The story: The Chemex coffeemaker was invented by Peter J. Schlumbohm, Ph.D., in 1941. Being a doctor of chemistry, he was very familiar with laboratory apparatus and the methods of filtration and extraction. He combined a modified glass funnel with an altered Erlenmeyer flask to create a one-piece drip coffee maker made of heat-proof, laboratory-grade and non-porous borosilicate glass. Add a wood handle, and the “Chemex” was born.
The challenge: Chemex products are recognized as outstanding examples of American design and featured in the permanent collections of museums such as The Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian. With the products at such a high caliber, Chemex felt the packaging could do more.