Chemex Brewing Guide
Chemex Brewing Guide
The Chemex makes one of the cleanest, brightest cups you can brew. Its thick paper filter removes oils and fine particles, so delicate floral and fruit notes come through with clarity.
What You Need
- Chemex brewer and bonded Chemex filters
- Burr grinder
- Digital scale
- Gooseneck kettle and timer
- Fresh whole-bean coffee
The Baseline Recipe
- Coffee: 30g
- Water: 500g (1:16.5 ratio)
- Grind: Medium-coarse, like kosher salt
- Water temperature: 200–205°F (93–96°C)
- Total brew time: 4:00–4:30
Step by Step
- Rinse the filter: Place the filter with the triple-fold side toward the spout. Rinse with hot water to remove paper taste and preheat, then discard the water.
- Add coffee: Grind 30g and level the bed.
- Bloom: Pour 60g of water to saturate all grounds. Wait 45 seconds while gas escapes.
- Pour in stages: Pour slowly in spirals to 250g, pause, then continue to 500g by about 2:30.
- Drawdown: Let it drain fully, finishing around 4:00–4:30. Remove the filter, swirl, and serve.
Fixing Your Cup
- Drains too slowly / bitter: Grind coarser.
- Drains too fast / sour or thin: Grind finer.
- Flat flavor: Check freshness. Coffee is best 7–30 days after roast.
Best Coffees for Chemex
Clean filter brewing is the ideal way to taste single origins. Explore our single-origin coffees.