Do you crave exquisite tasting brews? Want to add a little bit of pizazz to your kitchen? Well, gather around one and all, because we’ve got news for you. Two words—siphon coffee.
What’s that, you ask? Hold your breath no longer; we’ve got all you need to know. Siphon coffee makers use vapor pressure and gravity to produce coffee. Yikes, right? It’s not as complicated as it sounds.
The contraption has two vessels. By heating and cooling the lower vessel, the vapor pressure of the water in it is changed. This creates a vacuum, pushing it up into the upper vessel and then allowing it to trickle back down. What we’re left with, in the process, is a distinctly clear, better-tasting brew.
Don’t let the elaborate mechanics fool you, they are incredibly easy to use. Plus you end up looking like a cool alchemist brewing some magical potion! Who doesn’t want that?
All you have to do is add coffee and water, both of which you can control the amount and temperatures of, and flip on a switch. That’s it, that’s the entire process. What’s more, because of the vacuum system they use to brew your coffee, none of the aroma is lost. Shocked? Confused? Read on to find out what to look out for and how to use one of these bad boys.
How Was This List Made?
After going through several Reddit threads, Quora answers and Amazon reviews, we have our top picks for the best vacuum coffee makers. No, seriously. We’ve saved you the time and anxiety that comes with having to pick out a new home appliance.
Siphon coffee pots are nothing but user-friendly and we’ve made sure that you have all it takes to come to a conclusion. We made sure to give you only the best of the best. So it’s not just our word you’re going on, it’s those of people who’ve used a siphon coffee maker before. You’ll notice that all of our picks for the best siphon coffee makers are rated 4 stars and above.
They cover quite a large price range to keep all our buyers in mind. Browse through to see what’s best suited for your needs!
Recommended
KitchenAid KCM0812OB Siphon Coffee Brewer
It uses an automated, full immersion, siphon brewing method. This delivers both precise temperature and vacuum technology. The resulting tastes are bright and rich with a clean finish.
Check Latest Price1. Bodum PEBO Coffee Maker
Are you a first-time siphon coffee user and looking for something that will not burn a hole in your pocket? The Bodum PEBO Coffee Maker is your best bet. An eye-catching architecture and extremely user-friendly, this one will leave you spellbound.
The glass chambers allow you to witness the scintillating brewing process! What’s more is that the brewing system is completely sealed off. The vacuum created by this allows not a whiff of aroma to go to waste. There’s a very thoughtfully designed stopper which keeps your second and subsequent cups warm while you sip on the first one.
You can choose what heat source to use with this. So, depending on what you choose, the Bodum Pebo Coffee Maker could be quite easy to move about.
If you want to use an alcohol or butane burner, you’ll have to purchase them separately. This siphon brewer has a 34 ounce capacity, which means it can make anywhere between 4 to 8 cups of coffee. All within only 5 to 11 minutes! Impressive, right?
We think so too. Although it’s cheap, it’s probably because the filter is made of plastic. You also need to be careful of how you use the pot when it’s hot. Placing it on a wet or cold surface might lead in an explosion.
Pros
- Pocket-friendly
- Made of glass
- Could be used as either stovetop or standalone
- Easy to use
Cons
- Plastic filter
- Can possibly explode
Verdict: This makes a good amount of great-tasting coffee for the price it comes at. And you can have a say on whether to use it as a standalone or a stovetop coffee maker. If you’re careful while handling it, this one a good option to start your siphon coffee maker journey with.
2. KitchenAid KCM0812OB Siphon Coffee Brewer
Made with high-quality glass and stainless steel accents, this siphon coffee brewer uses an automated, full immersion, siphon brewing method. This delivers both precise temperature and vacuum technology. The resulting tastes are bright and rich with a clean finish.
The upper and lower vessels are held securely through a magnetic locking seal so you don’t have to worry about them coming apart. There’s also a brew unit stand that securely holds the brew unit once brewing is complete. Really, there’s very little chance of you toppling this one over.
It has an 8 cup capacity for those of you who like to brew large batches. That’s not all. This siphon coffee pot brings along with itself a cleaning brush, a dual-purpose lid and a 360-degree rotation removable base. Two filters are also provided, one made of cloth and the other of stainless steel. The manufacturers have clearly thought of everything.
For vacuum pot coffee though, this one may come across as slightly under brewed. Unlike the other siphon brewers, the brew from this is comparatively thinner. There is hardly a compromise in taste though, so no worries on that front. Also, while the glass carafe is built like a tank, the fixtures (handles etc.) can prove to be slightly wonky. Again, not a deal-breaker as long as you handle it with care.
