Do you want to brew coffee like a “mad” scientist?
Well, if you’re interested in having a vacuum coffee maker at home, then you’ll brew coffee like Einstein probably did.
Or not.
Anyway!
One would find it weird brewing in glasswares similar to those found in laboratory experiments. But a vacuum-brewed coffee is believed to be one of the best-tasting coffees.
The best part is that nowadays it is more convenient as there are different types, not just ones that need an open flame.
Table of Contents
7 Best Vacuum Coffee Makers
Yama Glass, Heat-Resistant Glass Stovetop Vacuum Maker
- 8-cup brewing capacity
- Made of borosilicate glass
- Can be used on gas and electric stove
- Reusable filter cloth
- Comes with wire diffuser (when used in electric coil burners)
- Siphon stand doubles as a lid when brewing
- Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 11 inches (20.3 x 20.3 x 28 cm)
- Weight: 2.4 lbs (1 .1 kg)
This Yama standalone vacuum coffee maker is made of hand-blown borosilicate glass beautifully crafted to last a lifetime. The 8-cup capacity bottom glass ensures that the whole family gets served with great-tasting vacuum brewed coffee.
The bottom glass has a large and flat base, so it can be placed directly on heat source with a good deal of balance. The lid is designed with creativity as it doubles as a siphon stand after the brewing process.
Pros:
- High-quality borosilicate glass
- Durable construction
- Simple but creative design
- Makes excellent coffee
- Large capacity
Cons:
- Handle design makes it difficult to pour out coffee
- Not suitable for induction stove tops
The Yama 8-cup vacuum coffee maker has a classy design. It may take you some time to perfect the brewing process, but once you get the hang of it, you may never look for another coffee maker again.
The key to making great-tasting coffee with the Yama is patience.
KitchenAid KCM0812OB Siphon Coffee Brewer
- Premium glass construction
- Electric brewer with auto shut off feature
- Magnetic locking seal
- Stainless steel accent
- Dual-purpose lid
- Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.7 x 14.3 inches (22 x 17 x 36.3 cm)
The KitchenAid Siphon Coffee Brewer uses an electric heater. The process is straightforward as you only switch on the toggle, and the heater automatically shuts off.
The brew unit and the lower base locks to a seal using a magnet. This feature enhances the vacuum produced by the brewer, which helps increase the coffee flavor extraction.
Pros:
- Simple to use and operate
- Has its own electric heater unlike traditional siphon brewer
- The carafe is designed like a pitcher, so pouring out the coffee is convenient
- Brews quickly than most traditional vacuum brewer
Cons:
- Expensive
The KitchenAid KM0812OB Siphon Brewer is very easy to use. It makes siphon coffee brewing an easy task, unlike using the traditional way of preparing vacuum coffee.
This siphon brewer is quite expensive. But hey, with the convenience and the great-tasting coffee it produces, your spending is worth it.
Bodum PEBO Coffee Maker, Vacuum Coffee Maker
- 8 cups capacity bottom jug
- Gasket-sealed brewing with nylon stopper
- Borosilicate glass
- Brewer stand
- Dimensions: 12.5 x 10.3 x 7.8 inches (31.8 x 26.2 x 20 cm)
- Weight: 1.55 lbs (0.7 kg)
The Bodum PEBO vacuum coffee maker (former Santos) is meant to make from 4 to 8 cups of coffee, or in other words 0,5-1.0 liter. Timewise it will take around 5 to 10 minutes to complete the brew.
Their perfectly sealed compartments and grind catcher will ensure that no aroma escapes your coffee before you are ready to enjoy it, and it will be grind-free.
Pros:
- Clean and elegant aesthetic
- Large capacity
- Makes great coffee
- Dishwasher safe
- Durable
Cons:
- Large footprint
The Bodum PEBO does its job well in making delicious siphon coffee. What more can we say?
With the price, quality, and capacity, this vacuum coffee maker can be an excellent deal.
Hario Glass Technica Syphon Coffee Maker
- Heat-resistant borosilicate glass
- The 5-cup capacity lower bowl
- Stainless steel stand, burner cover, and coffee filter
- Includes cloth coffee filter
- Brass fastener
- Aluminum windbreak
- Dimensions: 16.3 x 4.9 x 6.5 inches (41.5 x 12.5 x 16.5 cm)
- Weight: 1.54 lbs (0.7 kg)
The two glass bowls of the Hario Technica is held together by a brass fastener. The silicon rubber seals the link between the glass bowls to create a strong vacuum for better coffee extraction.
There are some plastic parts included in the Hario Technica, but no ground coffee or water comes in contact with any of them. Concerning cleaning, this vacuum coffee maker is dishwasher safe.
