How to Brew the Perfect Chemex Coffee
There’s coffee… and then there’s Chemex coffee, this is our favorite way to brew!
If you’ve ever had a cup that tasted bright, smooth, and ridiculously clean, chances are it came from a Chemex. The thick filter pulls out bitterness and lets the good stuff shine, meaning every note in your coffee actually shows up.
And when you’re working with fresh roasted, specialty grade coffee, that matters.
Here’s how to do it right.
What You’ll Need
Coffee - 20g
Chutzpah's Choice - Lox & Loaded
Grind Size - Medium-Coarse, 18 on a Baratza Encore/ 20 clicks on a Timemore Chestnut C2
Water - 310mL at 205°F Use filtered water for best results!
Ratio -1:15.5
Brew Time: ~5 minutes
This gives you a clean, balanced cup that lets the coffee speak for itself.
Step by Step Brew Guide
- Prep the filter. Place the filter with the thicker side toward the spout as this will ensure proper airflow. Then rinse it with hot water. This removes paper taste and preheats your Chemex. Dump the rinse water.
- Load in the coffee. Pour your ground coffee into the filter. Give it a gentle shake to level the bed. A flat bed means even extraction!
- The bloom! Pour about 3x the weight of your coffee in water, so if you used 20g coffee, pour 60g water onto the grounds. Then wait about 20-30 seconds. This step is important, as the bloom releases trapped gas and sets up a better brew.
- The main pour. Slowly pour the rest of your water starting in the center and moving outwards in concentric circles. Do this in 2 to 3 pours until you hit 310ml.
- Let it drip! The total brew time should land around 4 to 6 minutes, so do not pour too fast above.
What You Should Taste
When you nail it, the Chemex gives you a clean, crisp body, bright acidity, and clear flavor notes!
Tips and Adjustments
Adjusting for Light Roasts:
Light roasts are denser and harder to extract, do the following to ensure a better brew:
Use hotter water (between 203 and 208°F)
Grind a touch finer
Extend your brew time
Adjusting for Dark Roasts:
Dark roasts extract faster and can get bitter, do the following to ensure a better brew:
Use cooler water (between 195 and 200°F)
Grind a touch coarser
Shorten your brew time
Pro Tips
Use fresh coffee! A fresh roast means better bloom and stronger flavor
Control your pour! Chemex rewards patience, don't just dump the water in, pour slow concentric circles starting in the center and moving outwards.
Dial your ratio
For stronger coffee try 1:14
For lighter coffee try 1:16 or even 1:17
Coffee Feedback
Every bean is different! If your coffee tastes bitter, you most likely over extracted, follow the same adjustments for darker roasts, by cooling the water, grinding coarser, and shorting the brew time. If your coffee tastes sour or watery, you most likely under extracted, follow the same adjustments for lighter roasts, by heating up the water, grinding finer, and increasing the brew time.
Enjoy your perfect cup!
L'chaim!