The 6 Best Vacuum Coffee Maker 2024 Choices Reviewed
A vacuum coffee maker is a rare but wonderful thing to see on a coffee bar. It stands out compared to other coffee machines because of how it looks. The multiple connected chambers and the heating element (usually a burner) is a sight that’s uncommon on countertops or shelves.
Siphon coffee is known more as a process and piece of equipment. But if you do things right, siphoning coffee can be an eye-catching, tasty way to brew.
Below, we will run through what makes the best vacuum coffee maker, along with some tips to help you become a better brewer. Incase your in a hurry, here’s our top pick:
Not the most unique brewer, but it’s effective and economical. All in all, it delivers the perfect siphon coffee within 5-7 minutes!
Alternatives At A Glance
Ultimate flexibility with a naked flame. Brew like a barista right at home with Hario!
Economical while still delivering great flavor. Makes up to 5 cups at as time too!
Hand made glass for the ultimate premium touch.
If you want something with a bit more of a classical aesthetic, this one deserves a deeper look.
If you’re looking for flavor without the hassle of a naked flame the KitchenAid delivers. It also fits on most worktops with its smaller dimensions.
What is a vacuum coffee maker?
It utilizes both technique and natural forces to extract flavor for your cup of coffee.
First is a heating element that heats the water chamber. Once the water is heated, it passes through a metal or cloth filter into the coffee grounds and the top chamber. Extraction happens at this stage.
When you’re satisfied with the contact time, you cut the heat source to reduce pressure and let gravity do its thing. The coffee now drops to the heat resistant bottom chamber, ready to pour!
All that’s left is to enjoy your cup of siphon coffee!
Why use a siphon coffee maker?
Aside from the obvious visual appeal and dramatic preparation of siphon coffee makers, there’s one more reason why I think they could be a good fit for home brewers.
But before that, some words of caution:
Two of the main challenges you will face when using a coffee siphon coffee maker are overheating and over extracting. Both will make your coffee more bitter than you intended for it to be, possibly adding an astringent finish. Yuck!
You should know your beans and your coffee maker whenever you brew coffee. Siphon coffee makers are no different. In fact, they might require more familiarity than most.
Barista hacks for vacuum coffee makers are possible during prep, which I’ll share shortly. As you decide on your coffee ratio, prepare the whole beans, measure the water, and prime your siphon coffee maker.
Remember to pre-heat the water so that it heats up faster when you transfer it to the water chamber.
Next, simply grind your coffee beans right before you brew. Consequently, preserving as many of the aromatics found in your grounds as possible while giving them a chance to dance in your cup!
If you visualize your workflow, once you put the pre-heated water in the chamber, grind your beans. As you transfer the beans into the brew chamber and lock everything in place, you’ll end up waiting for a shorter time. After a quick pause and a 2-3 minute waiting time, cut the heat and watch your best siphon coffee extraction flow down.
In case you haven’t inferred the other good reason to have a siphon coffee maker by now, it’s because it’s such a different kind of coffee brewing process. Most coffee makers extract solely via drip or immersion.
A siphon coffee maker has a vacuum that magically bounces mineral water around, through coffee grounds, and back down through a tube with a filter. You extract by exerting pressure on the grounds using water that is pushed up and held up by both water and heat.
As fascinating as it is to read about, it even looks better to witness, and best to experience.
Keep these hacks and facts in mind when you’ve chosen the right vacuum coffee maker for you and your coffee needs!
Full immersion
This method of extracting flavor utilizes minerals in water and pressure from heat to get those desirable flavors from your coffee beans located in the heat resistant glass.
The grounds are fully immersed in heat that affects the rate of extraction and total brew time, much like how it is with the French Press.
What’s good about siphon coffee makers is that you control everything outside build quality and engineering that come with particular models.
This means that brewing with a vacuum coffee maker is an excellent way to experience brewing principles firsthand.
Vacuum coffee makers allow you to develop your own style with a better understanding of making good coffee!
The Power of a Vacuum
Going back to the French Press, as you fully immerse, you give it a final “press” to extract the last of the stubborn desirable flavors towards the end of your extraction.
The siphon version of this is the vacuum.
