How to brew Chemex coffee like a Pro!
Brewing a Chemex coffee is a soothing ritual for lazy mornings or lazy afternoons. It is a wonderful celebration of coffee and all of its diverse flavors, which is why the Chemex is a popular pour over method. It has a classic and straightforward design and produces a clear cup that highlights the sweetness of the coffee you're brewing. Bitterness has almost no chance of passing through the thick Chemex filter.
The Chemex is made of high-quality glass that is heat-resistant and does not impart its own flavors. In addition to these incredible qualities, the Chemex is the most beautiful coffee maker of all time, making it an excellent addition to any kitchen or living room. It may take some practise at first, but brewing coffee with the Chemex is simple once you get the hang of it. Simply follow the instructions in this article to make your Chemex coffee in no time.
The Chemex Design - A Work of Art
Because of its timeless design and elegance, the Chemex coffee maker is repurposed in the most inventive ways. The possibilities for turning it into a vase or a lamp hanging from the ceiling seem limitless. The Chemex was invented long before filter coffee was cool again – in 1941 by German scientist Peter J. Schlumbohm – but it's rarely missing from the shelves of a third wave coffee shop today.
Despite its simplicity, the glass flask with wooden collar and leather tie exudes pure sophistication. The neck part also protects your fingers from burning. The hourglass-shaped vessel has remained unchanged since its invention. The Chemex's purposeful design is so notable that it has been added to the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, Corning Museum of Glass, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Chemex Design and Function - At-Home Coffee Maker
The Chemex Coffee Maker is distinguished by its use of only three simple, everyday materials: Pyrex glass, wood, and leather. It appears to have come straight from a laboratory and deserves a permanent spot on your kitchen counter. While the fact that the Chemex is not made of plastic is an advantage in my opinion, it is not an easy travel companion. If you're going hiking or camping, the Chemex isn't the best coffee maker to bring along because the glass flask is fragile and could break in your luggage. It's also a little too big to fit in a cabin bag. The AeroPress is a better option if you travel frequently and want to brew coffee on the go.
The hourglass shape doesn't do much for the flavor of your coffee on its own; this is where the Chemex filters come in. But did you know that it also helps to cool down the coffee after it has been brewed? I frequently see coffee drinkers swirling the Chemex to quickly reduce the temperature of the coffee.
The Essentials - What You Need to Make Chemex Coffee
The Chemex coffee maker and Chemex filters are required. The classic Chemex series is available in a variety of sizes, including 3 cup, 6 cup, 8 cup, and 10 cup. The most popular option is the 6 cup Chemex. A grinder, gooseneck kettle, and scale are also recommended. Because ground coffee loses aroma in as little as 30 seconds, it is critical to grind your beans fresh every time you brew a cup of coffee. A gooseneck kettle gives you more control over how much water flows and allows you to be more precise when pouring water over the coffee grounds in your Chemex filter. You'll also need a coffee scale to follow the recipe in this brew guide. It will allow you to precisely weigh the amount of ground coffee and water you use for your pour-over.
What Filters Should You Use for Chemex Coffee Brewing?
If you're learning how to use the Chemex to make delicious coffee, I recommend using Chemex bonded filters. They are approximately 20-30% thicker than standard filter paper, and their special fibre prevents oils, bitter elements, or coffee grounds from entering your coffee while brewing. As a result, coffee from a Chemex tastes particularly aromatic, nuanced, and clean.
Filters are available in three shapes: square (for 6-8 cups), round or circle (for 6-8 cups), and half-moon (Chemex 3 cup filters). Despite their different shapes, the square and round filters function identically. It is purely a matter of taste to prefer one over the other.You can also select from bleached or natural Chemex filters. The latter is more environmentally friendly because it is naturally brown, and the filter paper only becomes white after an oxidizing cleansing bath. Despite their different colors, they are both made of the same laboratory-grade paper.
How to use the Chemex Step by Step - Barista Champion Recipe
Recipe:
20 grams of coffee
280 grams of water at 93 degrees Celcius
Brew time 2:30 minutes
On a scale, weigh 20g of coarsely ground beans. Make use of a gooseneck kettle, preferably one with a gooseneck spout and temperature control. The digital display reads the actual temperature of the water, allowing you to precisely heat it to 93 degrees. We're using a 1:14 ratio for this Chemex recipe, which translates to 280g of water (plus a little extra for rinsing the filter before brewing) and 20 grammes of coffee. Brewing time is 2:30 minutes.
First and foremost. After inserting the Chemex filter into the flask, rinse it with hot water to remove any unwanted paper taste while warming up the caraffe. After that, discard that water.
Next, pour the ground coffee into the Chemex filter, followed by double the amount of water, and gently pour it in circles from the centre outwards. Allow the coffee to 'bloom' for about 30 seconds before continuing to slowly pour water in circular motions, pausing for a few seconds between pours.
Because of the Chemex's shaped spout, you'll be able to pour the coffee into the cup without spilling a drop.
Ratio of Chemex Coffee to Water
The coffee-to-water ratio used in this recipe is just one of several possibilities. While 1:14 is always my go-to brew ratio when testing new waters, or in this case, coffees, different situations and beans necessitate different coffee-to-water ratios. If you prefer stronger coffee, a brew ratio of 1:12 will provide it.
This means that for every gram of coffee, 12 grams of water are used. If we adjust the brewing recipe above, we get 240 grams of water for 20 grams of coffee for a more concentrated brew. This is also an excellent coffee ratio to use when brewing on ice. Another popular Chemex coffee-to-water ratio is 1:15.
For 20 grams of coffee, we use 300 grams of water. When experimenting with different coffee-to-water ratios for the Chemex, 1:15 produced astringency and a slight bitterness in my cup. Which brew ratio works best for you is highly dependent on how you like your coffee. Try out different recipes to see what you like best.
Happy Brewing!