Chemex
Chemex 8 Cup Classic Series Pour Over Coffee Maker
Description
The Timeless Icon of Pour Over Coffee
Experience coffee perfection with the Chemex Classic Series Pour Over Coffee Maker. Since 1941, Chemex has represented the pinnacle of pour over brewing—combining scientific precision with timeless, elegant design. Available in four sizes to fit every lifestyle, from solo coffee lovers to large gatherings.
Key Benefits:
- Iconic Design - Museum-quality hourglass shape recognized worldwide
- Pure, Clean Flavor - Proprietary Chemex filters remove oils and sediment
- Multiple Sizes - Choose from 3, 6, 8, or 10 cup capacity
- Heirloom Quality - Handcrafted borosilicate glass lasts generations
- Simple to Use - Perfect pour over coffee with minimal equipment
- Easy to Clean - Non-porous glass won't absorb oils or odors
- Made in USA - Handcrafted in Massachusetts since 1941
Available Sizes - Find Your Perfect Chemex
3 Cup Classic Series Coffeemaker
Perfect for: Solo coffee drinkers, small kitchens, travel
- Capacity: 15-17 oz (makes 1-2 standard mugs)
- Dimensions: 7.75" H x 4.25" D
- Weight: 1.1 lbs
- Best For: Individual servings, compact spaces, quick brewing
- Ideal User: Someone who wants a fresh single cup or brews for one
The 3-cup Chemex is remarkably compact, taking up minimal counter or cabinet space. Its smaller size makes it perfect for travel, small apartments, or offices. The intimate scale allows for quick, precision brewing—your coffee is ready in under 4 minutes.
6 Cup Classic Series Coffeemaker ⭐ MOST POPULAR
Perfect for: Couples, daily use, small gatherings
- Capacity: 30 oz (makes 2-4 standard mugs)
- Dimensions: 8.5" H x 5.25" D
- Weight: 1.5 lbs
- Best For: Daily brewing for 2-3 people, entertaining small groups
- Ideal User: Couples or individuals who drink multiple cups each morning
The 6-cup Chemex is the most popular size for good reason. It's versatile enough for solo brewing (making enough for multiple cups throughout the morning) or entertaining 2-3 guests. The size hits the sweet spot between brewing capacity and counter space, making it perfect for daily use.
8 Cup Classic Series Coffeemaker
Perfect for: Families, entertaining, batch brewing
- Capacity: 40 oz (makes 3-5 standard mugs)
- Dimensions: 9.25" H x 5.25" D
- Weight: 1.75 lbs
- Best For: Family breakfasts, dinner parties, larger households
- Ideal User: Families of 3-4 people or those who entertain regularly
The 8-cup Chemex offers generous capacity without sacrificing the elegant proportions Chemex is known for. It's substantial enough for family gatherings or brunch entertaining, yet streamlined enough for everyday use. Perfect for batch brewing your favorite specialty coffees.
10 Cup Classic Series Coffeemaker
Perfect for: Large gatherings, offices, serious coffee enthusiasts
- Capacity: 50 oz (makes 4-6 standard mugs)
- Dimensions: 10.5" H x 5.5" D
- Weight: 2 lbs
- Best For: Hosting events, office settings, brewing large batches
- Ideal User: Large families (5+ people) or those who brew for groups
The 10-cup Chemex is the flagship model, offering maximum brewing capacity while maintaining the iconic Chemex design. This is the choice for serious coffee lovers who regularly brew for groups, offices, or simply want the ability to make larger batches. Despite its larger size, it's still elegant enough to serve directly at the table.
Why Choose Chemex Classic Series?
The Gold Standard of Pour Over Coffee
The Chemex Classic Series represents over 80 years of coffee brewing innovation. Invented by chemist Dr. Peter Schlumbohm in 1941, this iconic brewer combines form and function in perfect harmony.
Unmatched Coffee Quality:
- Produces exceptionally clean, bright coffee with clarity and complexity
- Proprietary bonded filters are 20-30% thicker than standard filters
- Removes bitter oils, fats, and fine sediment for pure flavor
- Temperature-stable glass maintains optimal brewing temperature
- Non-reactive material won't alter coffee taste
Design Excellence:
- Permanent collection at MoMA, Smithsonian, and Corning Museum of Glass
- Featured in movies, TV shows, and countless coffee shops worldwide
- Elegant enough to serve directly at the table
- Polished wood collar provides comfortable, cool-touch handling
- Leather tie adds artisanal detail and heat protection
Versatile Sizing Options:
- 3-cup: Solo brewers and small spaces
- 6-cup: Most popular, perfect for couples and daily use
- 8-cup: Families and entertaining
- 10-cup: Large gatherings and offices
How to Use Your Chemex Classic Series
Simple 5-Step Brewing Process
Step 1: Prep Your Filter
- Unfold Chemex bonded filter into a cone
- Place in brewer with 3-layer side toward spout (thickest part faces the pouring spout)
- Rinse filter with hot water to remove any paper taste and preheat brewer
- Discard rinse water through the spout
Step 2: Add Coffee
- Use medium-coarse ground coffee (similar to sea salt texture)
- Coffee-to-water ratio: 1:15 to 1:17 (adjust to taste)
3-cup: 20-30g coffee
6-cup: 40-60g coffee
8-cup: 55-80g coffee
10-cup: 70-100g coffee - Create a small well in center of grounds
Step 3: Bloom
- Start your timer
- Pour just enough water to saturate all grounds (about 2x the weight of coffee)
- Let bloom for 30-45 seconds as CO2 releases
- You'll see the grounds bubble and expand
Step 4: Pour
- Pour remaining water in slow, steady, circular motions
- Start from the center and work outward, avoiding the filter edges
- Maintain consistent water level (don't let it get too high or drain completely)
- Total brew time: 3.5-4.5 minutes
- Water temperature: 195-205°F (90-96°C)
Step 5: Serve
- Remove and discard filter with grounds
- Give the carafe a gentle swirl to mix the brew
- Serve immediately or transfer to thermal carafe
- Clean brewer with warm, soapy water
Pro Tips:
- Use fresh, filtered water for best results
- Buy freshly roasted, whole bean coffee and grind just before brewing
- Adjust grind size if brew is too fast (grind finer) or too slow (grind coarser)
- Keep water temperature consistent for best extraction
About Chemex
Since 1941, Chemex has represented the pinnacle of pour over coffee brewing. Invented by German chemist Dr. Peter Schlumbohm, the Chemex coffee maker combines scientific precision with timeless design to produce exceptionally clean, flavorful coffee.
