Basic Chemex Recipe

This is the basic recipe for the Chemex. It produces two large cups of coffee with a water to coffee ratio of 1:16. The recipe starts with a 100g bloom, followed by three equal pours of 180g.

This recipe can be used for any Chemex model larger than the 6 Cup.

The Chemex is an hourglass shaped percolation brewer, invented in 1941 by German chemist Dr. Peter Schlumbohm. Its single piece glass design (combining both the cone and carafe) sets it apart from other pour over brewers as an icon of manual coffee brewing.

The Chemex filters are thick and triple-folded along one side, allowing it to trap more oils and finer particles than standard filters. The resulting coffee is exceptionally clean and with much longer drawdowns compared to standard pour over methods.

Notes

• If you the drawdown ends too fast, then grind your coffee finer, if it ends too slowly, grind coarser.
• When placing the filter, make sure the three layered side faces the spout. This helps prevent the paper from adhering to the spout, which can block the airflow into the base and causing your brew to stop flowing.
• If you don't have a kettle with a built-in thermometer, just wait 1 minute after the water boils to reach the ideal temperature.

Recipe Preparation

• Place a filter in the Chemex.
• Rinse the paper filter and Chemex with hot water to remove any papery taste and to heat up the brewer. Empty the Chemex of the water.
• Place coffee in the filter and shake to level the grounds.
• Place on the brewer on the scales and tare.
• Start the timer when your water is ready.