How to Make Chemex Coffee at Home

The Chemex is part brewer, part work of art. With its hourglass shape and thick bonded filters, it produces a remarkably clean, bright, and nuanced cup — one that lets the character of a great single origin shine through completely.

What You'll Need

  • Chemex brewer (6-cup or 8-cup)
  • Chemex bonded filters (square or circle)
  • Freshly ground coffee — medium-coarse grind
  • Filtered water, heated to 200°F (just off the boil)
  • Kitchen scale
  • Gooseneck kettle (recommended)
  • Timer

The Ratio

Use 1:15 — 1g of coffee for every 15g of water. For a standard 3-cup brew: 40g coffee / 600g water.

Step-by-Step

  1. Rinse the filter — Open the filter into a cone (3 layers on the spout side), place in the Chemex, and rinse with hot water. Discard the rinse water. This removes paper taste and preheats the brewer.
  2. Add your coffee — Add your ground coffee to the filter and give it a gentle shake to level the bed.
  3. Bloom — Start your timer. Pour just enough water to saturate all the grounds (about 2x the coffee weight — so ~80g for 40g coffee). Wait 45 seconds. This releases CO₂ and primes the grounds for even extraction.
  4. Pour in stages — Pour in slow, steady circles from the center outward. Add water in 3–4 pours, keeping the water level consistent. Aim to finish pouring by 3:30.
  5. Let it drain — The total brew time should be 4:00–4:30. If it's draining too fast, go finer. Too slow, go coarser.
  6. Remove the filter and serve — Lift the filter out cleanly, give the Chemex a gentle swirl, and pour.

Tips for a Better Chemex

  • Use a gooseneck kettle — control matters more here than with most brew methods
  • Don't rush the bloom — 45 seconds makes a real difference in evenness
  • Keep pours slow and centered — avoid pouring directly on the filter walls
  • Chemex shines with light to medium roasts — try our Ethiopia Natural, Kenya, or Colombia for exceptional results

The Bottom Line

The Chemex rewards patience and precision. Get the grind, ratio, and pour right and you'll have one of the most satisfying cups you've ever brewed at home.

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