How to brew good coffee with a Chemex
Chemex is a manual pour-over coffee brewer that combines a coffee maker and a serving carafe in one simple design.
The brewing method uses special Chemex paper filters, which are thicker than many regular coffee filters. This typically results in a clear and clean cup with relatively little sediment.
With the right dosage, grind size, and pouring technique, the Chemex is also a simple way to brew multiple cups of filter coffee at once.
In this guide, you will get a basic recipe for Chemex and learn how to adjust the brewing according to your coffee and taste preferences.
Quick Chemex recipe
A good starting point is:
30 grams of coffee
500 grams of water
Ratio: 1:16.7
Medium-coarse grind size
Water around 92–96 °C
This corresponds to approximately 60 grams of coffee per liter of water.
How to do it
- Fold and place the Chemex filter in the brewer.
- Make sure the side with three layers of filter paper is facing the pouring spout.
- Rinse the filter thoroughly with hot water if desired.
- Pour out the rinse water.
- Grind 30 grams of coffee beans medium-coarse.
- Pour the coffee into the filter and ensure the coffee bed is relatively even.
- Pour approximately 60–90 grams of water over the coffee so that all the coffee gets wet.
- Let the coffee bloom for about 30–45 seconds.
- Continue pouring water slowly and in a controlled manner.
- Stop when the scale shows 500 grams of water.
- Let the water run completely through the coffee bed.
- Remove the filter, swirl the Chemex gently if desired, and serve.
Use this recipe as a starting point. The best grind size and brew time may vary between different coffee beans and quantities.
How much coffee should you use for a Chemex?
A good starting point is 60 grams of coffee per liter of water.
This gives, for example:
• 15 g coffee to 250 g water
• 18 g coffee to 300 g water
• 30 g coffee to 500 g water
• 36 g coffee to 600 g water
• 45 g coffee to 750 g water
• 60 g coffee to 1 liter of water
You can adjust the ratio to suit your own taste.
If you want a stronger cup, you can use a little more coffee. If you prefer a lighter coffee, you can use a little less.
A coffee scale makes it easier to keep both coffee and water amounts consistent from brew to brew.
How coarse should coffee be ground for a Chemex?
For a Chemex, a medium-coarse grind size is a good starting point.
The coffee should typically be ground coarser than for a Hario V60 and regular filter coffee, but not necessarily as coarse as for a French press.
The Chemex filter creates relatively high resistance to the water. If the coffee is ground very finely, the flow can become slow.
If the coffee runs through very slowly and tastes bitter or dry, you can try grinding a little coarser.
If the water runs through very quickly and the coffee tastes thin, sharp, or lacks sweetness, you can try grinding a little finer.
Use the taste as your most important guide.
How should the Chemex filter be positioned?
The Chemex filter should be opened so that one side consists of one layer of paper and the other of three layers.
The side with three layers must face the Chemex's pouring spout.
This is important because the spout also acts as an air channel during brewing.
If the filter collapses against the spout and blocks the air channel, the flow can slow down or stop.
When the filter is positioned correctly, it should sit stably in the top of the Chemex.
Should the Chemex filter be rinsed?
It is not strictly necessary, but we recommend rinsing the filter with hot water before brewing.
It can:
• Remove any loose paper fibers
• Pre-heat the Chemex carafe
• Help the filter sit correctly against the glass
Remember to pour out the rinse water before adding the coffee.
What is a bloom?
The bloom is the first part of the brewing process, where a small amount of water is poured over the ground coffee.
When coffee beans are roasted, carbon dioxide is formed, which is gradually released after roasting. When hot water hits the coffee, some of this gas is released quickly.
This is why fresh coffee can rise and bubble during the bloom.
If you use 30 grams of coffee, you can start with about 60–90 grams of water.
Ensure the entire coffee bed gets wet, and wait about 30–45 seconds before continuing.
How to pour the water
After the bloom, pour the rest of the water slowly and in a controlled manner over the coffee bed.
You can pour in one long pour or divide the water into several portions.
Try to keep the coffee bed evenly wet without pouring forcefully directly against the sides of the filter.
A gooseneck kettle makes it easier to control the water flow, but it is not necessary to be able to brew good coffee with a Chemex.
The most important thing is that your pouring technique is fairly consistent from brew to brew.
How long should a Chemex brew?
There is no single correct brew time for all Chemex recipes.
The amount of coffee and water has a great impact. A large brew naturally takes longer than a small one.
For about 30 grams of coffee and 500 grams of water, a total brew time of approximately 4–5 minutes can be a reasonable starting point.
But do not use the time as a goal in itself.
If the coffee tastes good after 3:45, there is no reason to change the grind size just to hit four minutes.
Use the time as a tool to discover changes – and the taste to determine if the brew is good.
What temperature should the water be?
Around 92–96 °C is a good starting point.
For light roast coffee, you can start at the high end of the temperature range.
For darker roasts, you can try a slightly lower temperature if the coffee becomes too bitter or tastes burnt.
If you do not have a temperature-controlled kettle, you can also bring the water to a boil and let it settle a bit before brewing.
The grind size will usually be the first thing we recommend adjusting if the coffee does not taste as desired.
Which coffee beans are best for Chemex?
Chemex can be used with light, medium, and dark roast coffee beans.
Because the paper filter provides a relatively clean cup, Chemex is particularly interesting for coffee where you want to experience the individual flavor notes clearly.
