Have you ever heard of a Chemex coffee maker before? If so, you've probably seen it on Instagram. The beautiful glass and wood just begs to be photographed!
But the Chemex is so much more than its looks - it's also one of the best ways to make smooth, bright coffee at home.
Before you purchase yourself one, we're here to provide you with the ultimate Chemex coffee guide so you know exactly how to brew speciality coffee with it.
What is a Chemex?
The Chemex coffeemaker is a type of pour-over system which comprises of an hourglass shaped vessel and a specially designed filter.
Before we get into what makes this coffee brewing device such a popular option for both coffee novices and experts, it's worth you knowing that it was first invented by Peter Schlumbohm in 1941 in the U.S. The thick filter is what makes this brewing method truly unique.
The Chemex filters are much more densely woven than traditional coffee filters. They help to regulate the flow of coffee while removing much of the body and coffee oils. The filter slows down the flow of water passed through it, resulting in a better developed flavour.
The Chemex coffeemaker is a type of pour-over system which comprises of an hourglass shaped vessel and a specially designed filter.
The traditional Chemex is made from heat resistant glass and has a wood collar and a leather tie. These aren't just to make the Chemex look good, though. The collar acts as an insulated handle, so you can pick it up and pour with ease.
The engineering and beauty of the Chemex is so renowned that it is part of the permanent collection of the New York's Corning Museum of Glass.
But as we said at the start, the Chemex is more than its looks. It was actually inspired by laboratory glassware such as beakers, and so it doesn't absorb odours or residues that might affect the flavour of your coffee.
Benefits of the Chemex Coffee Maker
Nuanced flavour
One of the main draws of the Chemex is, of course, the nuanced coffee that results from it. It's a great way to make a smooth and bright cup of coffee. It's pretty much the opposite of a French press, as it results in a cup that is low in body and super clean, rather than heavy body.
This is because of the Chemex's filters. They are thicker, and therefore trap more oils in the paper as the coffee is extracted. Take one of our single origin coffees, and you'll really taste the gentle fruity flavours using this brew method.
Beautiful Design
If you're looking for a highly photogenic brewing method, the Chemex is absolutely the best choice due to the combination of glass, wood, and leather.
It will look stunning on your kitchen countertop and make you feel like you're truly making cafe quality coffee at home.
Ease of use
The Chemex is also extremely easy to use, as we will discuss below!Cleaning it is also very easy - you just need to wash it with soap and a long-handled bottle brush.
Alternatively, you can also remove the wood collar and pop it into the dishwasher.
Size
Finally, the size of this particular brewing method can be quite versatile.You can purchase different sizes of Chemex which can brew up to 8 cups of coffee - perfect for when you have guests over!
Other sizes brew 2-4 cups, which are better if you're just brewing for yourself.
Equipment List:
- Digital scales - this is to weigh your coffee.It's not essential but it'll dramatically improve your quality as you'll know exactly how much coffee to water you're using. Once you've mastered the recipe you can then replicate for the best cup of coffee daily.
- Filter papers
- Chemex
- Freshly ground speciality coffee beans – these will need to be ground medium fine.If you order from our shop and you don’t have a grinder at home, that’s not a problem. We grind fresh coffee beans right before shipping them to you.
- Filtered water - Read here for more information about why filtered water for coffee is the best for brewing.
Next up? Work out how many cups you'd like to make.
Our Chemex Brewing Guide:
- For 1 cup (15g of coffee to 250g water)
- For 2 cups (30g of coffee to 500g of water)
- For 3 cups (45g of coffee to 750g of water)
- For 4 cups (60g of coffee to 1000g or 1L of water)
How To Use Chemex Coffee Maker
Using your Chemex coffee maker is super simple. You'll just need the brewing device itself, some filter papers, hot water and of course, some speciality coffee beans
- Rinse your filter with hot water. This will get rid of papery flavour and will preheat your brewing gear. Discard the water before brewing.
- Put your coffee grounds into the filter. If using the 3 cup method, pour water (approx 84g) on your freshly ground coffee bed and wait 40 seconds or so to pre-infuse.
- Then pour the rest of the water in a slow circular movement. Try not to hold your kettle too high. When you finish swirl your brewer in a circular motion, this will even out the coffee bed and give you a better extraction.
- Wait for 4-5 minutes, pour and enjoy!
How to overcome common coffee-brewing problems:
- "My coffee is too weak" - use less water, use more coffee, or use a finer grind
- "My coffee is too strong" - use more water, less coffee, or a coarser grind
- "My coffee is too bitter" - you've over-extracted the coffee, use a coarser grind
- "My coffee is too sour" - you've under-extracted the coffee, use a finer grind
More Chemex Coffee Tips:
It's important to think about the coffee beans you're using when brewing with a Chemex. We would recommend using nuanced, light roast coffees.
For example, any of our single origin coffees would be perfect. While some coffee blends might work with the Chemex (such as our own speciality blends), we would absolutely steer clear of any dark roast beans.
Dark roasts burn off all of the delicate, nuanced flavours found in coffee - and these are what the Chemex is designed to bring out! Read on if you'd like to learn more about the differences between different bean roasts.
You can see why we love the Chemex!And if you're not sure if the Chemex sounds like it's for you, then check out our other recommended coffee equipment.
Find the Chemex a bit too extravagant and fancy a smaller, more affordable version? You should consider a pourover coffee method like the V60. You can read our ultimate guide to the Hario V60, the Cafetiere, and the Aeropress.
Enjoy this article? Sign up to our Balance Coffee Club newsletter below for monthly recipes, tips and hacks that’ll improve your coffee game!
