From its invention in 1941, the Chemex Coffee Maker has never been altered. The design has remained the same and continued to show off its timeless, mid-century hour-glass design.
There were a few reasons our team wanted to review this device. For starters, it is renowned all over the world for its perfect balance of aesthetics and performance. Also, it has an impressive 5-star rating on Amazon, so naturally, we had to see what all the hype was about.
Keep reading this Chemex Pour Over Coffee Maker review to learn if this popular device is for you.
This beautiful glass coffee maker is for anyone who wants a manual coffee brewer with a perfect blend of art and science. Shaped like an oversized hourglass, with a dripper cone directly above the coffee reservoir, users will have amazing brew control.
While the results are amazing, a learning curve is required. But, with some practice and patience, anyone can master the brewing process. If you prefer a very straight forward coffee experience, we suggest something easier to use like a French press.
Looking for some modern art to decorate your home that also functions as a coffee maker? The Chemex coffee brewer is a win-win! You may think we’re joking; however, this fancy pour-over is actually on permanent display in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Talk about impressive!
This model is made from glass from top to bottom. It has a wooden collar tied around it using a leather cord. We must admit that the combination of glass, wood, and leather really makes this coffeemaker one of a kind.
As for functionality, the Chemex has the ability to brew both hot or iced beverages, including coffee and tea. We noticed that while this company boasts about a generous 10-cup capacity, we were only able to produce 8 cups at one time. After trying to figure out this discrepancy, we learned that Chemex uses a 5-ounce standard for their “cup” size. This means that for us, this is equivalent to 8 cups.
The cleanup process is also made easy. While it is not dishwasher safe, we found it easy to remove the leather and wood collar and wash it by hand. If you’ve just brewed a cup of joe, rinsing it with water is all you need. And of course, occasionally brush it gently with mild dish soap.
This is a great option if you’re looking for a pour-over maker with full brewing control. The large opening of this maker places emphasis on variables like pouring and grind size to control water flow. This gave us a bigger say in the quality of coffee than we have seen with other coffee makers. It offers more flexibility also since you can play around with different grind sizes/roasts.
However, there is a tradeoff – the Chemex isn’t as great of an option for novices. Cone drippers require practice and experimentation. If you are a beginner to the pour-over game, we suggest getting a coffee journal if you don’t have one already. While you can master the process of using the Chemex, it will require some time.
Our team can see why the Chemex is a best-selling pour-over coffee maker. There isn’t another pour-over brewer that has been around as long as the Chemex and even then, it manages to maintain a 5-star Amazon rating.
We will say that if you’re looking for a coffee maker with a zero learning curve that doesn’t involve paper filters, the Chemex isn’t for you. Consider another option like the Kalita Wave.
But, if you’re willing to master the process and enjoy fresh, clean coffee, the Chemex Pour Over Coffee Maker was made with you in mind. Try it today!
