Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker - Classic Series

Curated from 160 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: January 14, 2025

Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker - Classic Series

Brand: Chemex
Price: $41
Snoop Score:
6.6
Sentiment
8.6
Popularity
9.1
Technical
5.1

Snoop's Take

The Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker is a beautifully designed brewing device that allows coffee enthusiasts to create a flavorful cup of coffee with ease. Made from high-quality non-porous Borosilicate glass, it ensures that your coffee remains free from unwanted odors or chemical residues while offering a visually appealing aesthetic that enhances any kitchen or café space. Consumer feedback highlights the Chemex's ability to produce sweeter, less acidic coffee, with many users noting, "If you want a sweeter and less acidic brew, then the Chemex is exactly what you want." Additionally, users appreciate its easy cleaning and maintenance, with comments like, "You can easily see and clean every part of it." However, some users warn that the Chemex may not be beginner-friendly, stating, "I would probably not recommend Chemex for a beginner," which reflects the learning curve associated with perfecting the pour-over technique. Overall, the Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker is highly recommended for those who appreciate craft coffee and are willing to invest time in mastering the brewing process. Its unique design and flavor profile make it a standout choice in the pour-over category, especially for more experienced coffee drinkers.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Pour Over Coffee Makers

If you want a sweeter and less acidic brew, then the Chemex is exactly what you want.

Positive Feedback

I would probably not recommend Chemex for a beginner.

Negative Feedback
Product
6.6
Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker - Classic Series
Daily Home Brewing
1 / 10
Entertaining Guests
8 / 10
Camping and Travel
2 / 10
Gifts and Special Occasions
9 / 10
See how this compares to all Pour Over Coffee Makers

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Chemex produces sweeter, less acidic coffee.
If you want a sweeter and less acidic brew, then the Chemex is exactly what you want.
Chemex is visually appealing.
I love the look of the chemex, but I prefer a sweeter and less acidic profile, so decided on the [Kalita Wave Carafe Brewer].
It is by far the easiest to use but you also can't decide to suddenly grind finer cause then you are suddenly looking at a 25min drawdown.
Easy to clean and maintain
Getting control over brew temperature, the rate that the water hits the grounds, all of that is wonderful, and tons of people are discussing it already.
You can easily see and clean every part of it.
This is a big one for me. I got tired of cleaning a machine. It was gross.
Allows control over brewing parameters
Why is pour over "better" than a machine? I understand that you have more control of where the water hits the coffee bed.
Chemex produces different tasting coffee compared to Moccamaster.
Both produce different tasting coffee for same beans. But both taste great.
Chemex allows for more control over the brewing process.
While Chemex isn't as versatile and bendable as something like a V60, it can still be manipulated far more than a batch/drip brewer.
In the end it’s up to you to decide what do you want out of your cups and your overall coffee experience.
Visually appealing design
I pulled up pictures of it and it does look amazing. If batman made pour over coffee I'm pretty sure that's what he'd use lol.
Produces different tasting coffee
The paper filters out oils which changes the flavor enough people either like/dislike it.
A Chemex using the official filter papers will produce a different tasting brew than a V60 using Hario's filters.
Produces a super clean cup of coffee
I love the Chemex! It beautifully designed and produces a super clean cup.
Fun and engaging brewing experience
Lets me honest though... using a Chemex is way more fun

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Chemex is not recommended for beginners.
I would probably not recommend Chemex for a beginner.
Tiring to make coffee while holding a child
We eventually bought a drip pot setup on a timer and that made life so much easier to have coffee ready when it needed to be.
Not beginner-friendly
Do little things like pour rate and water temp have a *drastic* effect on the taste?

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Discussion around the importance of water quality for brewing.
And what did the $2 buy you?
As ever, good water is a game changer.
Discussion on water quality's impact on coffee
Classic filters like Brita remove almost nothing from the water.
Discussion about alternatives to Chemex
I'm a bit curious if it is worth to buy one if I'm already into V60.
If I were interested in the presumed merits of a narrow cone, namely a deeper bed for small doses, I might look at a Cafec Deep 27 instead.
Adding: Brewista makes / made a wave-filter model.
Your remarks about filter availability line up with my personal insistence on being able to buy filters locally.
Discussion about the Chemex's capacity and design
Never made a pour over before, so any advice or direction would be great.
The green stamp should say chemex along with patent number.
Expressions of jealousy towards aesthetically pleasing coffee setups.
All the people on this subreddit with beautiful coffee stations, I shake my fist at you in jealousy.
Inquiry about mug sources and aesthetic appeal.
They look really nice.
Different brewing methods yield various coffee profiles
I'm not really sure what are the other advantages of Aeropress, Chemex, or pour-over.
Most people use mokapot to brew concentrates to mimic espresso.
It becomes more of a workflow thing - you have to clean 2 brewing vessels, the filter holder and the French press itself, versus just the Aeropress which takes around 10 seconds to rinse.
I think you choose a method depending on the end result.

