The Best Coffee Beans for Chemex (Pour Over Coffee Beans)

Choosing a great coffee bean can be challenging when you plan to brew some amazing coffee with a Chemex.

When I first started brewing coffee at home, I had the same problem. This is why I wrote this article about the best coffee beans for Chemex.

In this article, I will review the basics of brewing great coffee using a Chemex, including the correct grind size and selecting the best coffee beans for your taste.

But that’s not all… I will try five of my favorite coffee beans from different origins.

I will taste-test these coffees and provide you with a tasting note, so you can check if you like the coffee beans from that origin.

Let’s start discovering the best coffee for pour over!

How to choose the best coffee beans for pour over coffee

Coffee beans all taste very different. There isn’t one coffee bean that tastes exactly the same as another kind.

So, how can you choose between all these coffee beans?

I suggest choosing the coffee roast you like best and the origin of the coffee.

The characteristics of coffee differ significantly between coffee roasts and origins.

The best way to try different coffees is to find a local coffee roaster that offers a wide variety of coffees. This way, you can choose a different coffee each time you visit them.

Your coffee roaster will be more than happy to help you out, and perhaps they can provide you with smaller batches so you can get to know even more coffee in a shorter period of time.

Recommended coffee roast for Chemex

Brewing with a Chemex offers a wide range of options for coffee roasts.

Most people prefer medium roasted coffee beans for Chemex. But lightly roasted coffee beans from a small farm with a limited batch are also popular.

Personally, I really like medium roasted coffee beans for my Chemex brew. The complex flavors taste absolutely amazing, with just the right amount of punch from the roast.

This is why I highly recommend starting with a medium roasted coffee.

However, smaller batched specialty coffees that are lightly roasted also taste amazing.

The filters of the Chemex remove more flavor than you might be used to, but this results in a balanced flavor profile that you’ve never experienced before.

Tip: Unsure which Chemex filter to choose? Check out this comparison of circle vs. square Chemex filters.

Most coffee enthusiasts like to pick a light or medium roast from a small farm. These coffee beans have a unique flavor that the Chemex can elevate to an even higher level.

Also, if you’re not sure yet what the difference is between light, medium, and dark roast coffee, check out this comparison article here!

Whole bean coffee vs. ground coffee: Which one to buy for pour over?

Not sure which one to choose? Here’s what I would do:

You should pick whole bean coffee if:

• If you want to learn more about coffee, I suggest buying whole coffee beans. The coffee beans allow you to experiment with grinding them.
• You want fresh coffee beans for the best flavors. Buying whole-bean coffee from your local coffee roaster will yield the best flavor.
• It will also allow you to try out multiple brewers, each of which produces its unique flavor.

You should pick ground coffee if:

• You want to save a few bucks, I recommend buying pre-ground coffee. This will provide you with a high-quality coffee bean to make a great cup of coffee at home. While still keeping some money in your pocket for other things in life.
• When you want to save time while making coffee, I suggest buying ground coffee if you need to get up early in the morning and still want to have a cup of coffee before work.

For more information about the difference between whole bean and ground coffee, check out this comparison guide here!

The best coffee beans for pour over (my top 5 favorite origins)

I have tested five of my favorite coffee origins for this article.

This section presents my findings on the distinct characteristics of different coffee beans, including their smell, taste, and appearance.

I have merged all my findings into a list for each coffee origin!

I’ll note my findings on how the coffee smells and tastes in the lists below. I’ll use keywords to describe the coffee, and after that, I’ll give a small recap:

Peruvian coffee beans

What does the coffee smell like?

• Spices.
• Slight sweetness.
• Hints of corn.

How does the coffee taste?

• Dark chocolate.
• A slight bitterness of burned caramel.
• Spices again (gloves, cinnamon).

Great extraction of the coffee. Overall, it is a very complex and bright cup of coffee. The coffee beans and grind size look like this for the Peruvian coffee:

Tip: Interested in Peruvian coffee beans? Then I suggest checking them out here.

Brazilian coffee beans

What does the coffee smell like?

