Chemex: clean coffee for two or more

Chemex measures its cups as 5 ounces (about 150 ml) and recommends one rounded tablespoon of coffee per cup, which on its website equals 5.3-5.5 g. For three cups, that’s about 16 g for 450 ml; if you like it stronger, the brand itself says you can use more.

The grind should be medium-coarse: according to Chemex, it gives the best extraction and the right flow rate with its filter.

Step by step

1. Grind the coffee medium-coarse.
2. Open the filter into a cone with the three-layer side towards the spout. That way it doesn’t stick to the glass and the spout stays free as an air channel.
3. If you like, wet the filter with hot water and pour that water away (optional, according to Chemex).
4. Add the coffee: about 5.5 g for each 150 ml cup.
5. Boil the water, take it off the heat and wait until it stops bubbling.
6. Pour a little in circles to wet all the coffee and wait about 30 seconds.
7. Keep pouring slowly without filling to the top: leave at least half a centimetre of space.
8. When it has all drained, remove the filter with the grounds. It’s compostable.

If it doesn't taste right

• Takes too long to drain: grind coarser.
• Tastes weak: add more coffee before grinding finer.
• Use Chemex filters: according to the listing, they fit all Chemex models except the CM-1 models.