The Chemex coffee maker is an attractive glass container that enables you to conveniently and efficiently make a delicious pour-over coffee beverage from the convenience of your own residence. Nonetheless, the peculiar shape of the Chemex can be difficult to scrub clean. Don’t be worried if you are having difficulty cleaning your Chemex or are hesitant to purchase one because you think it might be hard to keep up with – there’s no need to fear! Here I will tell you how to clean your Chemex and remove the problematic spots and coffee detritus.
Explaining the details of the ways to clean a Chemex
I will present 5 methods of sanitizing your Chemex. I have grouped all 5 of them together. Beginning with the most ordinary method, I will carry on describing how you can cleanse your Chemex utilizing vinegar, ice, soap, and giving it a spin in the dishwasher.
After talking about the 5 ways to clean your Chemex, I will demonstrate an efficient way to dry it off and achieve a perfect finish.
The natural way of cleaning your Chemex, using water and salt
The easiest way to clean your Chemex is to start with it. In order to attempt this technique yourself, you will require both water and salt. This technique of cleansing the Chemex is referred to as the natural method, since it does not involve the use of any type of chemical substances.
To clean your Chemex efficiently, it is necessary to use a generous amount of salt to rid it of any of the coffee residues or oil accumulations.
I clean my Chemex with the natural method by adding 20 grams of salt to 500 grams of water.
So let’s get started. Decide if you would like to use cold tap water or boiled water first.
If you are utilizing cold water, you can let the combination sit and dissolve over the course of an entire night. Set aside five minutes prior to going to bed to mix salt with water and leave the combination in the Chemex during the night for a thorough cleansing.
When preparing coffee using the cold water method, the Chemex should be filled up to the point where the neck begins. When your Chemex is full of water, the salt will begin to rid it of the accumulated grease inside.
Be sure to discard the water that has been in your Chemex during the night when you wake up. Wash your Chemex completely to guarantee that all remnants of salt are removed.
Did you make a tasty pour-over coffee the previous day but neglect to clean your Chemex? You can utilize the boiled water and salt approach if you have family or friends visiting you.
Begin by boiling the water, then measure out the salt. This method requires 500g of water and 20g of salt.
Do not exceed 500 grams of water when swirling your Chemex. Putting too much water in it will only make a huge mess.
Put the salt into your Chemex and pour in the hot water. Mix the water and salt together vigorously for at least 5 minutes to get rid of all the coffee marks from your Chemex. Discard the salt and water combination and rinse extensively with clean water.
Use water and salt
Using water and salt is a great way to quickly clean your Chemex in a rush. Mix two cups of hot water and four teaspoons of salt in a container to sanitize a Chemex. Next, pour the Chemex all the way up to the neck and stir it around for a couple of minutes. Salt can act as a gentle scouring agent, thus making it easier to take away any coffee that might be difficult to clean.
If the stains on your Chemex don’t come off, adding a bit of dish soap to the salt solution you’ve made can help get rid of them. Try it out! You might want to let the mixture sit in the Chemex overnight in order to remove any oils or stains that won’t rub off easily.
Be sure to thoroughly rinse the Chemex with hot water after cleaning it and allow it to air dry for between one to two hours. You can also use a scouring pad to get rid of the most stubborn coffee marks on your Chemex. If this technique doesn’t turn out successful, you may want to try other methods to get your Chemex looking great!
White vinegar flush
Using white vinegar is an excellent choice for getting rid of accumulated filth and coffee stains in your Chemex. A fantastic suggestion is to run a vinegar wash directly after brewing coffee in your Chemex, which will help stop stubborn stains from developing. Pour about 2 ounces of white vinegar into your Chemex, then fill it up to the neck with boiling hot water. Allow the concoction to sit for a minimum of thirty minutes and then pour it out.
Clean out your Chemex by filling it with warm water a few times, so that any remaining white vinegar is gone. If the glass is still dirty, try doing a vinegar wash once again.
Leave your Chemex to air dry throughout the night, propping the lid open to stop condensation. Leaving it to air dry should get rid of the acrid flavor and fragrance of vinegar, which obviously nobody desires in coffee. Using white vinegar to rinse a Chemex is a useful technique for cleansing it, but you could always attempt to clean it with ice if you still don’t find it satisfactory.
Clean a Chemex with ice
A mixture of ice and salt can be beneficial for giving your Chemex a thorough cleaning, as the salt will keep the ice cold and help remove coffee residue from the glass. To use this cleaning method:
- Add two tablespoons of salt to your Chemex.
- Half fill with crushed ice (smaller ice cubes will mean a greater surface area and therefore better cleaning), then add water.
- Add some dish soap and swirl for a couple of minutes. The more you swirl, the more coffee stains you’ll remove.
- Pour out your mixture, rinse with cool water and leave to dry.
