How to Make Chemex Coffee: Best Roasts, Brewing Tips & Step-by-Step Guide

Clean, bright, and full of flavor. Discover why the Chemex is a favorite among coffee enthusiasts and how to get the most out of every brew.

When it comes to brewing coffee, sometimes simplicity brings out the best flavors. The Chemex pour-over method is known for producing a smooth, clean, and flavorful cup that allows the unique characteristics of your coffee beans to shine.

Whether you're a seasoned coffee enthusiast or just beginning to explore different brewing methods, the Chemex offers a delicious way to experience coffee in a whole new light.

But what makes the Chemex so special? And which coffee roasts work best? Let's pour into it!

What Makes the Chemex Different?

The Chemex isn't just a beautiful addition to your coffee station. It's a brewing method designed to highlight the natural flavors of your coffee.

Unlike traditional drip coffee makers or French presses, the Chemex uses thick, bonded paper filters that remove much of the coffee's oils and sediment during brewing.

The result? A cleaner, lighter-bodied cup with distinct flavor notes and a smooth finish.

This filtration process makes the Chemex especially popular among coffee lovers who enjoy exploring the delicate characteristics of single-origin coffees.

Why Light to Medium Roasts Shine in a Chemex

While you can brew almost any coffee in a Chemex, light and medium roasts are often the stars of the show.

Here's why:

1. Clarity and Flavor

The Chemex's thick paper filters trap oils and fine particles that can sometimes mask delicate flavors. This allows floral, fruity, citrusy, and tea-like notes to stand out.

Light and medium roasts often retain more of these distinctive origin characteristics, making them an excellent choice for pour-over brewing.

2. Bright, Balanced Acidity

One of the most exciting characteristics of lighter-roasted coffees is their natural acidity.

When brewed correctly, this acidity can create a crisp, refreshing cup with notes reminiscent of citrus, berries, or stone fruits.

Rather than tasting overly sharp, a well-extracted light-to-medium roast can offer a pleasant balance of sweetness and brightness.

3. Discover the Flavor of Different Coffee Origins

The Chemex is an excellent way to explore how coffee-growing regions influence flavor.

Some popular choices include:

●     Ethiopian Coffees: Known for their floral aromas, bright citrus notes, and delicate fruit flavors. Washed coffees from regions like Yirgacheffe and Guji are particularly popular.

●     Kenyan Coffees: Often celebrated for their vibrant acidity, berry-like sweetness, and complex flavor profiles.

●     Peruvian Coffees: Depending on the origin and roast, these coffees can offer balanced sweetness, gentle acidity, and notes of chocolate, nuts, or fruit.

If you enjoy tasting the unique characteristics of your coffee, a light-to-medium roast brewed in a Chemex is a great place to start.

How to Brew Coffee Using a Chemex

Ready to make your own delicious pour-over coffee? Follow this simple brewing guide to get started.

What You'll Need

●     Chemex coffee maker

●     Chemex paper filter

●     45 grams of freshly ground coffee

●     700 grams of water

●     Coffee grinder

●     Gooseneck kettle

●     Digital coffee scale

Recommended Coffee: Peru or Ethiopia Sidamo

Grind Size: Medium, slightly finer than a typical drip grind

Water Temperature: Boiling, as used in our brewing instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your Filter

Place your Chemex paper filter into the brewer, making sure the thicker, three-layered side faces the pouring spout.

Before adding your coffee, pour hot water over the filter to rinse away any potential paper taste.

Swirl the hot water around the Chemex to warm the glass container, helping maintain a more consistent brewing temperature.

Discard the rinse water before continuing.

Step 2: Grind and Measure Your Coffee

Measure out 45 grams of your favorite coffee beans and grind them to a medium consistency, slightly finer than a standard drip grind.

Place your Chemex on a digital scale, add the ground coffee to the rinsed filter, and tare the scale to zero.

Step 3: Begin Your First Pour

Slowly pour hot water over the coffee grounds in a controlled, circular motion until you've added 150 grams of water.

Make sure the grounds are evenly saturated to encourage consistent extraction.

Allow the water to pass through the coffee before continuing.

Step 4: Continue Your Pour

Once the first pour has drained, continue adding water until your scale reaches 350 grams total.

Pour slowly and evenly, keeping the coffee grounds saturated without overflowing the filter.

Step 5: Complete Your Final Pour

For your third and final pour, continue adding water until your scale reaches 700 grams total.

Allow the water to filter completely through the coffee grounds before removing the filter.

Avoid letting the filter become clogged or leaving the grounds sitting in water for an extended period, as this can contribute to over-extraction and unwanted bitterness.

Step 6: Swirl, Serve, and Enjoy!

Once the brewing process is complete, carefully remove the filter and gently swirl the Chemex to combine the brewed coffee.

Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy the bright, clean flavors of your freshly brewed coffee!

Can You Use Dark Roast Coffee in a Chemex?

Absolutely! While light and medium roasts are generally preferred for Chemex brewing, dark roast lovers don't have to miss out.

However, there are a few things to consider.

Dark-roasted coffees often feature bold, smoky, chocolatey, and roasted flavor characteristics. Their rich mouthfeel is partly influenced by coffee oils, many of which are removed by the Chemex's thick paper filters.

Because of this, dark roasts brewed in a Chemex may taste lighter-bodied than expected. Depending on the beans and extraction, they can also develop more noticeable bitterness.

Tips for Brewing Dark Roasts in a Chemex:

●     Grind Slightly Coarser: A coarser grind can help reduce over-extraction and excessive bitterness.

●     Lower Your Water Temperature: Try brewing around 185–195°F (85–90°C) rather than using boiling water.

●     Experiment with Your Ratio: Small adjustments to your coffee-to-water ratio can help create a fuller, more balanced cup.

Ultimately, coffee is all about personal preference. If you love dark roasts, don't be afraid to experiment!

Chemex vs. French Press: What's the Difference?

Both brewing methods make delicious coffee, but they offer very different experiences.

The Chemex is a filtered pour-over method that produces a cleaner cup with less sediment, while the French press uses full immersion to create a richer, fuller-bodied brew.

If you prefer bright acidity, delicate flavor notes, and a smooth finish, the Chemex may be your perfect match.

If you enjoy a bold, rich cup with more body and texture, the French press might be more your style.

For a traditional French press brew, our brewing guide recommends a coarse grind, boiling water, and a four-minute steep time.

Neither method is necessarily better. It's all about discovering which brewing style brings out the flavors you love most.