Testing the stunning Six-Cup Classic CHEMEX Coffee Maker has made me realise that I need at least one great cup of coffee a day to be happy and at my best.
Before it, and despite my full barista training, I have frequently found myself frustrated with leaking water tanks from my Nespresso machine and being caught short without any pods.
So, when I was offered the chance to test the Six Cup Classic CHEMEX®, available at Amazon, I couldn't wait to take things straight back to basics – just great coffee, my kettle, a filter, and a gorgeous glass vessel where the real magic happens.
Now firmly my best pour-over coffee maker, I've been loving the ease and simplicity of the Classic Chemex, not to mention the gorgeous design that has had me leaving it proudly on display.
What I Thought of the Chic Classic CHEMEX Coffee Maker
My First Impressions
First impressions count, and the Six Cup Classic CHEMEX®, available at Amazon, certainly made a good one. The coffee maker arrived in a plain, fully-recyclable cardboard box, with an insert to hold it in place to prevent breakages, as did the CHEMEX Bonded Filters, also available at Amazon. This made it easy to dispose of the box as soon as I opened it.
The coffee maker felt weighty, but definitely not too heavy to use in one hand, and the borosilicate glass is very thick and high-quality, so straight away I didn't have any concerns of burns. It's worth noting that breakages are, of course, always a possibility with a glass coffee maker like this one, so handle with care.
I was impressed by the luxe look and feel of the signature CHEMEX wooden elements, complete with a leather tie to keep it firmly in place, and easy to remove when needed. I was also excited to display it on my kitchen counters between uses because its sleek design really looks that good. Its compact footprint also means it's a great option for easy coffee making in small kitchens.
This coffee maker, which is also available in three, six, and 10-cup sizes on Amazon, also came with a small, handy pamphlet with information on how to use it, including a great tip for easily 'blooming' your ground coffee.
Specifications: Classic CHEMEX Coffee Maker
Size |
8 1/2" x 5 1/8" |
Capacity |
30 oz |
Weight |
505 grams |
Materials |
Borosilicate glass, wood, leather |
RRP |
$49.50 |
Performance: CHEMEX Coffee Maker
As I was only making one cup of coffee, I gave my CHEMEX a quick rinse with water and used the included instructions to determine that I only needed one rounded tablespoon of ground coffee – I'm using Costa Ground Coffee, available at Amazon, at the moment. This can be adjusted depending on your preference, but I don't like my coffee too strong day-to-day.
After that, making your brew really couldn't be simpler. Once I'd spooned the ground coffee into the filter, available to purchase separately, all that was left to do was simply pour over some boiling water from my kettle (the SMEG Electric Kettle) to evenly saturate the grounds, and let it do its thing.
CHEMEX recommends pouring a small amount of water in a circular motion over the coffee grounds to wet them, before waiting for roughly 30 seconds to let the grounds 'bloom', so that's what I did, before slowly pouring the water over the grounds.
It's important to keep the water level at least a quarter of an inch or more from the top of the CHEMEX coffee maker, but as I was only making one cup, this wasn't a problem for me.
My only snags are that I wish the coffee maker came with at least a few filters, and that it featured lines on the side to indicate how much water to pour in per cup of coffee. CHEMEX recommends five ounces per cup, but I had to guess how much that equates to; measuring my boiling water first felt like an extra, annoying step I would like to have skipped.
I know this might ruin the 'look' of the coffee maker, but if the lines were only engraved on one side, you could simply turn it around if you didn't want to see them, and they would have come in very handy. Still, these are only very minor annoyances, and pour-over coffee makers don't really get easier to use than this.
What the CHEMEX Coffee Maker Is Like to Use
Like any pour-over coffee maker, the Six Cup Classic CHEMEX®, available at Amazon, is a breeze to use.
The set-up was quick and simple – all I had to do was fold the filter and pop it in the top – and there was no prep necessary at all. The enclosed instructions manual was handy, and you can also find the step-by-step method on the CHEMEX site, and a video to follow along, if needed.
As mentioned, my only 'frustrations' were having to guess how much water to pour in for my cup of coffee, but this is only a minor complaint. You can easily make just the right amount by pouring your boiled water into your chosen coffee cup first, then tipping that into your CHEMEX, which only adds a few seconds to the process.
Otherwise, my coffee was brewed and ready in next to no time at all (approximately two minutes), and it tasted great, too. I tried mine black first, for a true taste test, and was impressed with how smooth it was. I then added a splash of milk, as I usually would, and thoroughly enjoyed my cup of coffee.
In fact, I think it tasted better than the cup my pod coffee machine makes, and at only a fraction of the cost to buy off the bat. It's also non-toxic, as it's made from glass, so it's a great option if you're looking to buy one of the best non-toxic coffee makers.
