What is Chemex brewing?

The Chemex is a pour-over brewer made of glass and wood, known for its elegant design and thick paper filters. It produces a clean, crisp cup with great clarity by filtering out most of the oils and sediment. Ideal for highlighting the more delicate, nuanced flavours of your coffee. It is also part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art!

What is the Chemex method good for?

Chemex brewing is ideal if you enjoy:

A clean, tea-like cup with bright acidity and no grit
Brewing for multiple people (3–6 cups)
A slower, meditative process with high aesthetic appeal

What you’ll need:

Chemex Brewer (3–6 Cup Size)
The iconic glass carafe used to brew and serve in one.
Chemex Bonded Filter Papers
Special thicker filters that remove oils for a cleaner taste.
Fresh coffee beans (whole bean or Chemex grind)
A medium-coarse grind works best — similar to sea salt.
Coffee grinder
For consistent grind size and flavour.
Kettle
For precise pouring control and even saturation.
Filtered water
Cleaner water = better coffee.
Scales
Accuracy improves your brew quality and consistency.
Timer
Keeps your bloom and pour timings on track.

Best brew ratio for Chemex

1:14 – Use 50g of coffee to 700g of water
(Tip: You can scale down – e.g. 30g : 420g – using the same method.)

How to brew with a Chemex

Before you brew:

Heat your water
Boil your kettle with enough water to brew (700g) and preheat your Chemex.
Prepare your filter
Open a Chemex filter and place it into the brewer, making sure the triple-fold side is aligned with the spout.
Rinse the filter
Pour hot water through the filter to remove papery taste and preheat the glass. Discard rinse water.
Grind your coffee
Grind 50g of coffee to a medium-coarse consistency (like sea salt). Add grounds and level the bed.
Set up your scale and timer
Place Chemex on the scale, tare to zero, and have your timer ready.

Four-Pour Brewing Process:

Bloom (0:00–0:45) — Pour to 100g
Saturate grounds evenly. This activates the coffee and releases CO₂.
First main pour (0:45–1:50) — Pour to 300g
Spiral pour to 300g, avoiding filter edges. Let water draw down.
Second main pour (1:50–3:10) — Pour to 500g
Repeat pour pattern to 500g. Pause for drawdown.
Final pour (3:10–4:00+) — Pour to 700g
Finish at 700g. Let water drain fully.

Brew time: 4–4:30 minutes (longer for light roasts or high-elevation coffees).

After Brewing:

Remove and discard the filter.
Swirl the Chemex gently to mix before pouring.
Serve and enjoy a bright, clean, flavour-rich cup.

Pro Coffee Tips!

Bloom the filter at least 1 minute
After rinsing and adding grounds, wait 1 minute before brewing to allow full expansion.
Aggressive bloom agitation enhances clarity
Use vigorous pouring and light stirring during bloom (3× brew ratio) for better flavour and drawdown.

What does Chemex coffee taste like?

Chemex coffee typically has a clean, smooth taste thanks to the thick paper filter, which removes oils and sediments. Depending on the beans, it can highlight fruity and floral notes.

Troubleshooting your Chemex coffee

Coffee tastes weak or sour?

– Grind may be too coarse
– Under-extracted: try hotter water or longer brew time

Coffee tastes bitter or over-strong?

– Grind may be too fine
– Over-extracted: try reducing water temp or shortening brew time

Brewing too slowly?

– Filter might be clogging (avoid swirling)
– Grind might be too fine

The Chemex is all about clarity, elegance, and control. If you love fruity top notes, floral aromatics, and bright acidity, this method is for you. While it takes more time, the reward is a clean, complex, and beautifully nuanced cup every time.

Chemex Brew Guide