Chemex Coffee Brewing
How to brew Chemex coffee at home
In this article we explain the Chemex coffee method with a simple brewing guide and offer some tips on common issues with Chemex brewing. Here you will also find out what Chemex coffee tastes like and find answers to common questions about this drip coffee brewing method. This brewing method is a joyful way of making a delicious cup of coffee in the comfort of your home.
What is a Chemex coffee maker?
The Chemex is a coffee maker which has both, the brewing cone and the jar collecting coffee, all in one piece. The Chemex is a type of manual drip coffee brewing method, also called pour over method.
Its classic version is in an hourglass shape and has a wooden collar. The cone, in which we place a paper filter, has a channel on its side running from top to the base of the cone to allow the air out of the bottom chamber during the brewing (otherwise water wouldn’t be able to drip down freely because of the pressure in the bottom chamber). This channel on the side also helps pour the coffee well, although it’s not its primary function.
What is special about Chemex coffee?
The Chemex pour-over coffee maker is a simple and elegant way of brewing coffee. People love it because of its beautifully simple design. It looks special, is easy to use and can brew an excellent cup of filter coffee.
What coffee do you get from a Chemex?
What does Chemex coffee taste like? Chemex coffee is smooth and delicious, it’s also less bitter than coffee from other coffee makers. It’s a perfect option for coffee lovers who are looking for a delicate cup but aren’t looking for a full body of the brew.
How do you use a Chemex pour over?
Here is our guide on how to brew Chemex coffee at home. These simple instructions show you how to get a delicious, consistent cup from the Chemex coffee maker.
Chemex brewing guide
- Grind your beans
Grind your coffee coarse or medium coarse (the coarser the grind, the quicker the extraction will be and the weaker coffee you will get). - Prepare the Chemex
Pre-heat the brewer and rinse the paper filter by pouring over some hot water.
To rinse the paper filter, place it on the cone and pour over the hot water. You want to warm the filter up as well as get rid of any papery taste. Remember to dispose of the water from the Chemex before brewing.
Place the paper filter in the cone the way that the thicker side of the filter is where the air channel is. - Place the coffee grinds in the cone
Use 30 g of coffee per 0,5 liter of water.
For a stronger cup use 45 g of coffee.
Shake the grounds to level them up. - Bloom the coffee
Pour the hot water over the coffee making sure all the grounds are wet. Use just enough water to cover the grounds.
Coffee to water ratio: 2:1 or 3:1.
Stir the coffee with a spoon to make sure all the grounds can absorb the water evenly.
Bloom the coffee for about a minute. - Continue brewing
Pour over the water pretty much continuously. The cone should be filled up almost up to the top. Avoid pouring water onto the paper cone, it should hit the coffee grounds.
Give it a swirl to help a more even extraction.
Brewing time: 4 – 5 minutes, when brewing with 0,5 liter of water.
Water temperature:
– for a lighter roast: around 87 ℃
– for a darker roast: 94 – 96 ℃ - Pour the coffee into the cups and enjoy!
Issues with Chemex and how to solve them
The paper filter clogs the air channel
When the filter sticks to the glass wall on the air channel, the air cannot escape from the bottom chamber. This causes too high pressure in the bottom chamber, the water won’t drip down freely. You want to avoid this, as you will stall the brew and your coffee will be under extracted. To stop the filter blocking the air flow, put the thicker side of the filter where the air channel is. If this doesn’t help you can put a metal chopstick or a glass stick in the air channel to stop the paper sticking to the cone.
The filter design
Chemex filters are designed the way that one side is thicker (has more layers) than the other. This causes unequal filtering.
Solution: use a metal paper filter instead.
Cleaning
The classic version of the Chemex has a wooden collar which makes cleaning difficult, to be able to clean it properly you need to remove the collar. An alternative to the classic Chemex is a design which doesn’t have the collar, but a handle instead, like the one below.
Too much sourness
How to fix sour coffee from Chemex?
If your Chemex brew is too acidic, it may be under extracted. Try using a finer grind or hotter water.
Chemex FAQs
What temperature should a Chemex be?
The best water temperature for brewing with Chemex will depend on the type of roast you use. For light roast, a lower temperature of around 87 ℃ will be best, whereas for a darker roast it’s 94 – 96 ℃.
How long should a Chemex brew take?
Chemex brew should take 4 – 5 minutes plus around a minute of time for blooming the coffee. This time is meant for brewing with 0,5 liter of water.
What roast is best for Chemex?
You will get a nice cup of coffee from any type of roast: light, medium or dark. This type of pour over coffee maker brings out sweet, fruity, nutty and flowery notes, so try using this type of roasts for your Chemex brew. However it won’t work that well with full-bodied roasts to bring out the best in them.
Can I use espresso beans for Chemex?
Yes, you can use espresso beans for Chemex.
How do you keep coffee warm in a Chemex?
Can you put a Chemex coffee maker on a stove? Yes, you can put a Chemex directly on a glass stovetop or a gas burner at a low heat.
Can I use regular filters with a Chemex coffee maker?
Yes, you can use regular filters on a Chemex coffee maker. However, look for a higher grade paper for a better quality cup.
How do you make strong Chemex coffee?
To make a stronger Chemex coffee, simply use more coffee. The more coffee you use, the stronger it will be. An optimum coffee to water ratio for a strong Chemex coffee will be 45 grams coffee per 0.5 liter.
Final note
Chemex is a fantastic coffee maker, especially for brewing big doses of coffee. It has outstanding aesthetic qualities and gives you a good quality cup of home brew. The chemex maker highlights sweet, floral and fruity notes in the coffee. However, the downside of this coffee maker may be the cleaning. The classic version of Chemex has a wooden collar which you need to remove for cleaning, e.g. if you want to put your Chemex in the dishwasher.
