Chemex

A clean, elegant pour-over for brewing several cups at once.

• Ratio: ≈1:16–1:17 coffee to water
• Method: Chemex / pour-over
• Brew time: 4–5 minutes
• Difficulty: Intermediate

Ingredients

Amounts for 2 servings.

• Coffee Beans: 30 g
• Hot Water: 500 ml

Instructions

1. Boil water and set a Chemex filter in the top, with the triple-fold side toward the spout.
2. Rinse the filter thoroughly with hot water, then discard the rinse water.
3. Add about 30 g of medium-coarse coffee and level the bed.
4. Bloom with about 60 g of water for 30–45 seconds, until the grounds puff and settle.
5. Pour the remaining water (to about 500 g total) in slow, steady spirals in two or three pours.
6. Let it drain fully, then lift out the filter. The whole brew should take about 4 to 5 minutes.

Why the Chemex tastes so clean

The Chemex uses a thick paper filter — heavier than most pour-over papers — which traps more oils and fine particles. The result is an exceptionally clean, crisp, tea-like cup with no sediment. That thicker filter also drains more slowly, so a medium-coarse grind (a little coarser than a V60) keeps the brew from stalling. It is built to make several cups at once, which makes it a lovely weekend brewer.