Time Needed : 10 minutes

Those of you who know me also know that I am a big fan of Four Sigmatic’s Lion’s Mane coffee. Not only do I like the taste, but I also like the additional focus that I get from it. Most mornings, I brew two big cups (about 750ml) and then sit (or stand) at my desk to finalize planning out my day. By the time I get to the first productive output orientated time block of work, I am already in a focused flow state. Maybe I am not as sensitive to the ingredients as Tim Ferriss, but it still makes a huge difference for me. (And apparently even to Joe Rogan.)

As I got many questions about how I use my Chemex to brew Four Sigmatic’s Lion’s Mane coffee, here’s the how-to.

1. Boil water

   Boil 1l (about 34 oz) of water.
   
   

2. Prepare your Chemex

   Place the filter paper in your Chemex. I use an 8-cup Chemex size although most of the time I don’t use the full volume. It may be just imagination but I want the coffee to have room to unfold it’s full aroma.
   
   Watch out to place the side with the three paper layers atop the pouring sprout to give it additional stability. This avoids the paper to collapse when pouring out the water in the next steps.
   
   

3. Pre-Heat the Chemex – Step 1

   You want to make sure that the Chemex is warmed up before starting the brew. This has two reasons for it. First, you want to wet the filter and wash the paper taste off it. Second, you want the Chemex to be already warm before the actual coffee brew hits bottom because otherwise, your coffee will get cold before you can drink it.
   
   Pour the water in circles into the filter so that the filter inside the cone gets all wet. I start pouring slightly below the rim and then in smaller circles to the center.
   
   Use about 100-150 ml of water for this step.
   
   

4. Pre-Heat the Chemex – Step 2

   Once you have poured 100-150ml of water into the Chemex, you want to swivel it in circles so that the hot water warms up not only the bottom but also the perimeter of the glass. Do that until the glass is warmed up.
   
   

5. Pour the hot water

   Pour the hot water into your sink. Remember from above that this is why the three layers of the filter are atop the pouring spout.
   
   

6. Fill with the ground Four Sigmatic Lion’s Mane coffee

   Fill your ground coffee into the filter. I use 50g (1-7 oz) of ground coffee for the about 850ml of water. Use a scale or a measurement spoon. Adjust the quantity as you prefer depending on how strong you like your coffee.
   
   

7. Start the blooming

   Pour about 100ml of the hot water over the ground coffee so that all of it is soaked. Use circular movements or swing left to right as you prefer; I am not religious about it. The important result is that all of the ground coffee is wet. Wait for one minute. Some people say 30 seconds is it. Again, do as you prefer.
   
   

8. Wait for your coffee to bloom

   In the blooming phase the gasses are released from the coffee grind. The CO2 is released from the coffee and is replaced with water. This starts the extraction/brewing process.
   
   

9. Pour the rest of the water

   Slowly pour the rest of the water over the coffee grind. Slowly. Pour it in circles or left to right, as you prefer.
   
   

10. Wait for it

    With the quantities of water and coffee and the Chemex size I use, all the water fits into the filter cone. Just let it drip.
    
    

11. Enjoy

    Once the dripping process is finished, remove the filter from the Chemex and enjoy a delicious cup of Four Sigmatic Lion’s Mane coffee.