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46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unsurpassed Coffee, July 9, 2006
I have been using a Chemex 10-cup coffee maker for over a year and half, and have never had such good coffee before in my life. I am constantly looking forward to my next pot of coffee!
There is a downside to this coffee maker: it is a more manual procedure than what you are used to, and it also takes a couple of pots to learn how to use this most efficiently. The first time I tried to use mine, I had ground my coffee way too finely and it just took forever! The big time consumers: you have to boil your water separately (you do have a water kettle right?) and then you have to gradually pour the boiled water through the Chemex. This means that while the coffee is brewing, you are pouring, or watching, or giving the filter area a bit of a stir.
Now the up side: you will never ever ever drink a better cup of coffee. I use filtered water, freshly ground home roasted beans, and this Chemex to produce the finest coffee I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. And this coffee is a pleasure! In fact, I've totally given up using cream and sugar because my coffee no longer has anything to hide.
Another up side: clean up means swishing the Chemex with warm water and tossing the water down the drain. You can also wash with a bottle brush but this is rarely necessary. A brief swish is really all it takes. Over time, it does start to acquire a smokey color, at which point I wash it in water mixed with a splash of bleach to get your Chemex looking factory new. Try that with your electric drip machine! Ha! That thing will NEVER look brand new!
Oh, here's a final upside: despite the fact that this Chemex brews the best coffee you'll ever drink, it costs less than just about anything. You are probably already spending more money than this every month at Starbucks!
The Chemex is just a type of glass carafe, so there are no heating elements to burn your coffee. Some people may not like this, but without the heated burner there is no risk of burning your coffee. I usually make enough coffee to fill the 10-cup Chemex. When ready, I just pour it into my thermos and a large mug and I have enough coffee for the whole day. And that includes enough to share; everyone at work knows the best coffee comes out of my thermos. The Flavia machines do not come close!
Go ahead and buy yourself one of these. If necessary, wake up 10 minutes earlier to make your coffee. Better yet, wake up 20 minutes earlier. And when your coffee is ready, instead of dumping it into a travel cup and bolting out the door, sit down and enjoy your first cup for the next 10 minutes. You deserve it!
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite appliance..., March 2, 2007
Using a Chemex requires water to be heated in a tea kettle prior to brewing, and it requires a finer ground than what auto-drip machines ask for. After the water is brought to a boil, it's important to wait for it to cool just slightly (about 30 seconds) and then you need to wet the grounds in the filter, wait for them to drain, and then fill the pot with water. Want more than a single cup of coffee? You wait for your first pour to brew, and then fill the filter again.
Some advantages over other forms of coffee brewing:
1. Taste: I don't know how it does it, but the filter does keep your coffee from being bitter.
2. Cleanability: Users can keep all necessary components clean (anyone who's brewed water and vinegar through their coffee maker to kill off a bitter taste that wasn't there when you bought it understands this plight). Oftentimes, the most aggressive criticism of the Chemex is its ponderousness to clean because it's not possible to get your hand into the reservoir. Some people prefer to add hot water and soap and give it a good rinse, which is fine if you clean the moment you empty the pot, but if you're like me and you let the remaining sip or two sit until a nice coffee stain is on the glass, then you need some good 'ol fashion friction to get it clean. The best thing I've found: a baby bottle cleaner. It's narrow enough to get into the reservoir and the angle can be adjusted to scrap the walls, too. Brilliant!
3. Electricity Free: As long as you can boil water, you can have coffee.
4. Mud/Sludge: French press and stove-top espresso-style brewing always leaves a thick slime at the bottom of an otherwise rich cup of coffee. Don't get me wrong: I think that's good (I use a French Press when I'm in the mood), but the cone on a Chemex doesn't allow that at all.
5. Style/Size: the Chemex coffee pot is a relic (designed in the 40s) and the wood cuff with rawhide tie screams simplicity and elegance and it's a wonderful, minimalist sight on any kitchen counter (and unlike electric coffee makers, easy to move if you need the space).
Some drawbacks any purchaser should consider:
1. Time: it does take 5 - 10 minutes of labor to get the morning cup of coffee.
2. Cones: you can't run over to Wal-Mart when you use the last filter; you need to find a specialty store or go online, which means you need to plan ahead.
3. Cold Coffee: no electric hot plate (thank god) means coffee not poured and consumed immediately gets cold quickly. You can buy a wire guard and a glass lid so your Chemex can be warmed on the stovetop. I think that's more labor added to an already laborious endeavor. Just have a warmed thermos ready and use that to store any unused coffee.
4. Learning Curve: It does take some time to get the grind right, the amount right and the water level right to find a cup which caters to your tongue.
5. Cleanability: I know this is in the advantages column, as well, but it's worth mentioning that a lot of people hate cleaning these things. To submerge it does mean pulling off the wood cuff (which is a small pain) else it will get nasty over time.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unsurpassed Coffee, December 15, 2006
I have been using a Chemex 10-cup coffee maker for almost a year and have never had such good coffee before in my life. I am constantly looking forward to my next pot of coffee!
There is a downside to this coffee maker: it is a more manual procedure than what you are used to, and it also takes a couple of pots to learn how to use this most efficiently. The first time I tried to use mine, I had ground my coffee way too finely and it just took forever! The big time consumers: you have to boil your water separately (you do have a water kettle right?) and then you have to gradually pour the boiled water through the Chemex. This means that while the coffee is brewing, you are pouring, or watching, or giving the filter area a bit of a stir.
Now the up side: you will never ever ever drink a better cup of coffee. I use filtered water, freshly ground home roasted beans, and this Chemex to produce the finest coffee I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. And this coffee is a pleasure! In fact, I've totally given up using cream and sugar because my coffee no longer has anything to hide.
Another up side: clean up means swishing the Chemex with warm water and tossing the water down the drain. You can also wash with a bottle brush but this is rarely necessary. A brief swish is really all it takes to get your Chemex looking factory new. Try that with your electric drip machine! Ha! That thing will NEVER look brand new!
Oh, here's a final upside: this Chemex brews the best coffee you'll ever drink, and it costs less than just about anything. You are probably already spending more money than this every month at Starbucks!
Go ahead and buy yourself one of these. If necessary, wake up 10 minutes earlier to make your coffee. Better yet, wake up 20 minutes earlier. And when your coffee is ready, instead of dumping it into a travel cup and bolting out the door, sit down and enjoy your first cup for the next 10 minutes. You deserve it!
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