How to Make a Cloth Coffee Filter

A cloth coffee strainer is the traditional way to make coffee in many Spanish households. It consists of a heavy cotton flannel cone on a wire frame, fitted into a wooden handle. Using a cloth coffee strainer can save you money and help you make your coffee habit greener by keeping paper coffee filters out of our trash stream. While cloth coffee filters are inexpensive - you can usually buy one for less than $5 at any Spanish grocery - making your own can be fun.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 12" square white cotton flannel
• Heavy wire coat hanger
• Wire snips
• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Optional: wood dowel for handle

1. Draw the cone pattern onto the flannel.
   
   The easiest way to draw a pattern for a cone is using the pencil and string method. Cut a piece of string eight inches long. Tie one end around a pencil or marker. Pin the other end to one corner of the flannel cloth. Keeping the string taut, draw a curved line from one edge of the flannel to the opposite edge. Cut along the curved line to make a quarter circle.

2. Sew the cloth into a cone using a closed seam.
   
   Fold the quarter circle in half lengthwise. Run a 5/8" seam up the open side of the cone. Trim one side of the seam allowance to 1/4". Fold the long side of the seam allowance to the center of the seam, then fold again so that it lays over the trimmed edge. Sew the seam again, enclosing the trimmed edge inside the seam.

3. Make casing for wire frame.
   
   Fold over 1/2" at the top of the cloth cone and seam using a close zig-zag stitch to make a casing for the wire frame. Slit the outside of the casing to open it so that you can insert the wire.

4. Make the wire handle.
   
   Snip the wire coat hanger below the handle and straighten the wire. Shape the wire into a semi-circular loop. Push the wire through the casing of the cloth coffee filter until both ends of the wire are even, then twist wire together to form a handle for the coffee strainer. Finish with cloth or electrical tape over the handle to protect the hands, or push wire handle into a hollowed wooden dowel.