For a 6 cup Chemex, use about 55 grams of coffee, which is roughly 11 level tablespoons or 5.5 standard scoops, with 30 ounces (about 890 g) of water. That is a 1:16 ratio, a middle-of-the-road pour-over. Go to 59 grams for a stronger pot or 52 grams for a lighter one.
What does the 6 cup Chemex table look like?
Chemex counts a cup as 5 ounces, so six cups is 30 ounces of water. Tablespoon and scoop figures assume medium-coarse ground coffee at roughly 5 g per level tablespoon, with a scoop equal to 2 tablespoons (about 10 g). The numbers are rounded.
| Ratio | Coffee (grams) | Level tablespoons | Standard scoops | Cup character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:15 | 59 g | 11.8 | 5.9 | Stronger |
| 1:16 | 55 g | 11.1 | 5.5 | Middle of the road |
| 1:17 | 52 g | 10.4 | 5.2 | Lighter |
Our own brewing note for most of our coffees is 60 g per liter. For 30 ounces that is about 53 grams, which sits between the 1:16 and 1:17 rows. Weigh whole beans before you grind, since beans and grounds weigh the same. The reasoning behind these ratios is in our pour-over ratio cheat sheet.
What if you are not brewing a full six cups?
Many people pour less than the full 30 ounces, because the Chemex is easier to control when it is not filled to the shoulder. Here is the same 1:16 ratio for smaller pours.
| Water | Coffee (grams) | Level tablespoons |
|---|---|---|
| 20 oz (about 590 g) | 37 g | 7.4 |
| 24 oz (about 710 g) | 44 g | 8.9 |
| 30 oz (about 890 g) | 55 g | 11.1 |
If you use a different pot, the same math is laid out for the generic size in how much coffee for a 6 cup coffee maker. That page counts a cup differently, so do not mix the two tables.
How do you tune the dose once you have the number?
Treat 55 grams as a starting point and change one thing at a time. If the pot tastes thin or sour, add 3 to 4 grams (about one level tablespoon) before you touch the grind. If it tastes harsh or bitter, keep the dose and grind a little coarser. The Chemex filter is thick, so a grind that is too fine slows the drawdown and over-extracts the cup. Our too bitter post and too sour post go through each fix.
Because the scale is the only part of this that does not drift, a scoop is the weak link. A level tablespoon of medium-coarse grounds is about 5 grams, but a heaped one can be 7 or more. Weigh your scoop once, write the number down, and you can stop counting spoons.
How many pots does a 12 oz bag make?
A 12 oz bag is about 340 grams of coffee.
| Ratio | Coffee per pot | Pots per 12 oz bag |
|---|---|---|
| 1:15 | 59 g | About 5 to 6 |
| 1:16 | 55 g | About 6 |
| 1:17 | 52 g | About 6 to 7 |
A full Chemex every morning would finish a bag in about a week. For a household that brews a pot on weekends only, one bag stretches for most of a month. Our subscription is 11% off with skip or cancel in one click, and which coffee cadence fits you helps you match it to your pots.
Which of our coffees suits a Chemex?
Two of ours are good fits, and both are $28 for 12 oz. Common Sense is the everyday pick. Folklore is the one to brew when you are filling the Chemex for guests.
Our pick
No. 1 Common Sense
Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia · 1,300 to 1,500 m · Fully washed, solar dried · Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, Typica · Medium
Cocoa, red apple and brown sugar on the label, for the cup you make every morning without thinking about it.
Our pick
No. 10 Folklore
Piura and Amazonas, Peru · 1,100 to 1,700 m · Fully washed, sun dried · Caturra, Bourbon, Catuai, Pache, Catimor · Medium
Salted caramel, citrus and silky on the label, mild and round enough for the pot you make for the house.
Pour steps for Folklore are in the No. 10 Folklore brewing guide, and if you are still choosing between brewers, Chemex vs V60 covers it. You can see all ten coffees if you want something else.
FAQ
How many tablespoons of coffee for a 6 cup Chemex?
About 11 level tablespoons, roughly 55 grams, for 30 ounces of water. Use 12 for a stronger pot or 10 for a lighter one.
How many scoops of coffee for a 6 cup Chemex?
About 5.5 standard scoops of 2 tablespoons each. Weigh your own scoop once, because free plastic scoops often hold less than the standard.
What grind size for a Chemex?
Medium-coarse, a little coarser than a typical drip grind. Too fine and the thick filter slows down, which makes the cup bitter.
Weigh it once, write the number on the canister, and the Chemex stops being a guessing game.
Questions people ask
How many tablespoons of coffee for a 6 cup Chemex?
About 11 level tablespoons, roughly 55 grams, for 30 ounces of water. Use 12 for a stronger pot or 10 for a lighter one.
How many scoops of coffee for a 6 cup Chemex?
About 5.5 standard scoops of 2 tablespoons each. Weigh your own scoop once, because free plastic scoops often hold less than the standard.
What grind size for a Chemex?
Medium-coarse, a little coarser than a typical drip grind. Too fine and the thick filter slows down, which makes the cup bitter.
Free printable
Keep the ratio chart on your fridge
One page with grams, level tablespoons and scoops for every cup size and for coffee makers from 2 to 14 cups. Leave your email and the download link appears right here.