Chemex Coffee Guide: How to Brew a Perfect Cup

The Chemex is the elegant grandfather of pour over brewers. Its thick paper filter produces the cleanest cup in specialty coffee, showcasing acidity, sweetness, and tea like clarity that other brewers cannot match. This guide gives you the exact recipe, grind size, and technique to brew Chemex at home like a barista.

If you love bright, clean coffee that lets origin flavours sing, Chemex is the brewer for you. It is also perfect for brewing multiple cups at once without losing quality.

What You Need for Chemex

▸ Chemex brewer, three cup, six cup, eight cup or ten cup size

▸ Chemex bonded paper filters, thick and pre folded

▸ Whole bean coffee, ideally from our coffee collection. Let beans rest at least 7-14 days after roast for best flavour

▸ Burr grinder capable of medium coarse setting

▸ Digital scale that fits under the Chemex

▸ Gooseneck kettle for controlled pouring

▸ Timer

The Chemex Recipe at a Glance

The Chemex ratio is slightly stronger than V60 because the thick filter slows extraction and produces a cleaner cup.

Chemex uses a coarser grind and longer brew time than V60. This is because the thick paper filter restricts flow and the total volume of water is much larger.

Step by Step Chemex Method

Step 1. Fold the filter correctly

Open the pre folded filter into a cone. Place it in the Chemex with the three layer side facing the pouring spout. This helps water drain evenly and prevents the filter collapsing.

Step 2. Rinse the filter

Pour hot water through the paper until it clings to the glass and the water has fully drained. This washes out the paper taste and preheats the glass. Discard the rinse water.

Step 3. Grind coffee

Weigh 40 grams of beans for a 3 cup Chemex and grind medium coarse. Read our guide on how long to rest coffee after roasting for why fresh, properly rested beans matter.

Step 4. Add coffee and level

Pour the ground coffee into the filter and gently tap to level the bed. Place the whole Chemex on the scale and zero it out.

Step 5. Bloom, 0:00 to 0:45

Start the timer and pour 80 grams of water in a slow spiral over the grounds. Stir gently to ensure full saturation. Wait 30 to 45 seconds for the bloom.

Step 6. First main pour, 0:45 to 2:00

Slowly pour water in concentric circles from the centre outward, avoiding the paper walls. Pour to a total of 400 grams by 2 minutes.

Step 7. Final pour, 2:00 to 3:00

Continue pouring until you reach 600 grams total by 3 minutes. Keep the water level consistent inside the filter.

Step 8. Drawdown, 3:00 to 5:00

Let the remaining water draw through. Total brew time should finish between 4 and 5 minutes. Remove the filter, discard, and serve.

Common Chemex Mistakes and Fixes

Coffee tastes flat or watery

Under extraction. Grind finer, raise water to 96 degrees Celsius, or slow your pouring to increase contact time.

Coffee tastes bitter or ashy

Over extraction. Grind coarser or lower water to 93 degrees Celsius. If total brew is over 5 minutes 30 seconds, definitely go coarser.

Filter collapses into the brewer

You did not rinse enough, or the fold is wrong. Make sure the three layer side faces the spout and rinse thoroughly before adding coffee.

Drawdown is very slow

Grind is too fine for Chemex. This filter is thicker than V60 and needs a coarser grind. Go one setting coarser.

Best Beans for Chemex

Chemex loves clean, complex, light and medium roasts. The thick filter strips oils and body, leaving elegant flavour. Best from our current lineup:

▸ Daye Bensa Ethiopian coffee for jasmine, bergamot and berry notes that pop in Chemex.

▸ Juan Pena Ecuador coffee for elegant, tea like clarity from Hacienda La Papaya.

▸ Don Daimer Colombian coffee for silky caramel and honey sweetness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grind size is best for Chemex?

Medium coarse, similar to coarse sea salt. Chemex uses a thicker paper filter than V60, so the grind needs to be coarser to prevent slow drawdown.

How much coffee should I use for Chemex?

Use a 1 to 15 ratio. For a 3 cup Chemex, that means 40 grams of coffee with 600 grams of water. For a 6 cup, use 60 grams of coffee with 900 grams of water.

How long should Chemex take to brew?

A 3 cup Chemex should brew in 4 to 5 minutes. Larger sizes can take 5 to 6 minutes. If yours is finishing in under 3 minutes 30 seconds, grind finer.

Chemex vs V60, which is better?

Chemex uses a thicker filter and makes a cleaner, brighter cup with less body. V60 has a thinner filter and produces more body and texture. Chemex is better for multiple servings and light roasts. V60 is better for single cups and medium roasts.

Can I use V60 filters in a Chemex?

No. V60 filters are much thinner and change the brew completely, letting more oils and fines through. Always use Chemex bonded filters for Chemex.

What to Read Next

Try the AeroPress guide for something faster, or our coffee resting guide to get the most out of every bag.

Ready to brew? Shop freshly roasted coffee from LiRuCoffee.