My wife told me about the Chemex Coffee Maker. When she first told me about it, I was very not receptive because I liked my single serve coffee brewer – stick in a coffee pod and in less than a minute my coffee is ready. My main goal in the morning is to get my fix of caffeine as soon as possible. However, my wife not only persuaded me to get the Chemex coffee maker, but also the Chemex Ottomatic 2.0 Automatic Pour-Over Coffee Maker set. She sold me on the Ottomatic, stating it would save us a lot of time making a perfect cup of coffee. It took me a few weeks to get used the Chemex. But, now, I can’t imagine making coffee at home any other way.
Now, I can buy any coffee I want. I make as much or as little coffee as I want. And, I make the coffee as strong as I want. You can watch this video and see how the Chemex Ottomatic works. I am no coffee expert, but I never envisioned home made coffee to taste so good.
Unique History of Chemex
The Chemex coffee maker was invented in 1941 by Dr. Peter Schlumbohm, a German chemist living in the United States. Dr. Schlumbohm was inspired by his background in chemistry to create a brewing device that would combine science and art to produce the perfect cup of coffee.
The design of the Chemex was influenced by the Bauhaus movement, known for its emphasis on simplicity, form, and function. Dr. Schlumbohm’s goal was to create a coffee maker that was not only functional but also beautiful enough to be displayed as a piece of art.
According to Wikipedia, in 1958 the designers at the Illinois Institute of Technology selected the Chemex Coffeemaker as “one of the best-designed products of modern times.” It is included in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Today, the Chemex is still made using the same design and materials as the original model. It is manufactured in the United States, at the Chemex Corporation’s headquarters in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
How We Make Coffee
I buy my choice of beans or ground coffee. I have a grinder at home, but I prefer to buy ground coffee to save time. I typically buy a 16-ounce bag which lasts me about one week . This way I can buy fresh ground coffee of my choice every week. I am a huge fan of Philz Coffee and Blue Bottle Coffee. I will buy the fresh beans from the store and request to have the beans ground. I am constantly experimenting with different brands and flavors. I go with a medium to medium-course grind. You can always ask a barista for their advice.
Chemex measures cup size on each model as a 5-ounce cup. Therefore, the eight-cup model (when full) is 40 ounces. If you’re more than one person, I recommend purchasing the six or eight cup models.
Chemex does have its own filters in 100 count and 200 count. Chemex filters are 20-30% thicker than regular coffee filters which filters out bitterness, oils and grounds. That means you get a super clean and clear cup of coffee. It took me some getting used to – the filters are single sheet 8.5 X 11. I had to get used to the single sheet coffee filter. You keep it folded, then open one layer on one side and three layers on the other. You put the three layers against the pour spout of the Chemex. See how to properly use the filter.
This is how I measure my coffee. One coffee scoop = 2 tablespoons = 10 grams. I like my coffee strong, so I for every cup of water I add 10 grams of coffee. I use a scale to weigh my coffee to make I get a perfect brew.
The nice thing about having the Ottomatic Coffee Maker set is I don’t have to pour the water over the grinds by hand. The “Greedy cup” spray head technology uses a staged brewing cycle and pulsing water bath to ensure steady temperature and saturation of entire coffee bed for even extraction. Once the water and coffee are ready, you just hit the “on” switch on the side of the Ottomatic. The hot plate keeps coffee warm without burning or compromising flavor. The Ottamatic was the main the reasons I agreed to get the Chemex. I can’t imagine doing a pour over every morning.
Thoughts
You can get the Chemex Coffee Maker in 3-cup, 6-cup, 8-cup, and 10-cup. If you don’t want to stand and wait while you pour water over your coffee, I suggest Chemex Ottomatic 2.0 Automatic Pour-Over Coffee Maker set. Your machine will do the hard work.
You will have to be careful not to break your coffee maker and be sure to clean it after ever use.
If you don’t mind putting in a little work to get a perfect tasting of cup home pour over coffee, the Chemex is worth it.