Light roast coffee for Chemex
Light roast coffee beans can provide a light and aromatic cup with distinct fruitiness, acidity, and floral notes.
The Chemex is therefore very well suited for many light roast single-origin coffees.
Medium roast coffee for Chemex
Medium roast coffee often provides a bit more sweetness and body, while the coffee's original character is still clear.
It is a good and versatile choice if you do not want a very light or acidic cup.
Dark roast coffee for Chemex
Dark roast coffee can also be used.
You will typically get a more intense and roasted flavor profile, but the Chemex filter can still provide a relatively clean result.
If the coffee becomes too bitter, you can try a slightly coarser grind or a slightly lower water temperature.
Why are Chemex filters different?
Chemex uses special Bonded paper filters.
The official Chemex filters are about 20–30% thicker than many competing coffee filters.
The thicker filter retains more fine coffee particles and a larger portion of the oils from the coffee.
This helps provide the clear and clean cup that the Chemex is known for.
It is also one of the reasons why the grind size should typically be slightly coarser than, for example, for a Hario V60.
Chemex or Hario V60?
Both are pour-over brewers, but they offer different brewing experiences.
Chemex
The Chemex serves as both a brewer and a serving carafe.
The thicker paper filter provides a very clean cup, and the larger models make it easy to brew coffee for several people.
Hario V60
The V60 is a smaller filter holder with a large hole in the bottom and spiral ribs.
It is particularly suitable for smaller portions and provides great control over the water flow.
Both brewers can highlight the coffee's flavor notes.
If you often brew several cups at once and like a very clear cup of coffee, the Chemex is an obvious choice.
Chemex or standard coffee machine?
Both use paper filtration, but the workflow is different.
On a standard filter coffee machine, the machine automatically controls the water temperature, distribution, and flow.
With a Chemex, you pour the water over the coffee yourself.
This gives you the opportunity to control, among other things:
• Water quantity
• Pouring speed
• Bloom
• Grind size
• Brew time
On the other hand, the Chemex requires a little more attention during the brewing process.
Which Chemex size should I choose?
Chemex is available in several sizes.
Note that the manufacturer's “cups” do not correspond to large coffee mugs.
For example, the Chemex Classic series has approximately the following capacities:
3 cups: approx. 440 ml
6 cups: approx. 890 ml
8 cups: approx. 1.18 liters
10 cups: approx. 1.48 liters
If you normally brew about 500–750 ml of coffee, a 6-cup Chemex will often be a practical choice.
If you regularly brew for several people, a larger model might make more sense.
See our range of Chemex coffee brewers here.
Why is my Chemex running slowly?
If the flow becomes very slow, there can be several reasons.
Try checking:
• If the coffee is ground too finely
• If the filter is closing the pouring spout's air channel
• If your coffee grinder produces many very fine particles
• If you pour very aggressively and swirl the coffee bed vigorously
• If you are using the correct type of filter
Usually, start by grinding a little coarser.
Also check that the three layers of the filter are facing the spout.
Why does my Chemex taste bitter?
A bitter or dry coffee can be a sign that you are over-extracting.
First, try grinding the coffee a little coarser.
You can also experiment with a slightly lower water temperature, especially with darker roasts.
If the brewing also takes a very long time, it points even more in the direction that the grind is too fine.
Why does my Chemex taste sour or thin?
If the coffee seems thin, sharp, or lacks sweetness, the brew might be under-extracted.
Try grinding the coffee a little finer.
You can also use slightly hotter water.
However, remember that light roast coffee beans can naturally have distinct fruitiness and acidity.
The goal is therefore not necessarily to remove the acidity, but to get a balanced cup.
How to clean a Chemex
After brewing, remove the filter and coffee grounds.
Rinse the Chemex thoroughly so that coffee and oils are not allowed to accumulate on the glass.
Classic models with a wooden collar must be disassembled if the glass is to be washed in a dishwasher.
The wooden collar and leather strap should not be put in the dishwasher.
The clean glass also makes it easier to avoid old coffee residues affecting the taste of the next brew.
Frequently asked questions about Chemex
How much coffee should I use for a Chemex?
60 grams of coffee per liter of water is a good starting point. For 500 grams of water, you can, for example, use 30 grams of coffee.
How coarse should coffee be ground for a Chemex?
Medium-coarse is a good starting point. The coffee is typically ground a little coarser than for a Hario V60.
How long should a Chemex brew?
It depends on the amount. With about 30 grams of coffee and 500 grams of water, about 4–5 minutes is a fine starting point, but the taste is more important than the exact time.
How hot should the water be?
Around 92–96 °C is a good starting point.
How should the Chemex filter be positioned?
The filter should be opened so that three layers of paper face the pouring spout and one layer faces the opposite side.
Should the Chemex filter be rinsed?
It is not a requirement, but it can remove loose paper fibers and at the same time pre-heat the carafe.
Which coffee is best for Chemex?
Both light, medium, and dark roast coffee can be used. Light and medium roast coffee beans are popular because the Chemex's clean filtration makes many of the coffee's flavor notes clear.
What is the difference between Chemex and V60?
Chemex uses a thicker paper filter and also serves as a serving carafe. V60 uses thinner paper filters and offers a slightly different flow and brewing experience.
Can a Chemex go in the dishwasher?
Chemex states that the glass carafe can go in the dishwasher once the wooden collar and leather strap have been removed on models with these parts.