You’re bound to have seen Chemex while browsing the web, on Instagram, or on TikTok where they take center stage of some influencer’s aesthetic kitchen setup.
At first glance, it’s just a glass jar with a wooden collar, right?
Not quite.
The Chemex brand is focused on the visual appeal and simplicity of its product, whilst also brewing a superb cup of coffee (or eight!). The filter is created from a special bonded paper to retain the coffee ground’s bad fats, bitterness, and acidity. The result is a smooth, light, and fruity cup of coffee.
But why are they so expensive?
What’s Chemex’s point of difference?
Is it worth the hype??
In this article, we’ll answer those questions and compare the Chemex system to other popular being methods like the V60 and french press.
Why Listen To Us? Well, because we KNOW coffee! In fact, we make our own coffee, coffee machine cleaners, and reusable capsules which we've sold to over 41 countries. Our team ouf experts include Tristan (an engineer), Claire (a food writer) and Richy (a barista). So, whether you're looking for a recipe or repair guide, we've got you covered 💚
Table of Contents
First, Let’s Talk About Pour Over Coffee
As the name implies, a pour-over is a brewing technique that relies on pouring water over coffee beans.
The devices are typically designed to brew coffee in small batches – one cup to eight cups.
The process of brewing using a pour-over involves:
- Lining the device with a filter.
- Putting coffee beans into the filter.
- Pour boiled water over the beans till it covers the coffee.
- Wait approximately 4 minutes for the water to drain through the device.
Pourovers are best if you enjoy a light, smooth, and fruity coffee. The filters are designed to retain much of the sediments and bitterness, releasing the compounds that make a good coffee.
What Makes Chemex Different?
Chemex prides itself on its craftsmanship. They use top quality material and manual fabrication to ensure every Chemex is a work of art, including;
- Their brewers are handcrafted, and the wooden collar models are hand-tied.
- Their filters are hand-cut. This speaks to their value of aesthetics and precision.
- The flask is made of Borosilicate glass, which is extremely heat resistant. Even if you expose the flask to extremely high temperatures, your flask is unlikely to break.
Why Is Chemex Better Than Other Pour-Over brewers?
Chemex is more than just visual allure.
The carafe is made from non-porous Borosilicate glass. The material ensures your coffee does not absorb any unpleasant odors or chemical residues.
The filters are made from special bonded paper to effectively retain the nasty chemicals and residue – giving you a light and smooth drink.
If that’s not enough to convince you just how amazing their products are, maybe this fact will impress you.
According to Chemex, their “brewers are displayed in the most prestigious museums worldwide” – speaking to the elegance of their devices.
Why Is Chemex So Expensive?
The table below provides an idea of how much you can expect to pay for a Chemex brewer.
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Three Cup Glass Handle | $42.01 |
| Six Cup Glass Handle | $46.98 |
| Right Cup Glass Handle | $49.14 |
| Ten Cup Glass Handle | $51.30 |
| Three Cup Handblown | $108.97 |
| Five Cup Handblown | $115.45 |
| Eight Cup Handblown | $136.62 |
| Thirteen Cup Handblown | $152.17 |
| Six Cup Classic | $46.98 |
| Three Cup Classic | $42.01 |
| Eight Cup Classic | $49.14 |
| Ten Cup Classic | $51.30 |
| Urban Dweller | $69.41 |
| The Traveler | $64.82 |
| The Funnex | $37.78 |
| Double DW | $64.29 |
| Automatic 2.0 | $306.50 |
| Starter Kit | $66.13 |
| The Chettle Kit | $122.33 |
Here’s a closer look at the price difference between Chemex and other conventional brewing apparatuses.
Chemex Vs. French Press:
Chemex are far more expensive than the average french press-style coffee plunger.
- French press: $9 – $69
- Chemex: $42.01 – $306.50
Chemex Vs. The V60:
Chemex is also more expensive than its nearest competitor, the V60 which is a more mass-produced product targeting the cheaper end of the market.
- V60: $19.50 – $112. 50
- Chemex: $42.01 – $306.50
So, Is Chemex Worth It?
Chemex is worth it. A lot of effort goes into producing a single device. From hand-crafting their carafes to hand-tying every wooden collared model and hand-cutting their filters.
Plus, if you enjoy light-bodied coffee, you can’t go wrong with the brand.
The filters retain every ounce of bitterness and sediment – providing a satisfactorily smooth cup of coffee.
They’ve clearly thought of every single detail to bring you the best coffee-making and drinking experience.
Though the price is much higher than the competition, it’s still pretty cheap in the scheme of things with the base model costing no more than 10 cups of cafe coffee, you might even save money by switching to Chemex!
Chemex Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Chemex made by Pyrex?
Chemex isn’t made by Pyrex. But the carafe is made from the same glass Pyrex uses to produce their glassware – borosilicate.
Q. Does Chemex break easily?
Chemex does not break easily. It’s made from exceptionally durable glass – borosilicate. The material is resistant to extreme temperature changes. But, when dropped or knocked against a hard object, it can break.
Q. Why does my Chemex taste watery?
Your Chemex will taste watery if you brew a small amount of coffee grounds.
Chemex recommends you pour a tablespoon (5-7g) of beans for every 5 oz (147 ml) of water.
Adjust the coffee-to-water ratio until you achieve the desired strength.
Read More: In this article, we explain exactly why your Chemex is tasting bitter and how to fix it.
Q. Is Chemex like the French press?
No, the only similarity between a French press and Chemex is that they are coffee brewers. The French press uses an immersion brewing method. The coffee grounds infuse in water for approximately four minutes. Once infused, you plunge to separate the sediments from the water.
But because it uses a wire mesh, some residual grounds may come through to your cup.
Chemex, on the other hand, uses a pour-over brewing technique. The process relies on pouring water over coffee beans and allowing the coffee to seep through a filter.
The filters are made from special bonded paper, making them 3x thicker than conventional coffee filters.
These filters effectively retain the acidity, sediments, and bitterness of the grounds. The result is a smooth, fruity, and light cup of coffee.
Q. What is the glass bump on my Chemex for?
The “bump” or button on your Chemex indicates when your carafe is half full.
Conclusion
In my opinion, Chemex brewers are worth every dollar spent.
Chemex’s attention to detail positions them to bring you value for money on a holistic level.
Their carafes are hand-blown, and every wooden collar design is hand tied.
They also provide thick and less permeable filters. Utilizing the filters ensures you can experiment with various roasts and varieties while enjoying a fine cup of coffee with every brew.
If you’re looking to give your kitchen top a facelift while you relish a decent cup of coffee, owning a Chemex is the best route to take.
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