Hardcore coffee aficionados are able to distinguish the subtle taste differences in coffee made from a French press, an Aeropress, a Chemex, or a vacuum/siphon pot. I don’t quite consider myself to be in that league yet. I do taste some differences (although I’ve never had a cup made by Aeropress) but not enough to recommend fellow novices.
But the honest truth about vacuum/siphon pots is that it puts on a great show. If you want a dramatic improvement of taste over a drip coffee maker, make some coffee in a French press. It is the cheapest and the easiest. If you want to be able to feel like you’ve become an overnight coffee expert, make coffee in a vacuum/siphon pot.
Tags: Coffee Tasting, French Press, syphon coffee maker, vacuum coffee maker
April 4, 2009 at 4:02 pm
you are right about the great show. kids love to watch them brew.
we’ve had 3 (maybe 4) vacuum coffee makers and all of them developed a very funny plastic flavor after a while. 2 of them just completely died one day and I had to send each back to Bodum and they sent another one back.
I loved the coffee, while it worked, but we gave up with them a few months ago and bought a regular Black & Decker maker. Makes fine coffee and no funny tastes
April 4, 2009 at 4:19 pm
What happened when they died? Did they just not filter back down anymore? I’m surprised you’ve had so many. Did they all die after a number of months?
April 5, 2009 at 2:27 am
I think maybe Emily is talking about a electric vacuum coffee maker. I know the heating elements in those do burn out. I for one will admit I get just as much of a kick from watching a vacuum brewer doing its thing as I do the coffee itself. I actually did a little side by side comparison this morning with my regular drip machine and I though the vacuum coffee was a little smoother and definitely less bitter. That being said both cups were quite good and I wouldn’t complain if served either at a coffee shop.
April 5, 2009 at 3:59 am
To expose a little bit of my coffee snobbery – I personally like coffee made in a French press and a vacuum pot hands down over any drip machine. The body is definitely thicker and even stickier to me. I actually even like the slight grittiness over the drip machine. But that’s me.