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Fold and open the filter into a cone shape and place it in the Chemex with the three-layered side facing the pouring spout, following the instructions on the filter package.
You will need to use the special thick Chemex filters. They are an important part of the Chemex brewing method and give a longer extraction time and remove sediment but allow positive aromatic compounds to pass through.
Rinse the filter by pouring boiling water through it into the Chemex. Pour all remaining water out afterward.
The thick paper filters can impart flavor to the brew, so rinsing the filter is key to excellent Chemex brewing. The pre-wetting also has the advantage of warming up the Chemex before brewing.
Select your favorite bean and grind it to a medium-course ground (about as fine as sand) and pour it into the filter.
For the Chemex, we recommend a 1:14 ratio between coffee and water. So, for 1 gram of coffee, you should use 14 ml of water. For brewing a single cup of coffee, 15 grams to 210 ml of water is ideal. But you should experiment and find the ratio you like best.
If possible, always grind the beans just before brewing to retain aroma and taste.
When your water comes to a boil, take it off the heat and let it rest for about 20–30 seconds for the temperature to drop to 92 – 96 Celcius (195–205 F). Colder water will result in flat, under-extracted coffee, while water that is too hot will result in bitter and over-extracted coffee.
Start by pouring just enough water to saturate the grounds and let it “bloom” for 30 seconds. We recommend pouring 3x the amount of coffee. This is to let the coffee release CO2 to make room for water for better extraction. This is also a perfect moment to smell all the coffee’s amazing aromas.
Next, slowly pour the rest of the water over the coffee in a circular motion, avoiding the sides/edges. Remove the filter when all the water has dripped through.
The total brewing time should be 3–5 minutes (or up to 6–7 minutes for a large 8-10 cup Chemex). If your cup fills in less than 3 minutes or tastes weak, adjust the grinder to produce finer grind particle sizes. If it takes more than 5 minutes or tastes too bitter, make the grind coarser.
Water quality has a great influence on the finished brewed coffee, and you should experiment with different kinds of bottled water if your tap water is not good or imparts a strong odor or taste, such as chlorine.
The most important step: pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy.
Read about the coffee and see if you agree with the description and can recognize some of the flavour notes. Or simply enjoy your brew and send a kind thought to the farmer who made this possible.
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