As much an art piece as a coffee brewer, the Chemex combines beauty with functionality. Invented in 1941 and inspired by its inventor’s previous career as a chemist, its single-piece glass body and distinctive hourglass shape make it both elegant and easy to brew with. Utilising a thicker filter than most other brewers, Chemex-brewed coffee is known for being clean and light-bodied.
What you’ll need:
- A Chemex brewer
- Correct size Chemex filters
- Ground coffee (medium-coarse)
- Scale
- Timer
- Hot water just off the boil (or between 93 - 96°C)
For this recipe, we’ll be using an 8-cup Chemex and the 1:16 ratio of 30g coffee and 480g water, but as always you should adjust to your preference. While a regular kitchen kettle will work, we recommend a gooseneck pouring kettle for added precision.
Method:
- Boil your kettle. While it’s heating up, place the Chemex on the scale and add the filter. For the 8-cup Chemex, you’ll have a square filter folded to make four sheets; place it in the Chemex so that three sheets line up against the spout and one sheet faces away, forming an inverted cone shape. Rinse the filter—this will pre-heat the
- Chemex and also help the filter stick to the glass sides. Discard the water.
- Tare the scale and add 30g of coffee. Give the Chemex a gentle tap to level the grounds. Tare the scale again.
- Start the timer and pour 30g of water onto the grounds, aiming to saturate all the coffee. Wait 30 seconds.
- After 30 seconds begin pouring in 50g increments, up to 480g. This should take until 3:00, at which point give the Chemex a little swirl to flatten the bed and ensure even extraction. Let the water fully drip through the coffee, then discard the filter and grounds. Pour and enjoy!
Notes:
- There are several Chemex brewers of varying sizes available, each with specific filters. It’s important to buy the correct filters for your particular Chemex, as some won’t work with the wrong size.
See here for our full collection of recommended pour over coffee beans and pour over brew kits.
Brewing using a different method? View all of our brewing guides here.
