The excellence and uniqueness of African coffee is juicy and fruity.

As I've been learning about African coffee for the last month, I wanted to find a way to complete this series that highlighted the excellence and uniqueness of African coffee. While there are certainly many varieties in the African coffee region, African coffee is largely known for its bright, fruity, almost juicy coffee. For those of you who think coffee is a bit "single" or bland, a well-prepared cup of African coffee may come as a surprise. There is truly a flavor of energy and depth that is rarely found in a can of pre-ground coffee or urn.

So for those who are pleasantly surprised by the taste of African coffee, what is the best way to explore these flavors further? While there is no wrong way to prepare African coffee (although we can discuss Urn topics), we at Sagebrush Coffee think Chemex coffee machines are one of the best ways to showcase the unique flavor of African coffee. If you really want a cup of bright fruity coffee, then Chemex is probably the best way to encourage your beans, and there are many reasons for this...

But before we understand the science behind Chemex, let's look at its history. Chemex was invented by Peter Schlumbohm in 1941. A lifelong student and inventor, Mr. Schlumbohm is known for his practicality and appeal of all his products. Peter never anticipated that Chemex would be his most famous and enduring invention, in fact he only made progress in production as a means of funding other larger projects. Nevertheless, Chemex immediately caught attention not only for its ease of use and coffee quality but also for its stylish, glamorous design.

Chemex BrewerUpon Peter died in 1962 and Chemex manufacturing moved from New York City to Massachusetts, where it was acquired by Patrick and Liz Grasley in 1981. Chemex has been a family-owned business for more than 30 years and has seen significant sales growth over the past decade. Everything old is new, and there is no doubt that remarkable products with medieval modern design have once again caught the attention of the world.

What makes this product so unique? Well, as a chemist, Peter Schlumbohm knows some important things that can prevent or make a good cup of coffee, and that knowledge is directly integrated into Chemex design. Chemex is made from a single piece of glass and has an hourglass shape with a small "knob" on the side for measuring water and a simple pour spout. Unlike many metal or plastic coffee makers, glass doesn't give coffee any flavor. Brewing coffee requires the use of proprietary Chemex filters. The filter is square and double-bonded, and during brewing, coffee removes all the oil from the coffee. The lack of fat in Chemex coffee removes any bitterness from the coffee and allows it to be stored and reheated without altering flavor.

Tasting coffee at Chemex is an exercise in patience and precision. You will need a Chemex, a Chemex filter, 30 grams of coffee and 400 ml of purified water, plus about a cup for rinsing. First, turn on a square filter with one layer on one side and three layers on the other side. The three-layer section must be placed above the sprue to prevent collapse when you try to cast the finished product. Once the filter is in place, you need to rinse the filter with approximately 8 ounces of hot water. Skipping this step imparts a paper flavor to coffee, so rinsing and treating water is preferred. After rinsing the filter, heat Chemex to prepare coffee. You need 25-30 grams of coffee ground to kosher consistency. Pour the ground into the filter and shake it gently. When finished, you can start the timer and pouring process. Pour 50 ml of water in the first 30 seconds of the timer. You need to try to keep the ground level and pour the water evenly over the coffee surface. Give the ground a quick stir to make sure they are evenly saturated. When the timer crosses the 30 second mark, start pouring about 150 ml of additional water. Allow coffee time to "bloom" and absorb moisture. When the timer reaches 90 seconds, you can finish brewing with the remaining 200 ml of water. Let the process finish naturally, and all the water should clear the ground in about 4 minutes.

Your reward for this scientific precision is perfectly brewed, bright, and not a cup of bitter coffee. While the smaller Chemex size and attention required may not suit the crowd, coffee can be pre-brewed, stored and reheated without altering taste. It can also be brewed at a thicker concentration and then flavored with hot water or milk to further stretch each batch. You also have an extra "cool factor" knowing that you share a kitchen tool with many iconic figures of the 20th century-James Bond, Mary Tyler Moore, Don Draper and Monica Gayla have all been spotted using Chemex coffee machines! Finally, you share it with people who like the finer things in life, who don't think coffee is just a container for caffeine or flavored cream, but want to see coffee's various flavors shine on their own. If you're looking for a bright, nuanced, fruity (perhaps African sourced?) A cup of coffee, and seeing rewards in the ceremony, then Chemex coffee machines could be your next hard-earned indulgence.