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Comes with several extra bits
- Great ounce-wise capacity
- Portable
Cons
- Fixtures may be slightly fidgety
- Can possibly under brew
Verdict: Although this is a costlier option, it is really worth the money. As long as you don’t mind a slightly thinner brew, this siphon coffee maker is not only great to look at but also very smartly designed. It also looks incredibly cute. We’d definitely insist on this one.
3. Diguo Belgian Luxury Royal Family Balance Siphon Coffee Maker
If you want to pull out all the stops, well, you’ve found what you’re searching for. Behold, this regal-looking siphon coffee maker. It looks like it belongs in a museum and not in your kitchen. Even if you don’t want to brew coffee in it, we bet you’d want it just for the way it looks. Want to feel like you’re brewing a potion? This is it.
It comes in a stunning Egyptian black and gold color and is more than likely to make you feel like you’re a royal. A wooden base accompanies the siphon brewer. Drool-worthy looks are not all it has to offer. The vacuum flask is made of stainless steel and the glass is of a very high-quality, heat-resistant kind. Oh, the oomph it’ll add to your kitchen (or anywhere you place it, really).
The siphon pipette and filter head are both also made of stainless steel. With medical-grade silicon rubber seals, you really can’ go wrong with this siphon coffee pot. Its design is based on the coffee makers used in the 1800s by royal families. Its bespoke build is only enhanced by its performance, leaving you enthralled with a perfect cup of coffee.
Our only gripe with this stunning siphon coffee maker would be its limited capacity. And perhaps the fact that it sometimes tumbles apart too easily. Since the grounds are in contact with the water for only a little while, it also requires more coffee grounds than usual.
As with all siphon coffee makers that use alcohol burners, this too takes a long time to brew a single cup.
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Great materials
- Made with very high-quality glass
- Comes in two colours
Cons
- Limited ounce capacity
- Can tumble apart easily
Verdict: An absolute stunner, this one’s for you if you don’t mind the price. Not only does it look beautiful, but it also has a great build which ensures it’ll not break. Even though the serving sizes are small, we’d urge you to think about making this investment.
4. Yama Glass 5 Cup Stovetop Coffee Siphon
With a 20 ounce capacity, this siphon coffee maker brews a mean cup of coffee. If you don’t want something over-the-top and dramatic, this vacuum coffee pot is sure to be a good buy. While the mechanics are largely the same, it’s a little more tame-looking.
It is made of borosilicate heat-resistant glass that allows you to watch the magic as it unfolds. So don’t worry about missing out on that front! The appliance comes with a heat-resistant handle to ensure you can use it easily. This one is also a stovetop siphon coffee pot. The manufacturers provide a wire diffuser to use on electric coil burners, but it’s not required if you’re using a gas stove.
The cloth filter is washable and reusable, although you can also switch it out for a glass filter rod. We reckon the rod will make cleaning much easier, although you may have to buy it separately. It is advisable to use medium-low to medium heat.
Once the water is hot, it is siphoned off to the upper vessel, coming back down when removed from the heat source. All the parts are also dishwasher and microwave friendly and the manufacturers sell spare parts.
In about 4 to 6 minutes, your coffee will be ready. However, it is important to note that compared to other siphon coffee makers this one has a considerably smaller capacity. And once again, you have to be careful about how you use it. The bottom of the lower chamber is also flat, which means that you get a large dead volume of water that doesn’t get vaporised and reach the upper vessel.
Pros
- Pocket-friendly
- Easily available parts
- Dishwasher and microwave friendly
- Made of heat resistant glass
Cons
- Low ounce capacity
- Flat bottom may lead to dead volume of water
Verdict: For a single person, this is a great vacuum coffee pot. We’d say the pros outweigh the cons. More so, because spare parts, if required, are easily available from the same manufacturers. And since it’s made of borosilicate glass, the chances of your pot cracking are very low.
5. Boeng 5-Cup Tabletop Siphon Coffee Maker
This siphon coffee pot has a 5 cup capacity making it perfect for 3 to 4 people. Made of quality heat resistant glass and polypropylene, this one is as durable as they come. All you need to do is put in the coffee ground in the upper vessel. Then add water in the lower one and sit back and watch as this siphon brewer works its magic.
It comes along with a wooden stirrer, a long plastic spoon for coffee powder, a cotton wick for the alcohol burner and cloth filters. What else do you need? We’d suggest using butane as it heats the water faster.
The whole process takes about 10 minutes from start to finish and provides an excellent brew. By letting you personalize the temperature, it allows you to have the best possible cuppa.
