Chemex and Aeropress are both good coffee brewers, but which one is better for your palate?
Chemex is an hour glass-shaped pour over manual coffee brewer. The brewing process for this tool is pretty straightforward; it only involves a paper filter, hot water, and coffee. The water is poured over the coffee in a spiral direction, and then the coffee is extracted as the water pours down into your your glass.
On the other hand, the Aeropress is a full immersion brewer; this pressure-based brewing tool has been a favorite for travelers for years, thanks to its convenience. The coffee grounds and water sit together in the chamber, similar to a French Press, then when the plunger is pressed down, it extracts the coffee and brings out the flavor. The whole brewing process doesn’t take more than 2 minutes.
Quality History: Chemex vs. AeroPress
Chemex has been around since not long after the invention of the first pour over coffee brewer. It was first launched in 1940 by Peter Schlumbohm, and it has gained popularity for its sleek shape and all-glass material. Despite its expensive price, the quality and durability of this brewer outweighs the cons.
Chemex uses the same type of glass materials in their products as those used in making lab equipment. This is why it can withstand hot temperatures and can last long, with many people even owning inherited machines. This brand offers high-quality products that make some of the best pour-over coffee I’ve ever had, without sacrificing its elegant or its functional design.
On the other hand, travelers and others on-the-go, who need to brew their coffee quickly, should check out the Aeropress. This product was borne from the inventor’s love for on-the-go quality coffees. It was invented by Alan Adler in 2005 and quickly became a favorite brand by many. It’s an inexpensive brewer made from durable plastic material, portable enough to allow you to brew a rich and tasty cup in one minute, anytime and anywhere.
Mouthfeel of Chemex vs. AeroPress
The way coffee feels in your mouth when you sip it is affected by how it was brewed. There are many ways to brew coffee that can give it a different texture in the mouth, ranging from silkier, sharper or even grittier final taste. One example of this is making coffee with salt.
Chemex is a type of pour over brewer, involving filter paper to work very similarly to an Aeropress. Both of the machines’ brews have a light and smooth mouthfeel because the paper filter, which removes the oils from the coffee grounds during the brewing process.
Depth of Flavor in Chemex vs. AeroPress
Chemex is one of the many coffee brewers that has stood the test of time quite well, not just because of its aesthetic design, but because of the depth of flavor it offers. It takes some patience and practice to get the most out of your Chemex, but the delicate, crisp, clarity, and exceptionally rich flavor makes the process worth it.
For another brew with strong depth of flavor, Aeropress is the one for you. It uses a quick immersion brewing technique, wherein the coffee is immersed in water inside the chamber for ideal extraction. This yields an impressive brew with strong and vibrant depth of flavor, compared to normal drip coffees.
Overall Ease of Use: Chemex vs. AeroPress
If you’re still undecided as to which coffee brewer to try, here’s a rundown of everything we discussed about Chemex and Aeropress to help you choose.
Chemex Coffee Brewer
- Brewing Time: Since it’s a type of pour over brewer, it takes about 3-4 minutes to brew, which is longer than Aeropress.
- Skill Level Required: Needs some time to practice before you get the hang of making the perfect brew.
- Depth of Flavor: Exceptionally light and rich flavor.
- Mouthfeel: Light and smooth mouthfeel because it uses coffee filters that remove the oil in the brewing process.
- Quality and Durability: Made from high quality borosilicate glass that is also being used in creating lab equipment making it very durable
- Design: Aesthetic and functional design
- Convenience: Pretty delicate to carry everywhere and it requires more brewing time
- Cleaning: It can be tricky to clean because of its design
- Price: A bit more expensive than other coffee brewer because of the quality and design
Aeropress Coffee Brewer
- Brewing Time: One of the things that makes it popular is that it only takes a minute or two to brew.
- Skill Level Required: It’s easier to use and very friendly for beginner
- Depth of Flavor: It has a stronger depth of flavor compared to .Chemex
- Mouthfeel: It has the same light and smooth mouthfeel
- Quality and Durability: Made from three different high quality plastic materials and can last up to 3 years
- Design: Comes in an adorable compact design
- Convenience: Very convenient for travelers because it’s portable
- Cleaning: It’s easy to clean because the plunger wipes the chamber, so just a rinse is enough.
- Price: Very affordable and perfect for beginner