How to Make Chemex Coffee

Famous for its timeless design that earned it a place in a MoMA collection, the Chemex is the undisputed star amongst manual pour overs.

As well as being an elegant coffee maker to showcase on your countertop, it guarantees smooth cups of delicious java.

That’s only if you know how to make Chemex coffee like an experienced barista, though! That’s ok: we’re going to show you.

Chemex brewing guide: how to make Chemex coffee that tastes as good as it looks 

You’ll need your Chemex, a Chemex filter, coffee and water (duh), a gooseneck kettle, a timer and a coffee scale (trust us!). Our recipe is best suited for the standard 6-cup Chemex, but you can easily tweak it to fit your 3, 8 or 10-cup model by using a different 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio.

Have the right coffee

Use a burr grinder to grind 45g of coffee to a medium-coarse size, sort of like sea-salt.

Get the right hot water temperature

Don't scorch your grounds! Aim for 195-205°F (90-96°C). If you haven’t got a variable-temperature kettle or a thermometer, boil the water before grinding the coffee beans, so that it’s cooled down slightly by the time you pour it. 

Pre-wet the filter

Place the filter on top of the Chemex and pre-wet it to avoid a papery taste. You can now discard that water and add your grounds.

Pulse-pour

Place the Chemex onto the scale, tare it, and start the timer. Gently, working your way around the middle but avoiding the edges, pour 90g of water (or twice the amount than you have coffee). Ensure an even extraction by letting your grounds bloom for around 30 seconds.

Go back to pulse-pouring, but this time spread it over increments of roughly 200g: they should take around 30 seconds each, with an extra 30 seconds in-between. Stop pouring when you reach 700g, which should be at around 3/3.30min. Then let the water drip. 

Enjoy it

Remove the filter, give your Chemex a swirl to aerate the coffee, and drink it, as its glass walls won’t keep it piping hot for too long. Some people place it on a low heat on their stovetop, but this can stew the coffee and result in over-extraction, so it’s better to drink it just after brewing it (why would you want to wait, anyway?).

Avoiding under-extraction and over-extraction when brewing Chemex coffee

If your Chemex coffee tastes sour and weak, it’s under-extracted: try a slightly finer grind, less water compared to the amount of coffee, or a slightly higher temperature. 

If it tastes bitter and burnt, it’s over-extracted: try a coarser ground, having a little less coffee compared to the water, or having the latter at a slightly lower temperature.

Is Chemex better than French press?

We hear this question a lot, but Chemex and French presses aren’t one better than the other: they’re separate brewing methods that can appeal to different palates! The former is one of the best pour over methods and, like most of them, it involves pulse-pouring techniques and a bit of a learning curve; thanks to its paper filters, it also guarantees a sediment-free brew. French presses, on the other hand, are the most popular immersion-brewing method: they’re quick, easy to use, and result in a more robust coffee.

Now that you know how to make Chemex coffee like a professional barista, you’ll no longer need to worry about under- or over-extraction: just make sure that you’ve got the freshest coffee and start making everyone jealous of your impeccable pulse-pouring skills!