HOW TO A BREW BEST COFFEE USING A CHEMEX?-Rancliffe Coffee House

How to brew best coffee using a Chemex?

December 26, 2020

BREWING CHEMEX - BECOMING VERY POPULAR AMONG COFFEE ENTHUSIASTS

The Chemex manual pour-over method of coffee brewing is becoming very popular among coffee enthusiasts. Two main attractive reasons for this popularity are firstly, this brewing method provides you with a greater level of control throughout the coffee brewing process. Secondly, it is cost effective to use at home because you don’t need any expensive equipment to get started. Keep in mind this method is the one which takes a little bit of practice to perfect but just a few tries and you will become an expert.

Chemex is a beautifully designed and elegant manual pour over glass flask that was invented in 1941 by Dr. Peter Schlumbohm. It uses a special Chemex paper filter which is similar to the coffee cone. They are thicker than the standard paper filters used for a drip coffee makers. It is made of non-porous borosilicate glass, which will not absorb odours and is easily cleaned.

There are three key rules to producing the perfect pour over brewing with Chemex.

- The first key rule is a finer grind which creates a larger surface area for the water to run over and resulting in more contact time where the flavours are picked up.

- The second key rule is how long it takes for the water to be added. If water is added at a slower rate this will increase the extraction of the coffee.

- The third and final rule is the amount of coffee used. The more coffee that is used increases the time the water takes to run through and so again increases the extraction time.

See our recommended method from for a perfect cup of coffee with Chemex.

What you will need to make a perfect cup of coffee

6 table spoons of fine coffee or use the scales and weigh 35 gr for 6 Cup Chemex,
480 ml brewing water in the kettle,
Water temperature between 90-95°C,
4 minutes for brewing time,
Filter paper,

How you will make your perfect cup of coffee

Put some hot water into Chemex and then place the filter paper into the Chemex. Without removing filter, discard the water from the Chemex.

Pre-rinse the filter with hot water as this will get rid of the slight paper taste. Pre-head the Chemex and also remember to pre-head your coffee cup before you start your brewing process.

Put 6 table spoons of medium to fine coffee grind into the Chemex.

The boiled water will have to cooled down to the ideal temperature of 90-95°C and then you will have to start pouring the heated water in circular movement. The best around 1 minute 50 second for heated water to be added.

Try not to move the Chemex during the process and allow the water to pass through the bed of coffee without disruption.

Wait until the bed of coffee is dry and then remove the filter paper from the Chemex.

You will need to wait 4 minutes before your brew will be ready and then you can pour your perfect cup of brewed coffee.