The Chemex pour-over is elegant, sleek and worth the splurge—and one of the best pour-over coffee makers we tested
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Chemex Pour-Over Review: A Coffee Maker Well Worth the Splurge
Published on Jan. 08, 2025
My Chemex pour-over came into my life as a gift—and it changed my morning coffee-making routine. Before, I had been a loyal French press user and, before that, a Keurig coffee maker owner, both of which have a lot to love. But I personally prefer the Chemex, which uses the pour-over method, to make a strong cup of coffee. And it looks elegant, to boot.
We ranked Chemex the “best splurge” among our best pour-over coffee makers. Here’s why it earned such high marks from our testers.
What is the Chemex Classic?
The Chemex Classic is a 40-ounce glass carafe that can make up to eight cups of coffee. It’s just the right amount for me and my partner, with a little to spare. If that’s too much coffee, the Chemex also comes in smaller sizes, or we love these single-serve coffee makers.
Even if you don’t know the name Chemex, you might recognize its hourglass shape, which is sleek and elegant and can make it look as much like a decoration as a coffee maker. There’s a wood collar around its center, which keeps the heat at bay, even when it’s filled with hot coffee. The wood is bounded by a rawhide tie, and you can customize both the rawhide and wood colors. The carafe is made of borosilicate glass, making it more delicate compared to a metal coffee maker.
It requires you to use the Chemex-branded filters rather than generic paper ones, but the brand claims this is because its filters are able to remove any fats, bitterness or sediments that pass through others. The filters are also biodegradable and compostable.
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MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME
Chemex 8-Cup Classic
This pour-over coffee maker whips up a deliciously strong brew in minutes and looks good doing it.
How We Tested the Chemex Classic
To test all of our pour-over coffee makers, we made a batch of coffee based on the yield, ground coarseness, optimal brewing temperature and brewing process recommended by the manufacturer. For every coffee maker, we used a Fellow gooseneck kettle to boil the water to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
For the Chemex Classic, we used the required Chemex bonded filters. I will say that in moments of desperation, I’ve used regular paper filters, and I haven’t noticed an extreme difference in the taste of my coffee (even if the filter’s fit was a bit wonky).
For this test, we ground 24 grams of coffee to a medium coarseness. This ensures that the water drips through at the right rate, so your coffee isn’t too weak or bitter.
Once the filter and ground coffee were in place, we followed Chemex’s instructions: Pour your hot water in a circular motion to moisten the grounds and let them bloom to release the carbon dioxide for a smoother cup of coffee. After the coffee has bloomed, pour the remaining water over the grounds, either in a circle or in a back-and-forth motion, to make sure that all of the coffee gets wet.
The spout is nice and directional, making coffee pouring easy. By the time the coffee was in our cup, it was 121 degrees, 79 degrees cooler than when first brewed. However, we did measure the temperature a few minutes after pouring. Overall, the coffee was very strong. I will say that even though the type of coffee really impacts the bitterness, the coffee is, in general, quite strong (at least in my experience).
“If you’re looking for a stylish pour-over coffee maker, the Chemex is perfect when serving guests,” product tester Sheri Kaz says.
Cleaning is where the Chemex doesn’t excel. It requires removing the wood collar and the leather, and putting them back on can be a multi-person activity. The glass carafe can be put in the dishwasher or washed by hand, but the shape prevents your hand from reaching the bottom. I’ve found the cleaning process to be a bit of a hassle, but based on my coffee preferences—and because I like the way it looks—it’s worth it.
Pros
- Attractive design
- Can customize the look
- Large capacity
Cons
- Have to use custom Chemex filters
- Disassembly is required to clean
FAQ
What’s the difference between a French press and a Chemex?
A French press and Chemex are both manual coffee brewing methods, but that’s really where the similarities end. With a French press, you pour coarsely ground coffee into the body and cover it with hot water. After it steeps, you push down a plunger with a metal mesh filter and then pour. A Chemex is a pour-over coffee maker where you put coffee grounds into a filter and pour hot water on top. In a Chemex, the coffee drips into a carafe. Not all pour-over coffee makers are carafe-shaped, and the coffee will drip into whatever mug or cup you put underneath.
How do you use a Chemex coffee maker?
To use a Chemex coffee maker, you put a custom filter into the Chemex. You fill the filter with your coffee grounds and pour in water until the bottom half of the Chemex is filled.
How do you clean a Chemex?
You can clean a Chemex by hand or in the dishwasher. To put it in the dishwasher, you have to take off the wood collar and leather tie.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our Product Testing team evaluated multiple pour-over coffee makers with the same criteria. We followed the manufacturer’s instructions for the yield, ground coarseness and brewing process to ensure their experience is what someone else would replicate at home. We measured the coffee’s taste and strength, as well as how easy it was to clean.
I also use this Chemex daily at home. As someone born and raised in Seattle, I like a very strong cup of black coffee, and for that reason, I’m a big fan of Chemex. However, despite what I use in my house, I approach reviews from an unbiased perspective, evaluating how a product fits into someone’s budget, lifestyle and needs.
Where To Buy the Chemex 8-Cup Classic
MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME
Chemex 8-Cup Classic
For an attractive, easy-to-use pour-over coffee maker, you can't go wrong with a Chemex.
The Chemix 8-cup Classic is available directly from the brand or on Amazon. It costs around $50.