Each Chemex Classic Series brewer is handcrafted from non-porous borosilicate glass in Massachusetts, featuring the iconic hourglass shape, polished wood collar, and leather tie that have made it a design icon. The Chemex is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art and has been recognized as one of the best-designed products of the modern era.
Used by coffee professionals and home enthusiasts worldwide, Chemex delivers café-quality pour over coffee with elegant simplicity that lasts for generations.
Frequently asked question
Choose 3-cup if: You typically brew for yourself, have limited counter space, or want a travel/office brewer. Makes 1-2 standard mugs.
Choose 6-cup if: You brew for 2 people, want the most versatile option, or like having multiple cups throughout the morning. Makes 2-4 standard mugs. This is the most popular size.
Choose 8-cup if: You have a family of 3-4, entertain regularly, or want to brew larger batches. Makes 3-5 standard mugs.
Choose 10-cup if: You have a large family, brew for an office, host frequent gatherings, or want maximum capacity. Makes 4-6 standard mugs.
Remember: Chemex measures in 5 oz cups, while most coffee mugs hold 8-12 oz.
- 3-cup Chemex: Makes 1-2 standard mugs (15-17 oz total)
- 6-cup Chemex: Makes 2-4 standard mugs (30 oz total)
- 8-cup Chemex: Makes 3-5 standard mugs (40 oz total)
- 10-cup Chemex: Makes 4-6 standard mugs (50 oz total)
3-cup Chemex: Requires square Chemex bonded filters (available in natural or bleached)
6, 8, and 10-cup Chemex: All use the same circle Chemex bonded filters (available in natural or bleached)
You cannot use regular coffee filters—only genuine Chemex bonded filters will work properly.
Bleached (White) Filters:
- Oxygen-bleached (not chlorine), environmentally safe
- No paper taste
- Preferred by most coffee professionals
- Slightly easier to use
Natural (Unbleached) Filters:
- Less processing
- May impart slight paper taste if not rinsed well
- Preferred by eco-conscious users
- Require thorough rinsing
Both produce excellent coffee. It's a matter of personal preference.
No, Chemex filters are sold separately. We recommend ordering filters at the same time as your Chemex so you can start brewing immediately. Subscribe & Save for automatic filter delivery and discount pricing.
No. Regular coffee filters are too thin and will not properly filter the coffee or maintain the structural integrity needed for the Chemex brewing process. Only genuine Chemex Bonded Filters are designed to work with Chemex brewers.
Yes! The polished wood collar is designed to be removable. Take it off before putting your Chemex in the dishwasher or for thorough hand washing. This extends the life of both the glass and the wood.
Yes, the glass carafe is dishwasher safe. However, always remove the wood collar and leather tie before washing. We recommend hand washing to preserve the beauty of your Chemex for generations.
Chemex produces cleaner, brighter coffee because the thick bonded filters remove more oils and fine particles than standard drip machine filters. The pour over method also gives you complete control over water temperature, saturation, and brew time—variables that automatic drip machines can't match. The result is a more nuanced, complex cup that highlights your coffee's unique characteristics.
With proper care, your Chemex can last a lifetime. The borosilicate glass is extremely durable and heat-resistant. Many Chemex owners have used the same brewer for 20, 30, or even 40+ years. The wood collar and leather tie can be replaced if needed, but the glass carafe is built to last generations.
The Classic Series features the iconic polished wood collar and leather tie—this is the original design from 1941.
Other Chemex models include:
- Glass Handle Chemex: All-glass design without wood collar
- Chemex Ottomatic: Automatic pour over brewer
The Classic Series is the most recognized design and what most people picture when they think of Chemex.
Use a medium-coarse grind, similar to the texture of sea salt.
- Too fine = over-extracted, bitter coffee and slow brew time
- Too coarse = under-extracted, weak coffee and fast brew time
- Just right = balanced extraction in 3.5-4.5 minutes
A quality burr grinder is highly recommended for consistent results.