The Chemex vessel is my favorite way to brew coffee. I think it particularly appeals to people that appreciate consistency and that chemistry lab sort of precision. As good as the base system is, I believe it benefits greatly from some simple “aftermarket” upgrades.
In my initial post about coffee, I show the basic details that I adhere to for each brew. In truth, most days actually call for twice as much coffee, and therefore I may brew with 48 grams and 800 milliliters. On weekdays this means that I fill up a stainless steel mug to enjoy on the drive to work. The rest goes into a thermos.
On weekends, I take the time to enjoy more slowly.
With this in mind, it is important to understand that the Chemex vessel itself must defend against convective and evaporative cooling. If I prepare a brew and simply place it on the tabletop, it will cool relatively quickly. Not only is this outcome less palatable, it robs me of the hot and warm flavor profiles. Personally, I don’t like the rush this puts on my morning.
Upgrade One – A Lid
A lid over the Chemex vessel stops evaporative cooling. The lid I have is wooden and fits very well to create a nice seal. There is a small round boss on top acting as a handle. It is also sanded very smooth and has (I believe) a light finish coat to prevent degradation from all the moisture. Two thumbs up.
Upgrade Two – A Jacket
I used to put my Chemex vessel inside of a knit hat and sort of wrap it tightly to keep things warm. Although I can improvise, I much prefer to have purpose-built tools. This “jacket” is very well thought out with a zipper, viewing window, handsome fabric, and tight fit.
When I use the Blue Horse jacket in combination with the wooden lid, I have upwards of an hour to enjoy my brew with minimal heat loss. Moreover, the designers of these tools applied neat and well thought out solutions, consistent with the aesthetic approach Chemex takes to coffee.
Upgrade Three – Reusable Filter
I know that filtration methods can be a point of contention for some people. Personally, I find paper filters very effective at trapping sediment and providing an extremely pure end result. However, I have never liked the “consumable” aspect, as it is just one more thing to keep track of.
I have wanted a metal solution, but have been skeptical. I never could find one that effectively trapped all of the fine sediment produced in the grinding process. I’m here to say that this particular filter has hit the nail on the head.
There is quite a lot going on in this design:
- An outer cone made of a thicker gauge sheet metal, perforated with tiny holes and spot welded together
- An extremely fine mesh lining the inside of the cone–this is critical to trapping sediment
- A rim with a removable silicone band that stabilizes the filter in the Chemex vessel and protects your fingers when you remove it (hot metal!)
- An overall attractive color
In practice, this filter sits very nicely inside the Chemex vessel. It’s easy to remove when the brew process is complete. Cleanup is easy, just dump the grounds and rinse. Water flows through at a very reasonable rate, too. I may adjust my grind settings to be slightly finer, but realistically there is no need. The coffee tastes great. I would even go so far as to say that I prefer the way it tastes compared to paper filter preparation. I credit the improved flavor to the oils that are allowed to pass through.
I am very grateful to enjoy these enhancements to a ritual that is so important to my day.