Chemex Brew Guide

How to brew delicious coffee in a Chemex

The Chemex Coffee Maker is a pour-over style brewer, with a non-porous glass flask shaped like an hourglass. The neck or handle of the body is wrapped with a polished wood collar and a leather tie. The Chemex is simple and stunning in design, so much so that it’s featured in The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Chemex paper filters are 20-30% heavier than others, so they retain more of the suspended oils during the brewing process and keep back a lot of the finer grinds which tend to bring a bitter flavour into the drink.

Basic Recipe

Coffee: 30g - Medium grind
Water: 500g, 95ºC

1. Add 60g water to coffee and leave to bloom
2. Wait 30-45 seconds, then add 200g water, add the remaining 240g in stages
3. Stir, then remove filter when water has passed through (this should take 3.5-4.5 mins)

Step 1

Heat the kettle to 95ºC. Once heated rinse your folded filter paper over the carafe to warm it at the same time. Discard this water

Step 2

Place your Chemex on the scale with rinsed filter in place. Tare the scales and add 30g of freshly ground coffee (medium grind).

Step 3

Add your water in three stages. First, pour 60g of water to start the bloom and wait 30-45 seconds. Then add  200g of water, followed by steadily adding the remaining 240g of water moving the kettle of a circular motion. 

Step 4

Stir to ensure all grounds are evenly submerged.Wait for all the liquid to draw down and then remove the filter. 

Step 5

Pour

and enjoy!