Ground coffee for your filter coffee machine

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Filter ground coffee

Ground filter coffee for a machine with a paper filter needs a medium-coarse grind, and that is how every coffee on this page is ground. In a drip machine the water trickles through the coffee without any pressure; grounds of this size let it pass at a steady pace while it picks up enough flavour on the way. Choose from Gala and Landhaus, both sold ground in 500 g packs, or from our own fresh coffee, which we grind to filter size once you have ordered. How much to use per litre, and what to look for when choosing, is further down the page.

Why a filter machine needs a medium-coarse grind

A filter coffee machine needs a medium-coarse grind because grind size decides how long the water takes to drip through the paper. Coffee ground too fine holds the water back, so it sits in the filter, draws out harsh, bitter flavours and can spill over the edge of the basket. Coffee ground too coarse lets the water run straight past, and the pot tastes thin. A standard filter grind sits between the two, which is why pre-ground filter coffee works in nearly any household drip machine without adjusting anything.

How much ground filter coffee per litre

Use roughly 55 to 65 g of ground coffee per litre of water for filter coffee, or about 7 g for a 125 ml cup. Start in the middle of that range and move up or down to taste: more for a fuller pot, less for a lighter one. Filter coffee stews if it is left on the hotplate, so brew a smaller pot or pour it into a thermal jug. If you measure with a scoop rather than scales, How many scoops of ground coffee per cup? does the conversion, and How to make the tastiest filter coffee walks you through the whole brew.

Choosing a filter coffee

Branded coffee in 500 g packs. Gala Mild Aroma and the Landhaus range come factory-ground for filter machines, handy if you make a full jug every day.
Decaf filter coffee. Landhaus Entkoffeiniert Decaf is the ready-ground choice in 500 g; our Decaf Espresso and Decaf Special can also be ordered in a filter grind.
Strength. Each coffee has a strength rating on our scale of 1 to 13. A jug that keeps an office going all morning usually suits something mild; if you want one strong cup at breakfast, look higher up the scale.
Our own fresh coffee. Choose the option "Freshly ground - Filter" and the coffee goes through our grinder only after your order comes in. It is roasted weekly in small batches, with the roast date on the label.
Grinding at home. Whole beans are under coffee beans; a medium-coarse setting on your grinder gives you the same result.

Other ways to brew filter coffee

A freshbrew machine at work takes exactly the same grind as a filter machine at home, and that coffee is gathered under freshbrew coffee. Pour-over in a Chemex needs a slightly coarser grind because the thick Chemex papers drain more slowly: see Chemex coffee. No machine at all? Single-serve drip bags hook over the rim of your cup and make one cup of filter coffee at a time.

Frequently asked questions about filter coffee

What grind do I need for a filter coffee machine?

A filter coffee machine needs a medium-coarse filter grind, made for water that drips through a paper filter without pressure. Gala and Landhaus are already ground that way, and for our own coffee you pick the option "Freshly ground - Filter". Espresso grind is too fine for a drip machine and makes the pot bitter, while a French press grind is so coarse that the coffee comes out weak.

How much ground coffee do you use per cup of filter coffee?

Allow about 7 g of ground coffee for each 125 ml cup. For a full jug, weigh out 55 to 65 g per litre of water: the lower end gives a lighter brew, the upper end a stronger one. Scoops vary a lot in size, so scales are more reliable; if you prefer a scoop, How many scoops of ground coffee per cup? has the conversion.

What is filter coffee?

Filter coffee is coffee made by letting hot water run through ground coffee and a filter, with gravity doing the work instead of pressure. At home that usually means a drip machine with a paper filter, but pour-over and drip bags work the same way. The result is a clearer, lighter cup than espresso; What's the difference between espresso and filter coffee? explains why.

How do you make filter coffee?

Put a paper filter in the basket, add about 7 g of medium-coarse ground coffee for every 125 ml cup, fill the reservoir with fresh cold water and switch the machine on. Drink it soon after brewing, since filter coffee turns bitter on the hotplate. Tips on water, ratio and freshness are in the blog How to make the tastiest filter coffee.