What is Chemex Coffee Brewing and Why is it Better?

Although the best coffee making style can be a subjective thing, the Chemex really does brew better coffee than many of the alternatives. For many people, the Chemex will likely brew the most pleasant tasting coffee.

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What is a Chemex Coffee Brewing?

Chemex brewing describes the process of manually preparing coffee using a Chemex branded coffeemaker. The Chemex coffeemaker is a type of pour-over system which comprises of an hourglass shaped vessel and a specially designed filter. The Chemex brand has been around since 1941 and is one of the older brewing methods out there. The Chemex Coffee Maker is available on Amazon in a variety of different sizes with two different handle options.

Although this coffee maker looks a lot like many of the competing options, the thick filter is what makes this brewing method truly unique. The Chemex filters are much more densely woven than traditional coffee filters. They help to regulate the flow of coffee while removing much of the body and coffee oils. The filter slows down the flow of water passed through it, resulting in a better developed flavor.

I am a huge fan of the Chemex coffee maker and highly recommend them to anyone out there looking to change up their coffee routine. In fact, I recently wrote a post where I listed the Chemex as one of the most accessible ways to drink coffee for beginners (in terms of taste). In this article, I’ll answer your Chemex questions and describe who the Chemex is best suited for.

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Why is the Chemex Better?

Chemex brewed coffee tastes better than many other coffeemakers because of the unique filter, all glass construction, and the unique shape of the device. The all-glass construction imparts no additional flavors into your cup, ensuring that what your tasting is 100% coffee. If you enjoy clean tasting coffee with a bright flavor, you will really enjoy using a Chemex.

Chemex coffee is widely considered the better choice for people who are looking for a smoother cup with less bitterness and don’t mind the lack of body. Chemex coffee leaves you with sort of the opposite impression of a french press. The resulting brew is very bright and clear as opposed to thick and heavy. This is my personal preference for coffee because I enjoy the nuanced flavors and I don’t generally like my coffee very heavy. For this reason, I don’t find myself using french presses too often.

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Is Chemex better than drip coffee?

Chemex coffee is brighter and cleaner than drip coffee, which many people will find more appealing. That being said, Chemex coffee leaves a lighter impression than drip coffee because the unique filter removes much of the sensation of heaviness (referred to as body).

Drip coffee uses a standard filter and a medium to medium-fine grind. This allows the water to flow through the coffee quickly. Regular coffee filters pull out small sediment and most of the coffee oil, but to a much lesser extent than a Chemex filter.

Chemex filters slow down the rate of extraction and require a coarser grind. The coffee will extract for longer than drip coffee, which results in a better developed flavor. The various tasting notes in coffee are more obvious in Chemex coffee.

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How Does the Chemex Work?

The Chemex works similarly to a pour-over with the exception that the filter is inserted in the brewing vessel itself. The Chemex has a slender design and uses a dense filter which slows down the flow of water compared to other pourover type methods. Coffee grounds are placed in the filter and water is passed through slowly. The resulting brew is contained in the bottom of the vessel, ready to be served.

Because of the restricted flow, the total brewing time is longer than some other methods. However, this longer infusion time allows more time for the flavors to develop.

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How to Use the Chemex Coffee Maker?

To use the Chemex coffee maker, you will need a kettle, a burr grinder, and a scale. You can get by without one of these components, but your experience will be harder to replicate and may take longer.

While brewing using the Chemex, you will want to pour water over the grounds in circular motions, keeping the water level slightly above the level of the grounds. The entire process should take at least 4-5 minutes, although it will probably be longer.

If the brewing process goes on too long, the grind is too fine and is regulating the flow of water rather than the filter. This will result in bitterness and over-extraction, so be sure to use a coarse grind for your first attempt.

Chemex Brewing Instructions

1. Begin by heating the desired amount of filtered water to a boil.
2. While the water is heating, prepare your filter by separating the 3 folded side from the one folded side. Place the three folded side against the spout.
3. Grind your coffee beans slightly coarser than drip coffee (see below for more details on grind). If filling a 6-cup or larger Chemex to capacity, use a coarse grind.
4. Pre-wet the filter with hot water. Swirl the water around to heat the Chemex and discard the remaining water.
5. Add your coffee grounds and pour just enough coffee to cover the grounds. Wait 30 seconds or so for the gas to escape (this is called blooming).
6. Pour more water in a circular motion to saturate all the grounds. Keep the water level at least an inch from the top of the Chemex. Keep pouring slowly, keeping the water level just above the grounds until your desired amount of water has been poured.
7. Once the flow of coffee stops, discard the filter and enjoy your coffee. Make note of anything unpalatable about the cup and adjust the coffee to water ratio and grind setting accordingly.

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Can I use a Chemex Without a Scale?

You can use a Chemex without a scale if you prefer, although it may not be as precise compared to using one. Many people imagine that using a scale adds steps, but it will save you time in the end. The scale allows you to measure your coffee and water precisely and assists you with timing your pours.

Additionally, you will need to heat extra water for pre-wetting the filter and preheating the Chemex itself. If you aren’t measuring your water with a scale, you will have to do this another way (such as under the sink with hot water) and heat the exact amount of water for brewing. It basically adds a step but is otherwise not a big deal.

