Mastering the Art of Brewing: Your Ultimate Guide to Chemex Coffee Recipes

The Chemex coffee maker, invented in 1941 by Dr. Peter Schlumbohm, is celebrated for its elegant design and ability to produce a clean, flavorful cup of coffee. Its unique hourglass shape and thick paper filters work together to remove unwanted oils and fine particles, resulting in a smooth and aromatic brew.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore various Chemex recipes tailored to different preferences and occasions. Whether you're brewing for one, two, or preparing an iced version, these recipes and tips will help you perfect your Chemex coffee.

Understanding Chemex Brewing Fundamentals

Before diving into specific recipes, it's essential to grasp the basics of Chemex brewing:

• Coffee-to-Water Ratio: The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) suggests a ratio of 1:15 to 1:17 (coffee to water). For example, using 30 grams of coffee with 450 milliliters of water falls within this range.
  

• Grind Size: A medium-coarse grind, resembling sea salt, is ideal. This grind size ensures optimal extraction without over-extraction, which can lead to bitterness.
  

• Water Temperature: Aim for a brewing temperature between 195°F and 205°F (90°C to 96°C). This range facilitates proper extraction, balancing the coffee's flavors.
  

• Brew Time: The entire process should last between 4 to 5 minutes, including blooming and pouring stages.
  

Chemex Recipes for Every Occasion

1. Classic Chemex Recipe for One

Ingredients:

• 30 grams of freshly ground coffee (medium-coarse grind)
  

• 450 milliliters of filtered water
  

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chemex: Place a Chemex filter in the brewer, ensuring the triple-fold side faces the spout. Rinse the filter with hot water to eliminate any papery taste and preheat the vessel. Discard the rinse water. 
   

2. Add Coffee Grounds: Place 30 grams of medium-coarse ground coffee into the filter.
   

3. Bloom: Pour 60 milliliters of hot water over the grounds, ensuring all are saturated. Let it sit for 30 seconds to allow the coffee to bloom.
   

4. Continue Brewing: Slowly pour the remaining 390 milliliters of water in a circular motion, starting from the center and moving outward. Maintain a consistent pour to ensure even extraction.
   

5. Serve: Once the water has fully passed through the coffee grounds, remove the filter and pour the coffee into your favorite mug.
   

Recipe adapted from Caffeine Fiend.

2. Iced Chemex Recipe

Ingredients:

• 45 grams of freshly ground coffee (medium-coarse grind)
  

• 750 milliliters of filtered water
  

• Ice cubes
  

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chemex: Place a Chemex filter in the brewer, ensuring the triple-fold side faces the spout. Rinse the filter with hot water to eliminate any papery taste and preheat the vessel. Discard the rinse water.
   

2. Add Coffee Grounds: Place 45 grams of medium-coarse ground coffee into the filter.
   

3. Bloom: Pour 90 milliliters of hot water over the grounds, ensuring all are saturated. Let it sit for 30 seconds to allow the coffee to bloom.
   

4. Continue Brewing: Slowly pour the remaining 660 milliliters of water in a circular motion, starting from the center and moving outward. Maintain a consistent pour to ensure even extraction.
   

5. Ice Preparation: While brewing, fill a separate container with ice cubes equal to the amount of water used (e.g., 750 milliliters).
   

6. Combine and Serve: Once the coffee has brewed, pour it over the ice. The ice will chill the coffee rapidly, resulting in a refreshing iced brew.
   

Recipe inspired by Handground's collection of Chemex recipes.

3. Chemex Recipe for Two

Ingredients:

• 45 grams of freshly ground coffee (medium-coarse grind)
  

• 750 milliliters of filtered water
  

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chemex: Place a Chemex filter in the brewer, ensuring the triple-fold side faces the spout. Rinse the filter with hot water to eliminate any papery taste and preheat the vessel. Discard the rinse water.
   

2. Add Coffee Grounds: Place 45 grams of medium-coarse ground coffee into the filter.
   

3. Bloom: Pour 90 milliliters of hot water over the grounds, ensuring all are saturated. Let it sit for 30 seconds to allow the coffee to bloom.
   

