Which common coffee brewing technique uses paper filters?

The pour-over brewing technique is well-known for utilizing paper filters. This method involves pouring hot water over coffee grounds that are placed in a cone-shaped dripper lined with a paper filter. The filter effectively captures the coffee grounds while allowing brewed coffee to flow through into a carafe or mug below. This technique emphasizes clarity in flavor and allows for the extraction of delicate notes from the coffee.

In contrast, cold brew typically uses a steeping method that does not require paper filters, but instead employs a coarser grind and a mesh filter. The French press uses a metal or plastic mesh plunger to separate the coffee grounds from the brewed coffee, meaning it does not rely on paper filters at all. Similarly, the Aeropress also features a specialized plunger mechanism and can use either paper or metal filters, but is generally recognized for its versatility rather than being exclusively tied to paper filters. Thus, pour-over stands out as the clear answer to the question regarding the brewing method commonly associated with paper filters.