How a Siphon Coffee Maker Works
A siphon coffee maker has two chambers. The bottom one is filled with water. As the water is heated (usually by a burner or open flame), vapor pressure forces the water to rise into the top chamber where it mixes with coffee grounds. Next, the heat is turned off and the loss of vapor pressure causes water to drop back into the lower chamber through a filter placed at the bottom of the upper chamber. This drop is due to gravity and a vacuum effect (which is why siphon coffee is also referred to as vacuum brewing).
Why Siphon Coffee Is Better
1. IT PRODUCES THE BEST TASTING COFFEE
The bottom line is that believers in the method state that it tastes better. Boiling water is often accused of killing coffee flavor and even though it may look like water is boiling in a siphon coffee maker, it’s not. It is literally just a few degrees shy of boiling.
2. IT’S A VERY SENSORY EXPERIENCE
Watching the process piques visual interest and awakens your senses more than a drip coffee maker does because you can see art and science in action.
3. USERS CAN CONTROL VARIABLES
Unlike conventional pod coffee, siphon coffee makers allow users to control coffee strength by adding in as much or little coffee grinds as they like. It’s also easy to brew multiple cups at one time, depending on how big the siphon coffee maker is. Temperature control is one of the main reasons advocates of siphon brewing believe it’s best, but it is difficult to eyeball. KitchenAid’s version removes the guesswork behind this variable for a perfect cup every time.
4. THE COFFEE’S AROMA IS MORE INTENSE
The coffee’s aroma becomes trapped inside the globe mechanism which influences flavor and produces a clean, crisp and vibrant tasting coffee that can’t be replicated by a drip brewer.
5. YOU CAN USE ONE AT HOME
KitchenAid has developed a Siphon Coffee Brewer for use at home that removes the barriers to practicing this method of coffee making for the average person. No expertise is required. Simply add coffee and water before flipping a switch.