It is hard to top the romance and simplicity of using a Chemex coffee maker, but it can be intimidating.
We'll take you through the process step-by-step. You'll be a pro in no time.
ABOUT CHEMEX
Its unique design and pour-over brewing technique make it easy to control the strength and flavor of your coffee. It eliminates bitterness and creates a smooth and balanced flavor.
The carafe itself is made of borosilicate glass, which is durable and non-porous, making it easy to clean and maintain.
With proper care and maintenance, a Chemex can last a lifetime.
BEST COFFEES FOR CHEMEX
Obviously, your origin is your business.
Chemex is cool because it consistently produces a cup of coffee with a clean and flavorful taste.
If we're grabbing the Chemex, it is almost always paired with our bright, fruit-forward Bluebird, single origin from Ethiopia or the nutty Dawn Patrol from Guatemala.
For this photo shoot, we went with our signature Out of Office Blend.
STUFF YOU NEED
- Coffee (We'd go with Bluebird Ethiopia or Dawn Patrol Guatemala)
- Chemex coffee maker
- Chemex filters
- Kettle
- Water
- Ground coffee
- Kitchen scale
- Timer (optional)
COUPLE THINGS TO KNOW
Grind Size: You're looking for a medium-coarse grind. This is slightly more coarse than table salt (but not as coarse as sea salt). This will ensure a balanced extraction.
Proper Coffee:Water Ratio: We try to hit it in the "Golden Ratio" of between 1:16 to 1:18 depending on how strong you like your cup (this is where the kitchen scale comes in handy).
If we're in Saturday morning mode, we'll go 50g of Bluebird to 850g of water.
STEP-BY-STEP
STEP 1: Heat Water: Begin by heating water to 195-205°F.STEP 2: Place Chemex Filter: While the water is heating up, place a Chemex filter in your carafe. Make sure the three-layered side is facing the spout of the Chemex.
STEP 3: Rinse Filter With Hot Water: Once the water is heated, rinse the filter with a small amount of hot water. This will remove any papery taste from the filter and preheat the Chemex.
STEP 4: Discard Rinsed Water and Add Grounds: Not much to explain for this one.
STEP 5: Initial Pour (For the bloom, baby): Pour a slow and steady stream of hot water onto the coffee grounds in the chemex for about 30-45 seconds to get the bloom and allow the grounds to become saturated.
STEP 6: Finish the Brew. Slowly pour the hot water over the coffee grounds in a circular motion, starting from the center and working your way outwards. Try to avoid pouring the water directly onto the filter as this can cause it to collapse. This should take about 4-6 minutes.
STEP 7: Call a friend, drink some coffee. Once the coffee is finished dripping, discard the used filter and grounds, and pour the coffee into your favorite mug and enjoy with someone worthy of the effort.