medium-coarse grind · 600-900 microns
1Zpresso K-Ultra grind setting for Chemex
Start at 8.5 on the 1Zpresso K-Ultra for Chemex, and stay inside 8.0-9.0. Brew at 1:16 for 4-5 min.
1Zpresso's pour-over band.
- Ratio
- 1:16
- Time
- 4-5 min
- Water
- 92-96 C
Taste, then fix
If it tastes wrong
| It tastes | Why | Do this on the K-Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Sour, thin, sharp | Under-extracted: water ran through too fast | Go 1 to 2 steps finer so the drawdown slows |
| Bitter, dry, astringent | Over-extracted or the bed choked | Go 1 to 2 steps coarser so the drawdown speeds up |
| Sour and bitter at once | Uneven extraction: channeling or a stalled bed | Keep the grind, pour gentler and more evenly, swirl the bed flat |
| Drawdown far past target time | Grind too fine or too many fines | Go 2 steps coarser; check the burrs are clean |
| Weak but balanced | Too little coffee for the water | Tighten the ratio half a step, e.g. 1:16 to 1:15.5 |
What you are aiming for
Chemex filters are thick and slow, so the grind runs coarser than a V60. Too fine and the filter clogs.
On the 1Zpresso K-Ultra, 8.5 is the documented start. If your grounds look much finer or coarser than this, your grinder may be calibrated differently: trust the taste, then the number.
Fix the beans too
Better Chemex starts with fresher beans.
The right grind only gets out what the beans have. A subscription keeps fresh coffee arriving before you run out.
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More 1Zpresso K-Ultra settings
Questions
What grind setting should I use on the 1Zpresso K-Ultra for Chemex?
Start at 8.5 on the 1Zpresso K-Ultra for Chemex, and stay inside 8.0-9.0. Brew at 1:16 for 4-5 min.
My Chemex tastes sour on the 1Zpresso K-Ultra. What do I change?
Sour means under-extracted. Go 1 to 2 steps finer so the drawdown slows. Change one thing at a time and taste again.
My Chemex tastes bitter on the 1Zpresso K-Ultra. What do I change?
Bitter means over-extracted. Go 1 to 2 steps coarser so the drawdown speeds up.
Source
1zpresso.coffee, 1zpresso.coffee. Settings are starting points; two grinders of the same model can sit a step or two apart.