Perfect Your Coffee with Chemex: The Ultimate Tips & Tricks Guide

Chemex Coffeemakers are some of the best pour-over coffee makers on the market, offering a crisp, clean brew with an attractive and minimalist hourglass design. When you use a Chemex to make your coffee, you’re getting a brew that only comes into contact with the specialized Chemex Bonded Filter and the non-porous glass, providing exquisite taste untainted by any mechanical coffee-making apparatus.

 

         Chemex 10 cup                               Ovelware reusable metal filter
          Buy Chemex 10 Cup                              Buy Chemex Reusable Filter

Chemex Coffeemakers are known worldwide for the pure, sediment-free taste of the coffee they make. Invented in 1941, the original Chemex is still on display at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City! 

The Chemex offers a plethora of options for coffee connoisseurs. With glass coffee makers ranging in size from 10 cups (50 oz) to 3 cups (15 oz), you can brew pour over for your entire family with a variety of Chemex sizes. Far beyond simple hot coffee, the Chemex is great for making iced coffee and coffee flavoring for gourmet recipes, too.

Since Chemex pour-over coffee is so pure and refined, thanks to the scientifically-designed filter, you can even store it in the fridge and reheat it later, all without it losing its flavor. Chemex even offers their own coffee mugs, too.

chemex coffee maker

Not everything is perfect about a Chemex coffee maker, of course. These glass coffee makers are prone to losing heat quickly when the brew is left out (a flaw we’ve remedied with our Chemex Coffee Warmer and Chemex Bamboo Lid), but we’ll get into that more later.

All told, the Chemex pour-over process is quite simple, and much less involved than learning how to use an AeroPress (which is quite simple too). 

That said, it all begins with folding your filter properly. If you can’t fold your filter properly, you’re getting started on the wrong foot, so pay attention!

 

Chemex 6 cup coffee maker

Buy Chemex coffee carafe - 6 cup

 

How to Fold Chemex Filters

Folding your Chemex filter may seem like a daunting task, but don’t sweat it. It’s not origami. Here are some basic instructions straight from Chemex explaining exactly how to fold your Chemex paper filters


Step 1
Fold the Chemex filter in half lengthwise.
Step 1. How to fold a Chemex coffee filter
Step 2
Then fold in half again, bringing the two corners together.
Step 2. Fold filter again
Step 3
Finally, place your finger between the 3rd and 4th layers of paper and open the folded filter into a funnel shape
Step 3. make filter into funnel shape
Step 4
Next you'll place the folded filter into the top portion of the Chemex Coffeemaker, placing the thicker (three-layered) portion along the grooved pour spout.
This groove works as an air vent in addition to a pouring spout, allowing air to escape from the lower portion of the coffee maker and letting the coffee filter properly. Placing the filter as directed prevents the vent from clogging and helps to facilitate maximum filtration.
How to Chemex guide

Now that you’ve folded your filter, you’re ready to make some coffee! Below, we’ll discuss exactly how to use your Chemex Coffeemaker.

Note: If you’re keen to start using a Chemex but not too sure about using lots of paper filters, there are other options. Stainless steel reusable filters are easy to find online. A reusable Chemex filter is a third-party product that won’t provide the exact same Chemex taste, but these filters save you time since no folding is involved, and they’re much more eco-friendly.

      Chemex fennex funnel

How to Use a Chemex Coffee Maker

Step 1
Select your favorite whole bean coffee and grind it to a medium-coarse ground (the best Chemex grind size). Chemex suggests using a burr grinder because it delivers a more consistent particle size, which allows for a more even extraction and more full-bodied cup of coffee.