• Very sweet.
• Fruity notes.
• There is a slight grassy smell.

How does the coffee taste?

• Chocolate again, not dark chocolate, maybe more milk chocolate.
• It has a slight nutty taste, like hazelnuts or pecans.
• Caramel sauce.

An amazing taste with a remarkably balanced flavor profile. The Brazilian coffee beans look like this:

Tip: Do these Brazilian coffee beans touch the right coffee flavor you love? Then I suggest checking them out right here.

Guatemalan coffee beans

What does the coffee smell like?

• Strong coffee smell.
• Burned caramel.
• Spices (black pepper, cinnamon).

How does the coffee taste?

• It’s intense, with a much fuller body than the other coffees.
• Pure chocolate.
• Sweet caramel.
• Slight flower taste.

This coffee has a super intense flavor profile. It’s a unique blend of strong coffee and a slight sweetness. Amazing. The Guatemalan coffee looks like this:

Tip: Do these Guatemalan coffee beans sound like something that suits your flavor profile? Then you should check them out here or click the image below!

Ethiopian coffee beans

What does the coffee smell like?

• Super sweet.
• Very fruity.
• Aromatic spices.

How does the coffee taste?

• Sweetness overload.
• Jasmine.
• Honey.
• Tastes fresh, without any bitter notes that caramel can sometimes give off.

Amazing coffee!

The taste is incredibly sweet and fruity, making it great for brewing with a Chemex. The coffee from Ethiopia looks like this:

Tip: If you’re interested in trying Ethiopian coffee beans, check them out right here.

Costa Rican coffee beans

What does the coffee smell like?

• Slight sweetness.
• Floral notes, but not in the foreground.
• Nuts.

How does the coffee taste?

• Chocolate taste (between milk and dark chocolate).
• Nuts.
• Sweetness, like honey or agave syrup.

The overall flavor of Costa Rican coffee is well-balanced, with a slightly strong yet floral character. The Costa Rican coffee looks like this:

Tip: For some amazing Costa Rican coffee beans, check out these coffee beans here.

Tasting all these coffee beans and giving you a rundown of their differences was amazing!

As you can see, coffee beans differ in flavor, and it can take some time to find the best-tasting coffee beans for you.

This is why I hope you can now make an informed decision about which coffee beans you will buy next.

Here are a few notes on the taste test that I did on the coffees above:

• Each of these coffee beans was roasted less than a week ago. The flavor of coffee beans will deteriorate after eight weeks. Using your coffee beans within this timeframe is best to get the most out of them.
• I have used the same coffee-to-water ratio for all my brews: 20 grams of coffee to 1 cup (0.24 l) of water.
• The extraction time was the same for each brew.
• The water temperature was the same for each brew as well.

How to grind coffee beans for pour over

Once you’ve chosen a high-quality coffee bean with a roast that you like, it’s time to grind the beans.

One of the easiest ways is to grind the coffee beans when you buy them.

For example, you can ask your local coffee roaster to grind the coffee beans according to the brewing technique you prefer.

Just ask them to grind your coffee beans in a pour over grind when making coffee with the Chemex and Hario V60.

But if you want to grind your coffee beans at home, these two coffee grinders are most commonly used:

• Manual burr coffee grinders
• Electric blade coffee grinders

These coffee grinders are both great to use. Each has its unique set of skills that might be of interest to you.

Related article: Burr vs Blade Coffee Grinder: Two Grinders Put to the Test

I have both a manual burr coffee grinder and an electric blade coffee grinder at home, and I’ve been using them since I started brewing coffee at home.

There’s a big difference between these coffee grinders, and that is the speed and quality of the coffee grind:

• A manual burr coffee grinder produces the best and most evenly ground coffee, but it can take a considerable amount of time to grind your coffee beans.
• The blade coffee grinder is extremely fast, but it produces a very uneven coffee grind, which can result in over- or under-extracted coffee.

The great part about both coffee grinders is that they aren’t that pricey, and it is definitely worth getting either of them to produce the best coffee.

If you’re interested in purchasing a manual burr grinder, I recommend checking out the Hario coffee grinder.