This technique is only applicable with a top-notch Chemex as the ice may cause a cheaper one’s glass to shatter. Verify that your Chemex is dishwasher safe to be sure it can stand up to high temperatures.
A Chemex can be washed by using the ice method, however, this could also lead to it breaking, resulting in glass and other materials being spread out on the floor, so verify that it will not have this outcome before you attempt it.
Give it a hot rinse
There is no better remedy than using hot water and a lot of effort to get the job done. Boil water and pour it into your Chemex. It’s a simple approach to attempt if you don’t possess any other cleaning materials available.
But why does a hot rinse work so well? Well, hot water acts as a solvent for dirt. Residue being capable of being dissolved in water has the capability to clean the glass.
This approach has significant benefits as it allows you to avoid producing coffee that has a sour taste, and guarantees your Chemex will remain unscathed.
Use soap and water to clean your Chemex
The most efficient way to clean your Chemex is to utilize soap and water since it is uncomplicated yet consistently works. Mix a bit of dish soap with warm water and stir it for a couple of minutes to remove any coffee residue from your Chemex.
It is a good idea to utilize soap and water to thoroughly clean your coffee carafe after every use in order to stop sediment from developing and affecting the flavor of later brews. Make sure to rinse with hot water in order to remove any soap remaining.
A fantastic piece of advice is to use a brush to clean the inside of your Chemex. This will help to fight against grease and dirt, preventing your Chemex from becoming covered with gunk! Using a gentle brush is the best option for cleaning your Chemex because it won’t cause any damage to the glass. Rinse your brush well after each use and submerge it in a soapy solution to eliminate any coffee particles and germs.
Rinse it with sodium bicarbonate
Cleaning your Chemex with baking soda is an effective way to avoid having to scrape and scrub it a lot. Pour approximately three tablespoons of bicarbonate into your Chemex, stirring for a full minute or two before leaving the carafe to sit for a half hour.
Using sodium bicarbonate is a great way to maintain cleanliness in your Chemex, and is a particularly helpful technique if you find that coffee residue is amassing on your equipment. Be sure to rinse out any bicarbonate with water prior to allowing the Chemex to dry out fully over the course of the night.
But how does sodium bicarbonate work? The Ph level of it is even, enabling it to counter the tartness of acids. Furthermore, it eliminates any odors entirely instead of just hiding them, thus making it an outstanding selection for a thorough clean.
Sodium bicarbonate’s many uses make it perfect for cleaning a wide range of coffee machines and equipment, from Moka Pots to the best Keurig coffee makers.
Cleaning your Chemex with ice
Ensure you utilise a top-notch Chemex if you intend to apply ice-based purifying techniques. The Chemex will get pretty cold from the ice. If you are using one of the lower-grade Chemex models, there’s a possibility that it could shatter. You want to avoid this.
First off, before you begin using this cleaning method with your Chemex, make sure you have a good supply of ice in the freezer. You have the option of employing crushed ice if you possess it or regular ice cubes. Store-bought or home-made will work great either way.
I’m going to utilize the round-shaped ice cubes created with the plastic bags in your home. The size of the cubes is not as important, but keep in mind that smaller cubes are better for making contact with the walls of your Chemex. This will lead to a more thorough purification of your Chemex.
In order to carry out this method, you will require some ice cubes, a pinch of salt, and a short amount of water. Use these instructions to correctly clean your Chemex with ice!
Start by placing about 20 ice cubes into your Chemex up to about halfway.
The following step is to include a pinch of salt (around 5 grams). The use of salt will make the ice cubes form a tighter bond, consequently keeping the temperature lower for a longer period of time.
Put a little bit of water into the Chemex so the ice cubes can rotate around inside.
Continue swirling your Chemex for 2 minutes. If your Chemex appears to have numerous marks, it may be a good idea to extend the time by two minutes. You will quickly recognize the effects, so you’ll understand if you have to keep swirling for a little bit longer.
Putting your Chemex in the dishwasher
If you want the most convenient way to clean your Chemex, you can try using a dishwasher. You can rest assured that your Chemex will be unharmed as it is safe to clean in a dishwasher.
Follow the next steps to prepare your Chemex for its dishwasher journey:
Be careful to take off the wooden collar from your Chemex if you own one before washing it in the dishwasher. Unknot the small knot in the neckline and take it off wholly. By doing this, you will be able to make the most out of your Chemex because its lifespan will be extended considerably.
If you have any other type of Chemex, such as an all-glass model, you can safely clean it in the dishwasher. No parts of the Chemex need to be taken out, as there is nothing in it to dispose of.
Now simply let the dishwasher do its work. Once the dishwasher has done its thing, you can put your Chemex together like this:
Attach the wooden panels on either side of the Chemex.
The next step is to reinsert the leather cord into the Chemex, making sure the knot is securely and tightly fastened. This will give you a firmer grip when pouring the coffee out.