Pros:
- Makes customizable coffee taste
- Easy to use and clean
- Sturdy construction
- Quite large capacity
Cons:
- Alcohol burner is weak and non-adjustable
The Hario Technica is a finely crafted siphon coffee maker that brews flavorful cups of Joe. Knowing Hario, the brand makes quality laboratory glass since 1921, so you can be sure of product excellence.
If you need no more than 5 cups of great-tasting coffee, then the Technica siphoning coffee maker is a steal.
Yama Glass Tabletop w/Ceramic Base (20oz) and Butane Burner
- 5-cup capacity hand-blown borosilicate glass lower chamber
- Includes heavy-duty butane burner
- With cloth coffee filter and scoop
- With ceramic base
- Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 16 inches (10 x 10 x 40.5 cm)
- Weight: 4.6 lbs (2 kg)
The Yama Glass Tabletop has a touch of vintage inspiration. It uses a butane burner for heating.
The concept of using a butane burner is to heat the water at a slower rate. The result is better flavor extraction and prevented burnt coffee taste.
The black ceramic base has a beautiful Japanese themed leaf design. It adds to a more vintage look of this beautifully crafted siphon coffee brewer.
Pros:
- Great vintage aesthetics
- Heat-resistant borosilicate glass materials
- Availability of replacement parts
- Can serve the whole family in a single brewing
- Makes excellent coffee
Cons:
- Slow brewing
The Yama Glass Tabletop siphon coffee brewing contraption is perfect for those who love vintage design. It makes excellent coffee, though it’s quite slow.
It’s also quite expensive, but if you’re in for a great coffee taste and quality product, then the Yama Glass Tabletop is considered an excellent value for money.
Gourmia GCM3500 Digital Siphon Artisanal Coffee Machine
- Digital brewing function
- Concealed heating element
- Touch control panel
- 4-cup capacity glass chamber
- Dimensions: 5.75 x 7.25 x 13 inches (14.6 x 18.4 x 33 cm)
- Weight: 3.9 lbs (1.8 kg)
If you think you’ve seen enough sophistication from different vacuum coffee brewer, then the Gourmia is even more complicated. But it’s only the looks because it’s the easiest to operate or use.
The Gourmia Digital Siphon Artisanal Coffee Machine has digital brewing functions. You can set it either to manual or automatic brewing.
And what makes it more interesting is its concealed heating source.
Pros:
- SGS-certified (materials used)
- Easy to use and disassemble
- Makes gourmet coffee
- Attractive design
- Small footprint
Cons:
- Small capacity
What more could you ask for? The Gourmia Digital Siphon brewer makes fabulous cups of coffee and is very convenient to use.
Another good thing is, it’s SGS-certified, so you’d be sure of its quality. Despite its high price, this vacuum brewer is considered an excellent value for money.
Bodum ePEBO Coffee Maker, Electric Vacuum Coffee Maker
- 8-cup Tritan carafe, BPA-free
- Electric heating base
- Rubber handle
- Glass funnel
- Coffee filter
- Dimensions: 8.1 x 16.75 x 13 inches (20.6 x 42.5 x 33 cm)
- Weight: 2.13 lbs (1 kg)
The Bodum ePebo is a great vacuum coffee maker that makes coffee brewing easy with its electric heating element. The water is heated to near boiling temperature, which results in better coffee flavor extraction.
It has a One-touch brewing button, and a keep warm button. It just makes siphon coffee brewing a more convenient way to enjoy daily cups of Joe.
Pros:
- Convenient to use
- Comfortable handle design
- Large capacity
- Easy to dissasemble for cleaning
- Makes great-tasting cups of coffee
Cons:
- Takes some time brewing at full capacity
The Bodum ePebo makes fabulous coffee more convenient. It has excellent classic aesthetics that would make it a great addition to your kitchen adornment.
With its complete system that doesn’t require any additional accessories to work, the Bodum ePebo could be your best pick for a vacuum coffee maker.
What is Vacuum Coffee Maker
A vacuum coffee maker comes by many names. It is also known as a siphon coffee maker or vac pot.
It brews coffee using two containers, often made of glass. The coffee infusion is done using vapor pressure and gravity.
It seems like a weird mad scientist thing brewing coffee with a vac pot. But one thing’s for sure, anyone who has this thing for coffee will love the taste of freshly brewed Joe from a vacuum coffee maker.
Brief History
Vacuum coffee maker has long been used since the 1800s. It is in the 1830s when the first vacuum coffee maker appeared and was invented by Loeff of Berlin.
Since then, the instrument was used in many parts of the world. But in 1840, a French woman named Marie Fanny Amelne Massot, also known as Madame Vassieux, patented the commercially successful vacuum coffee brewer.
The vacuum coffee brewer designed by Madame Vassiuex is made of two balloon-shaped glasses held together by a frame. Meanwhile, a Scottish inventor was also known as Napier, was also creating his version of the vacuum pot.
