Chemex 8-Cup Classic Series Glass Coffeemaker

Although it was designed in 1941, Chemex coffee pots remain the simplest, most easy to use coffee maker on the market. And the high-quality Chemex filters allow you to “espresso” grind without tears or grounds in the pot.I finely grind my French Roast beans and pour the ground coffee into the filter. Then I place my Chemex on a cast iron plate on my stove top at low (2) heat and pour the hot water over the grounds.You will need to discover your own coffee strength through trial and error. I like my coffee strong and I like the fine grind that creates all the flavor I’m looking for as the water quickly passes through the grounds.The improvement in coffee flavor is incredible. Strong, smooth and no bitterness.Chemex uses less energy than my old percolator (which took about 15 minutes of energy to brew) We have a hot water tap and now I just get a cup of hot water from the sink and pour it over. It’s easy to clean—see my picture above—once a week I put a couple tablespoons of vinegar in and fill it with hot water to let it soak. That helps remove any kind of coffee residue. About once a month I shake a little bit of Bon Ami into the bottom of the pot, add water, add a paper towel and use a wooden spoon to swirl off any build up. It’s an easy, two-minute operation and the results are like new, and sparkling! Easy to wipe the exterior to a sparkle too!It’s beautiful to look at. But respect the glass: It should be handled only by experienced hands. Every few years we knock it off the counter and it breaks then we hurriedly replace it because we are spoiled by the great flavor and ease of use.Coffee afficianados, stop looking for another pot: in Chemex you will discover your coffee Nirvana. But remember, Nirvana is not achieved in a day.

I purchased a Chemex as I decided I wanted a filter coffee in addition to my daily espresso.The product arrives wrapped tightly in a box just big enough for the Chemex.It is beautifully designed, with a wooden neck collar wrapped around thick glass.I use 84g coffee and this leads to the base being filled up. It makes the cleanest tasting coffee I've ever had in my life. In under 5 minutes you go from bean to cup including grinding time. A coarser grind is best, with the first 45 seconds to allowing the beans to bloom and release all gases. I then pour water over until 3 minutes 30 seconds, when I let any remaining water to filter through.The Chemex paired with the Chemex filters produce one of the finest coffees I have ever had: smooth, crisp, strong and velvety. It allows you to taste all flavours in the roast you are using, and to experiment.I had never used one before purchasing, and whilst daunting to use at first, the process of grinding beans, and pouring over water using a Hario Gooseneck spout kettle over the grinds has become a daily ritual, and one I enjoy greatly as it allows 5 minutes of relaxation and focus, of course followed by delicious cups of brown gold.The only issue you may find it that the coffee does not stay warm for long, but I normally cover the top of the Chemex to keep temperature for longer. I definitely recommend the Chemex filters, as they work best for the product and are still good value.

I'm not what most would consider a coffee connoiseur. I simply enjoy great cups of coffee.I've had the great honor of having amazing coffee throughout europe, at many 5-star hotels, in dive coffee shops that know what they are doing, and the best coffee ever at the Blue Bottle in San Francisco. These are things I have purchased, not made.At home I have, historically, simply bought middle-of-the-road pre-ground coffee and put it in a normal "set it and forget it" braun coffeemaker. I then typically add a bit of sugar and some half and half. Done.However, I grew tired of the inconsistency I felt I'd get from that process and the middling cups of coffee. Sometimes too weak, sometimes too bitter.So I started looking into the more "old school" ways. The french press and handpouring. Obviously, the chemex was my choice and I received it on Christmas Day 2011, so this review is after using it now maybe 15 times.I love the simple design - it's basically a very thick beaker with a beautiful wooden wrap-around and a simple leather strap. The glass has an outstanding sunken fluid slide built into it for pouring - it pours outstanding. It's these little things that you really enjoy every morning.I watched a simple youtube video on use. It's fairly straightforward. It takes 6 total minutes to make the coffee and no additional time compared to a automatic drip - I'm serious, I timed it. I put 2 cups of water into a tea kettle and put it on heat, put the filter in the chemex, 4-5 scoops of coffee (still learning the precise amount I like), and then get the coffee cup out, put sugar and half and half in it, and by then the tea kettle is usually almost at the perfect temp.... You can learn the right way to pour the water in via youtube.The results:Coffee is flavorful and rich and amazingly lacking of bitterness. I've heard this is from the filter - catching the bitter oils much better than normal filters. But the coffee is simply very good.If you expect coffee to stay hot in a glass beaker, you will not be pleased - it won't stay hot. Use a thermos if you want it kept warm without heating it somehow.There's nothing to clean - just rinse it out each time and it's good to go. No plastic tubes to worry about. The filter catches all the grounds, so those aren't floating around anywhere.

