Brewing guide
How to Make Chemex Coffee
The cleanest cup in the house.
Demonstration content — review and verify before publishing.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Brew time
- 4–5 minutes
- Coffee-to-water ratio
- 1:16
- Grind size
- Medium-coarse
- Water temperature
- 199–205 °F
Overview
Chemex filters are noticeably thicker than standard paper, so they trap more oils and fines. The result is a very clean, light-bodied cup.
Because the filter slows flow, grind a little coarser than you would for a V60.
What You Need
- Chemex carafe
- Chemex filters
- Gooseneck kettle
- Scale
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1
Rinse thoroughly
Place the three-fold side toward the spout and rinse well with hot water.
- 2
Bloom
Add 1.4 oz coffee, pour 2.8 oz water by weight, and wait 45 seconds.
- 3
Pour in stages
Add water in three pours up to 22.6 oz total by weight, keeping the bed level.
- 4
Finish
Let it drain, remove the filter, and swirl the carafe before serving.
Common Mistakes
- Not rinsing the thick filter
- Grinding too fine and stalling the brew
How to Improve the Flavour
- Brew a larger batch — the Chemex holds its temperature well.
Equipment Recommendations
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Chemex brew so slow?+
Almost always grind size. Go a step coarser and the draw-down will speed up.
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