What is Chemex?
Chemex is a very popular choice among those who enjoy home-brewing coffee. This carafe is shaped like an hourglass and it looks like something you would find in a lab. First, you include heavy sheets of paper for filtration, then a type of filter made of mesh and finally a medium-roughly ground variety. Finally, pour steaming water over the coffee beans to make a fantastic subtle cup. You can also employ Chemex for straining your cold-brew coffee.
What is a French Press?
A French press coffee maker is a low-technical approach that utilizes coffee grounds and water close to being boiling. It is similar to a Chemex brew. Typically it is a glass jar with a plunger lid. Rather than a Chemex, you let the coarse grounds soak in hot water for 4 minutes and then press the plunger to separate the coffee. The result is full-bodied, quality coffee.
Chemex vs. French Press coffee: which is the best for you?
Considering new coffee brewing techniques might be intimidating. Ultimately, before you’ve had your morning coffee, a lengthy brewing process has taken place. Although Chemex and French press coffee preparation have been popularized lately, these brewing tactics have actually been around for over a century.
Each brewing method takes time to fine-tune. Although it may appear complicated at first, as you get into it, the process turns into a routine that always produces a delicious cup of coffee.
There is a wide variety of selection when it comes to handcrafted brewing techniques: glass or stainless steel cup; metal or paper filter; with either small or large capacity. What are the differences between Chemex and French press that can help you decide which one is more suitable for you? Start by taking into consideration such factors as convenience, brewing techniques, price, tidying up, and most significantly, flavor. Here is a quick rundown.
Ease of use
With some practice, you should find it easy to make coffee with any brewing technique. Figuring out the optimal grind size, learning the right ratio of coffee to water, making sure the water has been heated to the exact temperature, and meticulously following the steps are all necessary components of the process.
Both of these methods of brewing require a grind size that is more coarse than that of store-bought pre-ground coffee. If you’d prefer an alternative to manually grinding the coffee beans, an AeroPress may be a better choice.
Chemex
If you have used any other pour-over coffee makers, like the Hario V60 or Kalita Wave, it won’t be quite difficult to learn how to prepare coffee using the Chemex. You should identify the ideal proportion of coffee to water and time the process of adding the liquid in order to achieve the best outcome when using these techniques.
In order to make coffee using a Chemex, put its filter into the container and add moderately coarse grinds. When the water temperature arrives at around 94 degrees Celsius, douse the coffee grounds with a generous amount of liquid. Allow the delicious flavor to be released by waiting one minute for the grounds to expand. Slowly pour the hot water over the coffee grounds, making sure to get the more deeply-placed grounds moistened before you pour your desired amount. Some people find this process meditative. Find your rhythm. The outcome is a coffee that has little acidity and a pleasing feel in the mouth.
French Press
The French Press brewing method involves letting coarsely ground coffee sit in hot water for around 4 minutes to draw out its robust flavor. Pour your freshly grounded beans into the French press, then carefully pour in around 200 °F (94 °C) of hot water.
Set a clock for 60 seconds, and let the beverage steep without being interrupted. Use a spoon to lightly tap the grounds that are close to the top a few times.
After an additional 3 minutes, the outcome was a strong, dark-colored brew. Finally, when the timer beeps, it’s time to plunge. Put a lot of pressure on the plunger to get all the residue out, and then you can enjoy a delicious cup.
You can maintain the heat of your coffee by transferring the un-drunk cups into an insulated jug. This avoids the formation of a bitter taste in coffee when it is left to steep for too long.
Winner
Repeated use of either Chemex or the French press will make the brewing process less difficult. Nevertheless, the French press stands out due to its simplicity as it doesn’t require much effort. Thus, it is a perfect present for your mum and dad or any coffee enthusiast who desires to use a direct coffee brewing technique.
Brewing time
These approaches may not be suitable if you are someone who likes to program a drip coffee machine to turn on while you are in the shower. Even if it takes a little extra time, when taste matters more to you than ease, it makes the work worthwhile and creates a tranquil state of mind in the a.m.
Beginning with the breaking of the seal of your beans and ending with pouring the first cup of your beverage, the whole process takes 6-10 minutes. It takes about 3 minutes of manual work for a French press and 5 minutes for Chemex. No matter what you choose, chances are you will need to grind your own coffee beans as using a French press and Chemex works best when the coffee grounds are coarser than regular pre-ground coffee.
The next step for the two techniques is to heat up hot water to around 200 °F (94 °C). The preferred method is with a gooseneck electric kettle. The gooseneck design provides improved precision when pouring liquids into a Chemex or French Press.
Chemex
If you like coffee that is on the lighter, brighter side, the pour-over method may be the right choice for you. Put the coffee grounds which are in between the finest and coarse into either a paper or metal strainer which you will attach to the Chemex.
Once the temperature of the liquid increases to approximately 200° Fahrenheit (94° Celsius), give the grounds a good splash of water. Pour in water, and wait for a minute to allow the blossoming of the coffee’s flavor. Gradually pour the rest of the water over the grounds using a circular pattern, getting the darker parts to become moist until the desired amount is achieved. Using a gooseneck kettle will provide greater preciseness while pouring.
