Chemex

Getting Started

The Chemex has become somewhat of a design icon over the decades, however it does a lot more than look pretty. If you want a clean and complex brewed coffee for more than one person to share, the Chemex is the answer. It is an easy and forgiving brewer which will be making regular appearances at dinner parties and other gatherings in no time.

Note that while the Chemex is available in 3, 6 or 8 cup sizes, for this guide we are using an 8 cup model with an Able Kone re-usable filter.

You will need:

• A Chemex coffee brewer
• An Able Kone re-usable filter (or Chemex filter papers)
• An electric or hand grinder
• An electric kettle
• 45g of fresh, well-roasted filter coffee

Preparation

Boil fresh water in a gooseneck kettle. If using a Bonvita Electric kettle, set the temperature at 98ºC.

If using an Able Kone filter, simply place the cone into the top of the Chemex and use hot water to warm it up to temperature.

If using Chemex paper filters, fold the paper as shown on the box, place in the Chemex and rinse thoroughly with hot water to remove any papery taste.

Grind

Take your 45g of freshly roasted filter coffee and grind it at a medium coarseness (similar to sea salt).

Pour the ground coffee into the centre of your freshly-rinsed filter cone so it creates an even bed, ready for pouring.

Bloom

Start timer, add 100g of water and agitate slurry by passing a teaspoon through extraction bed four times.

Brew

At 30 seconds, add 300ml of hot water to the coffee bed, pouring slowly from the kettle in a circular motion.

Then, at 1:30, add 350ml more water in a slow circular motion. Once all the water has been added, stir around the edge of the slurry with a spoon in a swift circular motion in order to create a vortex. This will draw the remaining water through the coffee bed and incorporate any dry grinds.

Your total brewing time (from when the timer was started until all the water had passed through the coffee bed) should be between 3:00 to 3:30. Adjust your grind either finer (if under 3:00) or coarser (if over 3:30) to get a sweeter and less bitter brew.

Enjoy!

Serve the finished brew and share it with friends (or drink it all by yourself, if you dare…)