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Chemex
Six Cup Classic CHEMEX Coffeemaker
The 1941 design icon: a borosilicate glass pour-over and carafe whose thick bonded filters brew an exceptionally clean cup.
8.4
Great
Coffee Reviews score
See the breakdown →
Community
—/10
- Type
- Manual pour-over coffeemaker and carafe
- Capacity
- 30 oz (6 cups of 5 oz)
- Material
- Borosilicate glass
- Typical price
- $49.50
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Last reviewed October 17, 2026 by the Coffee Reviews editors · How we score
The 1941 design icon: a borosilicate glass pour-over and carafe whose thick bonded filters brew an exceptionally clean cup.
The Six Cup Classic CHEMEX is an hourglass-shaped borosilicate glass pour-over with a polished wood collar and leather tie that brews into its own carafe. Chemex's thick bonded filters strip out oils and sediment for a clean, balanced cup of up to 30 oz. Reviewers love the looks and simplicity, but the proprietary filters cost more than generic cones, the glass has no breakage warranty, and some users find consistently great cups harder than with immersion brewers.
Best for
- Brewing two to four mugs of clean pour-over to share
- Design lovers who want a brewer that doubles as a carafe
- Drinkers who prefer a very clean, low-sediment cup
What we like
- Clean, balanced, sediment-free cup from thick bonded filters
- Brews up to 30 oz and doubles as the serving carafe
- Non-reactive borosilicate glass that won't add flavors
- Iconic 1941 design that looks great on the counter
- Dishwasher safe once the collar is removed
Watch-outs
- Proprietary bonded filters cost more than generic cones
- Glass with no warranty against breakage
- No measurement lines on the carafe
- Great cups are harder to repeat than with immersion brewers
How it scored
The breakdown.
8.4Great
Gear score out of 10, weighted across five factors.
- Performance30%8.6
Tom's Guide calls its coffee deliciously balanced, and Chemex says its bonded filters remove fats and sediment for a clean cup, though forum users find great cups less repeatable than with immersion brewers.
- Build & reliability20%8.2
Lab-grade borosilicate glass with a hand-tied wood collar is durable in daily use, but it's still glass, and Chemex explicitly excludes breakage from its warranty.
- Ease of use15%8.1
Reviewers call it super easy to master and simple to clean, and it's dishwasher safe, but H&G misses water-level markings and you need Chemex-specific filters.
- Value20%8.2
$49.50 is fair for a brewer that doubles as a serving carafe, but the proprietary filters cost more than generic cones, a point Tom's Guide raises.
- Community love15%8.8
It's a design icon with a place in MoMA's collection and huge creator coverage, and owners still praise it for brewing a big pot for guests.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
2 positive
Independent creators, verified with YouTube and TikTok. We don’t pay for reviews and creators don’t pay us.
What people are saying
From the forums.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums and long-term owner write-ups — linked so you can read the full thread.
“The classic glass coffeemaker from Chemex exceeded my expectations. It brews a deliciously balanced coffee in minutes, is super easy to master, and simple to clean. I just wish the coffee maker and its filters were both a little cheaper.”
“Simple, stunning, and effortlessly easy to use, the Six Cup Classic CHEMEX gets almost full marks from me. … but I wish it had measurement lines on the side to indicate how much water you'll need per cup of coffee.”
“The chemex gets marks from me for design & size when I need to make a big pot for guests.”
“When you get a great cup on the Chemex/V60, it's really nice, but I find it's harder to nail down a consistently great cup of coffee every single time on the others.”
Specifications
By the numbers.
- Model
- CM-6A
- Capacity
- 30 oz (6 cups of 5 oz)
- Material
- Borosilicate glass
- Collar
- Polished wood collar with leather tie, hand tied
- Filters
- CHEMEX Bonded filters FP-1, FC-100, FS-100, FSU-100
- Height
- 8.5 in
- Diameter
- 5 1/8 in
- Cleaning
- Dishwasher safe once collar and tie are removed
- Recommended dose
- One rounded tablespoon of medium-coarse coffee per 5 oz cup
- Dimensions
- 8.5 in tall × 5 1/8 in diameter
- Warranty
- No warranty against breakage; coverage requires proof of purchase from an authorized Chemex seller
- Brews
- Pour-over, Iced / over ice
- Typical price
- $49.50 for 6-cup (30 oz) with wood collar and leather tie (checked October 2026)
Community
Member tasting notes & discussion.
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Discussion
No discussions yet.
Own Chemex Six Cup Classic CHEMEX Coffeemaker? Ask a question or share your recipe — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
What filters does the 6-cup Chemex use?
Chemex lists its own Bonded filters for this model: FP-1, FC-100, FS-100 and FSU-100. Fold the filter so the thick three-layer side covers the pouring spout.
How much coffee does it make?
It holds 30 oz, and Chemex measures a cup as 5 oz. It recommends one rounded tablespoon of medium-coarse ground coffee per 5 oz cup, more if you like it stronger.
Is the Chemex dishwasher safe?
Yes. Chemex says the glass coffeemaker can go in the dishwasher once you remove the wood collar and rawhide tie. Secure it so it doesn't knock against other dishes.
Is it covered by a warranty if I buy it on Amazon?
Chemex says warranty coverage needs proof of purchase from an authorized seller, and on Amazon it only honors purchases from its own seller account. It also doesn't warranty against breakage.
Sources (8)
- chemexcoffeemaker.com/products/six-cup-classic-chemex
- chemexcoffeemaker.com/products/six-cup-classic-chemex.json
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemex_Coffeemaker
- amazon.com/dp/B0000YWF5E
- tomsguide.com/home/coffee-makers/chemex-classic-coffeemaker-review
- homesandgardens.com/kitchens/appliances/chemex-classic-coffee-maker-review
- news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47885027
- news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22970766
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