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Chemex coffee ratio
The standard Chemex coffee ratio is 1:16 with a medium-coarse grind. Thicker filters slow flow — use a slightly finer grind than French press if the brew stalls.
Chemex
Coffee to water ratio
Coffee
20 g
4 tbsp
Water
320 ml
10.8 fl oz
Cups
1.35
US cups
Ratio
1:16
by weight
How the chemex ratio works
Chemex uses the same coffee-to-water math as pour over: at 1:16, divide water milliliters by 16 to get coffee grams. A 3-cup Chemex (~475 ml) needs about 30 g; a 6-cup (~890 ml) needs about 55 g. Bonded filters run slower than V60 paper, so dial grind before you change the ratio.
Chemex tips
- Use Chemex bonded filters; rinse thoroughly to remove paper taste.
- Pour in stages: bloom 45 s, then pulse pours to target weight.
- For brighter coffee try 1:17; for richer body try 1:15.
Chemex ratio chart — grams by size
Coffee amounts for standard Chemex sizes at a 1:16 ratio, brewed to capacity.
| Chemex size | Coffee | Water |
|---|---|---|
| 3-cup (1 pint) | 29.7 g (5.9 tbsp) | 475 ml (2 cups) |
| 6-cup (30 oz) | 55.6 g (11.1 tbsp) | 890 ml (3.76 cups) |
| 8-cup (40 oz) | 73.8 g (14.8 tbsp) | 1180 ml (4.98 cups) |
| 10-cup (50 oz) | 92.5 g (18.5 tbsp) | 1480 ml (6.24 cups) |
Compare every method in the coffee to water ratio chart or check the grind size chart for Chemex.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chemex ratio?+
Chemex recipes commonly use 1:16 with medium-coarse grind. Thicker filters slow drainage — adjust grind rather than ratio if the brew runs too fast or stalls.
Chemex coffee ratio grams for 3 cup?+
A 3-cup Chemex holds about 473 ml. At 1:16, use roughly 30 g coffee. The 6-cup model (~887 ml) needs about 55 g at the same ratio.
Chemex vs V60 ratio?+
Both typically use 1:15 to 1:17. Chemex filters are thicker, so you may grind slightly finer than V60 while keeping the same ratio.
How to calculate Chemex coffee and water?+
Multiply coffee grams by 16 to get water ml, or divide water ml by 16 for coffee grams. Use the slider above to try 1:15 for bolder coffee or 1:17 for brighter notes.