DR. PETER SCHLUMBOHM (1896 - 1962) was a German chemist and inventor who developed more than 300 patents over the course of his career, ranging from cocktail shakers to automobiles. His focus was on making everyday objects more functional, attractive, and enjoyable to use. Best known for his CHEMEX coffee maker, Schlumbohm desired to not only make brewing the perfect cup simple, but also to have the vessel be a thing of beauty. Being a chemist, he studied and understood clearly the chemistry behind the extraction of flavor and caffeine from coffee beans. For his carafe design, Schlumbohm was inspired by the Bauhaus school of design and non-porous labware that would impart no flavor of its own. Using these elements, he fashioned the hourglass shape that has now become an iconic part of American history. Made simply from one piece of borosilicate glass and adorned with a wooden collar and rawhide tie, the CHEMEX is pure in both form and function.

Schlumbohm’s work has been recognized and awarded by both the scientific community as well as the art and design communities. His designs can be found in museums throughout the world and are a part of permanent collections at the Brooklyn Museum, Corning Museum of Glass, and MoMA.

(Source: Chemex; Image Credit: Inc. Magazine)