Currently covetting // Chemex coffee maker
Are you a coffee addict? If so, you may already know about my recent discovery. As is the case in many households, coffee is a crucial part of the morning routine in our house – I can’t even think about switching the computer on without a cup close at hand. While we’re put off getting this baby until we’re a little more flush, we use a Bodum french press to brew up the good stuff, which I do like, bar the grainy bits that sometimes end up at the bottom of the last cup. I didn’t realise there was another option, until stumbling on the Chemex in this sneak peak on Design*Sponge. Are you familiar with Chemex coffee makers?
Over at Design*Sponge, textile artist Ashley Helvey says she prefers the Chemex to a French press because it “filters out unwanted sediment and impurities and happens to look really nice.” Always one for style and function, I was intrigued find out more.
Without going into too much detail (there seems to be loads about it) the Chemex coffee maker was invented in 1941 by German chemist, Dr Peter Schlumbohm. It is now considered a classic design: the Chemix has been selected as one of the 100 best designed products of modern times and has permanent home in the New York Museum of Modern Art.
The design is based on the basic chemistry of filtration using laboratory glassware – creating a simple and elegant vessel that makes a mean cup of coffee too. You simply pop a filter in, fill with your favourite ground coffee, pour in boiling water and wait. It comes with or without the wooden collar and leather tie, but I definitely like it with, and certainly see why it has such design status. It’s a beauty isn’t it?
They don’t appear to be that easy to come buy in the UK, yet I’ve tracked them down to online stories Hasbean and Muazo, where we can get our hands on one for around £30. Think this could be my next kitchen purchase. Do you have a Chemex? Is it as good as it sounds? I’d love to hear more.
They are amazing! I want one, but purely for aesthetic purposes… I have heard a lot about the Kone filter as well.. I forget who reviewed it (Apartment Therapy or design*sponge maybe?) but here it is on Notcot.
Apparently the “regular” filters that are used with the Chemex get rid of the bitterness that French Presses leave behind but are really expensive (especially here in the UK!).
Ooh that looks interesting, thanks for sharing Syd! It’s so annoying that the regular ones are so hard to get your hands on here, clearly need to catch up with the rest of the world on the coffee front! x