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Chemex has been my favorite brewing method since I got into coffee. My first barista job was at a shop that had a dozen of them lined up for custom, individual brews. After a press pot, the Chemex was the first “serious” coffee maker I bought for my own use.

At our shop, we used the Able Kone filters, and I was given a few discards to use at home, including the original and V2 versions of the Kone. I like them for the more body, more substance brews. There are times that I just want a super clean cup that presents more acidity and delicate notes, and the Chemex bonded papers always deliver that.

Thing is, I haven’t been able to buy Chemex square filters for a reasonable price since COVID started. They either seem to be sold out everywhere, or when listed, are at inflated prices. I’ve seen them as much as $28 for a box of 100! At least that’s been my experience, and there haven’t been many options for 3rd party filters. Melitta sure doesn’t make them.

Now there is an interesting option. Lardera Coffee Roasters now sells Japanese-made, “virgin wood” (is that a good thing?) bonded square paper filters for the Chemex 6, 8 and 10 cup models

(ed.note – works fine in vintage 12 and 13 cup Chemex models too).

Lardera recently sent some of these in to CoffeeGeek and I was able to brew with them. They work exactly like Chemex square folded filters: you open the square in one fold, leaving three layers of paper on one side, and one layer on the other. The 3-layer side lays up against the spout area to prevent a “vacuum” from forming once you brew.

Lardera makes some claims about this filters. They claim their bonded filters remove 20% more sediment than normal Chemex filters (again, is that necessarily a good thing?). They claim because of the virgin wood used and non-chlorine bleaching, their filters don’t require any pre-wetting to remove the woody taste some paper filters have.

Regardless, I pre-wet, with off-the-boil water, every paper filter I use. It just makes a better cup. And I’m not sure about the whole 20% sediment thing.

But I will say this. At $4 for 50 filters, they are cheaper than any price I’ve paid for Chemex filters (anywhere from $12 to $19 for 100). Did three test brews today with three different types of coffee. Every one of them was a nifty clean, slightly delicate cup that I come to expect from the Chemex. I really enjoy a spritzy acidity from coffee and these filters totally deliver.

It’s always good to have options, so I like we have some for Chemex brewers. I’m wary of buying aftermarket paper filters from unknown Chinese sources. This might be weird, but I trust the Japanese to honor coffee. Other than Made in the USA filters, I’ll happily buy Japanese paper filters anytime.

I’m just happy to have a new Chemex option! I love the Kone filters and what they deliver, but sometimes I want that super clean, bright cup that paper filters deliver in the Chemex.

(ed.note: this is not a paid endorsement, is not an affiliate link, nor is Lardera an advertiser on CoffeeGeek)

Zuzanna travels the world because of her job, and makes it a point to find the best cafes, best coffee, best espresso in every city, town, or village she visits.

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