How to brew coffee with a Chemex?

The Chemex is the minimalist of coffee brewers.
Beautiful. Calm. Slightly intimidating.
And when brewed right? Ridiculously clean coffee.

It doesn’t shout.
It whispers flavour.

If the V60 is sharp and expressive,
the Chemex is smooth, composed, and polite — in the best way possible.

Let’s brew it properly.

What you need

• Chemex

• Chemex paper filter

• Medium-coarse ground coffee (a touch coarser than V60)

• Hot water (92–96°C)

• Scale + timer

• Gooseneck kettle (helps, but not mandatory)

Step 1: Filter first (and rinse generously)

Place the Chemex filter with the triple-folded side against the spout.
Rinse thoroughly with hot water.

Why this matters:

• Removes papery taste

• Preheats the Chemex

• Helps the thick filter sit correctly

Dump the rinse water. Respect the process.

Step 2: Add coffee

Use a 1:15 ratio.

Easy math:

• 30g coffee → 450ml water

• 40g coffee → 600ml water

Add coffee to the filter.
Give the Chemex a gentle swirl to level the bed.

Flat bed. Calm start.

Step 3: Bloom (slow and even)

Start your timer.

Pour 2–2.5x the coffee weight in water
(30g coffee → 60–75ml water)

Make sure everything gets wet.
No dry patches.

Wait 30–45 seconds.

This step sets the tone for the entire brew.

Step 4: The long, steady pour

After blooming, pour in slow spirals, staying mostly in the center and gently moving outward.

Key rules:

• Don’t dump water

• Don’t rush

• Let the water level rise and fall naturally

Aim to finish pouring by 2:30–3:00 minutes.
Total drawdown should end around 4:00–4:30 minutes.

If it drains too fast → grind too coarse
If it takes forever → grind too fine

Step 5: Let it finish

Once the water drains completely, remove the filter and grounds.
Give the Chemex a gentle swirl.

Pour. Sip. Appreciate the restraint.

What Chemex coffee tastes like

• Ultra clean

• Light body

• High clarity

• Very little bitterness

The thick filter removes most oils, so flavours feel:

• Softer

• Rounder

• More “polished”

This is where subtle coffees shine.

Milk or black?

Let’s be real.

The Chemex is built for black coffee.
Milk will overpower what makes it special.

If you do add milk:

• Brew stronger (1:13 ratio)

• Use very little milk

But if you’re chasing comfort-with-milk, this isn’t the brewer.
This is about clarity and calm.

Common mistakes (easy to avoid)

• Skipping filter rinse → paper-flavoured sadness

• Pouring too aggressively → uneven extraction

• Wrong grind → hollow or bitter cup

• Expecting heaviness → wrong tool

Final thought

The Chemex rewards patience and restraint.

No tricks.
No shortcuts.
Just clean technique and good coffee.

Brew it right and you get a cup that feels:

• Intentional

• Balanced

• Effortless (even though it wasn’t)

It’s not loud coffee.
It’s confident coffee ☕✨