Green Coffee Buying Club
Coffee Discussion boards => Hardware & Equipment => Topic started by: Marlyece on December 28, 2008, 07:37:37 AM
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Insert from Bold Java: This thread grew out of a question posed on the group buy for the Yama vacpots. It began:
Marlyece
"I was contemplating Getting a chemex initially but now I'm captivated by this. Any thoughts or suggestions?"
BoldJava
"Chemex. I don't care for the taste of paper (I believe some palates are more sensitive to this than others).
I use a Bodum gold filter with my Chemex and it works beautifully, with a nice lip on the filter.
Easy to handle when hot. Simple dump into our mulch bin, quick rinse under the hot water and
you are done:
http://xrl.us/BodumGoldFilter (Link to www.bodumusa.com). Never have to buy another filter.
Chemex cup: Very clean cup though with just a hint of fine silt, depending upon your grinder (I grind fine
with a MACAP for the Chemex and Bodum gold). Simple to prepare with a boil, wait 30 seconds, saturate grinds,
wait, then pour remainder. Done. Gold filter permits oils through and you will get a cup that is just a
little bit lighter than a press pot without quite the heaviness and degree of silt to the cup that a press
pot presents. This is a great way to enjoy a coffee with little fuss. I use it weekly. $55-$60, with filter.
Yama (or Bodum/Cona). Vacpots have become my favorite preparation. For me, no other prep
showcases the individual strengths and characteristics (or weaknesses) the way a vacpot does. Some
coffees (PNGs, Vienna roast levels) don't do so well in it for my palate. With PNGs, it showcases too much of the characteristics, just as roast profiling characteristics become too pronounced at the Vienna and darker roast levels for my tastes in a vacpot.
Very high putz factor. Very tactile, hands-on, slow approach to coffee preparation. Takes me 15
minutes start to finish though some speed it up with preboiled water and or higher stove temps.
I don't get that -- what is the rush? Where is the fire? Slow down and enjoy it.
Clean up is messy. Cloth filter works very well but needs a good rinsing with an old tooth brush or group head brush. Need to assure you have a uniform grind if you use a Cory filter (highly recommended from eBay for $9-$12 shipped). Somewhat difficult to clean but pot brushes with bottom bristles hasten the cleanup ($11 at our local kitchen supply place):
http://www.instawares.com/glass-washer-coffee-pot-bar-brs935.bar-brs935.0.7.htm
$50 with Cory Rod so price is about a wash.
For me, it is about the cup, and it is a Yama, hands down. You will, however, get an excellent cup with the Chemex and Bodum gold if you don't like to putz with the vacpot. Personally, I am looking for ways to slow down rather than speed up my life. The Yama fills the bill. ...
B|Java"
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Marlyece:
"Wow thanks for all the valuable tips! Maybe I'll have to satisfy my curiosity and get both."
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So many useful tips here. I think I might try the Chemex with the rec'd gold filter. It will be nice to not have to deal with paper or purchasing new filters all the time.
Thanks for all the suggestions! I love this forum.
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Last question. If I buy a 3 cup chemex will any gold filters fit? Swissgold or bodum ? Thanks!
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Last question. If I buy a 3 cup chemex will any gold filters fit? Swissgold or bodum ? Thanks!
l would love to find a gold filter for the small chemex... if you find one let me know and I will do the same (I hold little hope of success)
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If you decide to order great. If you decide to go Chemex, great. Just get that gold filter.
B|Java
Well, I've ordered my Yama, but thanks to this post I've also just ordered a gold filter for my Chemex.
I'm guessing that filter will only fit my 4-6 cupper and not my 1-3 cupper?????
Still, I'm looking forward to checking it out against the papers I've been using for years.
Susan
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I'm not sure if it will fit with the 3 cupper, but keep us posted since I'd like to find one that fits. Did you go with a Bodum or a SwissGold? Or another brand entirely?
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Hi Marlyece.
I went with the Bodum.
This was the second recommendation I had gotten for that one in the past two days, so....
I just did it.
Susan
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Well, I've ordered my Yama, but thanks to this post I've also just ordered a gold filter for my Chemex.
I'm guessing that filter will only fit my 4-6 cupper and not my 1-3 cupper?????
Still, I'm looking forward to checking it out against the papers I've been using for years.
