Filter coffee is fresh coffee ground specifically for use in filter coffee machines. Various types for filter coffees can be used depending on the type of coffee machines used and also the quality of coffee required. The most common filter coffee machines used is 3 pint pour and serve machines. Filter coffee is usually packed in either 50g or 70g sachets depending on the strength of coffee required Each 3 pint jug of coffee produced on a pour and serve coffee machine will produce approximately twelve cups of filter coffee. This method of producing coffee is ideal for were large quantities of freshly filtered coffee is required. Larger bulk brewing filter coffee machines are also available. These coffee machines can produce up to 40 litres of fresh filter coffee. These machines are often used in hotels and conference facilities were large volumes of fresh coffee are required.

Filter coffee was at one time the most popular way of producing fresh coffee. Whilst still a major part of the fresh coffee sector the introduction of espresso and bean to cup machines has made and impact and the trend seems to be moving away from the filter coffee market.

There are many different types and blends o filter coffee used today. It is very important to select the right filter coffee blend for a certain application. For example if you want to produce a large amount of fresh filter coffee in bulk brewer then you should use a filter coffee that is mild yet full of body. This because bulks brewing filter coffee system uses high volumes of filter coffee. This can be anything up to 600g. It the filter coffees used in these machines are too acidic then the coffee becomes bitter very quickly. The most common coffees used for these machines are single origin Colombian and other South American coffees. All these coffees are low in acidity. It is also important to produce filter coffees as near to service as possible avoiding the possibility of the coffee deteriorating. Most pour and serve filter coffee machines have two or more hot plates on the machines to store the coffee. This means that small quantities of fresh filter coffee can be produced. The filtration cycle is approximately six minutes for 3pints of coffee. If the filtration time was any less than this then the filter coffee would not had long enough to be extracted form the coffee grounds producing a weak coffee. If the extraction period is too long then the coffee would burn and become very bitter.

It is very important to purchase filter coffee as freshly as possible. Once the coffee is ground then the deterioration process begins. Filter coffees contain a balance of over 800 complex and diverse aromatic compounds. Studies reveal that noticeable changes in filter coffee aroma occur within two or three days, more obvious changes occur within 8-10 days and 70% of the total aromatics can be gone within three weeks. Once filter coffees has been exposed to the air it must be used immediately.

Garraways import, roast and blend their own coffee beans and supply them direct to the coffee industry. This means that Garraways fresh filter coffees can be supplied to the customer within a few days of roasting guaranteeing their freshness.