How to Brew Coffee with a Chemex

The Chemex produces one of the cleanest, most beautiful cups of coffee you can make at home. It's also one of the most demanding — the thick paper filter and slow flow rate require attention and consistency. Master the technique and you'll have a brew method that showcases the best of any coffee you put through it.

What You Need

• A Chemex (6-cup or 8-cup recommended)
• Chemex paper filters (the square ones, folded into a cone)
• Fresh coffee, ground medium-coarse
• A gooseneck kettle (highly recommended for pour control)
• A kitchen scale
• Water at 200°F

Step-by-Step Chemex Brewing

1. Heat your water to 200°F. Just off boil. If you don't have a temperature-controlled kettle, boil water and let it sit for 30–45 seconds.
2. Fold and place the filter. Fold the square Chemex filter into a cone shape — three layers on one side, one layer on the other. Place it in the top of the Chemex with the three-layer side facing the spout.
3. Rinse the filter. Pour hot water through the filter to rinse it and preheat the Chemex. This removes the papery taste and ensures the filter is fully saturated. Discard the rinse water.
4. Add your coffee. Use a 1:15 to 1:16.5 ratio — for a 700ml brew, use 42–47g of medium-coarse ground coffee. Place the Chemex on your scale and tare to zero.
5. Bloom the grounds. Start your timer and pour 2x the weight of your coffee in water (80–90g for 42g of coffee). Pour slowly and evenly over all the grounds. Wait 45 seconds for the bloom — you'll see the grounds bubble and expand as CO2 releases.
6. Begin the main pour. After the bloom, pour slowly in concentric circles, starting from the center and moving outward. Keep the water level consistent — don't let it drop too low or rise too high.
7. Pour in stages. Pour in 3–4 stages, adding water every 30–45 seconds. Total water: 700ml. Total brew time: 4–4.5 minutes.
8. Remove the filter. When the water has fully drawn down, remove the filter and discard. Swirl the Chemex gently to mix the coffee.
9. Serve immediately. Chemex coffee is best served right away. It holds reasonably well for 20–30 minutes.

Chemex Ratios

The standard Chemex ratio is 1:15 to 1:16.5 (coffee to water by weight). Start at 1:15 for a stronger cup, 1:16.5 for a lighter cup. Adjust based on taste.

Troubleshooting

• Bitter coffee — over-extracted. Grind coarser or reduce brew time.
• Sour, thin coffee — under-extracted. Grind finer or extend brew time.
• Slow draw-down (over 5 minutes) — grind too fine. Coarsen your grind.
• Fast draw-down (under 3 minutes) — grind too coarse. Grind finer.
• Papery taste — didn't rinse the filter. Always rinse.

Best Coffees for Chemex

Light to medium roasts with distinct flavor profiles shine in Chemex. Our top picks: Ethiopia Natural, Kenya, Colombia, and Guatemala — all available in our single-origin collection, roasted to order and shipped fresh. For something more approachable, our Smooth & Balanced collection has excellent Chemex-friendly options. Not sure where to start? Our sample packs let you try a few origins before committing to a full bag.

Browse our single origin coffees — the best starting point for Chemex brewing.