Some products show up everywhere — subway ads, Instagram, celeb endorsements. With this series, we're testing such products to conclude one thing: Does it live up to the hype?
The Chemex, a chic, glass pour-over coffee maker that simplifies this style of brewing and doubles as an elegant countertop art piece.
Arguably one of the best inventions of its century, the iconic Chemex simplifies and perfects pour over-style coffee with its hourglass-shaped design.
Invented in 1941 by chemist Peter Schlumbohm, Ph.D., the Chemex has been praised throughout the years as both a foolproof coffee maker and a literal work of art — it's on permanent display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Now a mainstay in any serious coffee lover's kitchen setup and at cafes across the globe, the Chemex has become a universal household item. It's synonymous with one thing: damn good coffee.
As a proud owner of my own 8-cup Chemex, I can vouch that this trendy coffee gadget completely lives up to the hype.
- Cafes, especially smaller independently owned coffee shops
- Coffee brands like Black Ink Coffee, which recommends the Chemex
- Forbes touts the Chemex as an alternative to using a French press
- It’s Food Network chef Giada De Laurentiis’ favorite coffee gadget
Growing up with a dad who has a geeky, unbridled love of coffee definitely rubbed off on me. For years I've watched him meticulously choose beans, smell the beans, and make me (and anyone else nearby) smell the beans, all before even grinding the damn beans for his coffee. So it's almost embarrassing for me to admit that I'm actually now just as much of a coffee weirdo as he is. Almost.
My dad loves his French press and insists it's the best way to brew coffee. It's how I preferred to make my coffee on the weekends, too, until I discovered pour-over coffee and tried using a Chemex for the first time. Sure, this method does require a little trial and error to get your grounds-to-water ratio just right for your liking, but the end result is smooth, flavorful coffee without any hint of bitterness.
There are a few caveats to get the whole brewing process just right. First, you'll need to grind your whole coffee beans to a medium-coarse texture. Chemex recommends using a burr grinder instead of a blade grinder to cut down on any unnecessary heat during grinding, which could affect the flavor of the coffee.
Next, you'll need to boil filtered water to a very exact temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit, which requires a thermometer. As someone with little patience for things as specific as this, I generally let my boiled water sit on the stove for a minute or two so the temperature is slightly off-boil.
The next step requires using Chemex Bonded Coffee Filters: Simply fold the filter into a cone shape so that one side of the cone has three layers, and then you place the cone into the neck of the Chemex brewer. The thickest part of the filter should be facing the pour spout.
After you've measured out your portion of coffee grounds-to-water ratio, the fun part begins. Once your coffee grounds are placed inside the filter, you pour a few trickles of hot water over the grounds to let it bloom. This releases some of the more subtle aromas and flavors of the coffee. After the water in your filter starts to trickle into your carafe and you can see a foamy layer form above your coffee grounds, you can slowly pour the remainder of your water into your Chemex.
Once your coffee is done brewing, toss the filter, stick your Chemex on a warm stove burner to keep it hot, and enjoy the smooth, fragrant coffee you just brewed from scratch. The wooden collar acts as a heat-protective handle to allow for easy pouring, and it also pops right off when you're ready to hand-wash your carafe.
While the Chemex may not be a beginner's coffee maker, it is intuitive and satisfying to use once you get the hang of brewing with it. If you're considering adding pour over-style coffee to your morning routine, I wholeheartedly recommend the Chemex to you. It's kind of transformative.
Get a Chemex. Do it! They come in all sorts of different size configurations, from 3-cup carafes all the way up to 10. Once you get your brewing process down, you'll look for any excuse to use your Chemex and fill your kitchen with all of those good coffee smells. Plus, this thing literally doubles as a piece of art.
Read More:
Conquer Your Morning Grind With These Espresso Brands
We Tested the Best Cold-Brew Coffee Makers
These Are Our Editor-Tested Coffee Grinder Picks
Follow BestProducts.com on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