However, the Napier Coffee Pot has never patented. But in 1856, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers presented an award for Napier’s device.
The Napier Coffee Pot has a different design but works in the same principles as the vacuum pot by Madame Vassiuex. It’s in 1910 the two American sisters, Mrs. Ann Bridges and Mrs. Sutton, patented a device called Silex.
Silex is made of Pyrex, a glass manufactured by Corning Glass Works based in New York. The Silex vacuum brewer design is very much similar to the modern Hario Next siphon brewer.
Main Components of a Siphon Coffee Maker
- Upper Chamber – this contains the ground coffee, and it is where the steeping occurs.
- Lower Chamber – this is where the water is heated until enough pressure is produced for the gas-water mixture to go up through a tube connected to the upper chamber.
- Siphon Tube – the passageway connecting the upper and lower chamber.
- Filter – often made of steel or cloth, which filters ground coffee after the brewing process.
Heat Sources
Heat is an essential component in the coffee siphon brewing process. Manufacturers use different types of heat sources for siphon coffee makers, depending on individual design.
- Wick Burner – It is the burner originally designed for the early siphon coffee makers. It uses kerosene or alcohol as fuel.
- Butane Burner – It uses butane gas and popularly used by most siphon coffee makers nowadays. Butane burner slowly heats the water, but it produces delicious coffee without the burnt taste.
- Electric Hot Plates – This heat source uses electricity to heat the siphon coffee brewing device. Modern vacuum coffee makers use this heat source for convenience and quick brewing.
- Stovetop (gas/electric) – Some siphon coffee makers are designed to work on stovetops using either gas or electric. Typically, siphon coffee makers that work with stovetops are those designed with a flat-bottomed lower chamber.
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How Vacuum Coffee Makers Work
The weird-looking vacuum coffee maker is a fascinating contraption. Aren’t you curious about how this strange coffee maker works?
Let’s find out how.
Heating
Heating causes the water in the lower chamber to expand. This causes the vapor to go up to the upper glass chamber through the siphon tube and coffee filter.
Steeping the Ground Coffee
The condensation produced by the heating of water steeps the coffee ground in the upper glass chamber. This process extracts the coffee flavor.
Cooling Down
After a few minutes of steeping the ground coffee, the heat is turned off. The cooling process starts.
As the lower glass chamber cools down, the difference between gravity and pressure creates a vacuum that sucks the coffee infusion quickly into the lower chamber.
The filter prevents the ground coffee inside the upper glass chamber to get sucked into the lower chamber.
Now the siphon coffee brewing process is done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is vacuum coffee better?
Yes, vacuum coffee is better. Why?
There are several reasons why vacuum coffee is considered a better coffee.
First of all, a vacuum coffee maker produces delectable full-bodied cups of Joe. Since the 1800s, siphon coffee makers have been popular for producing exceptional coffee.
Another reason is you don’t have to spend so much on a vacuum coffee maker. For less than or a few hundred dollars, you can get a quality siphon coffee maker that produces great-tasting siphon coffee.
The process of using a vacuum brewer may be less straightforward. But the experience of coffee brewing like a laboratory experiment in a high school class brings you a different kind of excitement.
How does a vacuum coffee maker work?
The principle of brewing coffee using a vacuum is quite impressive. The heated water in the bottom chamber of the device creates pressure, thus pushing the water up to the upper chamber for steeping the ground coffee.
The contraption is removed from the heating source and cools down the glass chambers. The result is a difference in gravity and pressure that creates a vacuum.
The vacuum pulls down the steeped coffee passing through the filter and siphon tube, then back to the lower glass carafe. This finishes up the siphon brewing process.
What is siphon coffee?
Siphon coffee is the product of brewing using a siphon or vacuum coffee maker.
How to use a vacuum coffee maker?
The vacuum coffee maker is not so difficult to use. But it’s also not so straightforward.
Heating the Water
You put the desired amount of water in the bottom chamber. It is heated until water comes to a near boil.
Preparing the Coffee Grounds
While waiting for the water to heat up, an amount of ground coffee is put inside the upper chamber. The amount of ground coffee depends on how strong you want the brew.
Putting the Upper and Lower Chambers Together
As the upper and lower chambers are joined together, the heated water expands, and pressure builds up. This causes the hot water to come up through the siphon tube connected to the upper chamber.
Stirring the Coffee-Water Mixture
As the water goes up the upper chamber, the mixture of coffee and hot water is stirred for a maximum of one minute.
Finishing the Brewing Process
After stirring, the contraption is removed from the heat source. The brewing continues until the coffee infusion cools down.
Once the glass chambers cool down, the hot brew contracts and create a vacuum, the brew then is pulled down through the filter, then fills up the bottom glass carafe.
Now the siphon coffee is ready to serve and satisfy your cravings for a delicious cup of Joe.
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Happy Brewing!