4. Continue Brewing: Slowly pour the remaining 660 milliliters of water in a circular motion, starting from the center and moving outward. Maintain a consistent pour to ensure even extraction.
   

5. Serve: Once the water has fully passed through the coffee grounds, remove the filter and pour the coffee into two cups.
   

6.  Enjoy Your Chemex Coffee: Once the coffee has fully brewed and the filter has been removed, your Chemex coffee is ready to serve. Pour into two cups and enjoy the clean, aromatic coffee that the Chemex method is known for.

Best Chemex Recipe: A Guide to Perfecting Your Brew

When looking for the best Chemex recipe, it’s important to consider the coffee beans you’re using. The Chemex brewing method is known for extracting the cleanest and most flavorful cup of coffee, and pairing it with the right coffee beans will elevate your experience even further.

Best Coffee Beans for Chemex Brewing:

• Opt for freshly roasted, high-quality beans. Single-origin beans often work well with the Chemex, as the clarity of the brew highlights the unique characteristics of the coffee.

• Light to medium roasts generally work best with Chemex, as this brewing method excels in extracting delicate flavors and aromas from the beans.

Pro Tip: For a balanced cup, try using freshly ground coffee and measure your beans accurately with a scale to ensure consistency.

How to Clean Chemex

To maintain the longevity of your Chemex and ensure every brew tastes fresh, proper cleaning is essential. Here's how to clean your Chemex:

1. Rinse After Every Brew: Immediately after brewing, rinse the Chemex with hot water to remove any remaining coffee grounds and oils.

2. Deep Cleaning: Use warm water with a mild soap to clean the glass every few uses. A bottle brush can help scrub the inner walls, ensuring there’s no build-up of coffee oils.

3. Dry Thoroughly: After cleaning, dry your Chemex thoroughly to avoid water spots and residue. Ensure it’s completely dry before storing to prevent mold growth.

Regular maintenance will preserve the taste of your coffee and keep your Chemex looking as beautiful as ever.

Where to Buy Chemex Filters

Chemex filters are essential to the brewing process, as they are thicker than regular paper filters, ensuring the smooth, clean cup that Chemex is known for. They can be purchased at:

• Online retailers like Amazon, the Chemex website, or specialty coffee shops.

• Local coffee shops often carry Chemex filters as well.

Be sure to purchase filters that are designed specifically for Chemex brewing, as they are uniquely shaped and made to fit the coffee maker perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How much coffee should I use for Chemex?

For a standard Chemex recipe, use 30 grams of coffee to 450 milliliters of water. You can adjust this ratio based on your desired strength, but this is a good starting point for a well-balanced brew.

2. Can I make iced coffee with Chemex?

Yes, you can make iced Chemex coffee. Brew your coffee as you normally would, then pour it over ice cubes to chill it quickly. You can follow the iced Chemex recipe mentioned earlier in this guide for the best results.

3. How long should I steep coffee in a Chemex?

The steeping time typically lasts 3-4 minutes after pouring the water. This allows the coffee grounds to bloom and extract all the flavors properly. Avoid letting it steep for too long, as this may lead to bitterness.

4. Is the Chemex coffee strong?

Chemex coffee tends to be clean and smooth, with a lighter body compared to other methods like French press or espresso. The thickness of the filter removes excess oils, providing a more delicate cup with a clear taste profile.

Elevate Your Coffee Ritual with Bazan Coffee and Chemex Brewing

The Chemex coffee maker is more than just a brewing tool–it’s a way to experience coffee at its finest. Whether you're brewing a single cup or preparing a pot for two, the clarity and smoothness of the coffee produced by the Chemex will never disappoint.

To complement your Chemex brewing method, you need high-quality coffee beans. At Bazan Coffee, we offer a wide range of freshly roasted, specialty coffees that are perfect for Chemex brewing. Our Fine Robusta - Krong Nang and Specialty Arabica - Cau Dat bring bold flavors and rich profiles that will elevate your Chemex experience.

Shop Bazan Coffee Now and Discover the Richness of Vietnamese Coffee! Don’t settle for anything less than the best. Browse our collection today and transform your coffee ritual with our premium, freshly roasted beans, ideal for Chemex brewing.