Welcome to the world of Chemex brewing, where every cup of coffee is a journey through rich flavors and aromatic bliss. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best coffee choices for your Chemex, focusing on why Spirit Animal Coffee’s Bourbon Blend tops the list, followed closely by Cooper’s Cask Coffee. So, grab your Chemex coffee maker, and let’s dive into the art of making the perfect cup of coffee.
Table of Contents
The Chemex Method: A Brief Overview
The Chemex method, created in 1941 by Peter Schlumbohm, stands out in the coffee world for its simple elegance. Favored by coffee lovers, the Chemex brews a clean, richly flavored coffee. It uses a paper filter and glass vessel, ensuring your coffee is free from bitterness and sediment. Let’s explore our top coffee picks for this method.
What’s The Best Coffee For Chemex?
1. Spirit Animal Coffee’s Bourbon Blend
I’ve had a great experience using Spirit Animal Coffee’s Bourbon Blend in a Chemex. This single-origin coffee from Honduras stands out with its unique, floral taste. Brewed in a Chemex, it offers a distinctly enjoyable flavor. In my detailed review, I explore their dedication to small-batch, single-origin coffee and commendable farmer relationships. While pricier, the quality and ethical standards of Spirit Animal Coffee make it a worthwhile choice.
What Makes It Special?
Single-Origin Coffee: This single-origin coffee from Honduras delivers a unique and consistent flavor profile that’s instantly appealing and easy to enjoy.
Roast Level: This medium-roast Bourbon Blend masterfully balances the lively acidity found in light roasts with the deep, full-bodied richness typical of darker roasts.
Flavor Profile: Experience a delightful blend of rich flavors and subtle floral highlights, perfectly enhanced by the Chemex brewing technique.
2. Cooper’s Cask Coffee – A Close Runner-Up
Cooper’s Cask Coffee is a notable contender, focusing on small batch, barrel-aged coffee. They skillfully blend single-origin beans with whiskey and rum, creating distinctive flavors. Their roasting and barrel aging methods aim to amplify the coffee’s inherent taste notes. This makes it ideal for Chemex brewing, as it accentuates the complex flavors in the coffee.
Cooper’s Cask Coffee Highlights
Varied Range: Cooper’s Cask provides an array of flavors, from light to medium roasts, catering to different preferences.
Premium Beans: Their selection of top-quality beans guarantees that every cup you brew is exceptionally good.
The Brewing Process: Achieving Best Results with Chemex
Brewing coffee in a Chemex isn’t just about the beans; it’s about the process. Here’s how you can get the best results:
The Setup
- Chemex Coffee Maker: $29.99 on Amazon
- Chemex Filters: $8.99 on Amazon – Use genuine paper filters for a clean taste without any papery residue.
- Burr Grinder: $199 on Amazon – For a consistent, medium-coarse grind.
- Gooseneck Kettle: $31.99 on Amazon – For precise control over the water pour.
- Kitchen Scale: $12.59 – To measure the coffee-to-water ratio accurately.
- Warm Water: To rinse the filter and preheat the Chemex brewer.
Brewing Steps
- Grind the Coffee: Aim for a medium-coarse grind size using a burr grinder. This grind size is crucial for the slow brew time inherent in Chemex brewing.
- Prepare the Filter: Place the Chemex filter in the brewer and rinse it with warm water. This step removes any papery taste and warms up the vessel.
- Measure and Add Coffee: Using a kitchen scale, measure the right amount of coffee. A good starting point is 60 grams of coffee per liter of water.
- The First Pour (Bloom): Gently pour water over the grounds in a circular motion, just enough to wet them. This allows the coffee to “bloom,” releasing CO2 and enhancing flavor extraction.
- Add Remaining Water: Pour the remaining grams of hot water in stages, maintaining the water level just above the coffee grounds.
Tips for a Perfect Cup
- Water Temperature: Aim for a water temperature between 195°F to 205°F. Too hot, and you risk burning the coffee; too cool, and you won’t extract enough flavor.
- Brew Ratio: The ideal coffee-to-water ratio for Chemex is typically 1:16 (coffee grams to grams of water).
- Brew Time: A total brew time of about 4 minutes is ideal for the best extraction.
Beyond the Beans: The Importance of the Right Equipment
While the choice of beans is crucial, the equipment you use plays a significant role in the quality of your brew.
- Chemex Coffee Maker: Choose the right size for your needs, whether it’s a 6-cup Chemex or another model.
- Chemex Filters: Always opt for genuine Chemex filters for the best filtration.
- Burr Grinder: For a uniform grind, a reliable coffee grinder is key. Steer clear of pre-ground coffee to maintain freshness. While I prefer Breville for its quality, it’s on the expensive side. You can get decent burr grinders starting at around $30.
- Gooseneck Kettle: This kettle allows for precise control over the pour, crucial for the circular motion required in the brewing process.
Personal Preference: Finding Your Perfect Brew
Coffee is a personal experience, and the best Chemex coffee for you might differ from someone else’s favorite. Experiment with different coffee beans, from Peruvian coffee to Guatemalan coffee, and play around with the brew ratio and grind size to discover what suits your palate best.
Here’s a list of other coffee brands I can recommend that offer exceptional coffee perfect for Chemex brewing:
- Koa Coffee
- 1st in Coffee
- Volcanica Coffee
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters
- Cardiology Coffee
- Brewpoint Coffee
- Hawaii Coffee Company
Conclusion: A Journey Towards the Perfect Cup
In the world of pour-over coffee, the Chemex method stands out for its elegance and the quality of coffee it produces. Whether you choose Spirit Animal Coffee’s Bourbon Blend or explore the offerings of Cooper’s Cask Coffee, remember that the journey to a delicious cup of coffee involves not just the beans but also the brewing process, the equipment, and your personal touches. So, embark on this journey, experiment, and discover what makes the perfect cup of coffee for you.
