Chemex is one of the most iconic coffee makers in the world. Recognized for its clean cup of coffee and its beautiful design. Created by an eccentric chemist and made popular by guest appearances in books, movies and series. Today, Chemex has the status of perhaps the most recognizable pour-over coffee maker in the world.
In a blog series, ØNSK takes a closer look at popular brewing equipment, so you who are considering jumping into a coffee adventure with specialty coffee have a beginner’s guide in the hunt for the right setup. We have previously focused on the Hario V60 and AeroPress a80 , but this time it’s about Chemex. We ask the questions: Where, when and why?
Doctor Chemex
Peter Schlumbohm with his invention. Image from Collectorsweekly.com
The Chemex coffee maker was invented in 1941 by a German chemist with the absolutely amazing name Dr. Schlumbohm.
Peter Schlumbohm, who migrated to the United States in 1936, lived life to the fullest. He is known for driving around Manhattan in his specially designed Cadillac – of course adorned with a Chemex in gold as a radiator figure – and drinking and eating his way through New York nights.
Dr. Schlumbohm was a purely aestheticist and a product of German design-modernism. A style that is characterized by combining design, art and functionality. The eccentric German chemist and inventor got his best ideas on the countless city tours. He is behind several kitchen utensils, which he called his “beautilities” (after the English term for utensils, ‘utilities’).
In honor of Peter Sclumbohm’s exploits, shortly after the chemist’s death in 1962, Ralph Caplan described Dr. Sclumbohm as ” the synthesis between logic and madness “. Caplan is a recognized author of several books on design and architecture. And it must be said that it is an appropriate description of “Doctor Chemex”.
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Extract the best and skip the rest
Chemex is a modern design icon that has been exhibited in several museums around the world. In the picture: Tv. a pamphlet from MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), where the coffee maker is still a regular part of the exhibition. Th. an advertisement explaining how to brew at Chemex. Both are from 1943. Image from collectorsweekly.com
Chemex was created in an attempt to turn making good coffee into a simple and at the same time beautiful experience.
The coffee maker consists in all its simplicity of one piece of borosilicate glass that can withstand temperature shock. Around its beautiful hourglass figure wraps a collar of wood, held together by a rough piece of leather cord.
Among coffee enthusiasts, Chemexen has become popular due to its ability to brew a COMPLETELY CLEAN cup of coffee.
The reason behind the pure taste must to a large extent be found in Chemex ‘filters, which are thicker than traditional coffee filters. Here, unwanted oils and off-flavors are filtered out, and the finer taste notes in the coffee emerge. One of Chemex’s (many) slogans is “extract the best and skip the rest”.
Although it is not difficult to brew coffee at Chemex, the filters can stop and be a challenge for new users. Therefore, we recommend seeing our brewing guide with tips and tricks.
Did you know about Chemex?
… That the coffee maker is available in many sizes – from 3- all the way up to 13 cups. Today you can also find an electric version.
… That the boom of just electric cookware in the 1960s meant that Chemex almost had to turn the key.
… At Dr. Schlumbohm himself was in charge of the marketing. With varying degrees of success. He is known for both dubious mottos such as: “With the Chemex, even a moron can make good coffee”, and pearls such as the above: “Extract the best and skip the rest”.
(The pictures show the 3 and 6-cup versions, which are available from ØNSK. And Jacob, who works at ØNSK, drinking from a 13-cup Chemex.)
Chemex filtre
Chemex filtre
Part of pop culture
Chemex ‘is a regular part of Monica’s apartment in the’ Friends’ series. Image from Google.
Peter Schlumbohm himself was in charge of marketing his coffee maker. And even though he was an eccentric person with big arm movements, the sales strategy was that demand should grow organically – from word of mouth and consumer to consumer.
A funny anecdote from 1942 tells how Dr. Schlumbohm presents a Chemex to the buyer at the huge Macy’s department store and asks him to try it. The next day, the buyer calls back with the message that Macy’s not only wanted to sell the coffee maker, but at the same time believed so much in it that they would start marketing it.
Over time, pop culture in particular has helped to create demand and popularity. Chemex appears in hit series like ‘Friends’ and top movies like ‘Rosemary’s Baby’. And to keep it from lying, our favorite agent, James Bond, drinks coffee from a Chemex. It happens in Ian Fleming’s fifth book about Bond, ‘From Russia with Love’.
And if this is the right coffee maker for 007, then this is probably the right coffee maker for you too.
Learn to brew coffee with chemex
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Chemex filtre
Chemex