Crew Review: Chemex

[TheLeftHand77]

Being that you're literally surrounded by consumer, pro-sumer, and commercial grade coffee grinders --what's with the pre-ground coffee of questionable post-roast age?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@TheLeftHand77 It wasn't questionable, we received it just that morning from Velton and it was roasted a couple of days before. - Kat

[frank828]

@SeattleCoffeeGear you definitely want to grind just before you start brewing. you also wanna dial in your grind to get an ideal brew time.

i've noticed you guys always use pre-ground coffee...it's a bit disappointing that you guys dont take coffee brewing as seriously as espresso.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@frank828 We don't always use pre-ground coffee, we did this time as it had just arrived from the roaster - Kat

[frank828]

@SeattleCoffeeGear ah ok. just the videos ive seen i've noticed the pre-ground stuff. i remember the aeropress and some v60 videos off hand.

again, i dont know any serious coffee brewers that use pre-ground coffee.

here are also some guides on how a lot of pros brew. brewguides . com

intelli also has some great guides

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@frank828 I don't know when we gave you the impression that we are serious coffee brewers? ;) - Kat

[frank828]

@SeattleCoffeeGear :P

i'm sure you know how some of us coffee geeks can get. this is serious business!!! :D

oh and the reason for all the preground flack is because most of us feel that the gasses released just after the beans are ground are an important part of getting the most out of the brew.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@frank828 I get it and believe to each brew their own! :) We make coffee a ton of different ways and respect that others do, too. Just seems like this community is always THERE IS ONE RIGHT WAY and for someone who believes everything in life is subjective, that has always rubbed me the wrong way. ;) Which is why our approach has always been practical and fun experimentation - Kat

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@frank828 Also, the preground we use is different than most people's concept of preground simply because it is ground right after roast and delivered shortly thereafter to our store. So sometimes we use that because we love Twilight -- and for a long time, we were sourcing it as preground only. - Kat

[frank828]

@SeattleCoffeeGear oh wait...they grind right after the roast? they dont give it a couple days after roast before grinding? you definitely wanna give most beans at least 4-24 hours before grinding to get all the flavor out of the bean

.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@frank828 It still outgasses regardless; we taste tested both ways - Kat

[Beznet]

Just a little fun fact: That "nipple" on the side of the Chemex is approximately 3 cups. That's usually how much water I use every time to make a good 2 mugs worth. I also use 40-45grams which gives it an overall steep time of 4-5minutes (ground slightly finer than 'drip')

[kidfear0]

what is 'bright' coffee? acidic/'sour'?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@kidfear0 I don't know how to describe it any other way - Kat

[renix]

My fave Chemex video: vimeo(dot)com/6161817

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@renix Thanks for sharing that! - Kat

[vyapada]

Lots of comments about the chemex filter being superior to others but side-by-side testing I've tasted doesn't back this up. Also... was that pre-ground? :O :O :O

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@vyapada Interesting; well, I'll have a better take once we get the shipment in. Yes, it was pre-ground Velton's Twilight Blend, received from him about 20 minutes before we shot. - Kat

[vyapada]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Epic timing then :)

Stirring after pouring is also a popular method and central pours seem to be gaining popularity.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@vyapada Cool - we'll experiment with that! We get coffee from him the same day each week and timed this shoot accordingly. - Kat

[nAndy416]

I absolutely love using the Chemix pot. I've used many other coffee makes and this is just so much better than them all. I always make mine with freshly ground freshly roasted beans with water that is exactly 200 F. But first I wet the paper filter to get some of that paper taste that most have. I make a first pour to get all the grounds wet and allow it to bloom while stirring it and then pour the rest of my water.

Makes the best coffee I've ever tasted.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@nAndy416 Thank you for sharing your technique!! :) - Kat

[streamr89]

Nice experiment, I never thought of using weighing scales! Interested to know what grind of coffee you used and what roast was it? thanks.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@streamr89 The Twilight is a fine drip grind and a medium-dark roast - Kat

[sweetfeat1]

Do you have to buy those filters from Chemex? They don't sell them at the grocery store do they? For that reason alone I wouldn't buy one.

[ConsumerFanatics]

@sweetfeat1 I don't understand this logic. If people order coffee equipment online, why aren't filters placed in this category as well? To answer your question, they sell Chemex filters at Peet's.

[sweetfeat1]

@ConsumerFanatics I'll help you understand the logic. One time purchases* vs. annoying products that come with proprietary re-fills. From experience anything that has a proprietary re-fill WILL become dust collectors @ some point.

[ConsumerFanatics]

@sweetfeat1 Makes sense. Worth a try using the Chemex filters. It's what makes Chemex, Chemex. I feel like a villain in this thread, sheesh.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@ConsumerFanatics You shouldn't feel like a villain! Sorry if my comments suggested that you were - we are definitely going to do a side by side once we get our Chemex filters in and I do appreciate you noting that there is a difference - Kat

[ConsumerFanatics]

@sweetfeat1 In my experience, getting the "Chemex" cup was never an annoying one. That said, I understand the logic. But, specialty coffee hasn't been the most convenient hobby for me, at least. Bypassing Starbucks and Peet's and buying specialty coffee from various roasters...so "annoying" ;-)

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@sweetfeat1 According to Consumer Fanatics, you do! But we made an excellent cup using a Hario version :) - Kat

[gtrwndr87]

You didn't mention if you did or not but rinsing/washing the paper filter does a lot to remove paper taste. You should also be prewetting the coffee before the actual brew, and running a stopwatch trying to get a total brew time of 4 minutes or so. You guys do this kind of stuff for your espresso vids. Pour over is no different.

