How To Clean Your Chemex

So lo-tech, you'll wonder why you had not started sooner!

Photo Courtesy of Grace Ho

Here’s My Best Way To Clean A Chemex

First, this is what you’ll need:

1. Ice (a Pint full of ice should do)
2. Table salt (About 2 tablespoons)
3. Liquid dish soap (2 or 3 drops)
4. Water

Hopefully, you will not go out of your way to get any of these products. Most of these can be found right in your own home and kitchen cabinet. If you own a coffee shop, we certainly know this won’t break your coffee shop budget!

So, make sure there is no residual coffee in the Chemex. Then pour your ice, salt, and liquid dish soap. Mix it up together. Next, fill up your Chemex about 1/3 the way up with water and swirl. 

Keep swirling!  

You will find a nice healthy froth will start to develop. As you swirl, the ice, salt, and dish soap will start to gently scrub the coffee oils and residue off the glass. If your Chemex is really in need of a deep cleaning, you will want to swirl for a minute or two longer. 

Directions – How to Clean Your Chemex:

1. Pour the ice inside your Chemex

2. Pour the 2 tablespoons of salt

3. Add your dish soap

4. Fill your water to about a third of the Chemex

5. Swirl for about 1 to 2 minutes

7. Rinse 

Here's how it works: The swirling ice applies the weight and force adequately needed to scrub the inside of your Chemex. The table salt serves as a mild abrasive to help remove any coffee stains and mineral residue from water.

This is an effective way of cleaning out your Chemex without risking breakage.

After swirling the iced concoction, you'll notice things getting nice and frothy. Simply swirl for about a minute or two (or a little more for stubborn stains.).

Next, empty the Chemex, rinse with clean water, and air dry! 

Total Time: 4-5 Minutes