Ebb Coffee Filter for Chemex

In March of 2018, the ebb Kickstarter campaign raised $18K to develop and manufacture the ebb Coffee Filter, a cloth-based coffee filter explicitly made for pour-over coffee brewing.

I received my ebb Coffee Filter several months later, on 28th September 2018. This is probably the first Kickstarter I have backed that has delivered on expectations on time and in the same year that the campaign was launched. Thank you, ebb!!

The version of the filter I received was designed for use with Chemex coffee brewers. The campaign created versions for other types of pour-overs, but Chemex is the type I use.

The filter arrived on Friday in a small envelope. The delivery package was also compact, holding the cloth filter, a postcard with ebb Brew Guide for Chemex instructions, and a discount coupon. Brew guides for other brew methods can be found on the Brew Methods website.

The material feels soft but sturdy. I expect it will stand up to multiple brews and wash cycles. Before I could use the filter, the instructions recommended boiling the filter in water for five minutes. I assume this is to remove any impurities from the manufacturing process. Once complete, I put the filter to dry, ready to make coffee the next day.

For the Chemex, I have two recipes; one for use with a traditional Chemex paper filter and one for use with an Able Kone filter. The paper filter produces a clean cup with very little particulate matter. However, even though they are biodegradable and clean-up is easy, I was not happy tossing these paper filters into the garbage.

I purchased an Able Kone filter — another Kickstarter — a few years ago. The Able Kone filter is a reusable metal filter, but it does not produce as clean a cup as the paper filters; there is a little silt at the bottom of the cup and suspended in the coffee. I’m not sure, but I assume the ebb cloth filter produces a cleaner cup than both paper and mesh filters.

ebb Coffee Filter—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 36.5 mm, f/2.8

I use the Press coffee app when making my daily brew. Over time, and with experimentation, I have created recipes for making coffee via Chemex, French Press and AeroPress. I have included a link to the brew recipe for the Ebb filter. You’ll need the Press coffee app to import from the link. It’s the same as my paper filter recipe but with the grind adjusted to 21 instead of 16. I expect to tweak this to find the right balance between grind and brew time.

ebb Coffee Filter—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 51.6 mm, f/2.8

I consistently brew with the freshest beans I can find. I have been a member of several online coffee delivery clubs, but in the last few years, I have settled on obtaining fresh beans from a local brewer. I enjoyed trying different single original coffees from around the world, but I wanted to support my local brewer, whom I know personally.

ebb Coffee Filter—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm, f/2.8

I started with 45g of fresh ground beans. I use a scale to weigh the coffee and a Baratza Encore coffee grinder I bought a few years ago. In a kettle, I heat water to between 91ºC (195ºF) and 96ºC (205ºF).

ebb Coffee Filter—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm, f/2.8

Before putting the ground coffee into the filter, I poured some hot water to wet the filter and warm the Chemex.

ebb Coffee Filter—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm, f/2.8

After putting the coffee into the filter, I reset my scale, started the Press app timer and began pouring water, about twice the weight of the ground coffee. After 45 seconds, I continue running water in a slow circular motion, ensuring to saturate the grounds.

ebb Coffee Filter—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm, f/2.8

The water should stop flowing through the grounds when the timer is complete.

ebb Coffee Filter—FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 41.4 mm, f/2.8

I dumped the grounds into the trash and washed out my filter. The coffee grounds stained it, and I expect this to darken with use.

The coffee was delicious, with no hint of sediment—a clean cup.

Time to make the coffee

I love coffee. I love the smell of the roast, the brewing process, and the taste. I've been drinking coffee since I was about six or seven years old. My grandmother would serve me a cup of mostly milk coffee in a small enamel mug. Good, times and great memories.

I've used automatic drip coffee makers and pour-overs, but over the last ten years, I've used the French Press method. It's simple, and the only waste is the coffee grounds — no disposable paper filter of plastic mesh filters that need replacing or heavy cleaning. I pour the grounds into the trash and put the pot and filter into the dishwasher. Replacement parts -- a new press pot or filter -- are easy to find online or at home good stores.

I use the following equipment to brew my perfect cup.

