Does Chemex need special filters?
A: It is possible to use the cone filters in a pinch, but the Chemex filters have a nice heavier paper that allows got just the right amount of brewing time, holds the grounds better, and adds no taste to the coffee. At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference and technique between the pour overs. If you’re looking for a smooth and clean cup, then the Chemex is for you. But if you want a more vibrant and complex cup, then the Hario V60 is the right choice.Its unique brewing process, which involves a thicker paper filter, removes excess oils and sediments, resulting in a cleaner cup that highlights the coffee’s subtle notes and aromas. Moreover, the Chemex offers a visually pleasing brewing experience, marrying form and function in each pour.The Chemex filter is thicker than the V60 one so the Chemex can filter out more oils. With that said, the V60 also produces a sweet cup, and I’d happily drink a cup from both devices. Let’s talk about cup profile in terms of the price for each device.
Why is my Chemex coffee so bitter?
Bitterness in Chemex coffee often results from over-extraction, which is typically caused by too fine a grind, too much coffee, or too long a brew time. Sourness usually indicates under-extraction, which can occur when the coffee grind is too coarse, not enough coffee was used, or if the brew time is too short. The Chemex produces a “clean” cup of coffee, meaning little to no sediment or unwanted oils and a lighter mouthfeel. This opened a world of flavors that I was missing with a French press and drip machine, as both tend to brew coffee that’s bold, but not as dynamic.Its unique brewing process, which involves a thicker paper filter, removes excess oils and sediments, resulting in a cleaner cup that highlights the coffee’s subtle notes and aromas. Moreover, the Chemex offers a visually pleasing brewing experience, marrying form and function in each pour.Boil water and grind coffee to medium coarse grind setting. Chemex requires a coarser grind than other pour over brewing methods due its use as a higher brew volume and its proprietary filter, which is 20-30% thicker than the average coffee filter.Place the Chemex Filter in the brewer with single fold away from the spout and multiple folds lined up against the spout. Rinse the filter with hot water to get an even seal all the way around. This preheats the brewer and gets rid of any paper flavor from the filter.
Why does my Chemex coffee taste bad?
Using coffee grounds that are too small or fine can result in over-extraction, leading to a bitter taste in your Chemex coffee. When the grind size is too small, the water interacts more intensely with the coffee grounds, extracting more bitter compounds than desired. We recommend starting with a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio when brewing with the Chemex. In other words, for every 1 gram of coffee, add 15 grams of water, which converts to about 3 tablespoon of coffee for every 1 cup of water. Experiment from there to find the perfect ratio for you.
What are common Chemex brewing mistakes?
One of the most common Chemex mistake is * Grinding coffee too fine * which results in a long brew time and over extracted (bitter) brew. Not good! The Chemex needs a coarse grind to allow the water to move through the grounds. After experimenting with both brewing methods, I found that the Moka Pot is faster to brew coffee than the Chemex. Using the Moka Pot, it took me around 4-5 minutes from start to finish to brew a cup of coffee. The process is simple.