If I am brewing a Chemex without a scale, I will typically run water in my sink (until it gets hot) while preparing everything else. When heating water for brewing, I’ll use a measuring cup to determine the exact amount. This way, I can run the Chemex under the sink to preheat and prewet everything. In this situation, the scale would be faster than the measuring cup for measuring water itself and I wouldn’t have to run the sink at all.

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What Coffee to Water Ratio should I use for the Chemex?

The Chemex coffee maker uses the same coffee to water ratio as most other methods. I recommend starting with 10 grams (or around 2 table spoons) of coffee for every 6 ounces (or 150 grams) of water. This is a 1:18 ratio. If you want to adjust this or learn more about how to measure coffee, read my guide below.

Read More: The Coffee to Water Ratio

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What Grind Should I use for the Chemex?

This is something that varies. Ideally, you want the filter to do most of the regulating of the flow. However, too fine a grind will cause the coffee to become over-extracted. The grind size depends on serving size and the amount of coffee. You’ll want to adjust the grind until your extraction takes 4-5 minutes or so. Longer times result in bitter coffee and indicate your grind needs to be coarser.

For the smallest Chemex (3-cup), I would use a standard drip grind. For a full 8 cup Chemex or larger, I would use a coarse french press grind. As you approach that larger amount, grind coarser and coarser.  It is very important that you use a burr grinder with a Chemex, otherwise your experience won’t be ideal. You need the variability and consistency of a burr grinder.

Read More: Why You Need a Burr Grinder

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Can I brew different serving amounts in the same Chemex?

You can brew any amount in any size Chemex (up to capacity), but the size of the vessel does influence the grind size (see notes on grind size above). The larger Chemex models are more difficult to brew single servings with, and you will be better off purchasing two different sizes.

If you always brew for multiple people, you may want to consider the 8-cup or 10-cup model. The 8-cup Chemex can easily handle 6 cups or 4 cups but struggles with single servings. On the other hand, if you wish to brew for yourself most of the time and occasionally another person, the 6-cup or 3-cup models might be a better fit.

Please note that all models share the same filter except for the 3-cup.

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What Size Chemex is Best?

Most people will probably find the 6 or 8 cup Chemex the most useful. If you wish to brew single servings (10-15 ounces), the 6-cup will do an impressive job. I personally own the 8 cup chemex along with the 3 cup, which uses a different type of filter. Since the 8-cup is overkill for one person, the 3-cup works well to fit my single serving need.

If you only open to purchasing a single Chemex model, you should pick based on the amount of coffee you most regularly prepare. You can always use other brewing methods for different serving preferences. Remember that Chemex cups, similar to most other coffee makers, use 5-ounce cups.

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Can the Chemex be Placed on the Stove?

The Chemex can be placed on electric burners where the coils are not exposed. Be sure to use the lowest heat setting so you don’t burn your coffee. If you prefer to use the Chemex this way, you may want to consider purchasing the matching glass lid (view on Amazon) to help keep heat in.

Alternatively, you can pour your Chemex coffee into an insulated carafe. This is always preferable to using any kind of additional heating since that can alter the taste of the coffee relatively quickly.

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Who is the Chemex Best Suited For?

The Chemex coffee maker works best for those who already own some basic brewing accessories and enjoy brewing coffee manually. The taste of Chemex coffee will please those who enjoy clean, bright coffee with nuanced flavor.

Most manual brewing methods such as the Chemex are relatively inexpensive but need to be supported by important accessories. This includes a burr grinder, kettle, and a scale. Once you acquire these essentials, you can collect and use many other brewing methods at little additional expense.

Read More: 3 Minimum Brewing Essentials for Manual Brewing Methods

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Can I replace my coffeepot with a Chemex?

You can easily replace your coffeepot with a Chemex, provided you go for one of the larger models. You will also need a kettle and other accessories (mentioned above).

The Chemex is not as fast or as simple as using a standard drip coffee maker. However, the coffee is substantially smoother and cleaner tasting and the effort is well worth it. Once you try Chemex coffee, you will have difficulty continuing to enjoy your coffee pot.

The Chemex is also easier to clean and can be stored away in a cabinet, freeing up precious counter space. However, if you want to leave your Chemex on your counter, I highly recommend getting the Blue Horse Chemex Caddy (view on Amazon). This wooden caddy has a silicone insert and is great for storing your Chemex and the filters beautifully.

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Where to buy the Chemex Coffee Maker?

You can find the Chemex coffee maker in stores like Williams Sonoma or Bed Bath and Beyond, but your options may be limited to the classic 6 and 8 cup models with the wooden handle.

You can also purchase a greater variety of Chemex models online via Amazon. The Chemex is available in classic wood-handled, glass-handled, and hand-blown variants. The sizes range from 3 cups all the way to 10 cups (each cup being 5 ounces).

The hand-blown Chemex models use thicker glass but they are comparably more expensive. At the time of this post, I did not see the hand blown models on Amazon. In my opinion, the standard Chemex models are durable enough to last and should prove sufficient.

• Chemex classic and glass-handled model (view on Amazon)
• Chemex 6-cup through 10-cup filters (view on Amazon)

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Other Questions

If you have other questions about using the Chemex, post them below and I will update the article.

If you are interested in manual brewing methods but aren’t quite settled on the Chemex, check out my comparison post to learn about the other methods.

Read More: Comparing 7 Brewing Methods

Happy Brewing!