The Best Answer:
The Chemex comes in 5 different sizes to suit every individual preference. The sizes are 3 cups, 6 cups, 8 cups, 10 cups, and 13 cups. Its size offers many possibilities about how you are planning to use it. This coffee maker is not only aesthetically please but also highly functional and fits perfectly in every kitchen.
For those of you who don’t know, Chemex is a coffee brewing method that has been around for over 60 years. It’s not as popular as it once was but still ranks among the most traditional ways to brew coffee. The process involves pouring hot water over ground beans in a glass container and letting the concoction steep.
The Chemex comes in 5 sizes! So which size should you choose? Let’s take a look at how each one impacts you and your daily caffeine intake!
What are the Chemex sizes?
A Chemex is a specific type of coffee maker that has been around for over 75 years. Its unique look and function make it popular amongst people who love to drink coffee but want their brewer to be more than just functional.
In 1941, German inventor Peter Schlumbohm was patented as “one part laboratory beaker and one part tea maker.” The Chemex has a thick, conical shape with a wood collar around the neck and a leather tie at the waist.
The modern production model requires no assembly besides placing a coffee filter inside the cone and hot water to brew coffee. This article will go into detail about the different sizes available, what they are used for, which one you should choose if you’re interested in purchasing your own Chemex, and why it might be worth the investment!
As someone who loves drinking coffee or tea en masse (especially on cold winter days), I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing when I didn’t have my trusty Chemex sitting next to me while I drank my morning cup of joe. That’s because there is nothing quite like a Chemex, and it’s easy to see why so many people swear by this thing.
Chemex sizes come in the following: 3 cups, 6 cups, 8 cups, 10 cups, and 13 cups. Let’s break them down one by one!
The 3 cup Chemex
This is the smallest size available and is most commonly used as a single-serving coffee maker. In this way, it is very similar to the ubiquitous Keurig single-serving coffee maker. The 3 cup Chemex typically brews 20 ounces of finished beverage.
Get this free cheat sheet to step up your coffee game and learn about the different grind sizes!
The 6 cup Chemex
The next step up from the three-cup, the six cups have a diameter of 4 1/4 inches and a height of 8 5/8 inches with its collar in place – just one inch shorter than its big brother, the 8 cups Chemex.
Typically brewed with 40 ounces of water (for a total yield of 10 ounces), this size can be helpful for those who have weekday morning coffee drinkers home – so that they don’t have to brew a fresh pot each time.
The 8 cup Chemex
This is the most common size, and with good reason – it’s the perfect coffee maker for the average household. It has a diameter of 4 3/4 inches and can typically brew 50 ounces (for a total yield of 17 ounces)
Its shape makes it ideal for multiple coffee drinkers or those who like lots of milk or sugar in their morning joe. If you plan on doing some entertaining, this is also the best choice because its generous capacity allows you to serve between six and eight cups (depending on how strong you like your coffee) without refilling it. You can also brew two servings at once by using two filters – one per cup.
The 10 cup Chemex
The larger brother of the 6 cups Chemex, you can typically brew 60 ounces (for a total yield of 20 ounces) and serve between six and ten cups (depending on how strong you like your coffee). Since it’s larger than ordinary people tend to drink less, this size is most famous for those who like their coffee strong and black.
Of course, you can use more or less water depending on what type of coffee you’re using (i.e., darker roasts such as French roast taste better with more water; lighter roasts such as Breakfast blend taste better with less water)
Also, be aware that when using any machine that makes single servings, there will be several variables – the size and weight of your coffee scoop, how tightly you pack your ground coffee into the filter, your preferred brewing time – that can affect your cup-to-cup consistency.
The 13 Cup Chemex
As counterintuitive as it sounds, this is smaller compared to other coffee makers on the market. The 13 cup Chemex has a diameter of 5 1/8 inches and a height of 10 3/4 inches with its collar in place (just two inches shy of its bigger brother, the 16 cups Chemex). What’s interesting about this particular size is that it makes less than some other typical coffee machines marketed as 8-cups or 10-cups. For example, an 8 cup coffee maker typically brews between 40 and 50 ounces (depending on consumer preference).
The 13 cup Chemex makes only 47 ounces of finished beverage, which is 6 ounces less than the average 8-cup machine. This is because the standard Chemex filter is smaller than other typical brewing systems that use flat bottomed filters.
The good thing about this size is that it’s beneficial for those with multiple coffee drinkers at home since it can yield enough coffee to serve around six cups per brew. Just remember not to fill it with too much water, or your beans will spill over during brewing, so you’ll want to keep an eye on the level.
To summarize, if you are a single serving, you will want to use the 3, 6, or 8 cups Chemex. If you are brewing for more than one but less than four people, you should use the 6 or 8 cups Chemex. And if you have more than four coffee drinkers at home, opt for either the 13 or 16 cups Chemex.
As with all our other kitchen gadgets and appliances, your choice of size is purely a matter of personal preference, so choose whichever size best suits your coffee drinking habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard Chemex size?
That would be the 8 cups Chemex. This Chemex is the most common size because of its size and shape. It is tall, but not too tall. And its width allows it to be filled with water to the brim of the cone without spilling over.
An 8 cup Chemex produces around 40oz-48oz of brewed coffee. If you have one or two people that drink coffee occasionally, then this size may be perfect for you because it can easily be stored on a kitchen cabinet or pantry shelf when not in use.
How tall is a 6 cup Chemex?
A 6 cup Chemex measures 9 1/2 inches tall from base to spout. It can make about 1.25 US quarts of fluid when full to the brim. It has a diameter of 3-1/4 inches and a total capacity of 51 ounces.
Can you make 3 cups in a 6 cup Chemex?
Yes, it’s possible, you need to use less coffee and water. However, just because your Chemex is a bit larger, you can’t use it to prepare a smaller quantity. Below I’ve written my method for brewing a 6-cup Chemex for 1, 2, and 3 cups, respectively. Go ahead and try it out!
You need
A 6 cup Chemex
Coffee: 100g
Water: 750mL/cc
Time: Approx. 2 mins. 10 secs.
Method
To make 3 cups from this 6 cup brewer, I recommend using approximately 27 grams of coffee and 525 mL of water. This should produce 1 cup lasting about 1 min 20 secs, 2 cups lasting about 1 min 45 secs, and 3 cups in about 2 mins and 10 secs.
However, feel free to experiment with the ratio and brewing time to reach the flavor result you prefer or that suits your coffee best!
Last Thoughts
If you’re looking for a coffee maker that is both aesthetically pleasing and easy to use, then the Chemex may be worth considering. In addition, the larger size of this particular brewing method means it’s perfect for entertaining or large gatherings where many people are expected to drink coffee.
There are other options like the 6-cup brewer for smaller groups, which also produces great-tasting cups of joe! Whichever model you choose, we hope our guide helps you find just what your kitchen needs in an ideal coffee maker.
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Evelina
Evelina’s passion for coffee could never been hidden. Having worked as a barista, she learned the true value of the coffee bean and its secrets. As she continued to evolve as a barista, so did her knowledge, techniques on making different coffee blends and most importantly how to operate every kind of gear when it comes to coffee. Having a degree in biomedicine and being a barista, allows her to provide our community with in-depth knowledge surrounding the topics of coffee.
Get this free cheat sheet to step up your coffee game and learn about the different grind sizes!