Spawned from the unlikely mind of an expat German scientist – the Chemex coffeemaker is a brilliant melding of design and convenience, a thermal carafe drip-system consisting of lab grade borosilicate beaker glass and a filtration system using laboratory filter paper.
Peter J. Schlumbohm, Ph.D, had moved to New York City in the mid-1930s and was desperately searching for a great cup of coffee amid the city’s stale automats and late night diners.
Peter Schlumbohm (Check Out his Cigarette Holder) / LIFE Magazine 1949
Finally – fed up, he decided to construct his own coffeemaker with the tools on hand, in his case – laboratory tools. The result, 50 years later, is still winning design awards (it’s also part of the MOMA permanent collection), and brewing an excellent cup of joe.
I have had the pleasure of owning two Chemex – my first, the classic Chemex coffee maker – with the wood holding ring and leather cord – was one of my favorite breakfast fetishes, a hippie classic – and a combo of all the things I love – the clean lines of the beaker glass, the earthy wood, the worn leather cording… and the hot, delicious coffee on a foggy LA morn.
I dropped it and broke it, which is something I tend to do, so my next Chemex, although still beautiful, is of the glass handle/contemporary model, a better way to brew for a klutz like myself. Thank you Dr. Schlumbohm!
Photo is Courtesy of The Hagley Museum and Library
Chemex Patent 1947
FURTHER READING:
Article in TIME MAGAZINE from 1946, article in LIFE MAGAZINE from 1949, article in THE NEW YORKER from 1954.
The LIFE Magazine image found at Google Books.
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[...] for kitchenware (many manufacturers actually buy the glass in sheets from Schott). For example the Chemex coffeemaker, Measuring Cups, glasses, teapots and french [...]
[...] All these qualities make borosilicate glass a perfect material for many kitchen utensils, both for it’s durability and visual appeal. It can be made almost impossiblly thin. It feels so fragile in your hands that you distrust the science. See for example the Chemex Coffeemaker. [...]