Coffee in a Chemex. Learning to brew coffee with the Coffee Project team

Coffee is a drink with an ancient and rich history. But restless humanity does not give up attempts to improve and improve the taste of coffee, inventing new recipes and devices for its preparation. Chemex was another attempt to brew the perfect coffee in simple living conditions. I must admit, the attempt turned out to be quite successful.

Enjoy your coffee!

And remember that our brewing method is not a dogma and there is always room for experimentation - try different beans, change the grind size or water temperature, try adding a few ice cubes or slices of frozen fruit to the drink so that hot, freshly brewed coffee immediately cools and becomes especially sweet. Of all the brewing methods, Chemex produces the most aromatic coffee.

How does a Chemex work?

To create this coffee maker, Schlumbom used only two laboratory instruments: a glass funnel and an Erlenmeyer flask. He added an air channel to the funnel to make room for the air displaced by the liquid dripping into the vessel so it could escape easily. He also added a "belly button" to the flask and connected it to a modified glass funnel. Finally, a wooden handle was added, creating a one-piece, heat-resistant borosilicate glass coffee maker called the Chemex.

Chemex uses the pour over method, which means the water passes through a layer of coffee and a filter, usually made of paper. Unlike a French press, the Chemex will give you a surprisingly clean cup of coffee. Chemex paper filters are 20-30% heavier than other filters, so they retain more suspended oils during the brewing process, preventing particulates from passing through the filter.

inventor

Chemex Corporation is now a family-owned company headquartered in western Massachusetts. This is where Chemex Coffee Makers, Chemex Bonded Filters, Handblown Water Kettle and Chemex Accessories are made.

Coffee in a Chemex: important features

What do you need to know when planning to make coffee in this original filter flask?

Chemex clearly highlights all the features and flavor nuances of the drink. So you should only prepare really good natural coffee in it. Experts recommend using single varieties without resorting to mixtures.
For the same reason, it is best to use freshly ground coffee made from fresh beans when brewing in a Chemex. If they have been sitting for a long time after roasting - more than 4 weeks - then they will not make a decent drink.
Coffee made with a Chemex is not as hot and scalding as the one brewed in a Turk. Due to the large volume of the flask and the width of the funnel, the water cools quickly. Many people like this temperature of the drink much less, because all shades of taste become more noticeable. If old grains or a low-grade mixture were chosen for cooking, then the Chemex will only highlight the shortcomings. But high-quality coffee, when brewed in a Chemex, fully reveals its bouquet.
The taste of the drink is affected by the selected proportions. The basic ratio is the ratio given earlier: 500 ml of water per 30 grams of coffee. If you have a smaller flask or simply plan to prepare a smaller amount of coffee, you will have to reduce not only the proportion of ground coffee, but also change the degree of grinding. Typically, coarsely ground coffee is used to prepare 500 ml of the drink. When reducing the volume of water, you need to take a fine powder. If you decide to prepare 750 ml of the drink, then you will need more coffee, and its fractions should also be larger. In short, the smaller the amount of coffee prepared, the finer the grind should be, and, conversely, the larger the portion of water, the coarser the grind of the beans.

IMPORTANT. To use this device, you definitely need filter bags, which are purchased separately. Approximate price: a Chemex flask costs from 2.5 to 6.5 thousand rubles, depending on the volume, design and place of sale; filter bags will cost from 1000 rubles for a package of 100 pieces.

The Chemex filter flask is especially convenient in the rhythm of modern hectic life. It can be used at home, at work or on the go. With its help, you can quickly prepare a large portion of a delicious drink, delighting not only yourself, but also your friends. In a word, the thing is functional and useful, it will be useful both for dedicated gourmets and for those starting to master the wisdom of coffee.

Features and additional information

Listed below are a number of recommendations and additional information that will help you prepare delicious coffee in a Chemex.

