Ever wondered just what is a Chemex? The Chemex is a really fascinating invention. Looking like it belongs in a Chemistry lab, it can be found from TV sitcoms to kitchens everywhere. Even some coffee shops use this contraction to brew their coffee.
There are quite a few steps to brew coffee using a Chemex, but the results can be very fulfilling (and tasty!).
History
Design
Why Chemex?
In Popular Culture
Benefits of using a Chemex
Comparisons to other methods
Instructions
Cleaning
Summary
History of the Chemex
Peter J. Schlumbohm, a chemist, invented and designed the Chemex in the 1930s. While the Chemex was released in America, its inventor was born in Kiel, Germany in 1896.
The patent laws in the U.S. were attractive to Schlumbohm and this helped him make his decision to move there. The Chemex was Schulmbohm’s most successful and famous invention. This was still the case for the prolific inventor even after creating more than 3000 patents. This coffeemaker was patented in 1941 and it was subsequently produced and released in 1942 by the Chemex Corporation. And the rest they say is history.
Design
The shape of the Chemex comes from two laboratory apparatuses. First is the Erlenmeyer flask we all have in our fond memories from chemistry class. And there is the laboratory glass funnel at the top. Schlumbohm added an air channel to the funnel to allow air to escape when the coffee drips down into the flask. He also added a “nipple” to mark the halfway point of the carafe’s volume.
The designers at the Illinois Institute of Technology called the Chemex Coffeemaker “one of the best-designed products of modern times”. And this thing is beautiful, so much so that it is in the collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Why Chemex?
Coffee brewed with a Chemex results in a cup that is more smooth and less bitter than other methods. Chemex brewed coffee is a lot more bright and clear compared to say a French press. Chemex coffee is also a lot less bitter than many other methods.
Another benefit of using a Chemex is that you can use it as part of a mindfulness practice in the morning. Popular YouTuber Matt D’Avella talks about this on his channel. Using this in a morning ritual can help to ground you and start your day off with intention.
In Popular Culture
You may have noticed a Chemex sitting in the background of many different TV shows or movies. If you look carefully, you’ll be able to see it sitting in the background or being used on Friends, Mad Men, and even the sci-fi flick Interstellar.
Benefits of using a Chemex
Since Chemex paper filters are heavier than other conventional filters, they absorb a lot of the oils from the coffee grinds. An upshot of this is that the resultant brew comes out a lot more cleaner. As well since the beans need to be coarser, the coffee takes longer to extract and thus also gives a more developed flavor than drip coffee. If coffee gives you an upset stomach, the less acidic brew that comes out of a Chemex can definitely help.
Aside from the taste, the look of a Chemex is another one of its big benefits. It can be a great complement to any contemporary kitchen.
Comparisons to other methods
Americano
Americano has a different taste profile than Chemex coffee. The flavors of an Americano are a lot stronger than what you would find in a Chemex brew. The nutty earthy flavors in an Americano are more pronounced and in your face.
Automatic Drip Coffee
Using an automatic drip coffee machine is one of the most common methods of brewing coffee. It is a lot more time-efficient than a Chemex and can be set on a timer before you leave for work in the morning. Chemex coffee will be a lot milder and richer than coffee made using this method.
The filter paper used by automatic drip coffee machines is also thinner than Chemex filter paper. The result of this would be more acidity in the automatic drip coffee. The temperature of the more inexpensive machines are not regulated as well. So the coffee might come out tasting very sub-optimal or inconsistent.
But if you’re in a hurry, there are not many methods that can beat this…
Instant Coffee
…except instant coffee. The name says it all. The coffee can be made with hot water and a bit of stirring. The tastes can vary according to different manufacturers. In general, but in not all cases, the quality of the coffee that you can get from instant coffee is generally very low. If you’re after one quick coffee caffeine hit, it’s hard to beat this.
French Press
The French Press has been around for over a hundred years. And the coffee it makes is a lot more flavorful and full-bodied than what you get out of a Chemex. It’s also less time-consuming than a Chemex, but not by much. Since a French Press has a built-in filter, you save time on the setup process. Because of this too, there is a lot more sediment in a French Press.
