Chemex ChemAer
The Chemex ChemAer: an 8-cup Chemex with moulded paddles inside that aerate coffee (or wine) as you swirl. How it works, how to brew with it, and ChemAer vs Classic.
Contents
What is the Chemex ChemAer?
The Chemex ChemAer is an 8-cup (40 oz) Chemex launched in February 2023 with a pair of moulded paddles inside its lower chamber. When you swirl the brewed coffee, the paddles create turbulence that aerates it. It brews like any Chemex, through Chemex bonded filters, and is also designed to aerate wine.
At a glance
- Ratio
- 1:17
- 45 g : 750 g
- Grind
- Medium-coarse
- Water
- 93 °C
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Method
Fold the filter
Fold a Chemex filter into a cone and seat it with the three-layer side against the pouring spout.
Rinse and warm
Rinse the filter with hot water, then pour that water out through the spout.
Add the coffee
Add 45 g of coffee, ground medium-coarse, and shake it level.
Bloom30 s
Pour 100 g of water at about 93°C (200°F) to wet all the grounds and wait 30 seconds.
Pour in stages
Pour in slow circles to 200 g, then add more every 30 seconds, or as the level drops about a centimetre, until you reach 750 g.
Swirl to aerate
Lift out the filter and swirl the coffee in the ChemAer. The paddles inside create turbulence that aerates it. Then pour.
The Chemex ChemAer is an 8-cup Chemex with a twist: a pair of moulded paddles inside its lower chamber. When you swirl the brewed coffee, the paddles create turbulence that aerates it. It keeps the Chemex shape and borosilicate glass, brews through the same thick filters, and is designed to work as a decanter for wine too. Chemex released it in February 2023. Here’s how it works and how it compares with the Classic.
The short version
- An 8-cup (40 oz) Chemex with paddles inside the lower chamber.
- Swirl to aerate: the paddles create turbulence in the coffee.
- Brews like any Chemex, through Chemex bonded filters (not included).
- Also made for wine: up to a standard 25.4 oz bottle, Chemex says.
- Launched February 2023, at $60 in the US.
How does the ChemAer work?
The top half is a normal Chemex: filter, coffee, pour. The difference is underneath. Chemex added two moulded paddles to the lower chamber. Once the coffee has brewed, you swirl it, and the paddles break up the flow and create turbulence, mixing more air into the coffee. Chemex says it can aerate brews as small as 10 oz.
How is it different from the Classic Chemex?
| ChemAer | Classic | |
|---|---|---|
| Inside the lower chamber | Two moulded paddles | Smooth glass |
| Size | 8-cup (40 oz) only | 3, 6, 8 and 10-cup |
| Glass | Borosilicate | Borosilicate |
| Filters | Chemex bonded filters | The same |
| Use for wine | Designed for it | Not designed for it |
How do you brew with the ChemAer?
Exactly as with any Chemex, then swirl. This is Counter Culture Coffee’s recipe, the same one on our main Chemex guide, and 750 g fits the 8-cup ChemAer:
- Fold and seat the filter, three-layer side to the spout, and rinse it.
- Add 45 g of coffee, ground medium-coarse.
- Bloom with 100 g of water at about 93°C and wait 30 seconds.
- Pour in stages to 750 g, adding more every 30 seconds or as the level drops.
- Lift out the filter and swirl the coffee against the paddles, then pour.
Can you use it for wine?
Yes. Chemex designed the ChemAer for coffee or wine, drawing on both. It says you can pour up to a standard 25.4 oz (750 ml) bottle into it to aerate. Wash it well between coffee and wine.
Where did the ChemAer come from?
Chemex co-owner Eliza Grassy told Daily Coffee News that the company began working on it in January 2022 with its European partner Trendglas, a glassware designer, and the Hungarian barista champion Attila Molnár. It was released in February 2023, on pre-order at $60 in the US.
How do you clean it?
Throw away the filter and grounds, then wash the glass. A bottle brush helps you reach around the paddles.
General guidance only. It’s glass, so handle it carefully when hot and follow the instructions that come with yours.
Should I buy the ChemAer?
- Buy the ChemAer if you brew around 8 cups, like the idea of aerating your coffee, or want one piece of glass for coffee and wine.
- Buy the Classic if you want a different size or the simplest version.
- Buy the Handblown if you’d like a handmade Chemex.
ChemAer vs other brewers
- Chemex Classic: the original, without the paddles.
- Chemex Glass Handle: the Chemex with a glass handle.
- V60: a single-cup pour-over.
- French press: a heavier, fuller cup.
Explore every pour-over in the pour-over chapter.
What you’ll need
Words in this guide
- Agitation
- Agitation is any movement of the coffee and water during brewing, such as stirring, swirling or a turbulent pour.
- Bloom
- The bloom is the first small pour of water in a brew, usually 2–3 times the weight of the coffee, followed by a 30–45 second pause.
- Pour-over
- Pour-over is a way of making filter coffee by hand: you pour hot water over ground coffee in a filter cone and let it drip through into a cup or jug.
Questions & answers
What does the Chemex ChemAer do?
It brews like a Chemex, but its lower chamber has a pair of moulded paddles. When you swirl the coffee, the paddles create turbulence that aerates it.
How much does the ChemAer hold?
It's an 8-cup Chemex, 40 oz. Chemex says it can aerate brews as small as 10 oz.
Can you use the ChemAer for wine?
Yes. Chemex designed it for coffee or wine, drawing on both, and says you can pour up to a standard 25.4 oz bottle of wine into it to aerate.
When did the Chemex ChemAer come out?
Chemex released it in February 2023, on pre-order at $60 in the US. It was developed with the glassware designer Trendglas and the Hungarian barista champion Attila Molnár, a collaboration Chemex says began in January 2022.
What filters does the ChemAer use?
Chemex bonded paper filters, folded with the three-layer side against the spout. They aren't included, so buy a pack with it.
Sources
- CHEMEX eight-cup ChemAer coffeemaker. Chemex Corporation
- The Chemex ChemAer swirls into the home brewer market. Daily Coffee News
- It aerates, it oxygenates, it’s the Chemex ChemAer. Sprudge
- Quick + easy Chemex. Counter Culture Coffee
- How to brew with Chemex ChemAer. Chemex Canada
General guidance only. Not medical, food-safety or professional advice. Always follow your equipment's own instructions.