How to brew with Chemex
3.5 to 4 min
You’re going to love this if…
You love a clear cup bursting with sweetness and nuance. The Chemex coffeemaker was invented in 1941 by the eccentric chemist Dr. Peter Schlumbohm. A brewer that’s both simple to use and also a thing of beauty. The Bauhaus-inspired carafe is crafted with non-porous labware, which imparts no flavour of its own. Today, its hourglass shape and signature collar are an iconic part of American design history.
You will need
coffee amt & grind size
20 grams & medium grind
Water amt & temp
200 grams & 92-94°C
We recommend starting with a 1:10 coffee-to-water ratio when brewing pour-over coffee. So for every gram of coffee, add 10 grams of water (that’s roughly 2 teaspoons). For one cup, start with 20g of coffee and 200g of water. Experiment to find the perfect ratio for you; for a lighter cup, try a ratio of 1:18.
Steps to brew
1
Fold the filter paper twice and open out one layer to form a paper cone, with the other three layers making a thick fold on the other side. Make sure the folds aren’t too crisp as water might pass through a tight fold too quickly. Place the thicker three-layered side over the spout of the Chemex brewer, with the single layer facing the other side of the coffeemaker.
2
Pour hot water (91°C) over the filter paper. This is called pre-wetting, and it removes any undesirable papery aroma or taste; it also opens up the blocks in the filter, such that your coffee retains its aromatic oils. Now, with the filter paper still in place, tip the water out of the coffeemaker.
3
Measure 20g of medium-ground coffee on the kitchen scale. ARAKU’s Grand Reserve and Micro Climate coffees are well-suited for a Chemex brew. Place the coffee measure in the filter.
4
Heat a little more than 200g of water until simmering (92-94°C); make sure the water isn’t boiling. We recommend using a gooseneck kettle as it will allow very controlled pouring, although you can also use a regular kettle.
5
Start the timer. Aim to portion out the water from the kettle into the Chemex in three pours, completed within 3.5 to 4 minutes. The amount of time depends on the quantity of coffee; if you’re making two cups with about 40-50g, it would take about 4.5 to 5 minutes.
6
The first pour is called “blooming”; pour enough water to cover the grounds and let the coffee soak for 15-20 seconds before the second pour. Whether you start pouring clockwise or anti-clockwise, remember to pour in the same direction for all three pours.
7
For the second pour, start at the centre of the filter and slowly spiral out towards the edge of the filter.
8
For the last pour, begin from the coffee at the edge of the filter and spiral towards the centre.
You May Also Like
Signature
Sale price₹ 540
Harvested from coffee terroirs shaded by pepper entwined silver oak trees and nurtured by well aerated rocky soils. Terroir characterised by lots of rocks, and highest percentage of silver oak trees. A blend of washed and natural coffees.
Selection
Sale price₹ 590
Comes from nutrient-rich coffee plots closest to the Araku habitations. Diversified shade, with silver oak trees entwined with pepper vines. A blend of washed, honey and natural processes.
Grand Reserve
Sale price₹ 890
Complex and artisanal, grown in high-altitude scree soils with bio-diverse conditions. This coffee consists of washed and natural process.
Micro Climate
Sale price₹ 630
Grown in a rare terroir, like the riverine island of Baankubedda, distinguished by gentle slopes, diversely shaded highland microplots. This coffee is a natural process.
Early Harvest
Sale price₹ 630
True to its name, these coffee cherries are picked early in the season. This coffee yields the brightest and freshest cup, similar to the first flush when compared to teas.
Pocket Brew - Selection
Sale price₹ 580
Our single-serve coffee packs combine the speed of an instant brew with the unrivalled quality of ARAKU's specialty coffee. As the name suggests, these drip bag sachets fit any pocket or purse and offer an extremely portable coffee. Each sachet is packaged individually and nitrogen-flushed to maintain the coffee's integrity and freshness. Suited for the airplane, the open road, hotels, offices, or even when you just need a quick fix at home. A sturdy cup and hot water does the trick.
Pocket Brew - Micro Climate
Sale price₹ 580
Our single-serve coffee packs combine the speed of an instant brew with the unrivalled quality of ARAKU's specialty coffee. As the name suggests, these drip bag sachets fit any pocket or purse and offer an extremely portable coffee. Each sachet is packaged individually and nitrogen-flushed to maintain the coffee's integrity and freshness. Suited for the airplane, the open road, hotels, offices, or even when you just need a quick fix at home. A sturdy cup and hot water does the trick.