The Chemex Coffeemaker was invented over 60 years ago by German chemist and artist, Dr. Peter Schlumbohm. The simplicity of the Chemex coffeemaker’s elegant hourglass shape has been honored for its design by many prestigious museums, including the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Its functional capabilities are also world-renowned. The Chemex uses a thick paper filter that removes many of the impurities that electric makers allow to pass through, making the coffee much more pure and flavorful. It also brews directly into the serving container for simple decanting and cleaning. While pouring, the wood collar keeps your hands safe from the heated coffee inside. All of these f (more…)
July 9th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
I could never figure out why the coffee I made at home didn’t taste as good as the coffee I bought at Starbucks and other gourmet makers - even though I buy high quality beans and grind them myself. The answer, apparently, is that drip home brewers just don’t brew at the right temperature. A chemex brewer is a “back to basics” system of making coffee where you pour boiling hot water directly over the grounds. You control the temperature and the special filters remove any bitterness from coffee. This is an inexpensive way to make great coffee at home. The only inconvenience is that you have to boil the water yourself in a kettle and you have to pour water into the chemex 2-3 times to make a full pot, so you can’t just walk away while it’s brewing. Also, the chemex doesn’t keep the coffee warm, so I find myself putting second and third cups into the microwave. Nevertheless, the taste of the coffee is so outstanding that I can’t bear to go back to my Mr. Coffee machine.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
It is a very pretty maker, and coffee is made under perfect conditions. The price is good through Amazon, just make sure you use suggested filters, the other DO NOT work… (learned from experience).
If premium coffee is your “thing” and pretty is a bonus, this maker is the answer
July 10th, 2009 at 1:49 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Coffee with Less Effort
Note: I got the 8 cup version
I’ve been through a lot of coffee makers, and hated them all till now.
My biggest issue has always been cleanup!
July 10th, 2009 at 2:24 am
There is a dirty little secret that many of these appliance companies don’t want you to know. Manual drip coffee from a simple cone device makes the best coffee. Here’s why. You need to have two tablespoons of coffee for every cup. The water must be just below the boiling point when it hits the grounds. Water which is poured in one little stream on top of dry grounds will cause a funnel effect an most of the grounds won’t immersed effectively.
The fancy auto-drip coffee makers don’t heat the grounds effectively and don’t cover them with water properly in the brewing process. If most people really looked at the back of their coffee maker and looked at where the water is kept in reserve, they would call a Haz-Mat team to clean it up.
Why get this instead of a cheap plastic cone, the filter paper is thicker with the Chemex, retains more bitter oils and the thick glass of the Chemex will keep the coffee warm enough for a second cup (I would suggest getting the glass lid for it also.
July 10th, 2009 at 2:39 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it, getting another as a gift
I am an avid tea and coffee drinker. I dislike the taste of stainless steel and plastic in my beverages. I’ve used this to make about 10 pots of tea.
July 10th, 2009 at 3:43 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic!
A classic. Perfect size for coffee for two (or coffee for one on a very hard day!)
July 10th, 2009 at 4:17 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
The thing makes good coffee.
I saw the Chemex in a design supplement of the Sunday NY Times. It looks good and has been around since the 1940s.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:44 am
3.0 out of 5 stars
or buy a Melitta plastic cone for $2 - $5
This is a lovely coffee maker, but too expensive for some of us. Melitta plastic cones hold similar paper filters and cost about $2 to $5, depending where bought.
July 10th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
completely satisfied
I received the chemex coffee maker in a very short amount of time. It was in perfect condition and very well packaged. I have no complaints whatsoever.
July 10th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never going back
My husband won’t enjoy his morning coffee from any other maker. We love Chemex!