Chemex Guide

Select Brew Method

See All
Steps in Tutorial:

  • Chemex

    You'll need these: Chemex, Chemex Filter, Grinder, Gram Scale, Timer

    Step 1

    Grind 48 grams of coffee on a medium coarse drip grind setting. (Baratza setting 19-21)

  • Chemex

    You'll need these: Chemex, Chemex Filter, Grinder, Gram Scale, Timer

    Step 2

    Place the Chemex filter with the tri-fold at the pour spout. Rinse the paper filter to eliminate the paper taste.

  • Chemex

    You'll need these: Chemex, Chemex Filter, Grinder, Gram Scale, Timer

    Step 3

    Dump the rinse water.

  • Chemex

    You'll need these: Chemex, Chemex Filter, Grinder, Gram Scale, Timer

    Step 4

    Put the ground coffee into the rinsed Chemex filter.

  • Chemex

    You'll need these: Chemex, Chemex Filter, Grinder, Gram Scale, Timer

    Step 5

    Place the Chemex on the gram scale. Tare the scale.

  • Chemex

    You'll need these: Chemex, Chemex Filter, Grinder, Gram Scale, Timer

    Step 6

    Starting in the center and pouring increasingly larger concentric circles, gently add 48 grams of spring or filtered water, just off the boil. The goal is to pour the water onto the coffee  so that the ground coffee blooms without seeping brewed coffee during the bloom time.  Let the coffee bloom for 30 seconds. If drips seep through into the bottom of the Chemex during the 30 second bloom, not to worry, it's coffee.  If however, your coffee tastes a little bitter, adjust the grinder to a coarser setting for a sweeter cup.

  • Chemex

    You'll need these: Chemex, Chemex Filter, Grinder, Gram Scale, Timer

    Step 7

    At the conclusion of the bloom, continue the same pouring style until the gram scale reaches 620-650.  Fewer grams yields a more robust cup.  More grams yields a cup with lighter body and more pronounced acidity.

  • Chemex

    You'll need these: Chemex, Chemex Filter, Grinder, Gram Scale, Timer

    Step 8

    The entire brew time should be very close to 4 minutes.

  • Chemex

    You'll need these: Chemex, Chemex Filter, Grinder, Gram Scale, Timer

    Step 9

    Swirl the brewed coffee, pour and enjoy. If the brew time is too short, the grind is likely too coarse and the coffee may taste bland or a little lacking in flavor. If the brew time is too long, the grind is likely too fine. The coffee is likely to taste bitter and over extracted.