Chemex CM-6A Classic 6-Cup vs SimplyGoodCoffee THE BREWER - Plastic-Free (1st Gen), 8-Cup
Chemex CM-6A Classic 6-Cup
SimplyGoodCoffee THE BREWER - Plastic-Free (1st Gen), 8-Cup
The short answer
SimplyGoodCoffee THE BREWER - Plastic-Free (1st Gen), 8-Cup comes out ahead overall with 7.7/10 against 7.4/10 for the Chemex CM-6A Classic 6-Cup. Chemex CM-6A Classic 6-Cup is stronger on plastic-free brew path and value. SimplyGoodCoffee THE BREWER - Plastic-Free (1st Gen), 8-Cup is stronger on coffee quality, health & materials transparency, ease of use & cleaning and durability & repairability. At current verified prices, the Chemex CM-6A Classic 6-Cup costs about $392.96 less.
- Choose the Chemex CM-6A Classic 6-Cup if: Budget buyers who own a kettle and will brew by hand for a fully plastic-free path. For warranty coverage, buy from chemexcoffeemaker.com or the 'Chemex Coffeemakers' Amazon account.
- Choose the SimplyGoodCoffee THE BREWER - Plastic-Free (1st Gen), 8-Cup if: Anyone who wants a one-button 8-cup drip brewer where only glass, stainless steel and silicone touch water and coffee, bought on Amazon today.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Chemex CM-6A Classic 6-Cup | SimplyGoodCoffee THE BREWER - Plastic-Free (1st Gen), 8-Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic-Free Brew Path | 10.0Only borosilicate glass and a paper filter touch the coffee. | 9.0Glass tank and carafe, stainless path and basket. Only the silicone seals and tubing are neither glass nor metal. |
| Coffee Quality | 6.5Bonded filters make a clean cup, but there's no temperature control and no SCA certification. Results depend on the user's kettle and pour. | 8.0Controlled 195-205°F and SCA Gold Cup claim. Tom's Guide tested it favorably. |
| Health & Materials Transparency | 7.0Simple, disclosed materials (labware-grade borosilicate). | 7.5Itemized materials and a no-aluminum claim. No PFAS statement or UL/ETL listing shown. |
| Ease of Use & Cleaning | 4.0Needs a separate kettle and a manual pour, which the rubric penalizes. The neck needs a brush to clean. | 7.0One button and no kettle needed, but no timer, a non-removable tank and an easily bumped drip-stop (Bob Vila). |
| Durability & Repairability | 6.0Nothing electronic to fail, but the glass can break, breakage isn't covered, and the Amazon warranty depends on the seller. | 6.55-year replacement warranty needs proof of purchase or registration. Third-party Amazon seller, and the model is superseded. |
| Value | 9.0About $47 for a fully plastic-free brew path. | 6.5$430.99 on Amazon is the cheapest fully plastic-free automatic machine available there. |
Specifications
| Spec | Chemex CM-6A Classic 6-Cup | SimplyGoodCoffee THE BREWER - Plastic-Free (1st Gen), 8-Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Brewer Type | Manual pour-over | Automatic drip |
| Brew Capacity | 30 oz | 40 oz |
| Water Reservoir Material | None (kettle required) | Borosilicate glass |
| Brew Basket / Filter Holder Material | Borosilicate glass cone with paper filter | 304 stainless steel |
| Carafe Material | Borosilicate glass | Borosilicate glass |
| Plastic-Free Hot Brew Path (as shipped) | Yes | Yes |
| Explicit PFAS-Free Claim by Manufacturer | — | No |
| Programmable Timer | No | No |
| Brew Temperature | — | 195-205°F |
| Power | — | 1,540 W |
| SCA / ECBC Certified | No | Yes |
| Warranty | — | 5 years |
Chemex CM-6A Classic 6-Cup
Pros
- Fully plastic-free brew path
- Budget price
- No electricity or electronics
- Same-design 8-cup size available
Cons
- Needs a kettle and some technique
- Glass is breakable
- No temperature control or certification
- Warranty does not cover breakage
The best value here, and the cleanest path of any pick. Chemex says its warranty covers Amazon purchases only from its own Chemex Coffeemakers seller account, so buy from chemexcoffeemaker.com or check the seller name on the Amazon offer.
Full Chemex CM-6A Classic 6-Cup review →SimplyGoodCoffee THE BREWER - Plastic-Free (1st Gen), 8-Cup
Pros
- Glass reservoir, carafe and stainless hot path
- One-button operation, no kettle needed
- Brews at 195-205°F and is listed to Gold Cup / SCA standard
- 5-year warranty
- Recommended by many independent plastic-free guides
Cons
- No delay timer
- Reservoir is not removable, and bumping the drip-stop can cause overflow (Bob Vila)
- Exterior is plastic and tubing is silicone
- Brand makes no PFAS statement
This is the 1st Gen model, sold on Amazon by a third-party seller. The brand now sells a 2nd Gen Programmable version direct, with a 24-hour timer, but it is currently out of stock on Amazon. If a timer matters, buy that one from the brand. Otherwise this is the best fit for anyone who wants an automatic brewer with a genuinely glass-and-steel brew path.
Full SimplyGoodCoffee THE BREWER - Plastic-Free (1st Gen), 8-Cup review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Plastic-Free / Non-Toxic Drip Coffee Makers of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.