A filter material for removing chlorine from cold water used in preparing a human-consumable beverage having at least one layer of a mat of laid fibers of cellulosic fibers and synthetic textile fibers and mixtures thereof. A synthetic hydrophilic, food-grade latex binder deposited onto the fibers within the mat in an amount sufficient to so bind the fibers together within the mat that during a filtration of cold water through the mat no substantial amount of fibers are displaced therefrom and in an amount insufficient to substantially reduce a gravity flow rate of cold water through the mat to less than about 0.3 liter per minute per 100 square centimeters of the mat. A water-insoluble chlorine adsorbent or absorbent solid powder disposed on the binder such that no more than 65% of the total outside surface area of the powder is substantially contacted by the binder.