If you love pour-over coffee, then you will love the Chemex Coffee maker. This is a super stylish and exceptional pour over coffee maker that gives you completely control over your brew, for the most perfect cups of coffee.
According to coffee connoisseurs all over the world, the Chemex provides a delicious, flavourful and clean cup of coffee that all can enjoy. Pour over coffee is widely considered the best coffee brewing method as you really get to taste the real, authentic flavour of the coffee beans.
As it is a longer brewing process, the flavour extraction is more intricate and intense, providing more taste and a more enjoyable cup of coffee.
So, if you want to try out a pour over brew, then you should know about the Chemex coffee maker. Luckily, this review will tell you everything you need to know about this pour over coffee maker, and whether it is worth your money and your time!
What is the Chemex Coffee Maker?
The Chemex coffee maker is a manual pour over coffee maker that has been around for decades. This coffee maker has a patented design that was first made in 1941, and yet it is still widely popular today.
The thing about this pour over coffee maker is that it does not just make exceptional coffee, but it also has a durable yet exquisite design, and an elegant and sleek appearance.
With its hourglass shape and bowl-like bottom, this classic and minimalist coffee maker fits right into the home, bringing a sense of elegance, sophistication and style.
As a result, the Chemex is the only coffee maker that can be found in museums around the world, including as part of a permanent collection at the Brooklyn Museum and The Museum of Modern Art in New York!
Its glass design and aesthetically pleasing shape is simple yet easy to use, and creates some of the most flavourful coffee possible. The classic Chemex coffee maker has its iconic wooden handle in the midsection of the product, whereas the newer products feature an easy to use glass handle.
These coffee makers are also available in multiple sizes to make various amounts of cups of coffee, depending on your needs.
Classic Series Chemex Pour Over Coffee Maker:
Glass Handle Series Chemex Pour Over Coffee Maker:
Who is the Chemex Coffee Maker for?
The Chemex coffee maker is not for everyone. It is designed for the coffee aficionado, the coffee enthusiast and those who want to take their coffee brewing expertise to the next level.
If you are the type of person who knows that coffee is not just a beverage, but there is an art to the brewing process, then the Chemex is for you.
The Chemex is considered the ultimate coffee maker, and is designed with those who are really passionate about their coffee in mind. Like all pour-over coffee makers, the Chemex takes a few minutes to create the perfect brew, so this is not a brewing method for those who need their caffeine fix quickly.
It’s all about the process, with a slower brewing time, and therefore better flavour extraction.
If you don’t mind the short wait, then the Chemex is for you. Like all good things, they take time! For the purest coffee and fullest flavour, this method needs a few minutes.
In our opinion, those few minutes are worth it, as the Chemex uses unique paper filters that produce crisp, fresh and clean coffee brews. Whilst the Chemex is perfect for any type of coffee, we do recommend using a light or medium roast for the optimal results!
You can also purchase Chemex coffee makers in several different cup sizes, with options ranging from three cups of coffee all the way to thirteen cups. So, there really is a Chemex for every coffee lover out there. So, what is the Chemex coffee maker really like?
Chemex Coffee Review
The Chemex is a pour over coffee maker used all around the world for its classic design, simple brewing method and exceptional results.
Chemex Overview
PROS:
- Stylish, simple design
- Can brew from 3 to 10 cups at a time
- Clean, full flavoured coffee without burning beans
- Dishwasher safe
- Easy to use
- Multiple accessories and replacement parts available
CONS:
- Paper filters are sold separately
- Can be costly
- Recommended that you hand clean only
About the Chemex company
The Chemex was initially invented in 1941 in New York City by an eccentric chemist called Dr. Peter Schlumbohm. His intention was to create a coffee maker that was both highly functional and attractive in design.
He sure did succeed. The Chemex has a patented design, along with patented Chemex filters, paper filters and accessories specifically formulated to work with the Chemex coffee maker.
As this coffee maker was designed by an established chemist, Schlumbohm understood the chemistry and science behind the ultimate flavour and caffeine extraction and so the Chemex coffee maker was born.
Inspired by the Bauhaus school of design, Schlumbohm created the Chemex’s now iconic hourglass shape that is a part of American history.
Not only this, but the Chemex was awarded the best designed product in 1943 just after its invention, and is still considered one of the top 100 best designed products of modern times by the Illinois Institute of Technology.
The Chemex Corporation today remains a family owned company that strives to carry on the historical and iconic legacy of Dr. Schlumbohm and his original Chemex design.
Specifications
The Chemex can be purchased as the Classic Series coffee maker, as the Hand Blown Series coffee maker or with a glass handle, and is available in multiple sizes for your convenience. However, there are some specifications that you may want to consider. These are for the Chemex Classic Series coffee maker:
| Brand | Chemex |
| Product Type | Speciality pour-over coffee brewer |
| Materials | Borosilicate glass, leather, wood |
| Sizes | 3, 6, 8, 10, |
| Product Dimensions | 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches |
| Product Weight | 1.3 lbs |
| Dishwasher Safe Components | Yes |
| Stovetop Safe | Yes |
This product includes the coffee maker, the wooden collar and leather thong if you purchase a Classic or Hand Blown Series model, and filters may also be included. However, some Chemex coffee makers need the filters to be purchased separately.
Durability
The Chemex coffee maker is made of borosilicate glass, which is one of the strongest and most durable glass available. It is highly resistant to temperature, making it perfect for brewing coffee, but can also be stored in the refrigerator as it is resistant to thermal shock.
This glass can withstand a lot of thermal stress and temperature differentials, making it highly durable, long lasting and resilient.
Design
What makes this coffee maker stand out from the rest is its unique design and hourglass shape. The Chemex is also made of borosilicate glass, which gives this its distinctive appearance, and instantly recognizable design.
Both the Classic Series and the Handblown Series of Chemex coffee makers have a wooden collar and handle around the middle with a rawhide thong to hold the glass even when it is hot. Alternatively, there are Chemex coffee makers with glass handles, which are even more convenient to use.
The Chemex also uses its own special filters, which are made with bonded paper. These can be natural or bleached, with a variety of different types available for you to choose from.
Chemex Natural Coffee Filters:
Chemex Classic Coffee Filters:
Cleaning
The Chemex is made of glass and is therefore easy to clean and wash after use with a bottle brush. It is also considered dishwasher safe, if you remove the handle and leather, but it is recommended that you hand wash to ensure its integrity for much longer.
Brewing
To brew coffee with the Chemex, you do have to purchase the filters separately. Then, all you have to do is place the filter in the top section of the coffee maker, add your ground coffee beans and pour in hot water in a smooth, circular motion.
Then, the coffee should brew in the lower section of the glass carafe. Once the coffee has brewed and the flavour has been extracted, remove the filter, discard and pour!
Verdict
The bottom line is that the Chemex is the perfect pour over coffee maker for the coffee aficionado. It is easy to use, mess free, simple and elegant all at the same time.
The best part is that it produces such beautifully flavoured and balanced cups of coffee. It also looks spectacular on your kitchen top, and can become a conversation point with guests and friends.
The only downside is the price, as this can be costly for some people, especially as you buy the filters separately. Also, pour-over coffee takes longer to brew. However, if you are looking for high quality, delicious cups of coffee, then you cannot go wrong with Chemex.
