Chemex Brew Guide

How to Brew Chemex

The Chemex is one of the most recognisable brewing tools in coffee. Loved by home brewers and professionals alike, its iconic 6-or-8-cup design combines elegance and simplicity, and has become renowned for producing a clean, crisp cup with delicate sweetness and pronounced aromatics. If you’re looking for a brew method that highlights the nuanced character of a coffee’s provenance, the Chemex is an ideal choice.

Watch our brew video and follow the step-by-step guide to get the most from your Chemex brewer.

Our Approach

Recipe: Coffee: 30g (coarse) | Water: 500g at 93°C | Brew time: 4:00-4.30

Equipment: Chemex | Acaia Scales | Feature Coffee Subscription

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Step by Step Guide

Step 1

Prepare your setup. Gather all ingredients and equipment.

Step 2

Heat your brewing water to 93°C.

Step 3

Fold and place the Chemex filter paper in the brewer, ensuring the triple layered side is aligned with the spout. Rinse thoroughly with hot water to remove any papery taste and preheat the Chemex. After 60 seconds preheating, discard the rinsed water from the Chemex.

Step 4

Grind 30g of coffee to a coarse consistency (granulated sugar texture), add it to the brewer, and gently shake to level.

Step 5

Place the Chemex on the scales, tare to zero, start your timer, and pour over 60g of hot water in a circular motion, ‘blooming’ the coffee.

Step 6

At 0:30, pour an additional 250g of water in a steady circular pattern.

Step 7

At 1:00, pour again until you reach a total of 500g of water.

Step 8

Swirl the Chemex gently, then allow all the water to drip through.

Step 9

Aim for a total brew time of 4:00–5:00 minutes. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Why Brew with a Chemex?

The Chemex emphasises balance, clarity, and sweetness, thanks in part to its extra thick bonded filters, which remove more fine particles and oils than other pour over methods. The result is a silky cup with a clean finish that particularly suits single origin coffees with bright acidity and floral notes, as well as lighter roasts where subtle flavour compounds can really shine. Its larger format also makes it ideal for sharing.

Expert Tip

"A slow, controlled pour is the key to getting the best from a Chemex. Keep your flow steady and let the thick paper filter create the clean, elegant cup profile it's known for."

Stephen Gray, Head of Coffee

Brewing Tips

Both the filter paper and coffee grounds are suitable for home composting.
If your coffee takes longer than 4:30 minutes to brew, coarsen your grind setting. If it’s less than 4:00 minutes, set the dial to a finer grind.
Try to avoid over-agitating the coffee whilst it is brewing; the Chemex performs best when the coffee isn’t disturbed.
Choosing freshly roasted coffee is key to getting the most from your Chemex. Lighter to medium‑light roasts perform well, as this brew method highlights nuanced complexity and soft flavour notes.
The Chemex is a versatile brewer that is great for experimentation. Subtle tweaks to grind, water temperature, bloom time and dosage can create notable flavour changes.

Chemex Brew Guide

How to Brew Chemex

Our Approach

Chemex 6 Cup Classic

Acaia Lunar Scale

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