Keep in mind that this brewing method greatly emphasizes the taste. If the coffee is bad, it will feel great. Therefore, it is recommended to cook in a Chemex only from high-quality beans (see rating of ground coffee).
If you like a hot drink that burns everything in your mouth, then this method is not for you. While the extraction process is underway, the water is in the open air and has time to cool a little. The drink turns out hot, but not boiling.
The strength and richness of the drink is controlled by the amount of coffee added to the filter. The standard recipe is 2 spoons per 1 cup (200 ml). If you want it stronger, add more powder (what kind of coffee is the strongest?).

Do you use a Chemex? Share your experience in the comments!

Rules for making good coffee

The Chemex, like any device, has its secrets. A good, non-liquid drink with a rich aroma and mild taste can be prepared by observing a number of subtleties.

Grinding _ The brewing time and extraction depth depend on the quality of the beans and the degree of grinding. It is preferable to use freshly roasted beans, ground immediately before cooking. The grind is coarse, a little less than ocean salt, but a little more than granulated sugar crystals.
Water temperature is 92-95 degrees. It is not recommended to use steep boiling water, but at a temperature below 90º there will be no good extraction, the taste of the drink will be watery and empty.
Flow rate . You need to pour hot water slowly and smoothly. With a large flow, it may overflow or pass through the filter too quickly, not having time to get enough of the coffee taste.

If filtered too slowly, the coffee may taste bitter.

For Chemex, it is recommended to use single-origin coffee, since with relatively fast filtration the extraction will be low. The flavor depth and shades of different blends will not have time to fully develop. But the aroma will completely transfer into the drink. Any spices or additives other than milk, cream or sugar will also not reveal the taste of coffee.

The main advantages for coffee connoisseurs

Among the main advantages of the unique device are the following:

availability . You can brew coffee in a Chemex at work, on a hike, in the office, or on a picnic. Moreover, it is not difficult. All you need is the device itself, crushed grains, water and a minimum of knowledge about using the device.
taste qualities of coffee . The drink turns out rich, all shades of taste and aroma are revealed. Achieving such a result when using modern units is very problematic;
easy to clean. After use, you simply remove the filter and rinse the flask. It will not be difficult to perform such actions even while in nature.

Advantages of a filter flask

Chemex fans note the following advantages of the device:

Chemex can be used anywhere – at the dacha, at work, on a picnic, and even while camping. The preparation process is simple, therefore anyone can make aromatic coffee using a Chemex. For this you will need: a filter flask, coffee and hot water.

Chemex allows you to clearly reveal the nuances of coffee flavor.

Easy to maintain the device. The Chemex is easy to clean after use: the paper filter is thrown away and the flask is rinsed.

How to brew coffee in a Chemex?

The simplicity of the device does not mean that you can brew coffee in it however you like. The best result is achieved only if a clear algorithm is followed.

Here is the optimal sequence of actions.

Insert the opened paper filter into the funnel of a clean, dry Chemex.

IMPORTANT. You need to open the four-layer filter bag so that one side is one layer thick, and the other is three layers thick. The thickened part should be located on the spout side.

Heat the water to white boiling water, when the boiling kettle begins to make the loudest noise, and all the water in it seems to be permeated with small bubbles rising from bottom to top. In this state, the water temperature is about 95 degrees - ideal for brewing coffee in a Chemex.

IMPORTANT. If the water has been brought to the main stage of boiling, then the kettle must be removed from the heat or disconnected from the power supply and given a few minutes for the water to cool. It is not recommended to brew coffee with boiling water in a Chemex.

Drench the filter with plenty of water. This eliminates the specific smell of paper, which, as many tasters claim, is inherent in paper filter bags.

Drain the water without removing the filter.
Pour in 30 grams of ground coffee. It should be arranged in a uniform mound, in which a small hole or depression is made.

IMPORTANT. To brew coffee in a Chemex, you need to adhere to exact proportions. For 30 grams of ground coffee you will need exactly 500 ml of hot water. To get the desired proportion, you can put the Chemex on a kitchen scale at home, reset the readings to zero, and then add water.