As the water swishes around the grounds in the top chamber, you cut the heat when you’re satisfied with immersion time. The effect of this is the coffee exhales one last time. Gravity pulls everything down, and the changing chamber pressure pulls the last of anything desirable back to the water chamber.
Heat Uniformity
Remember the note mentioned above about total control in brewing with vacuum coffee makers?
Heat control is at the center of this.
One of the main principles in making good, consistent coffee is keeping the temperature steady throughout brewing. With the simple control over the heat source, you have this critical aspect covered.
It’s ideal to have a thermometer so you can target specific brew temperatures for specific roast levels. However, if you’re prioritizing a coffee brewer over small tools for the moment, compensate by at least recording with time: Markdown flame size or heat intensity in your coffee maker by looking at the knobs.
The 6 Best Vacuum Coffee Makers 2024
We’ve gone through some reasons why a vacuum coffee maker can be a great way to dive deeper into brewing at home.
We’ve also gone through a couple of brew hacks to improve the consistency of siphon coffee makers.
Now let’s take a look at some of the best available manual coffee makers. Vacuum methods are highly customizable from metal vs cloth filter to different heat-resistant glass chambers.
Each has its own details from design to engineering, but at the end of the day, it’s how you know to use them that will matter the most. I will do my best to mention how each vacuum coffee maker can enhance your brew, and it will be up to you to compare and choose for your favorite cup of coffee! Enjoy!
1. Bodum PEBO Coffee Maker
Bodum is one of my go-to brands when it comes to coffee gear. For the premium price you pay, you definitely get quality in return.
Not the most unique brewer, but it’s effective and economical. All in all, it delivers the perfect siphon coffee within 5-7 minutes!
PROS (+)
- 4-8 cup capacity
- Great sealing to trap those tasty aromatics
- Heating element does its job fast and evenly
- Decent build material
CONS (-)
- Concerns over filter effectiveness
- Lack of direct flame gives less control
The Bodum vacuum coffee maker has a modern look, with mechanisms installed for evenly heated siphon coffee. The sealing mechanism looks pretty solid, which helps with heat retention as well. Lastly, it is nicely sized for small to medium sized-batch brewers.
2. Hario Technica Syphon Coffee Maker, 5 cup
Hario is another one of the most common good-quality brands in coffee worldwide. Hario Technica is one of the most well-known suppliers in this space. All things considered, one of the best siphon makers all-around in my opinion.
Ultimate flexibility with a naked flame. Brew like a barista right at home with Hario!
PROS (+)
- Easily accessible spare parts
- A beautifully designed mix of classic and modern parts
- Good quality cloth filter
CONS (-)
- Max 5 cup capacity may or may not be enough for your brewing batches
- Slightly pricey vs other options
The Hario has different sizes and a huge following, so it’s easy to compare notes and other brewers worldwide.
Their vacuum coffee maker is one of the most recognized ones I see in differently sized shops. If the equipment is being used commercially, that’s always a good sign.
But, does it make the best siphon coffee cup? It depends on the barista. Good news is, you will be practicing at home!
I’ve seen people play with the vacuum and sometimes tilting the top chamber to regulate the amount of pressure and brew time. See what works for you and taste preferences!
3. Kendal Glass Tabletop Siphon Coffee Maker 5 Cup
The design is similar to the Hario Technica, except that this can be switched out with paper filters. Paper filters are fresher and therefore produce more clean tasting cups of coffee. They have a noticeable effect on taste if you can absorb the extra cost and carbon footprint.
Economical while still delivering great flavor. Makes up to 5 cups at as time too!
PROS (+)
- More efficient burner
- Paper filter compatible
- Great flavor extraction
CONS (-)
- Coffee grounds seep through and around the included cloth filter
- Not as easy to find replacement parts
If you’re a careful brewer and can survive a bit of a tougher time getting parts, then this could be a potentially good gamble for you!
4. Yama Glass Siphon Vacuum Coffee Maker
The Yama Glass Siphon looks impressive!
Hand made glass for the ultimate premium touch.
PROS (+)
- Beautiful design
- Effective sealing to maintain aromatics in chamber
- Decent size for home brewers
- Affordable
CONS (-)
- Some concerns over glass durability
- Heating element has common complaints in terms of consistency
It’s made of hand-crafted glass, slightly different from how manufacturers commonly shape their vacuum coffee maker models.