There are, however, a few drawbacks. For starters, the lower vessel is slightly difficult to clean and you may need to get a special scrub brush for it. Sometimes, the bottom brewer may sit a little crooked. As a result, the top brewer becomes very crooked.
But this is a very minor issue. Really, all you need to do is make sure the vessels are well aligned before you expose it to the heat. Not complaining now, are we?
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Budget buy
- Easy to use
- Comes with several extra bits
Cons
- Lower vessel may be difficult to clean
- Bottom vessel may sit crookedly
Verdict: If you are looking for mad scientist vibes from your coffee maker within a budget, we’d encourage this purchase. It makes premium brews and is a fun, hands-on process. Most importantly, it’s an interesting conversation-starter.
A Buyer's Guide: What to look for in your Siphon Coffee Maker
All said and done, what we really want is a good coffee maker in the long haul. Everyone has specific needs when it comes to coffee. Keeping that in mind, we wanted to make sure you know exactly what you’re committing to. Siphon coffee makers look incredibly suave and we bet it’ll add the necessary bling your kitchen needs. Smooth brews out of coffee makers that look like they’re meant to be in a lab? We hear you. So before you jump on the bandwagon, here’s what you need to watch out for before you shell out the big bucks.
Stovetop vs Standalone
The coffee they produce is ultimately the same. What changes are the location and techniques. If you’re looking for a little less flair, stovetop siphon coffee makers are what you should go for. They use, well, a stovetop to function. This may limit where you can brew the coffee although they are cheaper and give you a decent amount of control over the temperature.
Standalone siphon coffee makers, on the other hand, usually come with a stand that raises the lower vessel to accommodate some sort of a heat source under it. These heat sources are usually an alcohol or a butane burner. The aesthetic appeal this provides is to die for. Plus the mobility is great as these can be placed anywhere.
Filters
Almost all siphon coffee makers that you purchase today come armed with some kind of filter. Depending on the price of the model, they can be metal, cloth or paper. Metal filters usually allow for a very robust flavor given that they let all the essential coffee oils and tiny coffee grounds to get to your mug.
If you want every single coffee ground to get to your cup, cloth filters are the way to go. They are slightly difficult to clean, however, although they are the quintessential filter for a siphon coffee maker. For crisp, clean flavors, go for the paper filter. Easy to use and not a single hassle when it comes to cleaning!
Burners
If they’re compatible, siphon coffee makers can be used with burners. The most common types are gas, alcohol and butane. Some of the newer models also use a halogen lamp to heat the water in the lower vessel.
Alcohol burners are among the most inexpensive but can be slightly difficult to maneuver unless you know exactly how to deal with them. It’s a hands-on process as you’ll be required to pour in the alcohol and light a wick you need to place in it, but it does create a steady flame.
Butane and gas burners are comparatively much easier to use. This kind of burner usually comes with an igniter that allows you to ignite the gas. Although it’s a wee bit pricier, it lets you control the intensity of the flame without getting your hands dirty in the process.
Halogen burners are high-tech. They use light trays to heat up the water. While they’re super cool to look at, they’re also quite expensive. So as long as you don’t mind the price hike that would come along with this, we say go for it.
Materials
In the olden days, siphon coffee makers were all really ornate and therefore were made of metals like copper. Sounds difficult to use, especially when the metal’s hot, doesn’t it? For ease of the modern man’s use, most siphon coffee makers today are made with borosilicate glass with perhaps hints of metal to make it look fancy.
This kind of glass is heat-resistant and therefore won’t crack easily even when exposed to very high amounts of heat—unless, of course, you put the very hot glass immediately in contact with a cold or wet surface. Not only does this kind of glass make siphon pots easier to use, but they also last longer.
As long as the primary purpose behind your buy isn’t decorative, we’d say stick to the glass.
Brew Amount
Most siphon coffee makers function best at maximum capacity. So a 16 ounce siphon is going to work best with exactly 16 ounces of coffee. Sometimes the cup sizes in the coffee maker may not align with the capacity in ounces. So make sure you’re exact with your measurements. And like other brewing systems, they too brew different sized batches.
We would suggest a couple of trial rounds to familiarize yourself with the process. Once you know how to go about it, you can control the taste of your brew by adjusting the amount of coffee grounds you use.
We can all agree that siphon coffee makers, if not anything else, are incredibly cool. And we know you want a part of that. Granted that it’s not a quick process, but it is quite easy. Moreover, this is bound to deliver on great brews we bet it’ll make you feel a little bit like a crazy scientist. Or at the very least, an extremely fancy barista.