medium-coarse grind · 600-900 microns
Comandante C40 MK4 grind setting for Chemex
Start at 27 clicks on the Comandante C40 MK4 for Chemex, and stay inside 18-35 clicks. Brew at 1:16 for 4-5 min.
Comandante's pour-over range. Larger Chemex batches usually sit toward the coarse end.
- 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 C40 MK4 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Comandante C40 MK4, 27 clicks 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 Comandante C40 MK4 settings
Questions
What grind setting should I use on the Comandante C40 MK4 for Chemex?
Start at 27 clicks on the Comandante C40 MK4 for Chemex, and stay inside 18-35 clicks. Brew at 1:16 for 4-5 min.
My Chemex tastes sour on the Comandante C40 MK4. 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 Comandante C40 MK4. What do I change?
Bitter means over-extracted. Go 1 to 2 steps coarser so the drawdown speeds up.
Source
comandantegrinder.com. Settings are starting points; two grinders of the same model can sit a step or two apart.