coffee and diterpenes are potent agents that raise your bad cholesterol.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Q.</strong> Does anyone know if bamboo filters similarly remove the diterpenes from coffee? Are bamboo filters made from a combination of paper and bamboo fibers?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-26T21:54:22.510Z
2016-12-26T21:54:22.510Z
2020-06-18T08:36:22.093Z
Jerry101
<p>Is there a quantifiable difference to the taste or coffee brewed with <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000N4W2SG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_3C4yyb7ZYPD4E" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bleached</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000CF3HB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sC4yybV2CXYGP" rel="nofollow noreferrer">unbleached</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FYNDM1Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uD4yybK6PF3M6" rel="nofollow noreferrer">natural fibre</a> filters? Or would you use one over the other for ecological or economical reasons?</p>

<p>I would assume this would be the same to some degree across all filter brewing methods.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-26T14:42:00.967Z
I asked a similar question about [brown vs. white filters](http://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/1524/how-do-brown-and-white-paper-filters-compare); does that answer your question? Also: can you clarify what you mean by natural fibre: do you mean like bamboo or cotton cloth as opposed to unbleached (brown paper)? Here's another about [paper vs. not-paper filters](http://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/1571/whats-the-difference-between-paper-and-long-lasting-filters).
hoc_age
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-28T09:40:03.403Z
Added some links to the above to show examples of what I'm talking about, but I think your first link gives me a lot of the answers I was looking for. Thank you.
Consume Coffee
<flavor><pour-over><paper-filter><v60><chemex>
Is there a difference in taste between bleached, unbleached and natural fibre filters?
Consume Coffee
# Is there a difference in taste between bleached, unbleached and natural fibre filters?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-26)

Is there a quantifiable difference to the taste or coffee brewed with [bleached](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000N4W2SG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_3C4yyb7ZYPD4E), [unbleached](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000CF3HB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sC4yybV2CXYGP) or [natural fibre](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FYNDM1Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uD4yybK6PF3M6) filters? Or would you use one over the other for ecological or economical reasons?

I would assume this would be the same to some degree across all filter brewing methods.

**Tags:** flavor, pour-over, paper-filter, v60, chemex

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I asked a similar question about [brown vs. white filters](http://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/1524/how-do-brown-and-white-paper-filters-compare); does that answer your question? Also: can you clarify what you mean by natural fibre: do you mean like bamboo or cotton cloth as opposed to unbleached (brown paper)? Here's another about [paper vs. not-paper filters](http://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/1571/whats-the-difference-between-paper-and-long-lasting-filters).  
> **username_0**: Added some links to the above to show examples of what I'm talking about, but I think your first link gives me a lot of the answers I was looking for. Thank you.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-12-26. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

This could depend on the brand of filters and the brewing method so it's worthwhile (and fun) to [do the experiment](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/a/3148/2908). I'd love to see results from more experimenters.

**Bamboo vs. Paper Filters:**
I did this experiment. We only had three tasters but the results were statistically significant at the 5% standard -- all three of us could taste the difference. The bamboo filter made sharper coffee (analogous to sharp cheese) while the paper filter made smoother coffee. We did not all have the same preference between those two batches.

**Filtering out Diterpenes:**
According to the AeroPress FAQ question "[DO YOU RECOMMEND USING A METAL FILTER IN THE AEROPRESS?](https://www.aerobie.com/aeropress/faqs/#ui-id-69)":

> We were originally planning to include a metal filter with each AeroPress but when we conducted blind taste tests comparing paper filtered AeroPress brewed coffee with metal filtered AeroPress brewed coffee, the paper filtered coffee always won.
>
> We also learned using a paper filter is healthier because it removes diterpenes from coffee and diterpenes are potent agents that raise your bad cholesterol.

**Q.** Does anyone know if bamboo filters similarly remove the diterpenes from coffee? Are bamboo filters made from a combination of paper and bamboo fibers?


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