What they are and why you should give a f**k.
Today, we’re gonna talk about vacuum coffee makers. They look so cool, they could have easily been branded “devil’s tools” during the inquisition. The reason we want to take a look at these coffee contraptions is not because of their devilish, fashionable looks, but because of the kick-ass coffee they make.
At first glance, you might think it’s just a whole lot of unnecessary bullshit to make it seem as complicated as possible, but not really. These babies were invented way back in the 1830s, when there wasn’t any plastic, so all coffee-related shit was made of clear glass and you could actually see what you were brewing. Invented by a mysterious man in Berlin (there are a few records of him patenting the device, but not a lot more. A chance of high treason and murder? Nah not really), the syphon/siphon took off quickly, but would soon be replaced by the espresso machine.
The downfall of the beautiful siphon came with industrialization. Men barely had time to be at home, and any time which they were, they would spend sleeping or making babies, which in turn made their wives incredibly busy as well. The syphon method is notably a lot of work to operate, and nobody had time for that shit. Espresso coffee became the way to go, freeing up more time to have enough children to ensure that at least one survived adolescence in Victorian Britain.
Thankfully, today we live a far more leisurely pace and for the most part, are able to allow some extra time to make a nice brew. If you aren't, then not to worry, we are all going to be unemployed soon anyway and then you will have all the time in the fucking world. Which is why the syphon is becoming a thing again. People are starting to realise that even if it is more complex to operate than other brewing methods, the coffee that these devil’s dildos make is simply fantastic. But before we go any further, let's talk about how these things actually work.
Syphon - How does it work?
The principle is not dissimilar to the Moka Pot. There are two main chambers, one on top of the other. In one chamber, there’s water waiting to be heated and in the other there are coffee grounds waiting to be brewed. A cloth filter sits in between these two.
Once ready to brew, you turn the heater on, and it’s go time. The water heats up and the vapor forces the water upstream. It looks crazy as fuck. There, the water and grounds have a little mingle together— the water is kept there by the vapor. But once we turn the heat off, it will filter back down.
And just like that, we have an amazing, fancy-ass cup of coffee. You’ll look just as sophisticated as Hannibal Lecter, except as ugly and boring as a bag of tatties.
How to Make Coffee in a Syphon Coffee Maker
What you’ll need:
- 30 grams Medium Fine Ground Coffee
- 400 ml Water
- 1 Siphon Coffee Maker
Instructions:
- Heat up water to about 70C°. Pour in the lower chamber.
- Place the filter in its place. Pour the coffee grounds in the upper chamber, and place it atop the lower chamber.
- Turn the heat on and wait patiently for the water to go upward.
- Once all the water is up, stir coffee and water for 15 seconds.
- Let steep for 2 to 3 minutes, depending on your preference.
- Turn off the heat.
- Let all the brewed coffee come down.
- Pour and enjoy.
Siphon coffee is, in our opinion, one of the best ways to make coffee right now. The equipment can be obtained relatively cheaply, nobody is trying to shove it down your throat and its really fucking fun to make. There is also a slim chance you may actually look slightly cool for a change. Enjoy it while you can.