Chemex

How to use the Chemex

About the Chemex

Designed by German inventor Peter Schlumbohm in 1941, the Chemex is a true classic. Originally made 100% of glass, today’s version features a wooden collar and leather strap to protect your hand from the heat.

Its paper filter catches the grounds and oils, so only the clearest, cleanest coffee gets through. Coffee nerds everywhere love it.

Brew steps

1. Get your essentials: Syzygy coffee, a Chemex and filters, a scale, and a gooseneck kettle with a thermometer. I use a 1 to 15 ratio, so 15 g of coffee for 225 mL of water.
2. Grind the coffee. Grind to a consistency similar to coarse salt. Start with 15 g of coffee.
3. Heat the water. For 15 g of coffee, heat 225 mL of water to 89°C (192°F). Heat a little extra for rinsing and topping up.
4. Preheat everything. Pour hot water through the filter to preheat the Chemex and remove papery taste. Preheat your mugs too, then discard the rinse water.
5. Add the coffee. Place the Chemex on the scale, add 15 g of coffee, gently shake to level the grounds, and tare the scale to zero.
6. Bloom the coffee. Pour twice the coffee weight in water (30 mL) to bloom. Wait 45 seconds.
7. Pour, pour, pour. After the bloom, pour 65 mL in a spiral from the center out. Wait 45 seconds and do it twice more, until you've poured 225 mL in total.
8. Wait for it to filter. After the final pour, let the coffee brew about a minute. Flow starts as a stream and settles to a drip.
9. Serve and enjoy. Remove and discard the filter. Pour into a warm mug and enjoy the clean, smooth Chemex cup.