Skip to main content

The Chemex: A Coffeemaker That’s Easy on the Eyes

the chemex a coffeemaker thats easy on eyes
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Ever feel dissatisfied with your coffee maker? Almost three-quarters of a century ago, inventor Dr. Peter Schlumbohm was frustrated with the conventional coffee makers of his time because they were unable to produce the right flavor or temperature that he preferred, so he took matters into his own hands. Schlumbohm aimed to develop a coffee maker that not only brewed delicious cups of coffee, but also was easy on the eye. He used his chemistry background to look at the science behind making a great cup of coffee, meticulously testing out water temperature, flow time, coffee grinds and chemical reactions of the beans. What he came up with was the Chemex and the signature double-bonded Chemex filter papers that go with it.

Although the Chemex looks like a work of art — New York’s Museum of Modern Art even has one in their permanent collection — it is extremely easy to use. Even though it was created in 1941, the Chemex was made with the qualities that people still want in a coffee maker today. The  hand-blown glass container is  accented with a wood collar and leather tie. The sleek vessel is made of borisicillicate, non-porous glass, and the filters are free of chemicals, thus no unwanted flavors appear in the brew. Best of all, you control every aspect of the coffee, from the water temperature to the speed of the pour. “The conical shape of the filter fits into the center of the carafe, where the glass curves in, and the stream flows directly from the tip of it,” says Chemex spokesperson Eliza Grassey. “All of the extracted coffee flows from this point, creating an incredibly clean, strong, cup of coffee.”

That’s our kind of coffee maker — simple, efficient and great to look at. Best of all, the power is all our my hands.

For more information, visit chemexcoffeemaker.com.

Ann Binlot
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…
Want a free desktop cigar humidor? Here’s how to get one
Quality Importers all-black desktop humidor from Famous Smoke Shop

If you plan on buying and storing cigars for longer than a couple of days, you want a humidor -- that's cigar 101. But humidors, like cigars, don't come cheap. Well, I'm here to tell you that's not the case, for a few days anyway, because it doesn't get any cheaper than free. Famous Smoke Shop is offering a Quality Importers black desktop humidor for free when you spend more than $100 with it. That might seem like a lot, but you can get some great cigars to fill the humidor for that much. Usually $44, that's about how much you're saving by grabbing this humidor with your purchase.  To get the deal, you can either use promo code 75620W15APR at checkout or clip the on-page coupon on .

Why you should take advantage of this free humidor deal from Famous Smoke Shop
Cigars need to stay humidified, or they'll dry out. Sure, you can rehydrate a dry cigar, but by the time you do, it will have lost all its natural oils and complex flavor. It will never be as good as it originally was, and that's a bummer.

Read more
The 12 best small cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
man smoking small cigar by engin-akyurt unsplash

Big cigars take a while to smoke. We're talking hours for some of the largest stogies out there unless you're puffing too often -- which you shouldn't do. But the cigar world is vast, and not only does that mean a ton of different cigar blends, from Maduro and Corojo to Nicaraguan and Cuban-made, but there are also a plethora of sizes from small to big. You don't have to buy, smoke, or even try a massive stogie, and I would argue against doing so for something like the . There are cigars much bigger than that. I can't imagine that would be a relaxing smoke, if at all enjoyable. Shrinking things down is possible, and I'm not referring to a Robusto or petite size either. I mean closer to a cigarillo. If you're looking for something short and sweet but packed with loads of great flavor, here are the best small cigars I've tried and tested in 2024.
The best small cigars tried and tested in 2024

Most of the time, if I want a quick cigar or something smaller, I'll reach for a nub or Robusto size. I prefer a full-bodied cigar and small cigars typically don't provide that. However, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a smaller cigar or cigarillo occasionally. My top recommend is the . They are fantastic. Here is a little more detail about all the small cigars I've tried and loved in 2024.
Acid Blondie Blue

Read more
The best Liam Neeson movies, ranked
Liam Neeson at an event

Liam Neeson poses for the camera Karen 司徒嘉蘭 / Flickr

Liam Neeson's career has been one of the most fascinating in Hollywood history. This Irish screen legend towers over his peers literally (he's 6'4'') and metaphorically (he's starred in Academy Award winners and blockbusters alike.) Neeson started out as a supporting actor in the 1980s before supplanting some of the biggest names in the industry. His rise to first-team status in the 1990s can be attributed to his unforgettable performance in Schindler's List.

Read more