See How the Iconic Chemex Coffee Brewer Is Made in Massachusetts

Faith Durand
Faith DurandSenior Vice President of Content at AT Media
Faith is the SVP of Content at Apartment Therapy Media and former Editor-in-Chief of The Kitchn. She is the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning, The Kitchn Cookbook. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters.
published Mar 11, 2015
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Liz Clayton for Sprudge)

The stylish glass Chemex coffee carafe is an icon of design, and it is enjoying a renaissance among coffee geeks. But where did it come from, and how is it made now? Sprudge takes us on a Chemex tour, from its early history to its present day home — a small, family-owned factory in Massachusetts.

This is a great read if you’re interested in coffee, modern design, or how businesses change and develop over time. Chemex changed hands several times since the 1930s, when it was begun by a German-born inventor with a wildly fertile imagination (he invented fans with the Chemex filter, cigarette holders, a “drink-chilling bed-tray,” even a car — yes, the Chemobile). It’s now owned by a family who has had to adapt to the new crowds of coffee-lovers coming back to this classic brewing method.

Read more: Journey To The Center Of The Chemex Factory by Liz Clayton at Sprudge