Yes, coconut oil can go through a coffee filter, particularly when it is in a liquid state.
Based on the provided information, you can run it through a Very Fine Sieve, and/or a mesh coffee filter or cheesecloth. This indicates that a mesh coffee filter is a suitable method for straining or filtering coconut oil.
How Filtration Works
A coffee filter, whether paper or mesh, contains small pores that allow liquid to pass through while trapping larger particles or sediment. When coconut oil is liquid, its consistency is fine enough to flow through these pores.
The Importance of Temperature
A critical factor affecting whether coconut oil will pass through a filter is its temperature. The reference notes that Coconut oil starts to coagulate and/or harden below room temperature, generally as temps drop to and below about 76F.
Here's how the state of the oil impacts filtration:
- Liquid State (Above ~76°F): When warmed above its melting point (typically around 76°F, though this "does depend on the oil's fatty acid content"), coconut oil is a liquid. In this state, it can easily pass through the mesh or pores of a coffee filter.
- Solid State (Below ~76°F): When cooled below its melting point, coconut oil solidifies. In its solid or semi-solid state, it cannot flow or pass through the fine mesh of a coffee filter.
| State of Coconut Oil | Approximate Temperature | Filterability Through Coffee Filter |
|---|---|---|
| Solid/Semi-Solid | Below ~76°F | Will NOT go through |
| Liquid | Above ~76°F | WILL go through |
Practical Considerations
To effectively filter coconut oil using a coffee filter (or other strainers mentioned like a Very Fine Sieve or cheesecloth), ensure the oil is warm enough to be fully liquid. If it has solidified, gently warming it will return it to a filterable state.
Using a mesh filter might allow for faster flow compared to a very fine paper filter, but both are capable of letting liquid coconut oil pass through.
