How to Use a Chemex Pour Over Coffee Maker
By Bella Barista | Published: 2026-10-25
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to brew a clean, full-flavored cup using a Chemex Classic Pour Over Coffee Maker with genuine FP-1 filters. Step-by-step guide.
Quick Answer
To brew with a Chemex, heat water to 200°F, place a Chemex FP-1 filter in the top, rinse it, add coffee, pour water in stages, and wait for the brew to finish.
Why the Chemex Stands Out
The Chemex Classic Pour Over Coffee Maker uses thick, bonded FP-1 filters that remove most oils and fine particles, producing a very clean cup. The non-porous borosilicate glass won't absorb flavors, so each brew tastes pure. This design also lets you refrigerate leftover coffee without losing flavor.
Choosing the Right Size and Filter
The Chemex comes in 3, 6, and 8 cup sizes. Use the corresponding FP-1 filters (pack of 100) for 5-13 cup models. Always buy genuine Chemex filters—they are thicker than generic ones and essential for the signature clarity.
Step-by-Step Chemex Brewing Guide
- Boil Water and Preheat: Heat filtered water to 200°F (just off boil). Pour a little hot water into the Chemex carafe to preheat it, then discard. Preheating prevents the brew temperature from dropping too fast.
- Insert and Rinse the Filter: Place one Chemex FP-1 filter into the top, with the three-layer side facing the spout. Pour hot water through the filter to rinse out any paper taste and warm the brewer. Discard the rinse water. A rinsed filter also helps the filter seat properly against the glass.
- Add Coffee Grounds: Add coffee grounds—use a medium-coarse grind (like sea salt). A good starting ratio is 30g coffee to 500g water. Grind too fine? The brew will stall. Grind too coarse? It will be weak and watery.
- Bloom the Coffee: Pour just enough hot water (about twice the coffee weight) to saturate the grounds evenly. Wait 30-45 seconds for the coffee to bloom (release CO2). Skipping the bloom leads to uneven extraction and a sour taste.
- Pour in Stages: Slowly pour the remaining water in a spiral motion, starting from the center and moving outward. Stop when you reach your target water weight. Aim for a total brew time of 3:30–4:30 minutes. Pour too fast and you'll bypass the coffee; too slow and the brew over-extracts.
- Wait and Serve: Let all the water drip through the filter. Once the dripping stops, remove the filter and discard the grounds. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for later. Don't let the coffee sit on the grounds—it will become bitter.
Product Facts
- Chemex Classic Pour Over Coffee Maker: The Chemex Classic is made of non-porous borosilicate glass that will not absorb odours or chemical residues. This means you can brew different coffee beans without flavor carryover, and you can store brewed coffee in the carafe for later without off-tastes.
Chemex Classic Pour Over Coffee Maker - Chemex FP-1 Filters, pack of 100: Chemex FP-1 filters are bonded and designed for use with Chemex jugs in 5, 6, 8, 10, and 13 cup models. These thick filters remove nearly all coffee oils and sediment, giving you the clean, crisp cup that Chemex is known for.
Chemex FP-1 Filters, pack of 100