Susan
I just measured the Bodum and venture a guess that it will work in the smaller Chemex. It is cone shaped, and measures 1.75" in length at the base of the cone. I think you have more than sufficient glass above the indentation area in the Chemex to more than support the filter.
Trust that helps. B|Java
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thanks Bold...
Now I have another question.
It seems to me that I remember that the most important part of the Chemex was always/originally touted as being the invention of the particular filter paper, not the carafe itself.
Now the recommendations seem to be for a filter which basically negates all of that.
I find that a bit confusing.
Susan
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thanks Bold...
Now I have another question.
It seems to me that I remember that the most important part of the Chemex was always/originally touted as being the invention of the particular filter paper, not the carafe itself.
Now the recommendations seem to be for a filter which basically negates all of that.
I find that a bit confusing.
Susan
The recommendations are just mine, not the entire coffee community. My voice is a small sampling.
I think you may be putting the cart before the horse; the question before the cup. Just wait to until the filter comes in. Cup them side by side and decide if the invention of their paper product is all it is touted to be:
"...Applying the techniques used to insure laboratory purity, he set out to brew what may have been the first cup of truly, clear, full-bodied coffee - free of undesirable fats, oils, sediment and most of all...bitterness." http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/
I prefer the oils and a touch of silt. I don't care for the paper taste. To me, it is discernible but others may not find that true. We await your vote.
B|Java
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Ah....but of course....
thank you for reminding me that it is MY taste that matters....
I'll let you know when I've had a chance to check them out as you suggest: side by side.
Susan
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I'm with BJava here. Once you "wean' yourself of the paper method and then come back to it, you can literally taste the paper. I have 3 Bodum pour-overs and two small Chemex carafes (one of each in the shop, one of each at home and one Bodum at my in-law's condo in Naples...see, perfectly justified!). I have not tried a gold filter in the small one, but you all have my curiosity peaked now!
Shep
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I believe all the hoopla surrounding the Chemex filter papers was in comparing them to other paper filters.
The aspect of the pour that paper wins at IMHO is in the pour rate. Until you perfect the pouring technique with a gold basket, they're too quick. Paper is more of a no-brainer in that regard.
As an aside, one thing to remember with the gold filter baskets is that you don't actually need a funnel, just something to hold the filter. Since 99% of my brewing in one cup, this was my solution; glue a little block of wood inside a drawer front, bend some metal rod to hold the basket, and voila!
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It seems to me that I remember that the most important part of the Chemex was always/originally touted as being the invention of the particular filter paper, not the carafe itself.
Now the recommendations seem to be for a filter which basically negates all of that.
I find that a bit confusing.
I think you are on the right track...as far as making a "chemex" cup goes.
"Chemex brewed coffee" the way I see it is the filter aside from whatever slight temp differences the glass offers. A swiss gold filter (as Peter proves with his *PABWBS) isn't Chemex.
I follow on with the idea of resting a swiss gold inside a glass carafe' will not be Chemex either...so for continuity resting a Melita filter in a glass carafe won't brew Chemex either.
If you can/can not taste paper is important to your taste but not to determine if it's "Chemex" or not.
So I think you are correct the most important part of brewing Chemex is the filter.
If you prefer swiss gold over Chemex is a totally different story.
*Peter's Advanced Bent Wire Brewing System
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As an aside, one thing to remember with the gold filter baskets is that you don't actually need a funnel, just something to hold the filter.
Don't sell paper short....it doesn't need a funnel either just something that will hold it open. ;)
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As a regular Chemex user, I'd like to add my 2 cents in about the Chemex paper filters.
To my tastes, the brown 'unbleached' paper filter tastes much like a brown paper shopping bag.
A work around that I have tried is to pre-wet and rinse off the filter under running water. Problem is that I don't want to mess around @ 5am with a wet paper coffee filter.
However, I don't perceive that same taste with the Chemex white 'oxygenated" circular filters, so that's what I have been using every morning for the last 3 years. The Chemex method is simply the paper Chemex filter and a glass container. The filers cost me $9. + tax at a local supplier, and I tend to buy 3 boxes at a time. For me, the cost is worth it. I only make a full pot of coffee when I use mine.
If you buy a Chemex glass pot, you might as well use the filter that was intended for it. Otherwise, look for a much cheaper 10 cup Melitta pour-over pot, and filter basket and use the readily available #4 paper filters or use a re-usable filter with it.