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Comparison of pour-over methods versus machines
This is why I use either French press or pour over. I’ve seen the water that comes out of drip machines, or the goo that builds up in the tubing if you don’t clean it regularly.
Chemex filters can be used in other brewers.
The filters make all the difference.
Discussion on iced coffee techniques
iced. you can always add more ice, but it's made where it doesn't end up watered down since the ice is part of the recipe & changes flavor over time.
right. and im saying this recipe is exactly why i have the recipe i do. 42 grams of coffee to 300 gr of water is concentrated, and hits a close to 1:16 ratio as the ice melts and you can enjoy/notice the journey along the way to that.
Discussion on brewing techniques and recipes
Are the filters that much more expensive? What are you drinking right now and what’s your reasoning? Am I missing out with my Chemex?
I always expect the coffee on a Chemex to be more mild, slightly less bitter, and more relaxing.
Decreasing the number of pours to reduce agitation and extraction has been a great way to dial in certain coffees, without messing with grind size and temperature.
Hedrick's technique seems cool too, I'd have to experiment with single brewing ratios (15 g coffee, 250 g water).
Discussion about brewing techniques and their impact on flavor
Water temp has a pretty dramatic effect on coffee taste.
Many if not most people have experience with very poor drip machines.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Comparison of Chemex with other brewing methods.
Seems like the hario V60 is for the advance pour over technique methods but provides the best/complex coffee, chemex is moderate technique and kalita wave is most forgiving.
thank you for such a detailed response!.
I rotate between Chemex, V60 and Wave (as well as B75, Crystal Eye and blue bottle dripper) as my daily drivers and I second every single word in that answer.
The Chemex is specifically for slow extraction and longer brews.
Comparison of manual versus electric grinders.
The filters is the difference.
Jeez, my manual grinder must have really sucked.
Inquiries about brewing advice for beginners
Never made a pour over before, so any advice or direction would be great.
Replace the wood with carbon fiber and a zip tie.
Discussion on the differences between batch and pour-over brewing methods.
All I can think of is that the Moccamaster pours the water over the coffee grounds for you… I’ll still need to rinse the filter, weigh and grind the beans…
The Moccamaster is awesome as a set and forget brewer. On days I work in the office and have to get kids ready and out the door, I go downstairs when the alarm rings, grind and load, then keep the morning routine going until the brew is done.
Comparison of pour-over methods
My question for parents, especially of babies, is it worth the extra legwork if you have a pour over method/ grinding your own beans?
I used to use one of the little Vietnamese style ones that sits right over the cup, and that always came out delicious.
Discussion about coffee storage to maintain freshness.
your coffee will go stale faster in sunlight, in a clear jar, in large amounts, and with a lot of air in the container.
Comparison of Chemex with other brewing methods
Why are Chemex so praised? My understanding is that it's just a vessel that holds a paper filter, there is nothing "unique" about them.
I always bust out the Chemex, and it is always very impressive for anyone that has never seen it before.
There has to be a difference, otherwise they wouldn't be so popular, right?
What about the difference between Chemex, V60, and other Melitta-style pour overs?
Debate on Chemex's relevance in comparison to other methods
I love every bit of this, thank you! I just never hear Chemex in conversation, so it always makes me wonder whether or not it’s not any cache with quality.
Brewing capacity considerations for single-use devices
the downside is the capacity, as it's intended to be used as a single cup brewer.
Discussion about coffee brewing techniques
I've been interested in Chemex for a while now because I've heard it can make some really good coffee and it actually looks like a fun process to me.
I think all pour overs methods are more similar taste-wise than they are different, so personally I'd go for a v60 or a Kalita Wave first since they're a lot cheaper.
It’s a pretty big difference in terms of making a cleaner cup and most importantly a better tasting one.
Inquiries about kettle recommendations
Awesome! What kettle do you use? Do you know if the bonavita variable temperature one I mentioned is any good?
Definitely look into the EKG. I was in between a Bonavita and Stagg, but the Stagg is honestly just so damn aesthetically pleasing I went with it and haven't had any problems over the last year.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Discussion around automatic pour-over coffee makers
Guess the title says it all.
You mean a drip coffee maker?
Unfortunately this is an actual marketing term being used for drip machines with certain advanced features, like a bloom pause.
Maybe something like a Moccamaster? I got one and I’m extremely happy with it.
Concerns about cleanliness of drip machines
The water tank gets gross because you can't really clean it effectively in a lot of cases.
The ease of cleaning the thing properly is one big reason I opted for a Wilfa machine with a similar setup to Technivorm's, tbh.
Discussion on various coffee grinders.
It makes a little bit of a mess.
Don't waste your time and pony up for the Baratza Encore unless you're going for a really low budget setup.
Even the Skerton is pretty solid (with the little upgrade piece to make it steadier).
Discussion about the Chemex's history
a bit more to add - it was the first "functional art" to be placed in MOMA.
My wife has been bingeing the Mary Tyler Moore show lately and I noticed her pouring coffee from a chemex.
Discussion about Aeropress versatility compared to Chemex
You can even make 2 cups by brewing a bit stronger ratio and diluting it afterwards.
I really think the pressure does affect the taste in an aeropress... I've put espresso grind coffee on three paper filters into the aeropress, and then I basically had to sit on the plunger to move it down, but it tasted delicious...
Comparison of flavor profiles between brewing methods
Exactly - it's a pourover with a very delicate mouthfeel.
I found I could taste the plastic from the Aeropress.

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