Moisten the surface of the coffee with a small amount of water. This starts the extraction process, and the coffee releases its aromatic substances under the influence of hot water. Romantics from gastronomy called this stage “blooming”.
Wait until the water is absorbed into the coffee. This process usually lasts from 30 to 40 seconds.
Pour in some water. You need to pour in very slowly, moving in a circle. The movements will resemble drawing a spiral, from the edges to the center. It is advisable to distribute the efforts so that the water is distributed over the entire surface of the powder. A teapot with a long spout will make it very easy to brew evenly. With such dishes it is easier to control the speed of the pouring water. The water will flow through the coffee slowly, filling the filter. When 1-2 cm remains to the edges, you should stop brewing and wait until all the water has passed into the flask, then continue the process of pouring water.

IMPORTANT. After filling the filter for the first time, water should be poured only through the center. If you pour again through the edges, uneven leaching will occur, scientifically speaking, overextraction.

Wait until the entire volume of water passes through the filter bag.
Remove the filter bag with the remaining coffee.
Pour the resulting drink into cups.

The entire preparation process takes about 4 minutes; if you prepare coffee faster, the quality of the drink will suffer.

Chemex - what is it?

In essence, the Chemex is a rather primitive but effective filter flask for brewing coffee. Despite the simplicity of the idea and laconic execution, the Chemex is unique in many ways. The history of its creation, the method of preparing coffee, and, of course, the result are interesting.

Chemex was invented relatively recently, a little over 70 years ago, in 1941. The creator of the device was a famous chemist named Peter Schlumbom. Like many other people in science, he was a passionate fan of coffee and tirelessly sought the opportunity to prepare his favorite drink in harsh laboratory conditions. As befits a good chemist, Schlumbom knew everything about extraction and filtration, and his laboratory always had a lot of laboratory glassware. And one fine day, the scientist had an idea of how to combine convenience and simplicity, while obtaining a worthy result. That's how the Chemex came into being. By the way, in the original it is called Chemex - and reads like “Chemex”, hinting at the main specialty of its inventor - chemistry.

The first advertising slogan of the new product was “Brew coffee like a chemist,” and Schlumbom himself became the advertising face of the campaign, demonstrating the operation of his invention.

Chemex design

The design was based on a laboratory flask and a glass funnel.
They were connected by a clamp and a garter. Previously, it was made of genuine leather, but now the connecting block can be made of plastic. The device has a long recess with a spout for air removal and ease of pouring the finished drink. Chemex requires disposable paper filters for brewing coffee. Everything ingenious is simple. The device became an excellent illustration of this simple truth. Its creator had patents for thousands of inventions, and was successfully involved in chemistry for many years, but only Chemex made the scientist both rich and popular. It must be said that Schlumbom was not too burdened by this fact. On the contrary, he considered the Chemex his great success, and even decorated his Cadillac with a golden image of the device, which, by the way, is placed in the Museum of Modern Art as the brightest example of engineering creativity.

Chemex turned out to be in demand even when the first fashion boom subsided. It is also in demand today, although it would seem that modern devices should have ousted this simple design from the hearts of buyers. Its appearance has not undergone, in fact, any changes for 7 decades.

What do coffee lovers see as the main advantages of Chemex?

Availability of use . You can get a tasty and aromatic drink using the device anywhere - at work, in the office, on a hike, on a picnic. And the cooking process itself is accessible to everyone. All you need is a Chemex, coffee and hot water.
Great taste of the drink . Coffee brewed this way is indeed very tasty. It reveals all shades of aroma, which is why connoisseurs value Chemex much higher than modern electric coffee makers and fancy coffee machines with many functions.
Easy cleaning . In order to return the Chemex to cleanliness, simply throw away the used filter and rinse the flask. This can be done in any conditions, even the harshest.