The 3 cup Chemex is too small for the square and circle filters used in the larger carafes, so Chemex makes this half moon paper for it and for the Funnex. It is the same Chemex Bonded paper used across the range: heavier than a typical cone filter, so water passes through more slowly and the paper holds back fine sediment and most of the coffee oils. The result is the clean, light-bodied cup Chemex is known for. The paper is made in the USA from North American wood certified under the SFI, FSC and PEFC programmes, and Chemex cuts every filter in its own factory.

Folding and placing the filter

Chemex supplies the FP-2 flat because the half moon shape and small size do not suit pre-folding. Folding one takes a few seconds once you have done it a couple of times, and the video below shows how. As with all Chemex filters, the folded cone has more layers of paper on one side, and that side goes against the spout. The stiffer side keeps the paper from sealing against the glass at the spout, which would trap air and stall the brew. A quick rinse with hot water before adding the coffee removes any paper taste. Pour the rinse water out before you start brewing.

Brewing a small Chemex

The 3 cup Chemex holds about 450 ml, enough for one or two cups. With doses this small, a couple of grams either way makes a noticeable difference to strength, so it pays to weigh both the coffee and the water. A compact scale such as the BOOKOO Themis Mini, at 8 x 8 cm, sits neatly under the small carafe and shows flow rate as you pour. Start with a medium-coarse grind and go finer if the brew runs fast or tastes thin.

Specifications

What’s in the box

• 100 Chemex Bonded FP-2 half moon filters, unfolded