How To Make The Perfect Chemex

Process Overview

Chemex brewing combines simple function and elegant design. The resulting coffee is clean, bright and particularly rewarding for medium and light roasts.

Highlights

  • Total Time: ~5 minutes
  • Makes: 3 cups
  • Skill Level: Moderate

What You'll Need

Getting Started

With a Chemex
  1. 1. Heat

    Heat fresh water to 200° F.

  2. 2. Measure & Prepare

    Weigh out 55 grams of freshly roasted coffee beans. Preheat the Chemex with hot water and let it sit.

    Peet's tip: No scale? Measure out 5 1/2 standard coffee scoops—or 11 tablespoons—of beans. Preheating helps the temperature stay more consistent throughout the brewing process.

  3. 3. Prepare the Filter

    Place a paper filter with the 3-ply section facing the spout. Rinse the filter with hot water.

  4. 4. Bloom

    Discard the water and place ground coffee into the Chemex. Place the Chemex on the scale, zero out the scale, and start a timer. Pour 100 grams of hot water (twice the weight of the grounds) in a spiral pattern so that all of the grounds are saturated. Then wait for the coffee to bloom.

  5. 5. Pour

    At 30 seconds, resume pouring water over the grounds, until your scale reaches 800 grams at 3 minutes. Pour first in a spiral pattern, and then straight down. It's okay to pause during your pour, but keep the coffee grounds fully saturated from start to finish.

  6. 6. Serve and Enjoy

    Discard the filter and give the coffee a final swirl. Your coffee is now ready for you to pour and enjoy.

    Peet's tip: The secret to perfect coffee is the right ratio of coffee to water—1:16, or 1g of coffee for every 16g of water.