 

How to use a Chemex Step 1. grind coffee

 

Step 2
Place your folded filter (see above) into your Chemex. Be sure the three-layer portion of the filter covers the pouring spout, as we discussed above. 
                                                                                                                  
   How to use a Chemex Step 2. Insert filter
Step 3 (Optional)
To help rinse and preheat the Chemex brewer, moisten the filter with a bit of warm water. Once the water has drained through the filter completely, pour it out of the brewer while keeping the filter sealed against the wall of the Chemex. Again, this step isn’t necessary, but can dramatically improve your coffee’s taste.
How to use Chemex Step 3. Pour hot water to rinse filter
Step 4
Now place one tablespoon of ground coffee for every 5-ounce cup into the filter cone. Feel free to use more if you prefer your coffee stronger, since the Chemex filters eliminate all bitterness.
        How to use a Chemex Step 4. Add ground coffee
Step 5
Once you have brought your water to a boil, remove it from the heat and allow it to stop boiling. For reference, Chemex suggests an ideal brewing temperature of around 200°F.  Now pour a small amount of water over the coffee grounds to wet them, and wait for about 30 seconds for the grounds to “bloom,” releasing the most desirable coffee elements.
            How to use a Chemex Step 5. Add hot water and bloom
Step 6
After the grounds bloom, slowly pour the water over the grounds, all while keeping the water level well below the top of the coffee maker, letting it get no closer than ¼” to the top of the Chemex. Use a circular or back-and-forth motion as you pour to ensure that the grounds are evenly soaked.
       How to use a Chemex Step 6. Add more water
Step 7
Once the desired amount of coffee is brewed, lift the filter with the used coffee grounds out of the coffee maker and discard it.
  How to use a Chemex Step 7. Remove filter and discard
Step 8
Pour your freshly made coffee from the carafe into your mug and enjoy!
How to use a Chemex Step 8. Pour coffee and enjoy

Why Use HEXNUB with Your Chemex

Now that you know how to use a Chemex, let’s talk about why you should check out what we’re doing to make Chemex products better!

Discover an informative resource on the Best Chemex Accessories available, featuring a range of items such as filters, lids, kettles, and additional products.

We’re huge Chemex fans here at HEXNUB, but that doesn't mean we don’t recognize that there are a few things that aren't perfect about the product. To remedy those faults, we’ve created a variety of Chemex accessories to improve your experience using these wonderful pour-over coffee makers.

For starters, Chemex coffee tends to go cold quite quickly. It’s easy to reheat and the fine filtration process means you don’t lose flavor even as your coffee cools, but it’s still a bummer to have a carafe of freshly brewed coffee go cold after sitting out for a few minutes. That’s why we created a Chemex Coffee Warmer and Cozy to keep your coffee warm.

 

Chemex cozy by Hexnub - keep coffee warmer

 

This Chemex sleeve insulates the collar and handle of your Chemex, keeping your coffee piping hot. Constructed with premium-grade Neoprene (the same material surfers use to insulate their wetsuits), our cozy is also naturally heat-resistant, so you can handle and pour your hot coffee safely. Since the glass Chemex is also prone to breaking easily, the padded cozy won’t just insulate your coffee and protect your hands, it will protect your carafe from drops and dings, too.

 

Chemex lid by Hexnub

 

In addition to our Chemex Cozy, we’ve created an all-natural, eco-friendly Chemex Bamboo Lid, which rests in the neck of the carafe to prevent heat from escaping, keeping your coffee warmer and fresher for longer. The lid also stops dust and debris from settling inside when you aren’t using your carafe, so it’s a win-win. We’ve released a Chemex Cozy and Lid Combo so you can get both products in one buy, as well. 

 

Chemex caddy organizer by Hexnub

 

If you have trouble keeping up with your Chemex parts, our Chemex Organizer Stand is a sure-fire buy. This multi-purpose stand fits all pour-over coffee makers with a max diameter of 6.5”, along with a compartment for coffee filter storage and space for stainless steel accessories. It’s an excellent way to keep all your Chemex parts organized. Made with non-toxic, 100% recyclable bamboo, our organizer is completely eco-friendly to boot! 

 

 

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