Chemex 6 Cup Coffeemaker

The Chemex is a beautifully designed pour-over brewer that produces clean, bright, and flavorful coffee. Its iconic design and thick paper filters create a slow extraction process, bringing out the nuances of your favorite coffees. Whether you’re new to pour over or a seasoned enthusiast, this recipe will guide you through a consistently great cup, every time.

☕ Who's it for?

The Chemex is perfect for coffee lovers who enjoy a smooth, clean cup and appreciate the art of manual brewing. It’s also great for those who want to brew larger quantities of coffee at once while maintaining excellent flavor clarity.

📋 What You'll Need

• Freshly Roasted FreeForm Coffee
• Chemex 6-Cup Coffeemaker
• Chemex Paper Filters
• Gooseneck Kettle
• Burr Grinder
• Gram Scale

📖 Step-by-Step Recipe

1. Heat Water: Heat approximately 1L of filtered water to 200°F (just below boiling).
2. Prep Your Filter: Place the Chemex filter into the brewer, ensuring the thicker side of the filter is positioned over the spout. Pre-wet the filter with hot water, then discard the rinse water.
3. Grind Coffee: Use 44g of coffee, ground medium-coarse (similar to sea salt). If you’re measuring by volume, that’s about 6 tablespoons of coffee.
4. Add Coffee: Place the ground coffee into the Chemex filter and gently shake the brewer to level the coffee bed.
5. Bloom: Start your timer and pour 100g of water over the grounds in a slow, circular motion, ensuring all the grounds are evenly saturated. Allow the coffee to “bloom” and release trapped gases for 30-45 seconds.
6. First Pour: At 0:30-0:45, begin your first pour, adding water in a controlled, circular motion until the scale reads 300g.
7. Second Pour: At 1:30-1:45, perform the second pour, bringing the total weight up to 500g.
8. Final Pour: At 2:30-2:45, perform the final pour, reaching 700g. Allow the water to completely drain through the coffee grounds.
9. Serve: Once the brew is complete (between 4:30 to 6:00 minutes), remove the filter and swirl the Chemex gently to combine the layers of coffee. Pour and enjoy!

🔑 Key Notes

• Water-to-Coffee Ratio: This recipe uses a 16:1 ratio (16g water for every 1g of coffee), which provides a balanced extraction for most coffees. Feel free to experiment to find your sweet spot—different coffees may shine at higher or lower ratios.
• Grind Size: Medium-coarse, like sea salt, works best for Chemex. Adjust grind size if brew time is too fast or too slow.
• Grind Fresh: Always grind your coffee just before brewing for optimal flavor.
• Use a Scale: For precision, a scale helps measure both coffee and water, ensuring consistency with every brew.
• Water Quality: Filtered water enhances the coffee’s flavor clarity and prevents unwanted mineral flavors.

⚠️ Troubleshooting & Tips

• Brew Too Fast? Try a finer grind next time to slow the extraction.
• Brew Too Slow? Coarse up your grind to speed things up.
• Tasting Bitter? It might be over-extraction—try a slightly coarser grind or a shorter brew time.
• Tasting Sour? This could be under-extraction—use a finer grind or brew a bit longer.

👍 Happy Sipping!

The Chemex is a perfect blend of form and function, making it a beautiful addition to any coffee ritual.