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

Technorati Tags: silex, vacuum brewers, vacuum coffee maker

While it may look a little confusing at first, the process of brewing coffee with a vacuum brewer is actually really easy.  All you really have to do is add some water to the water chamber, add ground coffee to the coffee chamber and apply heat to the water.  The brewing process begins as the water is heated.  The water will slowly heat and begin to boil, although this step always seems to take forever.

Pressure begins to build in the water chamber.  This pressure then pushes the water up to the coffee grounds, where it brews at just the perfect temperature.  Once the coffee has brewed, the vacuum coffee brewer is removed from the heat.  As the bottom chamber cools the coffee falls back down to the bottom chamber and is ready to be enjoyed.

Some Useful Ideas When Operating Your Glass Vacuum Coffee Maker

The following should be observed for the best vacuum brewing results.

1. Never use less water than suggested by the manufacturer.  If you use less water than directed, your glass vacuum coffee maker could actually overheat and crack.  For best results, always make sure its properly filled.

2.  Use the vacuum coffee maker for only the coffee brewing process.  It really should not be used for any other purpose.  You are asking for trouble if you do this because you could easily stain the lower jug, making it very hard to get clean if you do.

3.  Always make sure you know what filter size you are using with your brewer.  While smaller filters allow a much less course grind, the same coffee particles would pass right through a larger filter.  If a finer grind is used with a large filter, you coffee will end up with more sediment than if a course grind were used.

4.  Sometimes the coffee in a Bodum Santos vacuum brewer doesn’t fall down to the lower chamber quickly.  If this happens place on the heat and bring it back to a boil, then quickly remove it again.  This tip will get the coffee o flow back down to the lower container quickly like its suppose to.  

Hopefully these tips will prove useful on your quest to brew the best cup of vacuum coffee!

Technorati Tags: glass vacuum coffee maker, vacuum brewer, vacuum coffee maker

Ian Henman wrote a terrific article on exactly why Vacuum brewed coffee is superior to almost any other method of brewing. 

As Ian says, there is just something wonderful about not using any kind of paper filter in your coffee brewing, a vacuum brewer does just that. 

Letting the hot water infuse with with the coffee, for the perfect amount of time at the perfect temperature, releasing the coffee’s oils into the water to create that perfect aromatic cup of coffee.

I don’t know about you but I’m getting a caffeine buzz just thinking about it.

Ian’s passion for great coffee is obvious, the article can be found HERE.

Technorati Tags: vacuum brewed coffee, vacuum brewer