I can imagine how good this CHEMEX coffee maker would be if you're hosting breakfast for a few friends and family, as you can make six cups of coffee at once with little to no effort, although the water will take a little longer to drip through the grinds.
The integrated spout also made it easy to pour my coffee from the maker into my cup, with no spitting or spillages. All in all, the CHEMEX coffee maker is a delight to use, and I can't wait to use it daily moving forward.
Cleaning and Storage: Classic CHEMEX Coffee Maker
The CHEMEX coffee maker was easy to clean, with just some warm soapy water and my usual dish brush, the Joseph Joseph Edge Dish Brush, available at Amazon. As the 'neck' isn't too narrow, I was able to get right down to the bottom and edges, but I didn't find any stains or marks even at the very bottom, as the grounds are contained in the filter.
The only thing was, as this is glass, I was a little concerned about it slipping out of my hands and smashing. Luckily, there were no breakages to report! I didn't remove the wooden collar on mine, but this is easy to do with the leather tie for washing up.
Once that collar is removed, this glass coffee maker is also conveniently dishwasher-safe – just make sure you secure the carafe and prevent it from bumping into other dishes.
With a small base footprint and compact height, this carafe is suitable for storing away in your cabinets or leaving out on display on your countertops or kitchen shelf. I'm keeping mine out on display for the time being as I love the way it looks in my kitchen, and I'm yet to find that it makes my kitchen look cluttered.
What Shoppers Say About the Classic CHEMEX Coffee Maker
To find out more about the general customer consensus, I looked through hundreds of reviews on the Amazon listing, as I couldn't spot any on the official CHEMEX website. I was pleased to see it has an average rating of 4.8 stars across 6,884 reviews.
One recent review, from verified shopper Barry Timm, dubs it the 'ULTIMATE coffee maker.'
This is the one!' they write. 'I love it...so easy, fun, and makes a perfect cup, and the best of all...absolutely no plastic or aluminum coming in contact with my coffee or water and no cleanup! Just turf the CHEMEX filter into the trash when done, rinse out the CHEMEX, and it's done!'
Another, from Bill Quinby, echoes Barry's. 'You want good coffee? Allow me to share this with you,' they write. 'I have tried it all: Percolators, French presses, double chamber drip pots. You name it, I’ve tried it.
'When you buy CHEMEX, you enter a world of gourmet coffee-making. They will even recommend obscure techniques for maximizing the flavor...Buy this amazing pour-over pot and welcome to the elite coffee club. Good luck!'
The only negative reviews I could find were all older, and only related to the item arriving broken (nothing to do with CHEMEX, and always a risk when ordering a glass item online), or the item not being the same one described in the listing (again, nothing to do with CHEMEX).
These negative reviews only made up one per cent of total feedback from customers, compared to the 91 per cent of five-star reviews. Zero percent of shoppers gave two stars, only two percent gave three, and six percent gave four stars.
So, the positive consensus on quality and performance really speaks for itself in this instance.
Who Would the Classic CHEMEX Coffee Maker Suit?
Overall, I think the Six Cup Classic CHEMEX®, available at Amazon, would suit pretty much anyone – whether you're usually in a rush, are on a budget, have a compact home, need a little and easy caffeine boost in your home office, or just want something simpler and less fiddly to use than a coffee machine. It won't froth your milk or make your coffee for you, but it's so easy to use that this isn't an issue.
Having tried it, I would definitely purchase one myself, and, unlike most coffee makers, this isn't out of my price range for what I would fork out for great-tasting coffee. I think it's amazing value for money, particularly as it looks so good, and feels like it will last for years, so long as you don't smash it while using or washing it.
It's also good if you live in a small rental, as it's compact enough to store away in a cabinet, and, as it can make six five-ounce cups of coffee at once, it's suitable whether you live alone or in a large family of coffee drinkers.
My Verdict on the Classic CHEMEX Coffee Maker
Overall, I found the Six Cup Classic CHEMEX®, available at Amazon, simple, easy to use, and the coffee it made tasted great. The whole process is so quick and convenient, too, and I love the design and that it's non-toxic.
It loses half a star for that lack of measurement lines I mentioned, and the fact it doesn't come with any filters, but other than that, there isn't much to dislike. And, while I found it could be easy to break when washing, it can conveniently go in a dishwasher, but I don't have one.
You also don't have to thoroughly wash it every time – a quick swill with warm soapy water between uses is likely more than enough.
So, I'd recommend this Classic CHEMEX glass coffee maker to anyone in the market for a pour-over coffee appliance, whether you live alone, in a larger household, only have a small kitchen with little storage, or regularly host breakfasts and brunches for your family and friends.
Are you making any of these coffee maker mistakes? A barista shares how to avoid them.