French Press
The French press method involves steeping coarsely ground coffee in hot water for approximately four minutes to get a strong cup of coffee. Pour your recently ground beans into the French press, then slowly add 200°F (94°C) of hot water. For best extraction, do not boil water.
Let the mixture sit undisturbed for approximately one minute, then lightly stir the grounds on the surface with a spoon a few times. After three more minutes, a robust coffee taste is achieved. When the alarm sounds, you should start immersing the French press. Push the plunger down hard to get the full taste, then savor your perfect cup of coffee.
You can maintain the temperature of your coffee by transferring any leftover servings into an insulated container. Stopping it from steeping for too long will help avoid any resentment towards the coffee.
Winner
Making coffee using a Chemex and a French press requires approximately the same amount of time. You must spend more effort and attention in order to brew with Chemex, as you need to add water over the coffee manually. Using a French press could be helpful if you are in a hurry, since with it you can prepare your coffee while making breakfast.
The Pros And Cons Of Chemex
The strange-sounding name “Chemex” disguises the fact that the coffee it produces is actually quite remarkable. This French press variant has been a favorite of caffeine lovers around the globe since World War II due to its conical shape that comes with either straight or curved edges. It’s highly favored because of its straightforwardness, convenience of cleaning, and appealing look. This year commemorates 69 years of production, and the corporation is still fabricating delightful coffee makers (all crafted by artisans). Even if you’re not a stickler for design, the Chemex makes tastier coffee than other pour-over makers can achieve. Here are a few reasons why:
Pros
– The Coffee is Rich
The Chemex brewing system has more substantial filters than generic paper filters; this means it takes more time for the liquid to go through the filters, resulting in a tastier beverage. Paper filters can remove some of the important characteristics of the beans, resulting in an inferior cup of coffee even when made with high-quality, premium beans. By using Chemex, you’ll be able to experience all the taste your brew has to give since the filter won’t obstruct any of the flavor.
– It Lasts Forever
Very few items manufactured today can claim to have such an outstanding history as this one. These items are timeless—meaning they have been available since the 1940s and no single component has ever failed. Long-time users of the item state that, besides insignificant scratches and dents, it’s still like its first day out of the shop. The Chemex can be easily handed down to future generations.
– Pour-Over Coffee Becomes Americano
This is especially helpful if two or more people in a single home or workplace enjoy coffee – the Chemex can produce two cups of coffee together, unlike other pour-over methods.
– Pre-infusion Brews Tea Like a Champ
Prior to brewing the beans, it is essential to soak them in water; this will help ensure that the beans open up their pores not only through the application of heat, but also through the moisture. Pre-soaking is an important step for many coffee brewing processes, but the Chemex method can also be utilized to make tea. Do not neglect to dispose of the water sediment prior to making your coffee.
– It’s A Space Saver
This pour-over maker is much more compact than other coffee machines, making it easier to fit into tight spaces. Because the filters can be reused after being wet, there is no need for paper filters or bulky carafes that take up lots of room in a fridge when not needed. A Chemex is roughly the same size as a regular blender, but can yield twice the amount of coffee.
The Pros And Cons Of French Press
Pros
The Pros of French Press
At our house, we are big fans of a French press among all the various coffee press choices available. This food item was given its title due to its French roots, not due to its health benefits. These small appliances operate by forcing hot water through a filter that restricts any grounds; this makes it possible to separate the pressed coffee from the grinds that remain.
Some may find paper filters convenient for making coffee, but I’m here to explain why they can be detrimental to your well-being. The composition of these substances includes bleached wood pulp and certain plastic compounds such as dioxins and chlorine compounds. These chemicals can decay and produce hazardous particles that may lead to health issues. These dioxins are extremely poisonous and have been correlated to health conditions including cancer, heart problems, diabetes and autoimmune disorders. The safest approach is to employ a French press to prevent exposure to these hazardous compounds.
A further benefit to using a French press coffee maker is that you are able to decide how much coffee you want to brew each time. This gadget produces the ideal amount of coffee for me and my partner; we are easily able to savor our own separate cups without having any surplus or using too much coffee. This also gives you the opportunity to try out different tastes by including your preferred cream, sweeteners, flavored syrups, or simply regular sugar like me!
The French press is also very easy to clean. Empty the grounds, clean the inside with a paper towel, and wash the fine mesh sieve with detergent and water.
The last rationale for why I adore my coffee maker is that I can make multiple servings at once without fear of my brew becoming stale or unpleasant.
Gaining in popularity, a French press is a fabulous way to make a great cup of coffee. However, there are many disadvantages too.
The flavor can become bitter if the brew time goes past 5-10 minutes.
There isn’t nearly as much flavor that comes out as with other machines.
Cleaning a coffee maker can be challenging due to its shape. If the appliance isn’t wiped down on a daily basis, there is a high risk of mould growth on the inside of the mesh area because of built up leftover coffee.
Once the brewing process is over, the leftover coffee grounds remain in the sieve. The only way to remove dirt and debris from the glass container is to use a spoon; washing it with water will destroy the screen’s grip and result in it detaching from the glass pot. It is likely that mold will grow in this area which can be hard to remove!
Some people have voiced issues regarding the presence of sand-like particles in their French press coffee.