Schematic movement and illustrative AI images. Animations shorten the action; follow the quantities, wait times and safety guidance in the text.
If the flavour is not quite rounded yet
One change. A new attempt.
Flow suddenly stalls
First check paper fit and the air opening at the spout, then grind size.
Fast drawdown, flat or sharp cup
After checking the filter bed, grind one small step finer.
Why it works
The details behind the recipe.
One jug, two tasks
The Chemex is both brewer and serving carafe: the paper filter sits at the top and coffee collects below. Air must also be able to escape from the carafe for the brew to drain evenly. If the paper blocks the area at the spout, drainage may stall. Check the filter position before adjusting your grinder.
What you prepare
Use the paper that fits your brewer and insert it following the manufacturer's instructions. With standard folded filters, the three-layer side faces the spout. Check this before filling. Use scales and choose a Chemex size with enough capacity; not every version is intended for the same amount.
Start with a recipe of 30 grams of coffee and 500 grams of brewing water. Begin with a medium-coarse grind. The exact setting depends on your grinder and paper. A comparison with coarse sand is at most a guide, not a reliable measurement.
How to proceed
Insert the filter correctly and rinse it carefully with hot water. Discard the rinse water without shifting the filter.
Add the coffee, level the surface with a small movement and zero the scales.
Wet the entire bed with approximately 90 grams of water. Leave it for around half a minute.
Continue pouring in steady portions until you reach 500 grams in total. Leave plenty of space below the upper rim.
Let the filter drain, lift it out and carefully swirl the jug before serving.
Adjust the flavour
Your first task is not to hit a supposedly perfect time. It is to establish a process you can repeat. Write down total time, quantities and a flavour note. Change only one thing on your next attempt. That way you can see whether the change actually helped.
If drainage suddenly stalls, first check the position of the paper and the air vent. An increasingly fine grind can make the problem worse. If everything flows quickly and the cup tastes flat or sharp, try a slightly finer grind after those checks. More ground coffee is not automatically the right answer to every weak flavour.
For two or three people
A pot makes it tempting simply to brew double the amount. But more coffee creates a deeper bed. The drawdown can therefore change more than simple doubling might suggest. Scale up the recipe gradually and respect the maximum fill level. Two good brews are better than one overfilled filter.
Serve the finished pot promptly. If you want to keep it warm longer, transfer it to a clean, pre-warmed insulated flask. Avoid improvised hotplates or direct heat unless your specific model is expressly designed for them.
Care and limits
Chemex paper does not automatically make a bitter-roasted coffee mild. Marketing promises cannot replace your own taste. Clean the glass jug according to the manufacturer's instructions; removable wooden parts have different care requirements from glass. Let the neck dry completely after cleaning.
Frequently asked
Another question?
Can I use any filter paper?
Use the shape and size intended for the Chemex. Other paper changes the fit and drawdown.
Why is my pot gurgling?
Check that there is enough space at the spout for air to escape.
