How to Brew with Chemex and KONE: Tips for Consistent Pour-Over

If you’ve ever brewed with Chemex and found the results inconsistent—sometimes too clean, sometimes thin, or lacking depth—you’re not alone. Many coffee lovers struggle with Chemex’s wide-neck design and thick paper filters, which can mute flavors and make extraction tricky to control. What if there was a way to get smoother body and more nuanced flavor from your Chemex, without sacrificing clarity?

The answer is simple: use the KONE stainless steel filter with your Chemex. This reusable filter lets you brew coffee with the smooth mouthfeel of a French press while preserving the layered flavors of pour-over. Here’s how to do it right.

What Is the KONE Filter and Why Use It with Chemex?

The KONE is a reusable, stainless steel cone-shaped filter designed by Keith Gehrke of Portland’s Coava Coffee. It fits Chemex brewers that hold six or more cups. Unlike standard paper filters, the KONE has tiny perforations that allow more coffee oils and fine particles to pass through. That means you get the silky body typical of immersion brewing, along with the clarity and complexity of pour-over.

Chemex itself is famous for its clean cup, but its tall, wide shape and thick paper filters often require precise technique to avoid under-extraction or unwanted paper taste. Paper can also absorb some aromatic compounds and oils, muting the coffee’s profile. The KONE solves many of those issues while giving you a more stable, repeatable cup.

The Right Brew Ratio for Chemex and KONE

Able Brewing, the company behind KONE, recommends a brew ratio of 25 grams of coffee to 400 grams of water. That’s approximately a 1:16 ratio, a classic starting point for balanced pour-over. You can adjust to taste, but this ratio provides a solid baseline for a clean yet full-bodied cup using the KONE.

Use a medium-fine to fine grind—finer than you’d typically use for paper-filtered Chemex, but not as fine as espresso. This helps extend contact time and improve extraction through the metal filter’s tiny holes.

Step-by-Step: Brewing with KONE in Your Chemex

Here’s how to execute the technique properly:

• Grind Size: Grind your coffee to a medium-fine to fine setting—finer than standard Chemex paper brewing, but not espresso-fine. This helps slow down flow and improve extraction through the metal filter.
• Dose: Use 25 grams of coffee.
• Water: Heat water to around 90–96°C (195–205°F). Pour 400 grams total.
• Bloom: Start with a bloom—pour just enough hot water to saturate the grounds (about 50–60 grams), then wait for 1 minute. This allows gases to escape and primes the coffee bed.
• Pouring: After the bloom, slowly pour the remaining 340–350 grams of water in a controlled, steady spiral motion. Avoid stirring or agitating the coffee bed excessively.
• Total Time: The entire brew should take about 2 to 3 minutes. If it’s too fast, your grind may be too coarse; if it’s too slow, adjust finer or reduce agitation.

Throughout the pour, focus on keeping your water flow steady and your pouring location consistent—ideally in small circles to ensure even saturation. A gooseneck kettle is highly recommended for control.

Why Technique Matters More with KONE

Because the KONE allows finer particles and oils to enter your cup, over-extraction or channeling can quickly lead to bitter or murky results. You must avoid stirring or excessive agitation, which can cause uneven extraction. The finer grind slows the flow rate naturally, but if the water passes through too quickly, you’ll under-extract.

Stable pouring technique, a quality grinder, and the right grind size are essential to getting the best out of this setup. The KONE rewards precision, and when dialed in, it delivers a cup that’s rich, smooth, and complex—bridging the gap between French press and traditional pour-over.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ideal grind size for KONE in a Chemex?

Use a medium-fine to fine grind size—finer than you would for paper-filtered Chemex, but not as fine as espresso. This helps extend brew time and improve extraction through the metal filter’s small holes.

What’s the recommended coffee-to-water ratio for KONE?

Able Brewing recommends a 1:16 ratio: 25 grams of coffee to 400 grams of water. This produces a balanced cup with good body and clarity.

How long should a KONE Chemex brew take?

The total brew time should be around 2 to 3 minutes. If it’s faster, your grind may be too coarse; slower may mean too fine or overly compacted coffee bed.

Do I need to stir when using KONE?

No, avoid stirring the coffee grounds during brewing. Excessive agitation can lead to over-extraction, bitterness, or uneven flavors. Let the water flow naturally through the coffee bed.

Can I use KONE with other brewers?

KONE is designed specifically for six-cup and larger Chemex brewers. It’s not recommended for other drippers due to shape and flow differences.

Is KONE better than paper filters for Chemex?

KONE offers a different profile—smoother mouthfeel with more oils and body, closer to a press pot, while still providing clarity. It’s better if you dislike paper taste or want a richer pour-over. Paper filters offer cleaner cups but may mute body and oils.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for KONE Chemex Brewing

For your KONE-Chemex setup, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Guji Konga—bright with citrus, blueberry, and floral notes, or Colombia Huila Finca El Diviso, offering caramel, almond, and tropical fruit layers. Both showcase the KONE’s ability to highlight clarity while adding a touch of body. For something deeper, FrontStreet’s Yunnan Golden Tip emphasizes honey, stone fruit, and milk chocolate tones. These beans respond well to the medium-fine grind and 25:400 brew ratio. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.