In a nutshell, that's the big plus for this. You can control the coffee, the grind, the brew temperature, the beans, you name it. If you have a coffee grinder, great. That is the simplest way to control the grind. Even a whirly bird (blade) grinder should work fine with this coffeemaker. If not, then find a shop that sells fresh beans that will grind them for you. If you buy the canned reground coffee, you probably use an automatic drip maker, so go no further.I was just in a Whole Foods today that has coffee beans with their roast date on the dispensers. They have a grinder right there. Buy a few ounces of coffee and grind it. Purists say roast beans should be used within 15 days of their roast and within 15 minutes of their grinding. In spite of what I read against it, I find I can extend coffee's life several fold by refrigerating or better freezing it. YMMV, as they say.You need a thermometer calibrated to the boiling point of water. If you are working in Fahrenheit water will boil at 212° minus 2° for every 1000 ft above sea level you are. I said that because you need to verify the calibration of your thermometer by dipping the tip into actively boiling water.1. Open the filter and put the 3 layer side against the channel. That channel is there to allow air displaced by incoming water to escape from the brewer so you don't bubble coffee on everything and so you don't build up a positive pressure which would slow filtering.2. Preheating the Chemex by pouring boiling water through the filter. I like to use at least 12 ounces in my 48 oz Chemex. Don't forget to discard this water before you start filtering. Voice of experience.3. Measure the volume of water you will be using to brew your coffee and heat in the microwave, in an electric hot pot or on the stove.4. While the water is heating I grind my coffee. I generally measure my coffee using beans rather than ground coffee. Sometimes I weigh them instead. Go ahead and add the ground coffee to the filter.5. When the water boils, I remove it from the heat and begin measuring its temperature. The "standard" brewing temperature is 195 to 205 degrees F. If my beans were frozen, I'll cheat a little to the high side. This is one area where you can "break the rules" to get a coffee you like. Some say brew a darker roast at a lower temperature and a lighter roast at a higher temperature. You're the boss.6. Discard preheat water and begin by pouring a small amount over your grounds. If your beans are good and fresh they will bubble ("bloom") when you pour that first water. The general idea is to get all the grounds wet before you begin the Pour.7. The Pour. Note the time or start a timer. Fill the V nearly full. I like to pour away from the center and track that around nearer the circumference. I almost always will stir using a spoon or whatever implement is handy. Keep the V nearly full either by pouring frequently or very slowly, distributing the water around more or less evenly.8. If all went well, somewhere around 4 minutes just about all the coffee has dripped through. Enjoy your coffee!If your coffee finishes through the filter in less than 4 minutes, you want a finer grind coffee. If it takes too long, you want a coarser grind.I generally pour my coffee into a vacuum bottle so I can enjoy it over the next few hours. Rather than discarding my Chemex preheat water I simply use it to preheat my thermos.Cleanup is easy. Glass washes clean and often I get by with only a rinse. It is glass and will break. I avoid following hot coffee with cool rinse water. One down side for the Chemex is the filters are relatively expensive. I often will get multiple uses from my filters by rinsing them in hot tap water and allowing them to air dry. I notice no ill affects on flavor by doing this but your experience may be different. There are cloth and metal alternatives to the filter paper. Both of these allow more sediment into your cup than does paper. Coffee presses allow for similar level of control as the Chemex. When I want clean coffee I use the Chemex with paper. If I don't mind the sediment I use the press.

I did not know it was possible to have a cup of coffee that was not bitter and acidic. I have bought and tried the tip automatic coffee machines that are $150+ and this takes the cake. Easily the best coffee I’ve had in my life. I normally don’t drink coffee black but I had no need to add any cream or sugar to the coffee that comes out of this amazing device. If you’ve been on the fence about this, stop and just buy it. It will change your life.Tips: read AND follow the instructions. The method is not difficult, but is a bit time consuming. It will likely take 15-20 minutes to brew a pot. Purchase the cones made by this brand. It makes a difference.I have been texting all my coffee-drinking family members about this today. I think I’ve found my birthday/Christmas gifts for all of them this year.