How to brew coffee with the Chemex coffee maker - www.coffeeroastersdirectory.com

Step 1

Prepare your Chemex brewing equipment. While we recommend using a stainless steel filter, you may use paper as well.

Step 2

Measure out 600 mL of water to begin the brew. Any kind of measuring cup will do.

Step 3

For this brew, we’ll use 36 grams of fresh-roasted coffee. Fresh roasted is key to getting the worlds best coffee into the cup.

Step 4

Pour your water into the kettle for boiling, and set it to boil. Boiling occurs at 212F, but this is too hot for coffee. We’ll want 205F for coffee or thereabouts. Letting the kettle sit for 30 seconds will accomplish this nicely.

Step 5

Just before brewing, grind your previously weighed out coffee with a burr grinder for best results. Use a coarse grind setting, or the setting just above the auto-drip setting on your grinder. If you’re using an inexpensive blade grinder, try and get the grinds around about the size of a sesame seed. Grinding just before the brew releases aromas and flavors that you just don’t get in pre-ground coffee.

Step 6

Place the stainless filter, or the paper filter into your Chemex. It’s best to use the stainless filter if you have one as it doesn’t retain any flavors or odors. Some paper filters can leave a paper taste in the coffee. In either case, place the filter into the Chemex and wet it down with your hot water for a few seconds then discard the extra water from the Chemex.

Step 7

Pour your coarse grinds into the filter and shake the Chemex back and forth to flatten out the grind.

Step 9 (0 SECONDS - 45 SECONDS)

Let the grounds steep for 45 seconds,

Step 10 (o sECONDS - 45 SECONDS)

During our first 45 seconds, the grounds will begin to steep and release carbon dioxide (CO2). This gas will be released when the This step should take place over the first 30 seconds of brewing. This looks a bit like a brownie baking in the oven. Note that fresh-roasted coffee will produce a heavy release of CO2, but old and stale coffee will not. This should be your indicator that your coffee is fresh. Fresh-roasted coffee is profoundly better, and different than old, stale, store coffee which has been sitting in the bag for 6 months when you get it. This CO2 bubble is called the “bloom”. If your coffee fails to bloom, then you’re using old and stale coffee. See our Craft Roasters Directory for a local craft roaster near you who can provide you with fresh-roasted coffee, or alternatively you can roast coffee at home yourself! Give it a try, you’re taste buds will thank you.

Step 11

Beginning at 45 seconds on the clock, and using your goose neck kettle, begin pouring water slowly in circles, radiating out from the center, but avoid pouring the water directly on the center or directly on the edges. The idea is to saturate all of the grounds and fully extract the coffee. If the water rises too high in the filter, stop pouring momentarily to give the water time to drain. Continue this pouring until your stopwatch reads 2:45.

Step 12

At 3:45, all of you water should be drained. If this is not the case and your water stays in the filter past this point, then it’s likely your grind was too fine. Next time try with a coarser grind. Once the water has fully drained, then you’ll be ready to pour a cup.

Step 13

Notice that the filter produces a cleaner cup than in the French Press. This isn’t a negative, but rather variety or preference. Try them both, each produces a very nice cup of coffee.

Step 14

Pour a cup and enjoy. You should find a fresh, clean, smooth cup of coffee. If you’re using a fresh roast within the last 96 hours, you’ll taste the best coffee of your life. See our Craft Roaster’s directory if you’d like to find a local or internet coffee supplier.