Siphon Coffee Maker Explained
All types of siphon coffee makers described and comapred
The vacuum coffee maker, also called siphon, is a type of brewer which requires skill to produce a good cup of coffee. It’s not the easiest of coffee makers to brew with, but it offers a coffee experience like no other. It’s an ideal entertainer to wow your guests and enjoy your coffee moments together!
In this article we will describe different types of vacuum pot coffee makers and answer common questions about them.
Three types of siphon coffee makers
There are three main types of coffee siphons:
- Belgian balance (manual)
- Regular siphon (manual)
- Automated (electric)
Going into more details the regular siphon vacuum brewers have the following variations related to the heat sources and filter materials:
- Stovetop siphon coffee maker
- Standalone siphon
- Standalone siphons heat sources: gas or alcohol
- Different filters: cloth, paper, metal or plastic
Types of vacuum coffee makers explained
There are different types of siphon coffee brewers. Here we will talk about some features which can be different in various types of vacuum siphons to help you decide which one will be the best for you. Let’s start with the most common one, the regular siphon brewer.
Classic siphon coffee maker
What is a siphon coffee maker?
The siphon coffee maker looks like it belongs to a different era or a chemistry lab rather than a coffee shop or kitchen. A siphon, also called vacuum pot or vacuum coffee maker or coffee maker, uses a full immersion coffee brewing where the coffee grounds are in contact with water throughout the whole vacuum brewing process.
Siphon coffee brewer description
Regular (vertical) vacuum pot description
A vertical siphon coffee maker consists of:
- upper chamber
- lower chamber
- stem connecting the two chambers
- filter
- heat source
In this type of siphon brewer the top chamber sits on a vertical stand.
How does the vacuum or siphon coffee brewing method work?
The siphon uses the properties of gases expanding and contracting due to the temperature changes. The water is pushed through the coffee and the filter by the force of changing pressure.This is not the easiest coffee making method, but it’s very entertaining to watch and you can certainly impress your guests!
If you want to find out how to brew coffee with this types of siphon coffee maker, go to this article:
Now, let’s look into a different version of the manual siphon coffee maker – the Belgian balance brewer.
Belgian balance coffee maker
What is a Belgian siphon coffee maker?
The Belgian balance coffee brewer uses the kinetics of the brewer itself and the changes of pressure in the chamber.
Belgian siphon description
A Belgian siphon coffee maker consists of:
- water chamber (metal chamber)
- brewing chamber (glass chamber)
- stem connecting the two chambers
- cloth filter attached to the stem
- gas or alcohol burner
The glass chamber holds the coffee grounds and the metal chamber is meant to heat up the water. The metal chamber is attached to a weighted arm, where the balance comes into play (hence the name). Both chambers are connected with a thin tube with a cloth filter and both chambers are parallel to each other (as opposed to the vertical siphon type).
How does the Belgian-style coffee brewer work?
When the water in the metal chamber comes to a boil, it begins to travel through a thin tube into the glass chamber with the coffee grounds. The coffee brews in the glass chamber. When the metal chamber gets empty and becomes lighter than the glass chamber (now filled with water) it rises up against. At this point the spring on the burner is triggered, the lid on the burner closes and extinguishes the heat source. Without the heat on, the metal chamber begins to cool down and it is begins to suck the brew back into it.
This video shows beautifully how the Belgian balance siphon works:
Belgian balance siphon vs regular siphon brewer
The belgian balance siphon is a fantastically showy coffee brewer, that’s for sure. However a regular vacuum brewer is also aesthetically very attractive. Apart from the construction, are there any other differences between them?
In regular siphons you generally have more control over the brewing process. You can also use a finer grind of coffee, which again means more control and a significant impact on the level of extraction and the final outcomes.
On the other hand, the downside of regular vacuum brewers is that it’s much easier to shatter the glass bulb. You don’t have this risk with the Belgian siphons as the vacuum chamber is metal.
Automated electric siphon brewer vs manual
What is the electric siphon coffee brewer?
The electric siphon coffee maker works similarly and looks similar to the standard upright vacuum brewer. The main difference is its heat source – it sits in an electric heating place which is part of the brewing set.
It’s more convenient, quick and safer to use than the two other types of siphon brewers. The heating element will usually have a temperature controller, which allows steady heat for the perfect brew.
Standalone vs stovetop vacuum coffee pot
Standalone siphon pot
The standalone siphon brewer comes with a stand. The source of heat is a separate burner (gas or alcohol burner) underneath the siphon brewer.
Stovetop siphon pot
A stovetop siphon brewer can be placed directly on a stovetop, either gas or electric.
How do they compare?
A vacuum pot with a stand takes up a lot of space in the kitchen and using a separate burner with a flame may be tricky. So you need to make sure that you have enough space and that you can do it safely.
A stovetop vacuum pot also has a drawback – the bottom glass chamber can crack under the intense heat. So you need to make sure that the heat isn’t too high or buy a diffuser and place it between the bottom glass chamber and the stove.
In terms of the quality of coffee they deliver, there is no difference, they are the same.
Differences in siphon filters
Siphon coffee brewers use some type of filter. The filter can be a cloth, paper or made of plastic or stainless steel.
The cloth filters can be more difficult to clean, but they do filter coffee very well and you get a clean cup. If you are after convenience, then disposable paper filters or easy to clean metal or plastic ones will be better.
Siphons with alcohol burner vs butane burner
If you’ve decided to go for a standalone vacuum brewer, we want to draw your attention to two types of burners which you can come across: alcohol and butane gas burners. What’s the difference?
Alcohol burners are more difficult to control the heat, and they leave soot residue on the bottom chamber of the siphon. On the other hand, Gas burners burn cleaner and they are very reliable.
Frequently asked questions about vacuum coffee makers
How does vacuum pot coffee taste?
The vacuum siphon gives a smooth, clean, full-bodied, aromatic and vibrant coffee cup. It’s actually one of the best tasting coffees, if done properly!
Which coffee is best for the siphon?
The best coffee beans for the vacuum siphon brewer will be light roasted or medium roasted with fruity, citrusy and floral notes. Sweet and chocolatey flavors can also come out well in the siphon.
Talking about the the countries of coffee origin, try out coffee from Ethiopia or Ecuador.
Is siphon coffee less acidic?
Yes, siphon coffee is less acidic than drip coffee and some other types of brews. It is easier on the stomach and can be a good option for those with stomachs sensitive to acidity.
Siphon or syphon?
Both spellings, ‘siphon’ and ‘syphon’ are used in English. The difference is between American English and British English. In the United States, there is a preference for ‘siphon’, whereas in the United Kingdom ‘syphon’ is used more often.
Where to buy a siphon coffee brewer?
The obvious places to check are Amazon and eBay. Apart from that, some manufacturers offer worldwide shipping and you can order directly from them. It may be also worth checking with your local coffee places – they may be selling coffee makers or nay be able to order it for you.
What brands of vacuum coffee makers are available?
The brands of siphon vacuum coffee makers to look at are:
- Yama
- HARIO
- Bodum
- NISPIRA
- KitchenAid
- Gourmia
- Kendal
- Diguo
- Boeng
- YUCHENGTECH
- DecentGadget
- Solac
- KLARSTEIN
- Twinbird
Summary
We hope the above descriptions and comparisons of simphon coffee makers can help you make your buying choices. If you are ready to gets started and need siphon brewing guidance, check out this article: