{"id":2063502,"date":"2025-01-08T10:37:45","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T16:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=2063502"},"modified":"2025-01-08T10:37:45","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T16:37:45","slug":"chemex-pour-over-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/chemex-pour-over-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Chemex Pour-Over Review: A Coffee Maker Well Worth the Splurge"},"content":{"rendered":"My Chemex pour-over<\/a> came into my life as a gift\u2014and it changed my morning coffee-making routine. Before, I had been a loyal French press user and, before that, a Keurig coffee maker<\/a> owner, both of which have a lot to love. But I personally prefer the Chemex, which uses the pour-over method<\/a>, to make a strong cup of coffee. And it looks elegant, to boot.\r\n\r\nWe ranked Chemex the \"best splurge\" among our best pour-over coffee makers<\/a>. Here's why it earned such high marks from our testers.\r\n

What is the Chemex Classic?<\/h2>\r\nThe Chemex Classic<\/a> 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<\/a>.\r\n\r\nEven 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.\r\n\r\nIt 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.\r\n\r\nNeed to stock up on beans? Check out these coffee subscription boxes<\/a> (many of which I personally love and often gift) and the best organic coffee<\/a>.\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT product_name=\"Chemex 8-Cup Classic\" short_description=\"This pour-over coffee maker whips up a deliciously strong brew in minutes and looks good doing it.\" image=\"2094931\" image_credit=\"MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME\" pr_name=\"Chemex\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=131817X1598243&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fchemexcoffeemaker.com%2Fproducts%2Feight-cup-classic-chemex\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Chemex\" retailers_2_name=\"Amazon\" retailers_2_url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Chemex-Classic-Pour-over-Glass-Coffeemaker\/dp\/B000I1WP7W?tag=tohmke-20\" retailers_2_display_text=\"Shop on Amazon\" \/]\r\n

How We Tested the Chemex Classic<\/h2>\r\nTo 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.\r\n\r\nFor 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).\r\n\r\n\"Chemex\r\n\r\nFor 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.\r\n\r\nOnce 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.\r\n\r\nThe 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).\r\n\r\n\"If you're looking for a stylish pour-over coffee maker, the Chemex is perfect when serving guests,\" product tester Sheri Kaz<\/a> says.\r\n\r\nCleaning 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\u2014and because I like the way it looks\u2014it's worth it.\r\n

Pros<\/h3>\r\n