How do I make a cold brew with a Chemex?
To make cold brew in a Chemex, combine coarse-ground coffee and cold water in the carafe at a 1:8 ratio. Let it steep for 12–24 hours at room temperature or in the fridge. Finally, place the Chemex filter in the neck and pour the mixture through to strain, resulting in a clean, sediment-free cold brew concentrate.
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The Chemex is famous for its thick, proprietary paper filters, which are designed to remove almost all sediment and oils from hot coffee. This makes it an unexpectedly excellent tool for cold brew. By using the Chemex as a steeping vessel and then as a filtration device, you can produce a cold brew concentrate that is exceptionally clean, smooth, and free of the grit often found in other cold brew methods.
To begin, add your coarse-ground coffee to the bottom of the Chemex carafe. A good starting ratio for a concentrate is 1 part coffee to 8 parts water by weight. Pour cold, filtered water over the grounds, ensuring they are all fully saturated. Give the mixture a gentle stir to ensure no dry pockets remain. Cover the top of the Chemex—a small plate or plastic wrap works well—to prevent the coffee from absorbing odors from your kitchen or refrigerator.
Let the mixture steep for 12 to 24 hours. The longer you steep, the more intense the flavor will be. Once the time is up, place the Chemex filter in the neck of the carafe and pour the mixture through. The thick paper filter will catch all the grounds and fine particles, leaving you with a crystal-clear cold brew concentrate. This concentrate is very strong, so it is best served diluted with water, milk, or ice.
In practice, this method is perfect for those who love the convenience of cold brew but dislike the 'muddy' texture that can sometimes occur with French press or immersion-only methods. The Chemex filter provides a level of clarity that is hard to match. Because the concentrate is so clean, it highlights the delicate of the coffee, making it a great way to enjoy high-quality single-origin beans in a cold format. Just remember to rinse your filter before you start the final pour to ensure no paper taste enters your concentrate.
- ·https://www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/how-to-brew-coffeeVerify source for reference 1 ↗
- ·https://www.aboutcoffee.org/brewing/pour-over-coffee/Verify source for reference 2 ↗