If you like strong and flavorful coffee, the French Press definitely beats the Chemex in that department.
Hario V60
The V60 has been used in competitions such as the World Brewers Cup (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Brewers_Cup). The winners of this event has used the V60 on more than one occasion. Both the Chemex and the V60 are perfectly capable of making the “perfect cup” of coffee.
Where they differ is that Hario has a steeper learning curve. There is a lot more leeway, so you can mess up the coffee by pouring too fast or slow. Even the angle can play a factor in the resultant coffee. Now, this can also be a benefit too as you can now adjust the strength of the brew by how you pour the water. The Chemex, on the other hand, has a thicker filter than the V60, so this helps to regulate the extraction process. It is a lot harder to mess up the coffee.
The smallest amount of coffee the V60 can brew is as little as one cup. The smallest Chemex you can find makes three cups. So depending on how much coffee you or your family requires in the morning, the V60 might be your only choice.
The Hario V60 and Chemex can both make very similar cups of coffee.
Instructions
Tools needed
- Chemex filter paper
- Chemex
- Grinder
- Gooseneck kettle
- Scale
- Timer
- Coffee
Grind size
Grind size for a Chemex brew is around what automatic drip coffee requires or a little coarser. Sort of resembling rough sand.
Dosage
Chemex says: “Put one rounded tablespoon of ground coffee for every 5 oz cup into the filter cone.” A quick Google tells us that it will weigh about 0.18oz or 5g and 5oz is roughly 150mL. The ratio that we are looking to start at is about 1:15. So if you’re making coffee in a 6 cup Chemex, that is about 30oz. or 900mL. You will need 0.9oz or 30g to start. From there you can change the variables based on your flavor preferences.
Water Temperature
The ideal temperature to brew Chemex coffee is between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit or 90 to 96 degrees Celsius. An easy way to do this is to bring the water to a boil, and then leave it for 30 seconds. If you have a thermometer it might be fun to try different temperatures to see if that changes the flavor to something more desirable. Starting a coffee journal here might be quite fun and help you to remember each variable.
Step By Step
- Heat about 25oz or 700g of water to the ideal temperature (195-205F or 90-96C).
- Grind 20 grams of coffee to the consistency of coarse sand and weigh them. 20 grams makes about one cup of coffee. Add more beans as desired. 32 grams can make about 2 cups and 50 grams can about 3 cups.
- Place the filter in the Chemex, the side with the 3 sheets should be over the lip that’s used for pouring.
- Pour the hot water into the filter to rinse it and to get rid of the paper taste.
- Discard the water from the carafe. You can even pour the water into the waiting cup to warm it up.
- Add coffee grinds.
- Place Chemex on a scale and tare it.
- Pour enough water to saturate the grinds. This is called letting them “bloom”. After all the coffee grounds are wet, wait for about 30 seconds. This allows the carbon dioxide to be released from the grounds allowing for a better extraction.
- Stir if you prefer, but this step is optional.
- Continue to add water in a slow circular motion, but not so much that it gets filled to the top. At this point, watch the scale until the desired amount is met. A 1:15 (coffee:water) ratio is a good start for beginners. So if you started with 20 grams of coffee beans, pour 300 grams of water.
- Pour the coffee into the cup (after discarding any water).
- Drink the coffee slowly.
Cleaning
With the shape of the Chemex, cleaning can be tricky, but definitely not impossible. You can just rinse it with soapy water and that can quite easily get it clean. If you clean it right away you can probably get away with rinsing it only with hot water. There are also bottle cleaning brushes if you really want to scrub the inside.
The Chemex is also dishwasher safe. But don’t forget to remove the wooden neck before you put it in as it would be a shame to damage it.
Summary
The Chemex has been around for over half a century. Its design is literally a piece of art that is displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is also found in a lot of pop culture such as in the popular sitcom Friends (link image here) or the movie Interstellar (link image here).
The process to brew coffee using Chemex can be quite involved, but it also lends itself quite easily to experimentation as there are so many variables. There’s a lot of fun to be had in brewing coffee using this method if you’re into that kind of thing.
So what are you waiting for? Give it a try!