What’s So Special About Chemex? (Solved & Explained!)

If you know any coffee connoisseurs you have probably heard of the Chemex. Have you ever wondered what it was? Have you ever wondered why everyone seems so enchanted with the Chemex?

The Chemex is a pour-over type of coffee making method and coffee maker. The Chemex brews strong coffee and avoids the more bitter flavors that you get from other coffee brewing methods. The Chemex has a special shape and filter for making coffee.

In the following sections we will examine the Chemex. Let’s look at how it is different and how that makes it special to coffee lovers around the world.

What Is A Chemex?

A Chemex is a brewing method and a coffee brewer. Chemex has been around since 1941. It is one of the older coffee brewing methods. 

The Chemex coffee brewer is shaped like an hourglass. It comes in various sizes. For each size there is a special filter and a recommended grind for the coffee.

 

Chemex Size *1 cup is 5 ounces	Amount of Water	Amount of Coffee	Coffee Grind
1 cup	5-6 ounces	10 grams	Standard drip grind
3 cups	15-18 ounces	30 grams	Medium Grind
6 cups	30-36 ounces	60 grams	Medium-Coarse Grind
8 cups	40-48 ounces	80 grams	French Press Grind
10 cups	50-60 ounces	100 grams	French Press Grind

The Chemex brewing method is a pour-over style. You will need a kettle with a long spout. The special shape of the kettle gives you more control over your pour-over. This control makes the coffee better since the water is poured more evenly. 

Why Is The Chemex Different?

There are a few things that make the Chemex different from other coffee makers. The first and most obvious is that the Chemex is not electric nor is it used for making coffee on a stove top. 

The next most obvious difference is the shape. The Chemex has an hourglass shape. The bottom is rounded, but flat enough to sit on the counter. The top is open and is where you put the filter, coffee, and water.

The filters are also different. The Chemex has a special filter. The filter is thicker than other coffee and pour-over filters. The thicker filter makes the water move more slowly. This slows the brewing time but helps prevent bitterness.

You also use a different grind than you would usually use for a pour over. With a normal pour-over you use a medium-fine grind for the coffee. For the Chemex you want either a medium or a coarse grind. Which grind you use depends on the size of the Chemex.

Another noticeable difference is that the Chemex acts as a brewer, a carafe, and can even be a cup (if you are using the small size). A pour over uses a cone-shaped top for the filter and coffee. The Chemex has that cone-shaped top as a part of its design. 

The last difference is in the coffee itself. The Chemex brews coffee slower than most coffee makers. This helps prevent the dreaded bitterness you sometimes get. By adding more or less coffee grounds you can make the coffee stronger or weaker.

How To Make Coffee In A Chemex?

Making coffee in a Chemex is fairly simple and easy. The hardest parts are grinding the coffee and pouring the water.

1. Heat water to a boil in a gooseneck kettle.
2. Separate the 3 folded side of the filter from the 1 folded side. 
3. Place the 3 folded side against the spout.
4. Grind your coffee beans (see chart above for grind levels).
5. Remove the water and let it settle.
6. Pour a little water over the filter to get it wet.
7. Swirl the water inside the carafe to heat it.
8. Dump out the water.
9. Add the ground coffee to the filter.
10. Pour just enough water to cover the coffee. Let the coffee bloom (about 30 seconds needed for coffee to release gas).
11.  Slowly began pouring water in a circular motion. Starting inside and moving to the outside then repeat from outside to the inside in a spiral. Keep the water at least an inch from the top of the Chemex brewer.
12. Once you are out of water and the coffee stops dripping, remove the filter and coffee. 
13. Enjoy your coffee! 

Make any notes about how the coffee came out. You can adjust the amount of water, the amount of coffee, or the grinding level of the coffee. If the coffee is too strong, use less coffee. If it is too weak, use more coffee or less water. 

How To Clean A Chemex

You can clean a Chemex in the dishwasher. However, this method will not get it absolutely clean. You can also clean it with soap and water in the sink. Again, this method works well enough, but you will still want to do a deep clean every few months or at least twice a year. 

If you use your Chemex more often you may want to deep clean more often to prevent the buildup of coffee grease and scum. A deep clean is using warm water and vinegar. You want to use equal parts water and vinegar.

Pour the water and vinegar mixture into the Chemex. Swirl it around. Use a long handled scrubbing brush to scrub the sides and bottom. You can then pour it out while scrubbing the top half. 

The soap and water method is very similar to the vinegar method. You will need a long handled scrubbing brush. In all three methods you need to remove the wooden handle to keep it from getting wet. 

Who Should Have A Chemex?

If you enjoy a good cup of smooth coffee and like making your own coffee, the Chemex is the right coffee maker for you. 

The Chemex is not the right coffee maker for someone just starting out. Start with a normal pour over first and then try out the Chemex. 

It is important that you have your own coffee grinder at home. You will want to experiment to find out how to make different grinding settings. Unless you have a fancy coffee grinder that does it all for you. If you have your own coffee grinder and enjoy making your own coffee, you might enjoy the Chemex.

Conclusion

The Chemex is one of many coffee brewing methods available to coffee drinkers. This coffee brewing method and carafe is best suited to people who enjoy the process of making coffee as much or almost as much as they enjoy the coffee.