  • French Press (Bodum)
  • Metric scale (Salter)
  • Measuring cup (Pyrex)
  • Coffee scoop
  • Kitchen timer

NOTE The photos were taken with my wife's Sony DSC-W55 compact camera. The objects were set against a white craft board and lit by the natural light coming from the kitchen window.

5 January 2013 · Sony HDR-CX7 · Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 5.4-54mm f/1.8-2.9

I've always used a Bodum Chambord, but any brand will do. I have three different sizes – a small server for the office and a single server for travelling – but the one I use every morning makes about eight servings ( about 4-5 fluid oz or 125mL per serving ). I have an inexpensive Salter scale I picked up at Walmart to keep my measurements exact. I bought this one because it uses metric measures.

5 January 2013 · Sony DSC-W55 · Vario-Tessar 6.3-19.9mm f/2.8-5.2

It's best to use freshly ground coffee. I've not found a quality burr grinder at a reasonable price point, so I make do purchasing fresh ground coffee once a week from local roasters1. I bought just enough to last the week. I want the most refreshing possible cup, so I keep my ground coffee in an airtight container from Oxo. I use about 233mL of water and 14g of ground coffee for each serving of coffee. To make three servings of coffee, I weigh out 45g of ground coffee into the French Press. To put it, 45g of ground coffee and 720ml of water will yield about three cups of brewed coffee.

5 January 2013 · Sony DSC-W55 · Vario-Tessar 6.3-19.9mm f/2.8-5.2

I know this may be sacrilege to some, but I heat my water in the microwave in a Pyrex glass container. The Pyrex allows me to measure the right amount of water to brew the amount of coffee I want; usually just slightly more than I need since some will evaporate. Through experimentation, I worked out exactly how long I need to heat the water to get it to boiling point. In my GE microwave, it is about three minutes for each 267mL of water. I typically brew three servings of coffee, so I heat 800mL of water for about 9 minutes in the microwave. Make sure to use fresh cold, filtered water. We have an Amway water treatment system in our kitchen, so filtered water is always available.

5 January 2013 · Sony DSC-W55 · Vario-Tessar 6.3-19.9mm f/2.8-5.2

Once the water is heated, I zero out the scale and slowly pour the hot water into the press pot. I use the scale to make sure I use just the right amount of water for the amount of coffee. In the metric system, 1g of water is equivalent to 1mL of water. So for three 233mL servings, I pour 720mL or 720g of water.

5 January 2013 · Sony DSC-W55 · Vario-Tessar 6.3-19.9mm f/2.8-5.2

Once I start pouring the water, I set a timer for 4 minutes. This timing will vary depending on the type and roast of your coffee. I almost always drink an Ethiopian coffee -- Harrar or Yirgacheffe -- and four minutes works for me and my taste. You may want to experiment a bit to get a brew that suits your tastes.

Most often in the morning, I use the microwave timer, but I've also used a free iPhone2 app from Intelligentsia Coffee. The oven timer is another option. There is some variation to my method after I pour the water. Sometimes I wait one minute and then gently stir the saturated coffee grounds -- I used two wooden chopsticks -- to bloom the coffee. Other times I wait until just after the timer goes off. Doing it after one minute seems to produce a bolder cup.

5 January 2013 · Sony DSC-W55 · Vario-Tessar 6.3-19.9mm f/2.8-5.2

Immediately after the timer goes off, I place the plunger on the French Press and gently press down. If I do this too quickly, the plunger will jam, or coffee may spurt out. Use finesse. Once the plunger is at the bottom, I immediately pour into my cup. Note: Don't leave the remainder sitting in the pot. The coffee will continue to brew and will become bitter. Either serve the rest or pour into a vacuum thermos to keep it hot.

I think they detract from enjoying the subtle flavour and aroma of the coffee, but Bhavna enjoys her coffee with one of those low-fat flavoured creamers. I drink my coffee black or with one packet of Stevia in the Raw or Susta. Brewing the coffee is the first part of my morning ritual. The warm liquid in my cup is the perfect thing to enjoy while reading saved news articles.


  1. I frequent Rocky Hill Buy the Cup but also buy from Thomas Sweet. ?
  2. The Intelligentsia Coffee application allows you to view the current coffee offerings with details from Intelligentsia Coffee. Additionally, you are given step-by-step instructional illustrations and descriptions for preparing coffee on multiple brewing devices. ?