How To Brew the Perfect Chemex Coffee
At Hogansville Coffee Co., we believe great coffee doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should be delicious. One of our favorite ways to enjoy our locally roasted beans is with the elegant, iconic Chemex brewer. It’s clean, bright, and just a little bit fancy in the best way.
Whether you’re a seasoned coffee aficionado or new to manual brewing, here’s a simple guide to help you master the Chemex at home.
What You’ll Need
A Chemex (6-cup is most common)
Chemex paper filter
Freshly ground Hogansville Coffee Co. beans (medium-coarse grind)
A gooseneck kettle
Scale (optional, but helpful)
Hot water (about 200°F or just off boil)
Timer or stopwatch
The Golden Ratio
We recommend using a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio. That means:
30g coffee to 450g water
Or roughly 3 tablespoons of ground coffee to 15 oz of water
Step-by-Step Chemex Brewing
Prep Your Filter
Fold your Chemex paper filter (if not pre-folded) and place it in the top of your Chemex, with the triple-fold side against the spout.
Rinse it thoroughly with hot water to remove any papery taste—and to warm the glass. Then, dump the rinse water.
Add the Coffee
Add your freshly ground coffee to the center of the filter. Give the Chemex a gentle shake to level the grounds.
Bloom (First Pour)
Start your timer. Pour just enough water (about 60g) to saturate all the grounds evenly. This “blooms” the coffee, allowing gas to escape and the flavor to open up. Let it sit for 30–45 seconds.
Main Pour
Slowly pour the remaining water in a slow, circular motion, starting in the center and spiraling outward. Avoid the edges to prevent bypassing the grounds. Aim to finish pouring by 3:00–3:30 minutes.
Let It Drain
Allow the water to fully drain through the filter. The total brew time should land around 4–5 minutes. Remove the filter and give your Chemex a swirl.
Sip and Enjoy
You’ve just made a smooth, aromatic cup of Chemex coffee. Clean body, subtle sweetness, and the kind of clarity that makes every sip sing. Now all that’s left to do is sit back and enjoy it—maybe on a porch swing, maybe with a good book, maybe just soaking in the quiet.
Whatever your moment looks like, we’re glad to be part of it.
Shop Our Beans
Looking for the perfect roast to try in your Chemex? Explore our light, medium, dark, and Swiss Water Process decaf coffees—freshly roasted in small batches by our Georgia-based partners and shipped straight to your door.