Top Reason for Filtering Food and Drinks is 'Improved Taste and Texture'; 61% Feel Respect for Craftsmanship After Learning About Traditional Food Production Processes

■ Survey on 'Filtering' Practices in Daily Life

Coffee, tea, and various dishes on our daily dining tables often involve an 'extra step' we rarely notice: filtering, straining, or using a sieve. Whether it's brewing drip coffee, straining dashi, or smoothing egg liquid for chawanmushi, these tasks are naturally integrated into our lives. To understand how many people actually perform these tasks, we conducted a survey of 500 men and women across Japan in collaboration with Kitamura Seifu, a manufacturer of filter cloths and industrial filters.

■ 54.0% Drink Coffee or Tea at Home Frequently
When asked if they drink coffee or tea at home, 54.0% answered 'frequently.' Among those who do, 50.3% prefer instant coffee, while 23.3% use drip methods, indicating that filtering is a familiar process for many.

■ 23.8% Take the 'Extra Step' of Filtering
When asked if they take the extra step of filtering or straining when preparing food or drinks, 23.8% of respondents said they do so to some extent. Conversely, 61.2% said they never do.

■ 56.3% Filter for 'Better Taste, Aroma, and Texture'
Among those who do filter, the most common reason (56.3%) was that it improves the taste, aroma, and texture. This was followed by 'removing impurities for hygiene' at 14.3%.

■ 61.0% Feel Respect for Craftsmanship
When asked if they knew that traditional foods like soy sauce, tofu, sake, and miso involve a 'filtering with cloth' process, 57.4% said they were completely unaware. However, upon learning about it, 61.0% felt respect for the craftsmanship and effort involved.

■ Conclusion
While 23.8% of people perform filtering in their daily lives, many were unaware of the professional filtering processes behind traditional foods. Recognizing these 'extra steps' can lead to a deeper appreciation of our daily meals.