Which coffee preparation method requires the use of a filter?

The pour-over method specifically involves the use of a filter to separate the coffee grounds from the brewed coffee. This method requires hot water to be poured over coffee grounds placed in a filter, allowing the brewed coffee to drip into a carafe or vessel below. The filter prevents any coffee grounds from mixing with the final drink, resulting in a clean, crisp flavor profile while allowing oils and particulates to remain in the filter, which is part of what defines this brewing style.

In contrast, espresso is brewed by forcing hot water through finely packed coffee grounds without the use of a filter; instead, a metal portafilter is used that has a mesh screen to hold the grounds. The French press uses a plunger and a mesh filter, but it is not a paper filter like in a pour-over. Cupping, a method used for tasting and evaluating coffee, also does not utilize a filter, as the coffee grounds are steeped in hot water and then evaluated without separation by a filter.