Coffee maker
Siphon brewer
A brewer using vapour pressure to move water between two chambers through a coffee bed, valued as much for the visual brewing process as the cup.
How it works
Water in a lower chamber is heated until vapour pressure pushes it up into an upper chamber containing coffee grounds; once heat is removed, the brewed coffee is drawn back down through a filter as the lower chamber cools.
Who it suits
- users interested in a visually engaging, ritual brewing process
- users wanting a clean cup with full-immersion contact
Who it may not suit
- users wanting a fast or low-maintenance brew
- users on a tight budget or with limited counter space
- Starting dose
- 20g
- Starting water
- 300ml
- Coffee-to-water ratio
- 55–70 g per litre (typically 65)
- Grind
- Medium-coarse.
- Capacity
- 2-4 cups
- Brew time
- 3-5 min
- Skill level
- advanced
- Noise
- quiet
- Space
- medium
- Cleaning burden
- high
- Convenience
- low
- Manual control
- high
Descriptive grind labels like this are illustrative starting points, not precise measurements — the same label can mean different particle sizes on different grinders. See the grind size guide for how to dial this in on your own equipment.
Uses the Siphon (vacuum) brewing brewing method.
Equipment
Requires a separate grinder.
Advantages
- visually engaging brewing process
- full-immersion contact with filtered clarity
Disadvantages
- fragile glass components
- requires practice to time correctly
- slower and more hands-on than most filter methods
Steps
- Fill the lower chamber with water and attach the filter to the upper chamber.
- Apply heat until vapour pressure pushes the water up into the upper chamber.
- Add ground coffee to the upper chamber and stir gently, timing the steep.
- Remove from heat; the brewed coffee is drawn back down through the filter as it cools.
Cleaning & maintenance
Disassemble and rinse all glass chambers and the cloth or metal filter after each use.
Cloth filters need periodic replacement; glass chambers are fragile and should be handled carefully.
Consumables: cloth or paper filters (system-dependent)
Common faults
- uneven extraction from inconsistent agitation
- seal failure between chambers if not assembled correctly
Cost
Purchase cost band: mid rangeGlass siphon sets are typically priced above basic pour-over drippers.
Ongoing cost is beans and periodic filter replacement.
Suitable roast levels
Not sure if this is right for you? Try the coffee-maker selector.