All methods of brewing coffee taste differently, my advice is to try them all out... ;) and see which one works better for your needs :D
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All methods of brewing coffee taste differently, my advice is to try them all out...
Your advice should be made into a law. (http://www.mundogasol.com/foro/124.gif)
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Well, I've ordered my Yama, but thanks to this post I've also just ordered a gold filter for my Chemex.
I'm guessing that filter will only fit my 4-6 cupper and not my 1-3 cupper?????
Still, I'm looking forward to checking it out against the papers I've been using for years.
Susan
I just measured the Bodum and venture a guess that it will work in the smaller Chemex. It is cone shaped, and measures 1.75" in length at the base of the cone. I think you have more than sufficient glass above the indentation area in the Chemex to more than support the filter.
Trust that helps. B|Java
Absolutely right that it should....bit it doesn't. The cone shape on the 1-3 cup Chemex is much steeper than the cone shape of the Bodum gold filter, so the filter dangles unattractively above the glass and would be usable only if no other options were available.....possibly after having used up all of the paper filters, all of the dishtowels, all of the washcloths.....you get the picture.
In fact, it only fits the 4-6 cupper a bit better. Really, it's a travesty.....from a design or aesthetic perspective. Mr. Chemex would roll over in his grave.
Oh well....I'm sure it will find a niche somewhere, but I sort of doubt it will be with my Chemexes....
Susan
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Okay, okay, so it was a wonderful pot.
16 oz water. 24 gm Brazil Morenhahahaha. Gold Bodum filter in my 3-4 cup (16-32 oz) Chemex.
I really do mind the way that contraption looks, but, hey....it makes a wonderful cup.
And ....
And?????
And nuthin....
I'm going back for the rest that's waiting for me in the Zojirushi
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Nice that you got a wonderful cup! Your coffee/water ratio is about the same as mine. You might consider some sort of funnel/filter-holder that will let you brew right into your thermos.
Now that you know you can get a wonderful cup out of this rig, you can play around with the pour technique. The pour is the critical part of the pour-over. John posted a very interesting video a long time ago, but I can't find it.
This guy has an idea I haven't tried yet. Notice he preheats his carafe. He pre-infuses and waits for the bloom, and then adds water in small amounts.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyUaaU-5n24&feature=related[/youtube]
This guy's pour isn't bad, but he neglects to pour a little and let it bloom before continuing. Pour starts ~2:50. No doubt you recognize that Bodum filter. ;)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z-pNLnvOTg[/youtube]
This guy has a great pour, but think he used too much water for the pre-infusion, otherwise good.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlIuSiZGOvY&feature=related[/youtube]
AIIKWITA; my own acronym... As If I Know What I'm Talking About ;D
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Thanks for those vids.
Yesterday when I was reading what I could find about Chemex brewing, there were two salient points that I picked up. In the past I had always poured (after the bloom period) around the outside of the cone.....Apparently -- and as I see in all those videos, that isn't a good idea. My logic had been that it kept the edges from getting missed in the infusion. Guess I had it wrong. The other point -- particularly relevant to the second video was that the temperature of the brew stays very stable if you do not stir. Apparently the "crust" keeps the heat from escaping. I've never stirred and won't start.
I think (but I'll go back and check) that that information came from the same guy who made this video
http://www.vimeo.com/2643633
One question that came up for me is whether the same brew (let's say 16 oz) in the smallest pot (1-3 c) would be as good as in the next size up (3-4 c). Unfortunately without a gold filter to put in my smaller one, I can't compare that way. And, in fact, I have white filters for the smaller one and unbleached brown ones for the larger, so I can't do that comparison either. BUT, my thinking is that the steepness of the upper part of the small carafe may simply be too steep and that the same brew made in the larger pot may be better.... ?????
So many theories....so little time....
Susan
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John posted a very interesting video a long time ago, but I can't find it.
Why didn't you just ask brother? ;D
This is a very good vid and the sections of 2:30-2:40 and 5:06-5:54 set me on 6 months worth of experimentation. It's like a kung fu zen thing I guess because it isn't much to look at "pouring water" until you really start to look at it...then things get real interesting. :angel:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzNd3xFlqWY&feature=related[/youtube]
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Wow, that is one fine filter holder!!!!
Now I want one of those, too.......
;D ;D ;D
Susan