Also I hope that wasn't preground coffee. It didn't "bloom" when you started the pour like fresh roasted, fresh ground coffee does. You should also dial in grind for

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@gtrwndr87 We did pre-wet; thanks for your other tips! - Kat

[DansaMinCancer]

I am going to test that soon (Your coffee looks a bit green.. )

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@DansaMinCancer ?

[DansaMinCancer]

@SeattleCoffeeGear It was my screen sorry.. :)

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@DansaMinCancer Hahaha - hate this newfangled equipment! :) - Kat

[joe4ska]

All those wonderful toys. Add great coffee. must be an amazing place to work :) I've got a lot of videos to catch up on.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@joe4ska :D Yes, we do have a lot of fun - Kat

[samshead]

I swear that I could smell the coffee as Allison was pouring the first round. I remember my best friend's mom had a Chemex back in the *cough* *cough* '80s *cough* *cough*...great stuff as always.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@samshead :D - love it's '70's era design! :) - Kat

[klarinetta]

@SeattleCoffeeGear 70's ? Wasn't Chemex invented in 1941 ?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@klarinetta Regardless, the design has always looked really 70's to me, so perhaps I should have said 70's-esque for all the hairsplitters in the audience :) - Kat

[bmurphskiing]

Hey, your actually supposed to put just enough to fully saturate the grounds with as little water as possible, so either it just barely drips out or not at all, and then 30 seconds later you hit it with the amount remaining up to 200 grams, wait 30 seconds, hit it again up to 400 and wait till the water has decanted down into the lower orb. I work at Stumptown Coffee Roasters in New York City and thats how we do it.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@bmurphskiing Thanks for sharing your technique with the class! - Kat

[ConsumerFanatics]

What makes Chemex special/different is their filters, so it's kind of pointless not to use their filter for this demonstration. Sorry, not trying to hate, I'll get off my soapbox shortly. Understand that you didn't have the filters. Suggest you guys try it out and taste the difference. A great comparison would be to try a Chemex filter vs. a Coava Kone.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@ConsumerFanatics Well, once we have their filters in stock, we will see if your statement holds merit! We do have a Kone video coming up. Still think that this video was not pointless at all. - Kat

[ConsumerFanatics]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Okay, fair enough. I take back my "pointless" comment! Carry on!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@ConsumerFanatics Hahaha :)

[EvanOz85]

@ConsumerFanatics - I gotta agree with ConsumerFanatics. It's only Chemex coffee if you use the Chemex brand filters. They are completely different that Hario's...much thicker and produce an entirely different brew. You should change the name of this video to "Chemex with V60 Filter".

[ConsumerFanatics]

@EvanOz85 Yup :) Chemex filters will result in a very sweet cup that's quite different than any other type of paper filter (doesn't mean "better" but certainly very good when done right and one of my favorite drip methods). Rinsing thoroughly as others suggested is also the way to go.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@EvanOz85 Cool - to each their own brew, definitely! We made a great cup and had a lot of fun and at the end of the day that is all that counts in my book. :) - Kat

[klarinetta]

One tip I found to be usefull and I don't know if you noiticed that is because the Chemex filter is so thick you need when brewing such small amount 400ml or less is that I always use the white filter like you did but I really find that I need to rinse it with at least 1 lliter of water otherwise you will have too much paper taste.

[klarinetta]

@klarinetta Another thing is that with the 6 or 8 cup model the coffee will get cold too soon when brewing for 1 or 2 persons(because it's so large)so I usually use the Hario V60 no.2 for myself and another guest and the Chemex when brewing for 3 persons or more.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@klarinetta Good tips! We did premoisten but we used the Hario filters on this guy as we don't currently have the Chemex-specific ones in stock. - Kat

[missgymnasium]

Love your videos. Could you perhaps do a comparison between the chemex and the hario drip pot? Maybe also paper filter versus the coava kone? Greetings from Munich.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@missgymnasium We shot one with the Kone, will be posted on Friday. I'll put the comparison on our to-do list - Kat

[scenic007]

On my Hario I use 380 grams of water and 24 grams coffee, and pour about 40 gram to wet the coffee, then wait about 30 sec before a slow pour of the rest of the water. Not more than 3 minutes, not less than 2 minutes after the slow pouring starts. I normally use v60 02. Greetings from Norway :)

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@scenic007 Thanks for sharing your technique!! :) - Kat

[klarinetta]

@scenic007 Similar technique going on here. It though depends on the type of coffee and harvest plus how fresh it is(how much it blooms) how long it takes but usually between 2:15- to 3:00 min

[PiercedCub32]

Ugh ladies this is unavailable on ur site! I was gonna order one, its sexy lookin' ;oD

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@PiercedCub32 Chemex on it's own is available; we are waiting for more backordered Kones for the package combo, so that's not available ... - Kat

[thePowerPlant]

It looks like you already did this, but I like to brew Chemex with the Hario 02 white filters, as they have much less paper taste than the Chemex branded filters, not to mention that are much less a pain in the butt (to fold). Other than that, I brew with with almost identical to how I brew with my V60. Simple pulse brewing and watching my time.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@thePowerPlant Cool! Yes, we used the Hario 03's for this guy as we don't currently carry the Chemex brand. Good to know about the flavor - Kat

[PiercedCub32]

Gail would NOT be happy with that pour rate! ;o) Thanks for the videos guys, Hope Gail has a great vacation!!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@PiercedCub32 Hahahahaha :) - Kat