Vacuum coffee maker
First of all, we need to know that this is one of the Siphon coffee makers (these devices use special brewing method) and that there are two types of Siphon coffee makers:
- Stovetop type, which sits on the stove and does not require any additional tools to use and
- Traditional Siphon, and it requires a burner under it
After getting familiar with the Siphons let’s talk about the Vacuum coffee maker and the special preparation method in coffee making that this device includes.
And also, one note before all. If you are looking for a quick cup of coffee this definitely isn’t the device you are looking for.
The devices working principle is based on expansion and contraction of a water vapor. It is constructed from two globes. The bottom globe has water in it which is heated up and creates the water vapor. The vapor pushes the water up the tube (which connects the two globes) and through the filter to the upper globe. After about 8 minutes, the stove is turned off, leaving the water that has left in the lower bowl to cool down.
When the temperature is right and the vapor in the lower chamber cools down and contracts. Now the force of gravity plays its role, but also this creates the vacuum and the suction pulls the liquid from the top bowl back down to the bottom globe.
For the best posable taste, you need to use freshly ground coffee, grinded just before brewing-not minutes before. The recommendation is Finca Matalapa from Intelligentsia coffee.
Of course, the material of the filter is very important. By the words of the many, the best possible choice is cloth filter, but also you may find the paper, glass, nylon mesh, metal (non-mesh), metal mesh filters.
When it comes to the heating choices, besides the big siphons that use the stove as the heating source, you also can find a little,portable vacuum coffee makers that use specialized butane burner (great for camping and road trips, you have to agree).
After about ten minutes of this complex chemistry project, you have your coffee.
Now, let’s take a quick history lesson. This product was invented by Loeff of Berlin back in the 1830s and after that, it has spread around the whole World. The materials used in the process of constructing this coffee maker are glass, metal or plastic. This coffee maker was very popular up until the 1950s.
This coffee maker is for the true coffee lovers because as mentioned above, the process of making a is not as quick as the traditional and also it requires precise measurements to get it right.
Also, the most important question is does Siphon coffee really tastes better?
Well, the answer is not simple, this is something that you will need to answer for yourself, but because the specific brewing method aromas arise in a different way than any other coffee brewing methods. If you get it right, by the words of all the people that tried this brewing method, you will have a very specific taste and aroma rich cup of coffee. Now, everything, in the end, sums up to one, but also the important question.
Is this coffee maker expensive?
Let’s try to find an answer to this question by finding out what is the best vacuum coffee maker to buy under 100 $.
- Bodum Santos stovetop glass vacuum 34-ounce coffee maker
- Hario Technica 5cup coffee siphon
- Yama coffee siphon vacuum pot
The complex process of making? Maybe yes, but if you put all that effort into a cup of coffee, I am sure that it is imposable for you to feel disappointment after tasting it.
French press
This type of brewing method is a low the portable. It includes a process that is more simple than the one mentioned above.
French press is constructed from the cylindrical beaker, made out of glass, plastic or in modern cases stainless steel. It has a lid, a plunger, and a filter.
Before starting the process of making, you need to decide what type of coffee dosing you will use.
There are two types. The first one is called measure by weight and the ratio is 10:1 or 18:1. That means that for every 10 grams of water you need to put 1 gram of coffee. The second one is called measure by volume and this means that for every 4 fluid ounces of water you need to use 1 tablespoon of coffee.
Also, like in the case of the vacuum coffee maker, you will need to use freshly ground coffee. The coffee is poured into the French Press, and when the water boils, you need to wait around 30 sec before pouring onto the coffee. After that, you can stir the fluid or not. Mixing is preferred because the goal is to get all the coffee to make touch with the water. After this, you need to place the plunger on top of the pot. After 3 or 4 minutes press down the plunger slowly. It should have some resistance.
If you are new to making this type of coffee, you may encounter some everyday beginers mistakes. If the coffee tastes weak you need to grind the coffee a little finer. If the coffee tastes bitter to coffee may have been ground too fine and you will need to use a coarser grind.
Now, we need to mention a man to whom we must thank because of inventing this coffee recipe. This device was patented by Italian Attilio Calimani in 1929. The fun fact is that the French press made its glory because of the Michael Caine movie called The Ipcress File because after the appearance in this film the device spread around the whole Europe.
And one more thing, instead of coffee, tea lovers may replace the coffee with their favorite tea. It is that simple.
There are a lot of types of the French press, so we will mention some of them.
- The traveler (excellent for camping and traveling)
- Glass French press – the best choice is Ecooe Borosilicate
- Stainless steel French press – most common are the Bruhen and the Frieling.
Coffee percolator
This device is constructed from a pot with a chamber at the bottom, close to the heat source, a vertical tube, that leads from this chamber to the top of the percolator and the upper end of this tube is a perforated chamber. The coffee grounds go in the top chamber and the water goes into the bottom one. Heating the water makes it travel up the tube and over the coffee grounds, cooling and then the fluid goes back down to the bottom chamber.
The inventor of the coffee percolator is Sir Benjamin Thompson, and it was invented someday between 1810 and 1814. After that, it was improved throughout the years. Today it is most common among campers because it is portable, they use the modern versions that are electrical.
The name of this coffee maker comes from the word percolate which describes the process of passing through a permeable substance for extracting a soluble constituent.
When it comes to the process of making these are the steps:
- First, the water is poured into the bottom chamber
- The chamber and the tube are assembled into the percolator
- Heat the water until it boils, forcing it to go through the tube to the top where it comes to the contact with the coffee chamber. After that, the water comes down to the bottom chamber.
- After a few seconds the process is repeated, and because of this, the liquid is constantly dripping through the grounds until the temperature of the liquid in the pot approaches boiling point.
Now, one note for all of you that must be written down.
Because of the specific process of coffee making using the percolator because of repeating the boiling several times that leads to ever extraction, the coffee has a very specific, bitter taste, so you will need to choose a coffee with a low acidity and very smooth.
So, now you know it, and as the French would say Bon appétit!