When it comes to brewing coffee, there are many coffee makers to choose from. Chemex and Aeropress are among the most popular coffee makers.
Each coffee maker has its unique features, and their brewing processes are different from each other. They also produce coffees with different flavors.
In this article by Best Coffee at Home, we will examine these two unique coffee makers and discuss their differences.
Before comparing Chemex and Aeropress, let’s look at both coffee makers.
Chemex vs Aeropress: What are the Differences?
| Chemex | Aeropress |
Brewing Method | Percolation | Uses a combination of immersion and pressure |
Ease of Use | Easy to use and clean up | Easy to use and clean up |
Control Over Brew | Yes | Yes |
Flavor Profile | Clean, smooth and less acidic | Rich and strong |
Brewing Time | 5 min. | 2 min |
Brew Capacity | 12- 40 fl oz | 8 fl oz |
Grind Size | Medium-Coarse | It depends on your recipe |
Available Material | Glass | Plastic |
Filter | Paper or Metal | Paper or Metal |
Portability | Not portable | Portable and compact |
Chemex: What is It and How to Use It?
The Chemex was invented in 1941 by chemist Peter Schlumbohm. It has a unique design resembling an hourglass.
On the other hand, brewing coffee in a Chemex is simple:
- A paper filter is placed in the Chemex.
- Coffee grounds are added.
- Water is poured in.
- The coffee is ready to serve once the water has completely filtered through.
However, many factors, such as the speed of pouring water, water temperature, and the grind size of the coffee beans, affect the brewing quality in a Chemex. You should pour the water into the Chemex steadily and slowly. Therefore, if you are considering buying a Chemex, we highly recommend getting a gooseneck kettle.
For all the details on brewing coffee in a Chemex, you can check out our article “How to Use a Chemex?”
Aeropress Coffee Maker 101
The Aeropress is a relatively new coffee maker in the coffee world. It was invented in 2005 by Alan Adler and quickly gained popularity. Moreover, the World Aeropress Championship has been organized every year since 2008.
The rapid popularity of the Aeropress and its quick adoption by coffee enthusiasts is undoubtedly due to the dozens of coffee and tea recipes you can make with it.
On the other hand, like the Chemex, using an Aeropress is simple:
- A paper filter is attached to the filter cap.
- Coffee grounds and water are poured into the chamber.
- It is left to brew.
- And finally, the plunger is pushed.
- The coffee is ready to serve when all the liquid inside the Aeropress has been emptied.
However, you should know the standard and inverted methods to make a quality brew in an Aeropress. You can find all the details of these two methods in an Aeropress here.
Design Comparison: Chemex vs. Aeropress
The Chemex comes in two designs. The most common is made of borosilicate glass and has a wooden handle secured with a leather cord. The other model of the Chemex is entirely made of glass, including the handle and body.
The Aeropress also has two designs, and both are made from BPA-free plastic. They are named “Standard Aeropress” and “Aeropress Go.” The Aeropress Go is slightly smaller than the standard Aeropress and comes with a mug that can accommodate all its accessories (paper filter, Aeropress, paddle, scoop).
If you are torn between Aeropress and Chemex and aesthetics are more important, then undoubtedly, Chemex has a cuter appearance than Aeropress.
Aeropress resembles a large syringe, whereas the Chemex has a more elegant shape.
Brewing Capacity of Aeropress and Chemex
The Chemex is available in various sizes:
- Chemex 3 Cup (360 ml or 12 fl oz)
- Chemex 6 Cup (720 ml or 24 fl oz)
- Chemex 8 Cup (960 ml or 32 fl oz)
- Chemex 10 Cup (1200 ml or 40 fl oz)
Conversely, the Aeropress has only one size option (240 ml/8 fl oz) and can brew for one person at a time. If you want to brew for two people with an Aeropress, you must do the brews separately.
Note: Brewing coffee with an Aeropress takes about 2 minutes (excluding the prep time). So, making coffee for two with an Aeropress would take about 4-5 minutes. However, this process might become tiring if you constantly brew for multiple people. Therefore, if brewing capacity is important to you, Chemex is a better option than Aeropress.