I’ve been using this coffee grinder for a long time, and it has performed exceptionally well. You can also check it out below:

If you don’t feel like hand-grinding your coffee beans daily, I suggest using a blade coffee grinder. If you’re interested in buying one, you can check out this coffee grinder, or have a look down below:

These coffee grinders will get the job done, and you’re one step closer to producing the best coffee you’ve had in a long time.

Here are a few good-to-know things about grinding your coffee beans:

• You can regrind your coffee beans.
• There are ways to grind your coffee beans without a grinder.
• And yes, if you buy Starbucks coffee beans, Starbucks will grind them at no extra cost.

Let’s go over the best grind size to use:

Chemex coffee grind size

To brew the best Chemex coffee you’ve ever tasted, you will need to use the correct grind size.

So, what is the optimal grind size for brewing coffee with a Chemex?

Best grind size: I found that brewing Chemex coffee with a medium to fine grind works best to extract all the flavors from the coffee beans.

Here you can see which coffee grind I used for brewing coffee in my Chemex coffees in this article:

As you can see from the photo above, the coffee grind size looks pretty fine.

I usually describe this coffee grind size as a touch finer than coarse sea salt. The coffee grind size still retains some structure, but not too much.

I suggest playing around with the settings if you own a coffee grinder at home. Adjust the grind finer or coarser each time you brew a cup of coffee:

• Do you find the coffee a bit sour? Adjust your coffee grinder to a finer coffee grind.
• Does the coffee have bitter notes? You might’ve gone too fine on the coffee grind. The coffee has over-extracted a bit. Adjust your grinder to a coarser setting.

Brewing Your Dream Coffee at home is all about trial and error. However, the best part about that is that you get to enjoy various coffees from different origins along the way.

Trust me; once you find that perfect setting on your coffee grinder, you don’t want to drink coffee using a different coffee brewer anytime soon.

Related article: Coffee Grind Size Chart for Every Coffee Brew Out There!

How to make Chemex coffee

If you have read this article about the best whole bean coffee beans for pour over, and you’ve not yet had the chance to brew coffee with a Chemex before, I suggest reading my pour over guide.

The pour over guide will include the use of the Chemex, so you will know exactly how to brew that amazing cup of joe.

If you are interested in reading the article, you can click here to take you straight to the article.

In that article, there’s even more information about the brewing of Chemex coffee, including the ratio of coffee to water and the differences between pour over coffee and other coffee brewers.

And if you haven’t bought your Chemex yet, check out this Chemex sizes guide here to learn which Chemex size fits you.

Other great coffee beans

Not sure yet about brewing Chemex coffee with the coffee beans mentioned in this article? Or just curious to see which coffee beans are out there?

I’ve got you covered! Check out the lists below to find great coffee beans for different brewing methods and recipes:

• Best Coffee Beans for AeroPress
• Best Coffee Beans for Cappuccino
• Best Coffee Beans for Cold Brew
• Best Coffee Beans for Espresso
• Best Coffee Beans for French Press
• Best Coffee Beans for Latte
• Best Coffee Beans for Moka Pot
• Best Decaf Coffee Beans
• Best Low Acid Coffee Brands
• Best Starbucks Coffee Beans
• The Least Bitter Coffee Options

And for even more information about coffee beans, check out the coffee beans hub here!

Conclusion

To brew Your Dream Coffee at home, you’ll need amazing coffee beans.

But which coffee beans are best for Chemex? I reviewed five of my favorite coffee origins with you, which can help you find your favorite coffee beans.

After reading this article, I hope you’ll try a few of these coffee origins yourself, so you can experience the amazing flavors and distinct differences of these coffee beans.

I would love to see you back on my blog. I suggest checking out the links below if you want to explore the coffee world further.

These links will take you to brewing guides that provide more information about various coffee brewers:

Learn more about home-brewing coffee

• AeroPress Brewing Guide: The Best Coffee to Make Anywhere
• How to Brew Coffee With a French Press: A Beginner's Guide
• How to Brew Coffee With a Moka Pot: A Beginner's Guide

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