Compostable coffee filters and tea bags: what is really in them

Coffee filters

• Paper filters: made from paper pulp. Unbleached filters are brown, and bleached ones are white. Both are paper, and the label states which.
• Filter sizes: filters are made in standard shapes and sizes for different machines. Check your machine before you buy.
• Compostable: used paper filters with coffee grounds are often accepted in home compost and in some municipal programs. Check your local rules.
• Reusable filters: metal or cloth filters replace paper ones. Compare their price with a year of paper filters.

Tea bags

• Paper tea bags: some tea bags have a small amount of plastic, such as polypropylene, used to seal the bag. This is why a bag labeled compostable can leave a residue. The label or the maker's website often says what the bag is made of.
• Staples and strings: check whether the string is cotton and whether the staple is metal.
• Plastic-free or fully compostable: look for a specific statement about the seal, the string and the tag.
• Loose leaf: using loose tea with a reusable infuser avoids bags, and often costs less per cup.
• Pyramid or silky bags: some are made from plastic mesh. Read the label.

Our angle: read for the seal, then compare per cup

The question to ask is not whether a tea bag is paper, but what holds it shut. Look for statements about heat-sealed versus stitched or folded bags, and whether the maker says the whole bag breaks down. For price, divide the price by the number of bags or filters, then think about cups. One tea bag may make one cup, and a filter makes a pot. For loose leaf, use the weight per cup in the directions. Compare on cost per cup.

1. Check what the seal, string and tag are made of.
2. Divide the price by the number of bags or filters.
3. Convert to cost per cup or per pot and compare with loose leaf.

Buying tips

• Try a small box before you stock up.
• Store tea airtight and away from light and humidity.
• Check best-by dates on tea and coffee.
• Compare subscriptions with the cost per bag or filter in stores.

Other stores

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