The Coffee Kits

The History of Chemex and the Invention of the Ottomatic

Chemex is a popular brand known for its elegant and functional coffee makers. The Chemex coffee maker was invented in 1941 by Peter Schlumbohm, a German chemist who immigrated to the United States. Schlumbohm was a passionate inventor who held over 300 patents in his lifetime, but the Chemex coffee maker remains his most enduring invention.

The Invention of the Chemex

Schlumbohm’s inspiration for the Chemex coffee maker came from his love of chemistry and his frustration with existing coffee makers. He wanted to create a coffee maker that would be easy to use, produce a clear and flavorful cup of coffee, and have a beautiful design that would be a pleasure to look at and use.

Schlumbohm’s design for the Chemex coffee maker was simple but ingenious. He combined a drip coffee maker with an hourglass-shaped glass vessel that would hold the coffee. The glass vessel was made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass, which was a new material at the time and has since become a standard in the industry.

The Chemex coffee maker has a thick paper filter that is folded into a cone shape and placed in the top of the coffee maker. The ground coffee is then placed in the filter, and hot water is poured over the coffee. The water slowly drips through the filter and into the glass vessel, producing a clear and flavorful cup of coffee.

The Popularity of the Chemex

The Chemex coffee maker was an instant success when it was introduced to the market in the 1940s. Its elegant design and ability to produce a clear and flavorful cup of coffee made it a favorite among coffee lovers. The Chemex coffee maker was even featured in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1944, where it was praised for its simple but beautiful design.

Today, the Chemex coffee maker is still a popular choice for coffee lovers who appreciate its elegant design and ability to produce a clear and flavorful cup of coffee. The Chemex coffee maker is available in a variety of sizes and materials, including glass, wood, and ceramic.

The Invention of the Ottomatic

In 2012, Chemex introduced the Ottomatic, an automatic coffee maker that was designed to work with the Chemex coffee maker. The Ottomatic was the result of a collaboration between Chemex and the designer Peter Bodum.

The Ottomatic was designed to automate the brewing process of the Chemex coffee maker, making it even easier to use. The Ottomatic has a built-in water heater and a showerhead that is designed to evenly distribute the water over the coffee grounds. The Ottomatic also has a pre-infusion mode, which wets the coffee grounds before the brewing process begins, ensuring a more even extraction and a better-tasting cup of coffee.

The Ottomatic was an instant success when it was introduced, and it quickly became a favorite among coffee lovers who appreciated its ease of use and ability to produce a great cup of coffee. The Ottomatic is available in a variety of colors and is a great choice for coffee lovers who want a high-quality automatic coffee maker that is designed to work with the Chemex coffee maker.

Conclusion

The Chemex coffee maker and the Ottomatic are two great examples of how innovation and design can come together to create a product that is both beautiful and functional. The Chemex coffee maker has been a favorite among coffee lovers for over 70 years, and the Ottomatic has made it even easier to enjoy a great cup of coffee at home. If you are a coffee lover who appreciates great design and a great-tasting cup of coffee, then the Chemex coffee maker and the Ottomatic are two products that you should definitely consider.