English Reference

Word

filter coffee

Phoneticsfil·ter cof·fee

US/ˈfɪltər ˈkɔːfi/

UK/ˈfɪltə ˈkɒfi/

Definition

compound. a hot drink made by pouring hot water through ground coffee beans in a paper or metal filter, usually served in a large cup or mug without milk

compound. a method of coffee preparation where water seeps through a bed of ground coffee via gravity, characterized by a higher water-to-coffee ratio and the absence of espresso-style crema.

Examples

“I would like a large cup of filter coffee with two sugars, please.”

“Most specialty cafes offer a rotating selection of single-origin beans specifically roasted for filter coffee.”

“The clarity of flavor in filter coffee allows the nuanced floral and acidic notes of the light-roast Ethiopian Yirgacheffe to shine through.”

Examples

simple

“I would like a large cup of filter coffee with two sugars, please.”

contextual

“Most specialty cafes offer a rotating selection of single-origin beans specifically roasted for filter coffee.”

complex

“The clarity of flavor in filter coffee allows the nuanced floral and acidic notes of the light-roast Ethiopian Yirgacheffe to shine through.”

Real-World Examples

“Filter coffee, unlike instant, is slow-brewed using a metal filter, distinct from the French press or pour-over.”
NDTV Food · 20 Mar 2024
“South Indian filter coffee is brewed as a concentrated decoction in a traditional metal filter, then mixed with hot milk and sugar or jaggery, often using a blend of robusta coffee and chicory.”
Food & Wine · 21 Jul 2026

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'filtrum' (felt or strained cloth). The term rose to prominence in the mid-20th century to distinguish gravity-brewed coffee from the newly popular pressure-brewed espresso.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
A2 · Elementary
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference