 King of Manual Drip Devices |
| Review Date: March 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: D. Paul, New England, USA |
There is a dirty little secret that many of these appliance companies don't want you to know. Manual drip coffee from a simple cone device makes the best coffee. Here's why. You need to have two tablespoons of coffee for every cup. The water must be just below the boiling point when it hits the grounds. Water which is poured in one little stream on top of dry grounds will cause a funnel effect an most of the grounds won't immersed effectively.
The fancy auto-drip coffee makers don't heat the grounds effectively and don't cover them with water properly in the brewing process. If most people really looked at the back of their coffee maker and looked at where the water is kept in reserve, they would call a Haz-Mat team to clean it up.
Why get this instead of a cheap plastic cone, the filter paper is thicker with the Chemex, retains more bitter oils and the thick glass of the Chemex will keep the coffee warm enough for a second cup (I would suggest getting the glass lid for it also. |
Coffee tastes as beautiful as this maker looks ! A+
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| Review Date: October 24, 2004 |
| Reviewer: M M M, Lake Odessa, MI USA |
It is a very pretty maker, and coffee is made under perfect conditions. The price is good through Amazon, just make sure you use suggested filters, the other DO NOT work... (learned from experience).
If premium coffee is your "thing" and pretty is a bonus, this maker is the answer |
The Key to Great Coffee at Home
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| Review Date: July 14, 2006 |
| Reviewer: B. Betzler, Irvine, CA |
| I could never figure out why the coffee I made at home didn't taste as good as the coffee I bought at Starbucks and other gourmet makers - even though I buy high quality beans and grind them myself. The answer, apparently, is that drip home brewers just don't brew at the right temperature. A chemex brewer is a "back to basics" system of making coffee where you pour boiling hot water directly over the grounds. You control the temperature and the special filters remove any bitterness from coffee. This is an inexpensive way to make great coffee at home. The only inconvenience is that you have to boil the water yourself in a kettle and you have to pour water into the chemex 2-3 times to make a full pot, so you can't just walk away while it's brewing. Also, the chemex doesn't keep the coffee warm, so I find myself putting second and third cups into the microwave. Nevertheless, the taste of the coffee is so outstanding that I can't bear to go back to my Mr. Coffee machine. |
Great Coffee with Less Effort
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| Review Date: April 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Holmes, Mount Pleasant, SC United States |
Note: I got the 8 cup version
I've been through a lot of coffee makers, and hated them all till now.
My biggest issue has always been cleanup! I'd leave coffee-grounds in, be too lazy to clean it up later, get mold growing in the coffee maker's reservoir, and on and on.
The Chemex solves all these problems AND makes a stunning cup of coffee. Making the coffee takes a bit longer, as you basically have to spend about 5 minutes or so watching and pouring... however, it's fun to do! I actually look forward to the task. You find yourself making fine adjustments to your coffee making methods every day, just to see the differences you can make.
Cleanup is where you make up for the 5 minutes of pour time... Takes about 15 seconds... Drop the filter in the garbage, rinse the chemex out, put it back on the shelf. If you use hot water to rinse, it dries instantly... No small parts, no reservoirs that remain damp 24/7 collecting fungus, no series of tubes and tunnels that can never be cleaned. And the coffee is as perfect as you make it.
I'll never use another coffee maker.
Note, I also purchased the lid and stove grid. Helps a lot... I brew 8 cups of coffee in the morning, put it on the stove with the mesh, turn my range to low-medium, and put the lid on. Keeps my 8 cups hot and fresh all day.
Update: Well, I've had this coffee maker for about 8 months now, and I'm still loving it. |
You'll throw that Krups, Braun or Mr. Coffee right in the basket.
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| Review Date: June 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: D. Paul, New England, USA |
Look, this is basically a fancy manual drip brewer like the ones pioneered by Melitta. In my opinion it makes the best coffee. Be sure to use the Chemex filters, they are thicker and allow more time for the immersion of the grind with the water. If you are a cheapskate look at the Melitta manual drip cone and carafe.
The important advantages are that auto drip machines often don't heat the water hot enough. It's important to "bloom" or saturated the beans and let the water soak in for a moment before pouring the water through the flter. Often in auto drip machines the water comes rushing through and the grind doesn't release its complete flavor. Also, some coffee snobs like the french press or screen filters over paper because "It allows "essential oils" in the brew. What it really allows is silt and a bitter taste.
Now look, you who just bought the 300 dollar auto drip machine with the clock and time and the bells and whistles. Try a cup with this simple little gadget and have the courage to admit it makes a better brew. |
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