Brewing with a Hario V60 or a Clever Dripper are great options if you are only making a single cup of coffee, but what about when you want to brew enough coffee to share with friends? A Chemex brewer will not only brew enough coffee for you and several friends, it will enhance your reputation as a coffee expert.
Chemex brewers are elegant to look at, simple to use, and will last a lifetime. They come in various sizes ranging from three to thirteen cups (15-65 oz using Chemex's standard of a 5oz cup) with the most popular being the 8-cup.
If you're familiar with making a pour over, you will be right at home using a Chemex. It's essentially the same technique on a larger scale.
1. Heat the water
Heat your water to 200-205 degrees. If you don't have a thermometer, bring your water to a boil then let it sit for 45-60 seconds.
2. Grind the coffee
While the water is heating, grind your coffee. Use a medium-course grind for the Chemex. If you're using a Baratza Encore try starting with a grind setting around 25. If your grind is too fine, the filter will clog.
The amount of coffee obviously depends on the number of cups you are brewing. A good starting point is 60g per liter of water. You can adjust that up or down to make your coffee stronger or weaker.
3. Unfold and rinse the filter
Filters for the Chemex are large. Several styles are available depending on your preference. If you use a pre-folded filter, open it with your fingers so that three leaves of the filter are to one side.
Now place that side against the spout when putting it into the carafe. This ensures more stability against the spout to help prevent vacuum sealing. If the filter forms itself to the shape of the spout it can prevent the water from dripping through (like if you hold your finger over the end of a straw).
Use some hot water from your kettle or tap to rinse the filter to get rid of any papery taste. Remember to discard the rinse water before you brew your coffee.
4. Add your grounds
Set your Chemex on your scale, add the coffee you just ground, and tare the scale (reset it to zero).
5. Add small amount of water and bloom
Pour enough water over your grounds to wet them. Aim for using twice the amount of water as grounds. So if you are using 60g of coffee, add 120g of water.
Once the grounds are wet, wait 30-45 seconds. This is the bloom phase. You will notice the bed of grounds swells up and some bubble will erupt. This is the CO2 gas which is trapped in the coffee beans during roasting escaping. Getting rid of the CO2 allows the flavors trapped in the grounds to be extracted.
6.Add the rest of your water
Now slowly add water, pouring in a circular motion, until the water is half an inch or so from the top of the brewer. Continue to pour as the water drips into the carafe until you reach the desired amount.
If you're brewing a full pot, you can expect the brew time to be 10-11 minutes.
7. Enjoy!
Carefully grab the filter and dispose of it. Give the carafe a swirl to mix the coffee a bit and you're ready to enjoy a cup of coffee with your friends.
Summary
- Heat water to 205 degrees
- Grind 60g coffee (medium-course)
- Rinse filter with hot water
- Wet grounds with 120g water and bloom
- Add additional 880g water