Coffee with Chemex

Does the Chemex make the best coffee? I'm not sure, but I think the Chemex has a lovely simplicity to it: A funnel-mouthed glass flask held by a wooden collar. Place a filter in the mouth, wet it, and place coffee in the filter. Pour hot water over the grounds.

I saw this demo of the Chemex at the Up & Down Tour -- the part run by Casa Brasil. Thanks again to the Tour folks for letting me participate!

Comments

[mrenouf]

This is just a drip coffee-maker... without the heating element. Why would this make coffee any better than any other cone-style drip coffee maker?

[John M. P. Knox]

mrenouf, from my limited knowledge of it, the main difference is control. The folks who use a chemex to brew first soak the grounds before they brew the coffee -- that is the step you see here. After the coffee has been soaked like this for 20-30 seconds, they slowly pour the rest of the hot water through.

I'm sure the lack of plastics is also seen as a benefit by the food purists. Cheers!