Explaining the Vacuum Coffee Maker

The vacuum coffee maker is a mystery for many people. However, it is actually one of the oldest methods of brewing coffee straight from the comfort of your home. Refined over the years only in terms of the materials used and the convenience of setting one up, vacuum coffee makers produce consistently great, fresh and strong coffee. You won't see any distortions in the taste of your coffee but rather will see a clean and natural taste.

Often times people are hesitate to try this kind of gadget, but once they do try a vacuum coffee maker, they rarely go back to automated machines. If you're a lover of fresh tasting coffee, don't want your coffee' taste to be ruined or want a direct hand in making your own fresh cup, than vacuum coffee makers are for you.

How does a Vacuum Coffee Maker Work?

The principles behind a vacuum coffee maker are quite simple. There are two separate pots, classically made from glass and today commonly made from glass, Pyrex or plastic. The two pots sit atop of one another, sealed off but connected with a filter tube extending between them. There is also a tube connecting the two pots externally. However, many modern versions do not have the external tube and are only connected internally.

You place your ground coffee into the top pot, and water into the lower carafe. The vacuum coffee maker is then heated up so that the water reaches boiling temperature. This causes the released water vapor to travel up through the external tube and into the upper pot.

As this happens, the hot water mixes with the ground coffee and begins brewing. You can allow the brewing process to continue for as long as you want, realizing that the longer it goes the stronger the coffee is. Recommended time is anywhere from one to four minutes.

When the water cools down, your coffee will be brought down into the lower carafe through a natural vacuum pressure process. With the filtered tube in place, you'll get ready to drink, fresh coffee that you can serve directly out of the lower carafe.

Stovetop vs. Tabletop Vacuum Coffee Makers

There are two broad categories of vacuum coffee makers. The variation only rests in how they are heated. The first and most common is the stovetop coffee maker. You place the entire device directly onto your stove to heat it and boil the water. Some prefer the stovetop models since you don't need to fuss with external heating.

The other type is the tabletop coffee maker, which requires its own heating supply. This can come in the form of specially designed burners which are often included, electrical heat plates or even Bunsen burners. Others people the tabletop since you aren't limited to making your coffee over the stove.

Popular Vacuum Coffee Makers

The Bodum Santos Stovetop 34 ounce Glass vacuum coffee maker is a highly rated model. It sits directly on your stovetop for easy heating and has a large, graspable handle to hold and move it with. It can cost between $60 and $80.

The Yama Tabletop 3 Cup Vac-Pot is a tabletop style maker that includes its own alcohol burning heating device. The device is supported by a metal stand which allows enough room to place to heater underneath. It costs roughly $50. Yama also makes a 5 cup tabletop model.

Additionally, there is the Yama 5 Cup Stovetop Vac-Pot which only costs $35. The Yama Stovetop Vac-Pot also comes in a 8 cup size for about $10 more.

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