Portability and Durability: Aeropress vs. Chemex
The Aeropress undoubtedly has an advantage over the Chemex regarding portability and durability. You can easily carry the Aeropress in your suitcase or bag without fear of it breaking. It is quite resistant to impacts and unlikely to break even if dropped on a hard surface.
The body of the Chemex, however, is made entirely of glass. Its size is also larger compared to the Aeropress. If it is dropped on the ground, it will likely shatter.
In summary, the Aeropress is ideal if you are looking for a coffee maker for your travels or camping trips. Especially the Aeropress go model is designed specifically for travel. On the other hand, the Chemex is not a suitable coffee maker in terms of portability.
Price Comparison
The prices of the Chemex and Aeropress are similar to each other. Both coffee makers are available at affordable prices. However, a Chemex is typically a bit more expensive than an Aeropress. (The price increases as the size increases.)
You can find a Chemex for approximately $50, while an Aeropress can be found for around $40. However, regarding paper filters, the Aeropress is cheaper than the Chemex.
That means the paper filters for the Chemex are more expensive than those for the Aeropress. A paper filter for the Aeropress costs approximately $0.02, while a paper filter for the Chemex is about $0.20.
Both coffee makers’ paper filters are single-use. However, metal filters are available for both. You can use these filters multiple times by purchasing a metal filter for your Chemex or Aeropress.
Ease of Use: Chemex or Aeropress?
Both the Aeropress and Chemex are easy-to-use coffee makers. However, when compared to each other, mastering the Chemex takes a bit more time and practice.
Using the Aeropress is quite simple. However, trying out the hundreds of recipes you can find online to find the one that suits you best will take some time.
With Chemex, you must know how to pour the water correctly and at the right speed and be familiar with details like blooming.
Finally, the brewing times for both the Aeropress and Chemex are quite similar. Including the prep time, you can brew coffee in about 5 minutes with both coffee makers. Of course, larger brews in the Chemex will require an extra 1-2 minutes.
Versatility
When brewing with Chemex, you can adjust the water temperature and the coffee-to-water ratio. However, you can’t change the grind size of your coffee beans.
If you grind the beans too finely for the Chemex, the brewing time will be prolonged, leading to over-extraction and bitter flavors. Conversely, a grind that is too coarse will result in underextraction and sour flavors, spoiling the taste of your Chemex coffee.
On the other hand, you can vary the water temperature, grind size, brewing time, and coffee-to-water ratio with the Aeropress.
Additionally, instead of standard brewing, you can use the inverted method.
Moreover, with the Aeropress, you can brew espresso-like concentrated coffee. You can use the Aeropress espresso as a base to prepare espresso-based drinks like cappuccino, latte, and Americano at home. So, the Aeropress gives you more choices for making different kinds of coffee than the Chemex.
Taste Difference Between Chemex and Aeropress
You can brew delicious coffees with both the Chemex and the Aeropress. Although paper filters are generally used in both coffee makers, the taste profiles of the resulting coffees are quite different.
This difference is largely due to the dissimilarity in paper filters. The paper filter used in Chemex is quite large and thick, while Aeropress’s paper filter is small and thin. A Chemex paper filter weighs approximately 4.5 grams, whereas an Aeropress paper filter is about 0.15 grams. There’s roughly a 30-fold difference between them.
As a result of this difference, the Chemex filters out more coffee oils, producing a cleaner, smoother, and sweeter coffee compared to the Aeropress.
Another reason for this difference is the brewing methods; the Aeropress uses immersion, while the Chemex uses percolation. In the immersion method, coffee grounds are submerged in water, resulting in better extraction and a more-bodied and stronger coffee.
In summary, if you prefer a stronger and more intense coffee, the Aeropress would be your choice, whereas if you enjoy a sweeter and smoother coffee, the Chemex would be a better selection for you.
Cleaning
Both pieces of equipment can be easily cleaned when it comes to cleaning. However, due to the hourglass shape of the Chemex, you will need to use a brush to clean its interior.
To clean the Aeropress, simply rinse it with water after discarding the coffee grounds. In the case of the Chemex, since the coffee grounds are contained in the paper filter, you can directly compost or throw away the filter. Afterwards, just rinse and dry it.
Bottom Line
Frankly speaking, I cannot say that one of these coffee makers is better. They both have different features. From my perspective, since both are available at affordable prices, I am happy to own both.
