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Get your Chemex sparkling like new again
Is your chemex , boudin, or drip glass carafe coffee maker showing signs of build up?
I have two easy methods to get the glass coffee pots clean and looking like new again without scrubbing.
Hello coffee lover! I know you are a coffee lover because you use a Chemex. Arguably the best way to make the perfect cup of brew. I won’t argue if you don’t agree. Make your coffee how it tastes best to you.
Why glass coffee pots get residue build up
The scum or residue that can accumulate on glass coffee pots is typically caused by the natural oils present in coffee. When coffee is brewed, oils from the coffee beans are released. Over time, these oils can adhere to the surface of the glass coffee pot, forming a residue commonly known as coffee stains or coffee scum.
Mine can get a little extra filmy because of how I use it. To keep the coffee warm while it works it’s way through the filter via the pour over method, I set it on a very low heat directly on my electric stove. The cream or half and half is put in the Chemex coffee pot first before the coffee process starts so it can warm as well. The result is hot very delicious coffee exactly to my taste . I roast my own beans too ( I buy my beans from coffee bean corral).
Several factors contribute to the buildup of this residue:
- Coffee oils: Have you seen shiny beans that look wet? It’s not moisture, it is oil. These oils are released during roasting and brewing. They can stick to the glass surface when the coffee cools down.
- Minerals in water: If your water has a high mineral content, it can contribute to the buildup of residue on the glass.
- Incomplete cleaning: We are all busy and cleaning a coffee pot falls low on the priority list for me (and you too?) . If the coffee pot isn’t thoroughly cleaned after each use, residue can accumulate and become more difficult to remove over time.
Do you by chance roast your own also? Partial to dark roasted African beans myself.
Anyway back to the mess I make, the protein in the cream can get sticky as a result of being on a low burner. This makes my residue build up accumulate quickly.
What is a coffee lover to do when the time comes to clean the carafe? I have solution options that work and they are easy I promise!
Cleaning your Chemex (or Bodum) pour over coffee maker
Method 1: The salt and ice method
For this cleaning method you will need two things that you have right now. Kosher salt and ice cubes.
Ice and salt are the dynamic duo for this job. Put some cubes of ice into your room temp carafe and 1-2 Tbsp coarse salt. I have smallish cubes so 5-6 does the job.
Swirl vigorously for 2 minutes. The bottom of the carafe will get frosty like winter window but keep going even if you can’t 100% see inside. That means it is working.
Empty out the icy salt water sludge and all the build up will go with it. Then allow the Chemex to come to room temperature again (don’t tempt fate rinsing out right now unless you’re using cold water) and rinse with plain water.
Tada! Just like new. It feels a little like magic but it’s more science (which seems like magic sometimes, doesn’t it?)
If you want to try an alternative to the Chemex filters , Melitta no. 4 using a pour over cup works nicely. I can’t give up the paper filters for a metal reusable style because too much silt gets through and ruins the silky mouthfeel of pour over coffee.
Method two: a simple cleaner
This gem of a cleaner I will not be without. LA’s Totally Awesome can be found at Dollar Tree and it breaks down the stains at the base of your red wine glasses and gets the film out of your chemex (or other glass coffee pots like drip style coffee makers) fast!
You don’t even need to scrub. The above method of salt and ice does scrub, technically.
I put it in a mister bottle (you can get them at Dollar Tree too) and spritz around the flare of the top neck and let it run down into the carafe.
Give it about 3-4 minutes to break down the build up, add a bit of warm water, swirl then rinse. Just like new again!
If you have a particularly nasty case of build up you can use a brush to help this cleaner work better.
I use this big flared out stiff bristle brush and it works beautifully in getting down into the hard to fit carafe.