Review on Chemex Classic Pour Over Glass Coffeemaker Kitchen & Dining for Coffee, Tea & Espresso by Rebecca Stokes

The most important thing you will notice is less bitter and smoother coffee. For that reason alone I give it 5 stars. It's also an eye-catching design that's a beauty queen compared to most other coffee brewing alternatives. They make a much more expensive hand blown version. If cost is as important to you as it is to me, then I highly recommend just getting this cheaper model. While I haven't seen the hand blown one in person, I can tell you it doesn't look or feel cheap at all. Okay, so what don't you like or why isn't this for you? 1. It is necessary to buy filters. I like alternatives like a French press or gold basket style filter coffee that avoid the use of single-use paper products. Chemex brand filters are also a bit pricey. 2. It is large and relatively difficult to clean. So if swirling hot, soapy water is good enough for you, it's not. As for me, I notice a stale old coffee taste if I don't clean coffee pots well. I agree to a daily quick rinse, but after three or four infusions I really need to give every coffee pot a thorough and sparkling clean. This bottle is so tall and has such a narrow neck that you'll need a special angled brush to clean it by hand or a stabilizing clip to hold it in the dishwasher. 3. Coffee isn't as hot as most other brewing methods. Although it's designed so that you can heat it on the stovetop if you either can't (e.g. arise from boiling too hot or too long) then the coffee will barely be hot. If you add a lot of cold milk or alternative milk, the coffee can be completely cool. I like my coffee on the cooler side so that's a bonus for me. My wife doesn't drink coffee unless it's hot so I have to reheat it in the microwave after adding the cream. 4. The handle is torn. Okay, the wood and leather make it look nice, but it's really frustrating having to tie and untie those two pieces of wood every time you clean the Chemex. I've gotten to the point where I usually just skip it and use my oven mitt to pour. 5. Storage can be an issue. It is large and irregularly shaped. It is not heavy soil and relatively light. All of this results in the bottle being easily knocked over and finding a safe place to store it can be difficult. So, none of these issues are serious, but you should know that there are downsides as well. Compared to the drip press and French press systems we use, this thing is a definite advantage in terms of coffee flavor. So if you buy this, here is a good method for brewing coffee with Chymex, in my opinion. : 1. Place the filter in the Chemex with the thick end towards the grooved part of the plunger. 2 Wet the filter with some boiling water, and then pour out the water through the groove. 3. Place 30 grams (1 ounce) of freshly ground medium to medium grind coffee into the wet infuser. 4. Pour enough boiling water over the ground coffee to wet it and wait 30 seconds for it to mature/mature. 5. Pour 2 cups. (475 mL) boiling water, stir slowly. 6. Drain all water, discard filters and ground coffee and enjoy. NOTE: Sometimes when brewing, air gets into the Chemex and the water does not drain properly. If your beer stalls, simply grab the edges of the filter and lift it up slightly. This will release the air lock and the coffee will start flowing again. Some people recommend putting a straw under the filter in the groove to prevent this, but these are completely unnecessary and unnecessarily complicated things. Happy coffee!