How to brew Chemex Coffee

The Chemex employs the drip/filter brewing technique and is suitable for use in cafes or your home, for brewing multiple cups simultaneously, where water flows through the coffee grounds within a filter and descends into a receptacle below. 

By using Chemex-specific bonded paper filters and water heated to a temperature range of 90-96 degrees Celsius, ensures that the undesirable coffee oils and bitterness remain trapped in the grounds, rather than seeping into your cup. Typically, standard home coffee machines equipped with automatic drip brewing capabilities struggle to attain such elevated temperatures.

To brew coffee using a Chemex, you will need the following ingredients and supplies:

• Whole bean coffee (a medium/course grind will also work)
• A Chemex coffee maker
• Filtered water
• A burr grinder
• A scale
• A timer
• A kettle
• A spoon
• A mug or cup

Here are the steps to brew coffee using a Chemex:

1. Grind the coffee beans to a medium-coarse grind using a burr grinder. You will need about 60 grams of coffee for every litre of water.

2. Place the Chemex coffee maker on a scale and tare it to zero.

3. Put the ground coffee into the Chemex and shake it gently to level out the grounds.

4. Place the Chemex on the scale again and tare it to zero.

5. Heat the water in a kettle until it reaches about 96 degrees celcius.

6. 'Wet the filter paper with hot water and swirl to preheat chemex, pour out water before adding the coffee'.

7. Slowly pour the hot water over the coffee grounds, starting in the center and working your way outwards in a circular motion. Pour enough water to wet all of the grounds and continue so you have the equal amount of water to the coffee, then wait for about 30 seconds for the coffee to bloom.

8. Continue pouring the water in a slow and steady stream, making sure to keep the water level above the grounds at all times. Pour until the scale reaches the desired amount of water, then remove the Chemex from the scale.

9. Stir the coffee and water mixture gently with a spoon to ensure that all of the grounds are fully saturated.

10. Let all the water drip through the grounds and paper.

11. Dispose of the grounds and filter then slowly pour the brewed coffee into a mug or cup and enjoy.

When brewing coffee using a Chemex, it is important to use whole coffee beans and a burr grinder to ensure a consistent grind. It is also important to use filtered water and to heat the water to the proper temperature. By following these steps, you can brew a delicious cup of coffee using a Chemex.