Chaff as beer brewing filter bed?

[JohnA]

I was just wondering, looking outside at my small pile of coffee bean chaff sitting on the snow, if there was a suitable occasion, say maybe a coffee wheat, would chaff be an effective substitute for rice hulls in creating a better-draining grist?

 

[MaxStout]

I'd be concerned about the off-flavors it could add. Also, coffee bean chaff isn't very rigid, like rice hulls. It could just turn to mush.

 

[Broken Crow]

^That...only I'd use the word: "Mat". Chaff will soften when wet and probably guarantee a stuck mash.

 

[fluketamer]

you wouldnt be able to tell how much coffee flavor it would add and i dont know how useful rice husks are in the first place. if you dont stir the mash for the last 20 mins or so gravity will compact the grain to make a good filter. and especially in mashout when the viscosity thins i find the bed really filters the wort clear.

i stopped buying rice husks. my wort is still just as clear.

 

[JohnA]

I haven’t tried wetting it but it is pretty thin, papery, and weak. Somewhere along the mush<—>mat continuum is probably correct. I’ll just continue tossing it to the wind.