The filter method is perhaps the oldest method of brewing coffee. There are numerous ways to enjoy filtered coffee ranging from the most basic pour over method, through to the more contemporary Aeropress machines. Filter coffee tends to draw less acidity and accentuates more intricate flavours of the coffee. This makes it a popular brewing choice for single origin coffees, since it allows you to appreciate all the flavours and aromas.

 The basic principle of the filter method is always the same; it makes use of coffee beans which have been ground up into a certain consistency, then water is added, either by pouring, dripping or submerging the grounds, which are then filtered out of the liquid using a paper, cloth, wire or plastic mesh or filter. The liquid is then caught in a collecting vessel ready for drinking. Unlike espresso, the filter method coffees do not use pressure to force water through the coffee, instead water passes through the coffee solely by gravity or through total submersion in the liquid.

The two main variations of filter coffee are those which drip or pour the liquid through the ground coffee, such as drip pour, pour over and nel drip, and those that submerge the grounds completely in the water, such as French press or cafetiere and Aeropress.