There are 2 main varieties of drip filters. Most American drip machines use a flat bottom filter, while the majority of European brewers use a cone shaped filter. Check the shape of the basket on your machine to see what shape to use.

Now that you've learned which type, flat-bottomed or cone, you still have a variety of options before you. First, paper filters, the most common filter used, are available in both bleached and un-bleached; our experience has shown that environment-friendly oxygen-bleached filters affect the flavor of coffee far less than the brown un-bleached. While paper filters are more common, permanent gold-meshed cone filters have become popular over the years. They work well and can be environmentally friendly, but tend to be messier than paper filters. And the taste of the coffee? The flavor differs slightly between the gold and paper filters; the gold filters produce more body and diminish somewhat the liveliness of the cup. This is because of the added sediment and oils while the paper filters create a 'cleaner', more nuanced cup.