The Chemex Doesn’t Need any Introduction
Simple yet elegant
My first pour over drink was brewed in a Chemex, this fancy looking glass carafe was why I ordered the drink in the first place and thought to myself that why would one have coffee black and without milk? Looks can be deceiving and having this preconceived notion in my head that it will brew a bitter strong drink much like watered down espresso aka Long Black aka Americano (Sorry Americano lovers), the complexity paired with berry brightness changed coffee for me completely in that very instant.
Then, the London Dairy coffee master class happened after a few weeks and I was offered to learn about specialty coffee and the art of brewing it. Espresso and a crash course in latte art was what came into my mind that very instant but I was advised against it since the cost of buying a quality espresso machine for home would get quite steep in comparison to filter coffee equipment. Learning how to brew a Chemex was my second choice and you can read more about it on my first blog post.
The Chemex reminds me of an hourglass, it has a very elegant wooden collar bounded by a leather bow tie. The design is simple yet timeless and can highlight any coffee bar with its presence. I have seen many cafes in Dubai like Mokha 1450 using the Chemex in their interiors. Chemex, like it’s more popular counterpart V60, is also a pour over method, water poured over a bed of coffee within a filter paper.
Chemex is one of the oldest dripper in history, invented in 1941 even before filter coffee was popular. Chemex filter papers are thicker than V60 and clears out much of the coffee oil and bitter elements during the brewing process. The body of the resulting brew will be much lighter compared to the V60. The brewing time can be slightly longer because of the thickness of the filter restricting the flow of water.
Brewing filter coffee: part of my morning routine
Brewing pour over coffee first thing after I wake up is part of my morning routine. This paired with scheduling my to-do’s for the day helps me focus on the minutiae of everyday life, there are so many small details we miss out on and should be grateful for. Coming back to the Chemex, I use it occasionally - maybe once a week. Due to it’s clean aroma and taste, you experience the clarity of the notes with complimenting acidity and enjoy the true characteristics of the single origin.
How I prepare the Chemex is quite similar to the V60, I will use a 1:15 ratio as standard and brew something like 400 ml or more. Yes, that’s a lot of coffee for 1 person and I have no justification for that. I take my time to sip and appreciate the notes which also change subtly with time as the temperature drops. This is why I love filter coffee, there are so many factors that it can get quite overwhelming but the end results are beyond satisfying if basic principles are followed. More about this in another post.
Chemex Glass Mug
I’ve mentioned a few of my favorite techniques to brew V60 in my previous blog post, I use the same to prep a Chemex as well. I have paired the Chemex with this Chemex glass mug which I think is quite a looker during golden hour. Chemex brews are exceptional and I enjoy this complex albeit delicate drink on a Friday after a heavy meal (preferably Biryani) paired with dark chocolate or dates.
