Coffee-making setup with a Chemex Ottomatic coffee maker on a kitchen counter. Coffee-making setup with a Chemex Ottomatic coffee maker on a kitchen counter.

CHEMEX Ottomatic®

Designed to perfectly complement the elegance of the glass CHEMEX® Carafe, The Ottomatic combines clean, minimalist style with exceptional performance. Thoughtfully crafted for effortless brewing, it reflects our belief that beauty and science belong together. Explore how to use and care for your machine to ensure optimal performance for years to come.

Ottomatic 2.0 with out a coffeemaker
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2
3
4
5
1

Hot Plate

Teflon Coating
2

Spray Head - 9 point

Polypropylene
3

Tank Lid

Polypropylene
4

Water Tank - 40 oz.

Styrenic Acylic
5

Tank Grate

Polypropylene

Cleaning The Ottomatic®

Regular cleaning is just as important as brewing the perfect cup of coffee. Making maintenance part of your everyday Ottomatic routine helps ensure consistent performance, better-tasting coffee, and years of reliable use. For best results, we recommend descaling your machine every 40 brew cycles or every 3 months—whichever comes first.


Descaling Instructions
To keep your Ottomatic performing at its best, descale the machine every 3 months or 40 brews, whichever comes first, to remove mineral and calcium buildup.

1

STEP 1

Fill the water tank with fresh water up to the 8-cup line. Add the included Coffeemaker Cleaning solution to the tank.
2

STEP 2

Place the CHEMEX® Carafe in position and run a full brew cycle to allow the cleaning solution to circulate through the machine.
3

STEP 3

Discard the cleaning solution from the carafe once the cycle is complete.
4

STEP 4

Refill the water tank with fresh water only and run an additional brew cycle to thoroughly rinse the machine.
5

STEP 5

Wait 5 minutes for the machine to cool down, run 2 more cycles of water through to rinse the system, waiting 5 minutes in between.
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Exterior & Water Tank Care

Keep your Ottomatic looking and performing its best with exterior and water tank care as part of your daily coffee routine. Using a soft, warm, damp cloth, gently clean the exterior surfaces of the machine and wipe the inside of the water tank to remove any residue or buildup. Regular care helps preserve the finish, maintain freshness, and ensure optimal performance over time.

Troubleshooting

  • Check the Circuit: Always try plugging the appliance into a different outlet or circuit first. This is the most common fix for power issues.
  • Safety Auto Shut-Off: The Ottomatic features a safety shut-off mechanism. If the machine turns off unexpectedly, it may be due to a circuit overload or an internal blockage.
  • Clear Blockages: If the machine remains unresponsive, it may require a Descaling Cycle to clear internal mineral buildup that is triggering the safety sensor.
  • Adjust Your Grind: If water is passing through too quickly, your coffee grounds are likely too coarse. We recommend a medium-coarse grind (similar to sea salt).
  • Check Your Ratios: Ensure you are using enough coffee. A good rule of thumb is one rounded tablespoon of coffee grounds per 5oz cup.
  • Is this normal? Yes. It is perfectly normal for a small amount of residual water to remain in the tank after a brew cycle is complete.
  • Maintenance Tip: To prevent moisture buildup, we recommend removing the tank lid after use to let it air dry, or simply wiping the interior with a clean, dry cloth.
  • Standard Maintenance: While we generally recommend descaling every three months, you may need to do so more frequently if you live in a hard water region.
  • Hard Water vs. Filtered Water: Mineral buildup (scale) can clog internal pipes and cause the machine to run poorly. For the best performance and flavor, we highly recommend using filtered water for every brew.
  • Signs You Need to Descale: If you notice a slower brew time, unusual noise, or the machine failing to complete a cycle, it is time to use the CHEMEX® Cleaning Solution.

If you notice white "flaking" or crust inside your tank, this is calcium buildup. Increase your descaling frequency to once a month to extend the life of your Ottomatic.

If you are still having trouble after trying the below options, contact us by email or phone.
Email: Info@chemexcoffeemaker.com
Phone: 413-331-4460

FAQs

The Ottomatic is BPS/BPF/BPA and Phthalates free. All Parts are FDA approved.

Polypropylene, Styrenic acrylic, platinum cured food safe silicone, and aluminum

The water starts in the Styrenic acrylic tank then moves to a platinum cured food safe silicone tube to an aluminum water boiler component. From there it goes back to the platinum cured food safe silicone tube to the polypropylene spray head.

The Handblown 3 and 5 cup coffeemakers are compatible with the Ottomatic.

The Ottomatic is made in China.

It is normal for a small amount of water to be left in the tank after a brew cycle.

When set in “Iced Coffee Mode” the warming plate remains off during the brewing process.

12 ½ “ X 7 ½ “ X 13 “

90 Minutes.

There should be a minimum of ½ an inch of liquid in the carafe at all times when on the warming plate.

The Ottomatic uses "Greedy Cup" spray head technology to pull and push the water on a staged brewing cycle. All 9 points on the spray head contribute to this process although water does not come out of all 9 points.

The Ottomatic uses a “Flash Boiler” to heat the water and push it up into the spray head. For it to work, the water must be in the stated range of 197.6-204.8. Therefore, just by the fact that the machine is operating, it is an indication that the water is heated to the correct temperature.

Within two pulses the water will have reached optimal temperature. The brewed coffee in the carafe will have cooled and not be in that high of a range, which is the normal process of pour over brewing.

For best results, we recommend using the CHEMEX® Coffeemaker Cleaning solution designed specifically for your Ottomatic®. Keeping cleaner on hand makes it easy to stay on top of regular maintenance and ensure your machine continues to perform at its best. Additional cleaning solution can be ordered anytime from our website.
CHEMEX Automatic Cleaner

CHEMEX Ottomatic brewing guide with step-by-step instructions and illustrations.

Ottomatic Quick Start Card

Download here
The chemex ottomatic brewed iced coffee, 2 murray mugs in front of the ottomatic filled with iced coffee, the cream and sugar set is stacked to the side.
Chemex Ottomatic cleaning instructions on a white background

Ottomatic Cleaning Card

Download here