Brew Guide: Iced Chemex Coffee
There are a lot of ways to make iced coffee, but the Japanese Iced Coffee method is our favorite. It’s quick and easy. And, for cold-brewing, it gives you the brightest, fullest flavor possible. The full flavor is possible because brewing with hot water extracts maximum flavor while cooling instantly protects the flavor from acquiring off-flavors due to oxidization.
Making Iced Chemex is an intermediate brew, and takes about 14 minutes.
What You Need
- Chemex
- Pre-folded Chemex Filter
- Water
- Coffee
- Ice
- Gooseneck Kettle
- Grinder
Amounts
- 2 tbsp coffee for 4oz water and 4 oz ice
- 4 tbsp coffee for 8oz water and 8 oz ice
- 8 tbsp coffee for 16oz water and 16 oz ice
- 16 grams coffee for 118 grams water and 118 grams ice
- 32 grams coffee for 236 grams water and 236 grams ice
- 64 grams coffee for 473 grams water and 473 grams ice
Note: For getting the proper volume of ice, we’ve found a 16 oz cup of ice is equal to a weight of 8oz. Remember this ratio if you’re measuring your ice without a scale.
Water
Bring your water to a boil and then remove from heat. Never pour boiling water straight onto coffee grounds – it will scorch them and give your coffee a burnt flavor. Allow the water to cool for 30 seconds (the temperature should be between 195-205) before you proceed to the next step.
You need equal parts ice and water. We used 8oz water and 8oz ice in our Chemex. Make sure you measure out your proper water and ice amounts before beginning.
Grounds
Additionally, you’ll want 4 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee (Set an industrial grinder to a #9, or “French Press” setting.
Before unfolding your Chemex filter place your Chemex filter over your sink and pour hot water (not from your pre-measured amount) over the filter. This will remove the papery taste from the filter.
Ice and How to Use the Filter
Dump your ice into the Chemex, and unfold your Chemex filter. As much as you’ll want to, don’t unfold it all the way. Instead, pull just one edge away from the three others. Now your filter will resemble a normal pour-over filter. There will be one edge on one side, and three on the other. Set it into the Chemex with the crease sitting in the pouring channel. Cone filters you use for pour-over, like a #4 or #6, won’t fit properly in a Chemex and are too thin to properly filter for Chemex. Only use Chemex filters.
Add Grounds and Bloom
Add the grounds into the filter and begin pouring your hot water over the grounds until they are covered. Let the grounds bloom for 30 seconds.
Continue to pour the rest of your 8 oz of water over the grounds in slow, circular motions. The ice will begin to melt – that’s okay.
Once the water has fully filtered through, remove the filter. Take care when pouring your iced coffee – the ice tends to slide out quickly.
Sit back, and enjoy your refreshing brew of Chemex iced coffee.
