The options for coffee making have increased now more than ever. The reason you have decided to have a cup of coffee makes a significant difference in its brewing process. You may not want to drink coffee which tastes the same both in the morning and the evening.
How do you prefer your morning coffee? Do you like it rich, full of flavor, and full-bodied or do you like it clean and bright? Your preference will differ whether it’s Chemex or French press.
For you to get the right cup of coffee, you have to know the actual difference between french press vs chemex . Let us have a closer look at the two types so that you can have the perfect cup of coffee every time you have one.
Chemex Coffee Maker
Chemist Peter J. Schlumbohm is the brain behind the Chemex coffee device. The device dates back to 1941. Chemex adopts the cold filtering process where a solution is made and poured into the funnel, the liquid is then pulled out of the solution by gravity. It looks exactly like a chemical jar in a chemistry lab. Chemex brewing utilizes an infusion method that looks like drip coffee although it is poured over system.
It uses a chemex coffee filters that are thicker as compared to another pour-over system. In as much as the method is slow, you can be guaranteed of the richer chemex coffee.
How to Brew Using Chemex
Though chemex looks like something out of a chemistry lab, making coffee in chemex does not have to do anything with chemistry. Rather it’s really easy to make.
What you need is medium ground coffee, water, filter paper, and chemex brewer. Chemex filters are round which you have to fold in proper angel. Then take three-part on one side and one pert on another, place it in the coffee maker.
Now take worm water and damp the filter paper to avoid any kind of papery taste. The effused coffee ground in the filter paper and pour some water into it then wait for one and a half minutes. In this process, the coffee ground will bloom and increase in size and shape in the filter paper. After that, pour the rest of the water in swirling or circular motion for the first couple of times. Then pour it directly in the middle. Wait for four and a half minutes. And your coffee is ready.
What comes out is a crisps clean cup of coffee. Chemex is a perfect choice for light and medium roasts. This is what is chemex coffee brewing.
Advantages of using Chemex
- The coffee comes out less bitter and with less or no acid at all.
- The coffee comes out clean with no oils, acids, or any sediment
- It is easy to use as it requires no technical knowledge.
- Clean-up is easy, you just remove the filter and replace. You don’t have to wash the insides to clean out the grounds.
- Chemex coffee pot has an attractive design in your kitchen.
And what are the disadvantages
- Requires regular replacement of the filter which means no cup of your favorite drink if you run out of filters.
- It can be expensive because of the filters as compared to the French press aside from the fact that a Chemex is more costly than a French Press.
- You will need a gooseneck kettle for quality brewing which means an extra cost if you don’t already own one.
- You will need to learn how to properly pour your coffee from the Chemex to the cup, otherwise, you will end up with a messy cup and surface. It takes time to perfect the pouring technique.
French Press Coffee Maker
The French Press was invented in the 1930’s by an Italian designer, Attillio Calimani. When you master how to use the French press, it makes some of the best coffee in the world. This method provides you with french press paper filters brewing so that you can get the best extraction of your coffee beans.
A typical French press has a plunger section that is attached to the lid with a mesh filter at the end made from stainless steel and a brewing chamber. A French press can be made from glass, ceramic or stainless steel material.
Many people love French press brewing process because it is simple and takes less time. This is especially if you have an automatic french press coffee maker.
How to use the French press
Making coffee with a French press is a little bit less time consuming than the chemex brewer as you do not have to pour water slowly and circularly.
To make French press you also have to take the exact timing and the measurement like the chemex. At first, take some hot water in the coffee brewer and preheat it before making the coffee. Put medium-coarse coffee ground in it and pour hot water just to soak the coffee grounds, stare it a bit. Let it bloom for 30 seconds and pour the rest of the water. Cover the lid and wait for the magical time, 4 minutes. After 4 minutes. Push the plunger downward slowly. And enjoy a cup of coffee full of flavor and full-bodied.
Advantages of the French Press
- No expenses of purchasing filters or replacing them.
- It is easy to clean the brewer as its wide hence a hand can fit in well during cleaning as compared to Chemex.
- The French press is environment-friendly as there is no wastage of paper in form of filters.
- Versatile, you can use the French press to make tea, cold brews or double brewed coffee
Disadvantages of the French press
- The coffee made is not clean, it may have some residue.
- It can be a hassle to clean out all the ground coffee from the brewer
FAQs
Conclusion
Both the french press or chemex have their strengths and weaknesses. The debate can go on chemex french press but what to go for largely depends on your preference and taste. Here are some major points you should consider before buying yourself one.
Chemex takes slightly longer than French Press therefore if you need a faster way of brewing, go with the French Press
The French take it all when it comes to a rich flavor as the hot water and ground coffee sit together to extract the full coffee. However, if you need light clean coffee, go with Chemex
A French press requires the least effort whereas Chemex gives the advantage of having control of the brewing process. All in all, when done correctly, both give you the best coffee.
French press vs chemex, which one is suitable for you? I believe that by now it is easy to choose the method that you love. We have given you a detailed guide to help you decide if you need a french press or chemex. Depending on how you love your coffee, you can choose the brewing method that you love.