Easy Chemex, Hot or Iced

Friday, May 6th, 2016 by

New to Chemex coffee? The Chemex is distinguished in the world of pour over brewing by its unique shape and heavy paper filter, which work together to create a flavorful and clean cup of coffee. If you like a bright flavor without bitterness or sediment, give it a try!

Coffee Purists

To brew hot coffee with the Chemex, you’ll need the following:

  • Chemex 6 cup or 8 cup brewer
  • Chemex Bonded Filters
  • Coffee ground slightly coarser than you would use for an autodrip machine (ask for a pour over grind if ordering ground coffee)
  • Near boiling water
  • A Kettle (preferably with a thin spout)

Instructions:

  1. Open your filter so that it forms a cone. You’ll see that one side has three layers. Place the filter in the top of your brewer with this side facing the spout.
  2. Measure your water and coffee. We recommend using 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6-8 ounces of water.
  3. Boil your water adding a little extra to the kettle to rinse the filter before brewing (optional).
  4. Preheat your brewer (recommended for hot coffee) by pouring a little hot water into your filter. This step serves to eliminate some of the paper taste from the filter as well as warm the carafe. Discard the water once it has run through.
  5. Pour your ground coffee into the filter.
  6. Wet the grounds with hot water. Add just enough water so there are no dry spots and let sit for about 30 seconds.
  7. Add the rest of your water. Start by wetting all of the grounds again, then move the stream of water in slow spirals, pausing when close to the top. A gooseneck kettle is recommended for greater control.
  8. Once all the water has been added, allow the water to filter though. Remove the filter, give the carafe a swirl, and serve.

Iced version:

For iced coffee, replace half of the brewing water with ice. Place the ice in the carafe, skip step 4, and brew normally.