The Chemex coffee maker is the ultimate pour over brewer. This iconic and timelessly designed coffee maker that looks like a chemistry set was invented in 1941. It uses the infusion method to brew high-quality coffee.
The Chemex coffee maker is easy to use and very aesthetically appealing. It provides a near-perfect balance between performance and visual elegance. It is a double-whammy brewer that is both a beautiful kitchen tool and a full rich-bodied coffee maker.
The Chemex coffee maker history
The Chemex coffee maker is an hourglass-shaped glass flask with a wooden neck handle and a leather tie. It was invented by Peter Schlumbohm, an American chemist in 1941. During this period, the majority of households made their coffee using a percolator.
The Chemex coffee maker has a simple yet timeless design that is stunning. In fact, the design is so noteworthy that in 1958, the designers at the Illinois Institute of Technology featured it in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Another interesting feature about this coffee maker is its filters that are approximately 20 to 30% thicker than those of a regular coffee filter. These filters help to filter out oils, ground, and bitterness providing you with super clean and clear coffee.
Grinding and dosage
Before brewing your coffee, grind your coffee beans using a good burr grinder. The level of grinding you choose will determine how mild or strong your coffee will be. For a strong taste, grind the beans to fineness and for weaker coffee coarsen up the grind.
For dosage, use one rounded tablespoon of coffee for over 5oz. Cup. Put the ground coffee into the filter cone. For consistency in your dosage, use a digital scale. Coffee experts advice that you use 50 grams of coffee for every 700 grams of water.
How to brew coffee with Chemex
Step 1: Heat water
Heat your preferred amount of water, preferably 1 liter, and bring to a boil using a good coffee kettle. You need to boil more water than you need to brew your coffee so that you can use the extra to rinse the filter.
Step 2: Weigh and grind your coffee
Add 50 grams of coffee and grind it to your preference, whether you like it fine, medium or coarse.
Step 3: Insert the filter
Place the Chemex filter in the brewer with the multiple folds facing the spout. Pour some of the hot water over the filter to clean and seal it. The hot water also helps to get rid of any unwanted flavors from the filter. Dump out this water.
Step 4: Add the ground coffee
Place the grounded coffee inside the pre-moistened filter.
Step 5: Saturate grounds
Let your boiling water settle for at least 30 seconds and then pour onto the coffee in the filter. The first pour is very crucial to the quality of coffee you will brew. Do not pour all the water onto the grounds at once. Instead, pour just enough to saturate the beans. According to Chemex, wetting the grounds allows it to bloom. Wait for at least 40 seconds to allow all the trapped carbon dioxide to escape.
Step 6: Stir
After the 40 seconds have lapsed, stir the coffee with a wooden spoon. This stage is optional.
Step 7: Gradually add the rest of the water
Gradually, pour in the water allowing at least an inch of the room near the top. Once you reach your preferred amount of coffee, stop pouring more water. A digital scale is a great way to prevent you from using too much water.
Step 8: Serve
Once all the water passes through the sieve, carefully remove the filter and serve. You can store the remaining coffee in a thermal carafe to keep it warm.
How to clean the Chemex coffee maker
Unlike popular belief that Chemex is hard to clean, it is quite simple. Rinse the flask with warm soapy water. You can also use plain hot water to clean it. For extra cleaning, you can use a dishwasher since the glass carafe is dishwasher safe. However, make sure you remove the wooden collar and leather straps before putting it in the dishwasher.
You can also wash it by filling the Chemex with ice and adding a tablespoon of salt. Spin it, dump and rinse it to be used the next time you are brewing some coffee.