With a 5 cup maximum capacity and a standard cloth filter, it fits snuggly in any small home.
5. Nispira Belgium Luxury Royal Family Balance Siphon Coffee Maker Gold
The Yama Glass Siphon and the Hario Technica are the modern lines of vacuum siphon coffee brewers.
If you want something with a bit more of a classical aesthetic, this one deserves a deeper look.
PROS (+)
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Premium build quality
- Lasts the test of time
CONS (-)
- Pricey
- Replacement parts can be hard to source
What’s uncommon knowledge is that they both came from the design of this balance siphon coffee maker with the two chambers side-by-side instead of top of one another.
It’s built differently but uses the same process more or less. To me, it looks absolutely amazing, and I would pick this if I had the extra cash!
6. Kitchen Aid KCM0812OB Siphon Coffee Brewer Onyx Black
This is the only automatic vacuum coffee maker on the list. Kitchen Aid are innovators in the space, so it’s upgraded tech over the others on this list like the Hario Technica
If you’re looking for flavor without the hassle of a naked flame the KitchenAid delivers. It also fits on most worktops with its smaller dimensions.
PROS (+)
- Fully automatic vacuum coffee maker
- Heavy-duty manufactured
- Higher-end sealing mechanism
- Great tasting coffee
CONS (-)
- The handle is a little flimsy
- More difficult to clean
Your entire brewing process is automated with this, and you basically just get to enjoy the visuals. If that’s a preference of yours, this could be a good pick. If you want to try and make the best siphon coffee on your own, then there are better options for you on this list.
Wrapping It Up
Now that you’ve seen six good picks to consider for your foray into brewing via the vacuum method explore your top picks a bit further. Read comments and reviews, but do take what others say with a grain of salt.
So much about coffee is about personal preference. A lot of it is limited by knowledge and awareness as well. What does this mean?
Without enough awareness or knowledge, it’s good to cross-reference with resources (and baristas) you trust.
The Final Verdict
For my personal preferences, I choose the Bodum PEBO Coffee Maker or the Hario Technica. I’ve made perfect siphon coffee using both, both are sturdy, and parts are straightforward to find. In terms of price, they are both reasonable too.
Not the most unique brewer, but it’s effective and economical. All in all, it delivers the perfect siphon coffee within 5-7 minutes!
Ultimate flexibility with a naked flame. Brew like a barista right at home with Hario!
If you want a flavorful cup of coffee with clear flavors, a rich taste, and a full-body, it’s good to explore this brew method. It allows you to understand various brewing elements on your way to discovering your ideal coffee cup.
Be sure to keep your preferences in mind each time you brew, and take note of as many variables as you can! Record, to be able to repeat your perfect cup, and keep brewing!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Siphon Coffee Taste Like?
When done well, the best siphon coffee tastes clear, clean, full-bodied, and rich. This comes from the full pressurized immersion, with the vacuum finish. The turbulence extracts the flavors well, down to the oils. It’s a wonderful cup when done right, great for any time of the day.
This is one of my favorite ways to make coffee, and I am unashamed to admit that aside from taste, a lot of it is from the visual appeal and watching your coffee go up and down the siphon coffee maker.
How Do You Make Siphon Coffee?
STEP 1: Decide on your recipe. Calculate your beans. Calculate your water. A ratio of 1:15 or 1:16 works best for me.
STEP 2: The secret to the best siphon coffee is in your workflow’s efficiency—pre-warm water to a pre-boil before transferring to the bottom chamber.
STEP 3: Secure the chambers, lock in the cloth or paper filter, and grind your pre-measured beans for maximum freshness.
STEP 4: After grinding, immediately transfer grounds to the coffee chamber and seal to keep in as many aromatics as possible.
STEP 5: Watch. Take note of the fluid movement, and adjust the flame accordingly. You want to keep the liquid up during immersion but not over-agitate to avoid over-extraction.
STEP 6: When you reach your desired brew time for the batch, cut off the fire, let gravity and vacuum get the last of the desirable in your coffee cup.
STEP 7: Enjoy and remember to clean the brewer right away with warm H20, so it’s still easy to get the grounds and oils out before they dry.
