600-900 microns · 1:16 · 4-5 min
Chemex grind size: medium-coarse
Chemex filters are thick and slow, so the grind runs coarser than a V60. Too fine and the filter clogs.
| Grinder | Start at | Range | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Zpresso J-Max | 3.0.0 | 2.6.0-3.3.0 | Guide → |
| 1Zpresso JX-Pro | 3.8.0 | 3.2.0-4.4.0 | Guide → |
| 1Zpresso K-Ultra | 8.5 | 8.0-9.0 | Guide → |
| 1Zpresso Q2 | 2.5.0 | 1.8.0-3.2.0 | Guide → |
| Baratza Encore | 20 | 20-25 | Guide → |
| Baratza Encore ESP | 30 | 30 | Guide → |
| Baratza Sette 270 | 25 | 20-31 | Guide → |
| Baratza Virtuoso+ | 20 | 20-25 | Guide → |
| Comandante C40 MK4 | 27 clicks | 18-35 clicks | Guide → |
| Fellow Ode Gen 1 | 4 | 2-5 | Guide → |
| Fellow Ode Gen 2 | 6 | 4-8 | Guide → |
| Fellow Opus | 7 | 5-9 | Guide → |
| OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder | 8 | 6-10 | Guide → |
| Timemore Chestnut C3 / C3 Pro | 15 clicks | 13-16 clicks | Guide → |
| Timemore Sculptor 064 | 9 | 5-12 | Guide → |
Not built for Chemex: Breville Barista Express (built-in grinder).
If your Chemex tastes wrong
| It tastes | Why | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Sour, thin, sharp | Under-extracted: water ran through too fast | Go 1 to 2 steps finer so the drawdown slows |
| Bitter, dry, astringent | Over-extracted or the bed choked | Go 1 to 2 steps coarser so the drawdown speeds up |
| Sour and bitter at once | Uneven extraction: channeling or a stalled bed | Keep the grind, pour gentler and more evenly, swirl the bed flat |
| Drawdown far past target time | Grind too fine or too many fines | Go 2 steps coarser; check the burrs are clean |
| Weak but balanced | Too little coffee for the water | Tighten the ratio half a step, e.g. 1:16 to 1:15.5 |
Fix the beans too
Fresh beans hold a grind setting.
Coffee changes as it ages, so a setting that works on day 10 drifts by day 40. A subscription keeps the beans in the window.
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