Although the process may look like the experiment of a mad scientist, this 1840’s method of Coffee brewing is set to make a big comeback in 2017.

What is Siphon coffee?

Predominantly a method used by artisan coffee bars and specialty cafes, Siphon coffee, or vacuum brewing, is the technique of coffee production that uses the vapours and gases of the hot water to force the coffee grounds into blending and brewing. First developed in the 1800s Germany, and gradually evolved down through ages, vacuum coffee is one of the most fascinating and elegant forms of brewing in history.

How to use a Siphon Brewer

1. Pour water into your glass carafe and bring it up to boiling point
2. Prepare your choice of coffee grounds and place them in a glass container
3. Insert the stem of the glass container into the top of the carafe, letting the water continue to boil
4. As the evaporated water causes the glass to expand, vapour gases force the hot water up the stem of the glass container, mixing it with the coffee grounds. To encourage this, stir the coffee beans and water for around a minute to help it blend.
5. Although the coffee has been fully brewed, you need to take the carafe off of the heated surface to filter the grounds out.
6. As the glass cools, the evaporated water contracts, pulling the brewed coffee through the filter of the glass container and into the carafe.
7. The coffee is completely brewed now, with the left-over grounds drying out due to the siphon – making them easy to empty out of the container and into the bin.

Advantages of a Vacuum Brewer

Although perhaps a little fiddlier than your typical coffee machine, the coffee you brew is guaranteed to be a lot smoother and delicately filtered than regular cups, with a full infusion of the grounds ensuring you get as much flavour from your grounds as possible.

The siphon dried coffee beans are also a lot easier to dispose of in this form, as they simply slide out of the container – rather than forming wet clumps at the bottom of the pot.

Siphon brewing can even help to keep your carafe in working condition for longer, as the water vapour helps to protect the glass carafe from cracking – saving you money, as well as hassle.

Disadvantages of a Vacuum Brewer

Vacuum Brewing is a little tricky to get the hang of, especially for those coffee addicts amongst us who are too used to our standard push-button machines. And although brewing will get easy with practice, this process really isn’t something you can blearily attempt at 6am on a Monday morning.

Besides the time spent constructing and using your siphon brewer, it can also be a rather expensive hobby to pursue, with each individual container costing between £20 – £100 apiece.

If you haven’t got the time or money for a vacuum brewer, then a standard single serve coffee machine such as a Keurig® brewing system could be a great answer. It is cost effective, easy to use, and produces hot, delicious coffee from 100% Arabica beans. So why not leave the siphon brewing to the baristas, and have your favourite K-Cup® pod just the way you like it? Check out our brewers here.