What Is the Chemex?
The Chemex is a pour-over brewer made from non-porous borosilicate glass, shaped as a single hourglass vessel. A polished wood collar and leather tie wrap the neck, keeping the glass cool to hold during the brew. It was designed by inventor Peter Schlumbohm in 1941 and has been in continuous production since. It's part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Chemex uses its own bonded filter papers, which are 20–30% heavier than standard filters. The denser paper retains more of the suspended oils and fine particles during the brew, producing a notably clean, sediment-free cup. This makes the Chemex well suited to light and medium roasts where clarity of flavour is the goal.
Basic Recipe
Coffee: 30g, medium filter grind
Water: 500g at 94°C
Total brew time: 3:30–4:30
Brewing Instructions
- Heat your water and rinse the filter. Bring the kettle to 94°C. Fold the Chemex filter so the three-layer side faces the spout and place it in the brewer. Pour a little hot water through to rinse the filter and warm the glass, then discard.
- Add coffee. Place the Chemex on your scale and tare. Add 30g of medium filter grind coffee and level the bed.
- Bloom. Start your timer. Pour 50g of water evenly over the grounds, making sure all the coffee is saturated. Leave to bloom for 30 seconds. This allows CO2 to escape and primes the grounds for an even extraction.
- Pour in stages. At 0:30, pour slowly to 250g, moving the kettle in a steady circular motion to keep the coffee bed level. Continue pouring in slow circles, adding the remaining 250g of water in stages and keeping the water level consistent. All water should be in by around 2:30.
- Stir and draw down. Give the slurry a gentle stir to ensure all grounds are evenly submerged. Leave the coffee to draw down fully through the filter. The total brew time should be 3:30–4:30. Remove the filter and discard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size Chemex should I buy?
Chemex brewers are sized by cup, where one "cup" is approximately 150ml. The 3–6 cup (CM6A or CM6GH) is the most practical for home use, handling anything from a single large mug to two cups at once. The 6–8 and 8–10 cup sizes suit households that regularly brew for a group. The 1–3 cup is compact but limits your batch size. The recipe above is written for the 3–6 cup.
What grind size does a Chemex need?
Medium filter, slightly coarser than you'd use for a V60. The thick Chemex filter slows the flow rate, so grinding too fine can cause over-extraction or a stalled brew. If your brew takes longer than 4:30, try grinding coarser. See our grind size guide for reference.
Do I need to use Chemex filter papers?
Chemex's own bonded filters are recommended for this recipe. Their heavier construction is part of what produces the characteristic clean cup. Third-party filters that fit the Chemex cone are available, but they vary in thickness and will affect the flow rate and flavour. We stock Chemex FC-100 pre-folded circle filters and FSU-100 natural square filters.
What coffee works best in a Chemex?
Light to medium roasts tend to suit the Chemex well. The thick filter removes oils and fines that carry bitterness, which means delicate fruit and floral notes come through clearly. Medium-dark roasts can also work if you enjoy a cleaner version of a fuller cup. Browse our full coffee range for options to try.
How does a Chemex differ from a V60 or Kalita Wave?
All three are pour-over brewers, but the Chemex uses a significantly thicker filter, which slows the flow and removes more oils. The result is a cleaner, lighter-bodied cup than a V60 or Kalita Wave typically produces. The Chemex also brews larger batches more naturally, making it well suited to brewing for more than one person.
Can I keep brewed Chemex coffee warm?
The glass carafe doesn't retain heat for long. If you're not drinking it immediately, decant into a preheated insulated carafe. Avoid placing the Chemex directly on a heat source — the glass is not designed for that and can crack.
