The 1×4 mark identifies a Melitta filter system; it does not prescribe four of whatever mugs happen to be in your kitchen. Use the brewer’s specified paper size before calculating a drink quantity.
In its UK filter-paper FAQ, Melitta explains that the 1x system originated around filling the filter once to obtain a stated serving count, unlike older arrangements involving repeated pours. The same FAQ tells buyers to find the required paper size in the appliance instructions or on the filter holder.
Separate three numbers
| Number | Question it answers |
|---|---|
| Filter designation, such as 1×4 | Which documented paper fits the holder? |
| Water quantity | How much does the chosen recipe require? |
| Your mug volume | How will the resulting drink be served? |
A familiar serving number cannot answer all three questions. The porcelain-filter product page itself distinguishes 102 and 1×4 sizes. Preserve the full label instead of treating every tapered paper as the same item.
Replenish from the holder, then check seating
For a shared kitchen, keep the required paper designation beside the brewer or in a replenishment note. That is more dependable than buying by a remembered package colour. Ask the manufacturer about any unclear old or regional label rather than invent a conversion between numbers.
Melitta’s FAQ also explains folding the embossed edges so the paper follows the holder. Follow the brewer’s own preparation instructions rather than compensate for an uncertain paper size by cutting or crumpling it.
We would decide fit first and brew quantity second. This keeps the practical purchasing choice separate from recipe preference, and prevents a historical serving-system name from becoming an unsupported measurement of finished coffee. No taste ranking or universal equivalence with other brands’ numbered filters is claimed.
Melitta FAQ and porcelain-filter record read 24 October 2026. No paper-fit, recipe or brewing test. Related: buying guides.
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