Able KONE: Reusable Stainless Steel Coffee Filter Compatible with Chemex

This filter is the BEST. Actually, it’s my second one, purchased for summer residence. I am so glad I found it offered for sale again, since the first was purchased several years ago, under a different brand name. But, thankfully, they are the same! We use it daily with a Chemex, for pour overs. It works well with or without a paper filter. It cleans up so well! I think it is of utmost importance to have a SINGLE LAYER. I can only imagine what gets trapped inside the layers of the two-layer filters. (I am constantly on the lookout for potential sources of mold, having taken years to get over a mold illness brought on by working in a water-damaged building.) To summarize, all these points are excellent: flow rate of pour (brew speed), ease of use, perfect fit with Chemex, overall design looks & feels beautiful, nice craftsmanship, no chance of mold growing between layers. If it cost more than some of the others, I don’t care! It is worth it.

This is a solid product from Able Brewing, it works well with my 6-cup Chemex and KitchenAid Pro Line Burr Grinder.The secret to brewing good coffee with this, as other have pointed out, is the grind. Using a medium fine grind is what I've found to work the best.The cup of coffee that this produces strikes a good mix between a Chemex and a french press, there is very little sediment and it lets more of the oil from the beans into the coffee.The main reason I got this was to reduce the amount of paper filters I went through (on average about 2 per day). Over the course of a year this should pay for itself, but still it's a rather pricey investment. The fact that it's made in the USA made it easier for me to justify, that and watching a few interviews with Able Brewing made me realize how much they love the craft of making good coffee.One tip I would throw out there is to use an Aeropress funnel as a way to let the Kone drip dry after it's been cleaned (I found this tip on a coffee blog and can't claim credit for it).Despite how expensive it is, I'd recommend the Kone to anyone who enjoys their Chemex or Hario and is looking for a way to cut down on the amount of paper filters they use, or to someone who is looking for a new way to brew coffee with their Chemex/Hario.UPDATE (12/9/2015) The Kone has been holding up great, little signs of wear, it still works perfectly. It cleans easily and the brew time has not slowed at all since original purchase. The Kone filter has saved me quite a bit of money (I brew a batch 2-3 times a day). I highly recommend this if you are a frequent coffee drinker, it's a great value.

I bought the mini and a knockoff V60 to put it in. I concur with other reviewers, it doesn’t sit perfectly and can wobble or shift while pouring. It also likes a rather fine grind, which results in some grit at the bottom of your cup, about the same as a French press. However, with that said, I really like French press coffee and find it interesting to get the body and mouth feel of one from a pour over.It’s made well; construction is clean and precise. Seems durable. Double layer cones inevitably get clogged up and you’ll be grinding boulders to keep your pour under 5 minutes. The Kone is the slowest single layer I’ve used, and I mean that in a good way. Others are like a colander. Overall, I’m happy with it, and the small quirks are livable.

I had reservations about buying this because of some customer comments, but I'm very glad I didn't listen to them. I like it very much, and the flavor of the coffee is significantly improved. I was getting distressed at how expensive the Chemex paper filters have become--costs me $44 for a year's supply, which doesn't sound that bad, but when you compare it to this $60 filter that should last indefinitely....A few people have commented that too much babysitting is required. I was worried about that, but now that I've used it for a few weeks, I think the comment is unfounded. Do follow the instructions on how to brew that come in the box with the cone, as they work. Pour down the center throughout the process. I do it almost exactly the same way I did with the paper filters, and it works fine--as long as I don't get preoccupied with other things and forget to add water as needed. I don't end up with weak coffee. People's advice to grind the coffee finer than usual is good also. I now grind mine a good 12 seconds, as opposed to the previous 10 (this on advice from several years ago in *Cook's Illustrated*).Some reviews mention the difference in flavor. It really is quite pronounced. I had no idea how much "paper flavor" the paper filters were contributing, but I now realize it's significant. Plain old Sam's club French Roast almost tastes like Starbucks! Well, maybe not quite, but it certainly does help, and I can't wait to try some of the coffee that I usually buy for a treat around Christmas time.I was also a little worried about complaints concerning sediment. The sediment, I find, is negligible, and I've dealt with it simply by adding a little more water and then not pouring out the last half inch or so in the pot.The instructions on the filter say to clean it out right away after use because the holes might become plugged up. My husband and I both tend to walk off and leave it and forget. I have found, though, that using the sink sprayer clears the holes handsomely. Just hold the cone down next to the drain so it won't splatter too bad, and spray the inside, holding the sprayer close to the cone to maximize force. Works very well, so I do that now every time I clean it.The only drawback, in my experience, is cleaning it out. If anybody has any good, clean tips for disposal of coffee grounds besides getting them all over the inside of the trash bag in the wastebasket, I'd like to hear them!EDIT: May 4, 2015I am still very satisfied with this product. As someone suggested in a comment on my review, you can save the coffee grounds and use them to fertilize the lawn, so we do that. In addition, I found out through a fortuitous accident one day that the finer you grind it, the better the coffee tastes. I don't think I was grinding it fine enough for a long time. I have a small Mr. Coffee grinder, and it tastes the best for this filter if I grind it about 16 seconds. I actually use the very same process for pouring the water, etc., as I did for the paper filters, and it works fine. No additional babysitting. I'm glad I made the switch.