Archive for May, 2009

There are really only three widely distributed vacuum coffee makers being imported to the United States.  The reason I say “imported”, is because there are no larger scale manufactures of vacuum coffee makers in the US, we get them all from other countries.  I’ve included a brief description of each below.

Bodum Santos Vacuum Coffee Maker

bodum santos vacuum coffee maker

The Bodum Santos is a stovetop vacuum coffee maker.  Bodum is a company from Denmark is popular manufacturer of non-automatic coffee makers imported here to the US, mostly noted for its French press coffee makers.  The Bodum Santos is probably the most well known and widely used vacuum coffee maker, at least in the states.  The Santos is what I consider to be one of the easiest and quickest to use.  The Santos has a permanent plastic filter that’s easy to clean.  I consider it a more utilitarian vacuum coffee maker and is the one that I use almost every morning for my coffee before work.  As a side note, The Santos electric vacuum coffee maker can still be found at second hand stores or eBay on occasion, but is no longer being produced by Bodum.  Price of the Bodum Santos Vacuum Coffee Maker is approx. $85.  For ordering info please visit Bodum Santos Vacuum Coffee Maker

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Yama Vacuum Table Top Vacuum Coffee Maker

The Yama vacuum coffee maker is imported from Japan where they seem to be more commonly called siphon coffee makers.  The Yama has a beautiful design yama_vacuum_coffee_maker1and because it almost looks like a chemistry set is a favorite to use with dinner guests.  Because the Yama sits on a table and uses an alcohol burner it is a little less convenient than the Bodum Santos.  With its open flame, your boss probably isn’t going to allow this in the office, that is unless you work at a fire station.  The alcohol flame takes a good while to heat the water, I find it useful to preheat the water on the stove if I’m in a hurry, then use the flame from that point to finish the brewing.  An upgrade would be to purchase an adjustable butane burner.  Butane burners heat the water FAST.  One of the big advantages the Yama has over the Cona is that it’s very affordable in comparison.  In fact, the Yama is even less expensive than the Bodum Santos, which is one reason for its popularity.  Price is approx. $65.  For ordering info please visit Yama Vacuum Coffee Maker

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Yama CNT-5 Coffee Siphon Vacuum

Similar to other Yama Vacuum Coffee makers, The CNT-5 20-Ounce Coffee maker adds a ceramic base and a more efficient butane burner.
Butane has two advantages over alcohol. It heats faster plus the heat is adjustable which provides flexibility in your brewing. The Yama CNT-5 also comes with a bamboo stir stick, and 5 re-usable cloth filters. I find one filter lasts for months. In addition, I’m sure you noticed its beautiful unique design. When you consider it brews some of the best coffee on the planet we have a winning combination here with the Yama CNT-5 Siphon Coffee Maker.

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The Cona Vacuum Coffee Maker

The Cona is what many vacuum coffee enthusiasts aspire to own.  This baby isn’t cheap.  This premium glass vacuum coffee maker is like cona_vacuum_coffee_makerthe Yama coffee maker in that it too is a table top coffee maker.  The Cona is manufacture in England, it is quite beautiful.  The Cona uses a glass rod filter instead of the plastic or cloth filters used in either the Santos or Yama.  What this means is neither the coffee grounds, Water, or finished brewed coffee ever come in contact with metal, plastic, or cloth.  Glass is the only substance that comes in contact with the water.  This results in an extremely pure cup, minus any possibility to taint the full coffee flavor.  The Cona also uses the classic alcohol burner to heat its water, very similar to the Yama siphon coffee makers.  Cona coffee makers are a little harder to come by but can be found in a few online shops.  Order Your Cona Coffee Maker HERE

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The Boston Globe issued a story I thought many readers would be interested in.  Heck, you might be drinking a cup of vacuum brewed coffee as we speak (I know I am).  Now you don’t have to feel so guilty for being a vacuum coffee brewing - java guzzling - coffee addict!

According to this article, early coffee consumer health studies were skewed, because the majority of the test subjects were also smokers!  It seems many of the things that were attributed to drinking coffee were actually symptoms derived from smoking?!

This newer study points out coffee can actually be beneficial to your health, and is now thought to prevent diabetes, liver cancer, cirrhosis, and Parkinson’s disease.  How about that!  Read the full story here http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/05/11/good_to_the_last_drop/

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I found this SILEX Vacuum Coffee Maker ad interesting and thought I would share, I love this old stuff. 

Silex coffee makers were first produced in 1915 and were made from Coming’s heat tempered class known as Pyrex. 

I especially got a kick out of the following:  SILEX is actually an acronym, anyone care to guess?…..anyone?…………Silex actually stands for “Sanitary and Interesting method of making Luscious coffee.  It is Easy to operate on the account of its being X-ray transparent.”  I’m dead serious here, you can’t make this stuff up!

I was also interested to know that the spring clip that holds the filter in place on vacuum brewers like the Bodum Santos were first invented for use in the Silex vacuum brewers way back in the 1920’s.  Good stuff

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When I first starting using a vacuum coffee maker I found I was making one fatal mistake and not even realizing it.  It wasn’t the coffee it self; I had fresh beans, ground with a quality bur grinder.  I was also using clean water I had filtered with my Brita Water Pitcher, so it wasn’t the water. 

Actually it sorta was the water, but specifically the temperature of the water I was brewing the coffee with.  You see the issue with a brewing coffee in a vacuum coffee maker is if not done correctly your water will be too cold for optimum extraction of flavor from the ground beans.  Earlier I talked about he importance of using clean filtered water for brewing in your siphon coffee maker; but that’s not enough.  If you want to achieve the best results possible its important to get your water temperature right, from the very moment it makes contact with the beans.  

How does this happen you ask?  By sealing the top container with the coffee to the bottom container with the water before it has had a chance to heat to 198 degrees.  If you make the seal before this, water will be pushed up at lower temperature points, around 175 degrees or so (coincidentally this is the temperature your typical drip coffee maker brews at).  Brewing your coffee with cooler water results in bitterness.  The whole reason we like using vacuum coffee makers is to avoid bitterness and brew at the optimal 198-degree temperature also know as “just prior to boiling”.  Doing it at colder temperatures defeats the purpose and the coffee may as well be brewed with a drip coffee maker because that’s what it will taste like. 

How do I determine the temperature of my water?  Well you could use a thermometer, and I would actually suggest you do until you get a handle on how the water acts at the correct temperature.  With my setup I already know by watching the water when the correct temperature is, remember it is just before the water starts boiling.  When the water reaches 198 degrees I seal the top to the bottom and the water will quickly rise to the top as the brewing begins.  Temperature is important.  Keep your temperature in mind and your vacuum coffee is just going to be that much better.

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Yet another Japanese video where they are brewing vacuum coffee with a halogen bulb.  I believe these can be found in the US by Hario but they seem pretty hard to come by.  Most places that offer them online are sold-out or have limited quantities of these Hario Siphon Halogen heaters.  This may be something that changes as they become more popular, more are sure to be imported.  They are pricey though, in the neighborhood of $400 from what I’m seeing.  Many will argue they aren’t necessary, true, but they do have the “cool” factor that appeals to many.  I like the idea of being able to use them at your work since you would not need a stove or an open flame to heat your vacuum coffee maker.

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