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Standard and V60 paper filters require we fold the border before spreading them for dripping.

I believe this is just because of their manufacturing process. But would there be any other reason?

Folding that border makes the surface uneven in the end, and it can sometimes be harder to control the water flow.

Folded border on a V60 filter

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  • I googled a picture of v60. they appear to be pretty standard, i dont recall ever "folding the borders" on them. perhaps it's unique to the size/shape of your machine? Can you elaborate on "folding the border"?
    – Alex
    Feb 4 '15 at 10:19
  • I just use Hario's V60 filters. They have a seam on the side, as standard filters. It seems pretty common to fold the border with the seam before dripping. Thinking on how making that clearer in the question... Does it make sense?
    – Eric Platon
    Feb 4 '15 at 13:28
  • Which part are you folding? I'm with @AlexB -- I have never found a reason to fold V60 filters. On the other hand, folding #2 filters is necessary so that the seams don't interfere with the filter physically fitting in the cone (which, for #2 dripper, isn't precisely a cone, because it has a flat/straight/distended bit on the bottom), but this isn't an issue with the round-holed-bottom nature of the V60 dripper with the (truly) conical V60 filter.
    – hoc_age
    Feb 10 '15 at 20:52
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    Just added a picture. Without folding the edge, the filter does not stand nicely in its support. I prefer to fold it to have a nicely even surface inside.
    – Eric Platon
    Feb 11 '15 at 13:16
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    Now I see; good clarification; folding is for mechanical convenience/necessity. But doesn't the seam just lay down flat when you put it in? The filters I use are more like these Chemex filters; they're folded from a flat sheet, so they don't need additional folding, unless the cone is of a different "slope" than the filter. I'd suggest expanding to include Melitta-style cones ("#2" or so). Or perhaps I'll post a pic when I have a moment.
    – hoc_age
    Feb 11 '15 at 16:00
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I did a little bit of research at the site of inventor of the coffee filter. It's Melitta from Germany. In the german FAQ I found the following:

Warum falte ich Filterpapier vor dem Einlegen um?

Damit die Kaffeezubereitung optimal funktioniert, muss das Filterpapier genau in die Form des Filters gebracht werden. Dies geschieht, indem Sie die beiden geprägten Ränder umfalten. Das Filterpapier schmiegt sich dadurch an den Rand des Filters an und sitzt tief im Filtereinsatz. Durch diese gute Passform kann sich das Filterpapier während des Brühvorgangs nicht einklappen

In English:

Why I fold the coffee filter?

In order for the coffee preparation to work optimally, the filter paper must be brought exactly into the shape of the filter. This is done by folding over the two embossed edges. This causes the filter paper to nestle against the edge of the filter and sit deep in the filter insert. This good fit prevents the filter paper from folding in during the brewing process

Additional fact: The coffee filter was not invented by Melitta the company, but by Melitta Bentz.

Sorry for that bad translation. My English is really not the best. Please improve me!

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  • Thank you for your answer. I really would like the selected response to tell why folding matters. For this reason I choose another one as the answer, and surprisingly, mine...
    – Eric Platon
    Jan 27 '16 at 15:43
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Here is what I found:

  • Trying to tear out a proper filter is difficult. Filters do resist to boiling-water temperature.
  • Trying to tear out a proper filter along the seam is quite easy.

So, by folding the filter on the seam, it seems we kind of hide the seam from direct contact with hot water. The seam glue is not weak these days, but this way there is no risk of tearing (e.g. if there is a defect in the seam), and the surface area inside the filter is also more uniform---the filter stands well in place.

There is a seam in the first place, because it is easy to manufacture fold-able filters this way (I am looking for a citation here).

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  • Well, I answer my question in the end. I select this as the answer, after trying to understand why we end up folding filters.
    – Eric Platon
    Jan 27 '16 at 15:45
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Good Morning coffee drinkers !

I am now getting on for 70 years old and I remember when my mother in Norfolk UK bought her first ground coffee filter machine. She used "Melitta" filters and told me to always fold the two seams. I have never forgotten this advice and along with a lot of knowledge passed on over the years I continue to do this. I settled in France around 30 years ago and have never noticed any one folding the edges over here - even my french wife has never accepted that it is necessary. However, she has, from time to time had the filter collapse when she has been responsible for preparing the coffee.....

SO - the reasons for doing this are to me, at any rate fairly clear and I agree with the reasoning of both the Melitta company & Eric Platon.

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