The Best Coffee Maker Charcoal Filter For Under $11

Buying Guide

No matter how strong you like your coffee, water makes up the majority of your morning brew. In order to make the cleanest-tasting cup of joe, you can pour filtered water into the reservoir, but even then, impurities can linger.

That’s where charcoal filtering comes in. Most coffee makers are built to include a changeable filter, usually in a larger holder that sits in the water reservoir. You’ll need to change that filter every month or two, depending on the type of filter you buy and the quality of water you have. Those with hard water might need a filter change every couple of weeks.

Today’s filtration often uses activated charcoal to pull impurities and chemicals from water. This can help get rid of that unpleasant taste you get from tap water, and ensures that nothing interferes with your favorite morning coffee. Activated charcoal mixes elements like coal, wood and nutshells, or some other combination of carbon-rich ingredients, ground into fine granules.

But your coffee’s taste is only part of the reason to use activated charcoal filters in your coffee maker. Sediment from unfiltered water can remain in your unit over time, affecting its operation. Eventually, this buildup could cause your coffee maker to fail. Some coffee maker manufacturers even void the warranty if you don’t use charcoal filtering to protect the appliance.

Activated charcoal filters are typically sold in sets to give you enough supply to cover you for several months. You’ll need a place to store them so that they’ll be protected from moisture. Most of the time, they ship in individually wrapped packaging to help keep the filters dry and protected from dirt and dust until you’re ready to use them.

• You’ll need a way to remember to change your filter each month. It might help to put a label on the outside of the packaging on each filter, but you still might want to set a reminder in your phone or write it down on your calendar.
• In addition to a carbon filter, you should also periodically descale your coffee maker to remove minerals like calcium that a filter can’t eliminate. Descaling solutions are available for purchase.
• While descaling, take time to thoroughly clean all accessible areas of your coffee maker. That includes the filter basket and carafe. You should regularly clean these areas even if you’re filtrating and descaling as recommended.
• There is no one-size-fits-all standard for charcoal coffee maker filters. You’ll need to check the make and model of your particular machine and compare that model number to those listed with each filter set.
• You’ll typically need to soak your filter for a time before inserting it into your coffee maker. There should be instructions included with your filter to help with this, but if not, you can probably find them on the manufacturer’s website.
• It’s important to regularly change your charcoal filter. Leaving one in your water reservoir without changing it could lead to bacteria buildup over time.
• You can remove the charcoal filter from your coffee maker and use it without, particularly if you use filtered water, but it isn’t advised. Even filtered water can contain impurities, and some manufacturers will void the warranty if you haven’t been using a carbon filter.
• It might be tempting to assume you don’t need to use filtered water if you have a carbon filter in your coffee maker, but filtered water is still a good idea. It reduces work for your filter and provides that extra layer of protection.
• Unfortunately, you cannot simply wash and reuse a carbon filter. They’ll need to be tossed out and completely replaced every 30 to 60 days, depending on the recommendations of your coffee maker’s manufacturer.