There are a lot of myths surrounding siphon coffee, and therefore, many people are not actually sure what siphon coffee taste like.
A fair majority of people think siphon coffee is too hard to make and it’s better left up to the professionals.
Others feel that siphon coffee isn’t as satisfying or rich as normal drip brewed coffee, and there are even those who compare siphon coffee with instant coffee.
What does siphon coffee taste like? Siphon coffee tastes almost identical to French press, and is known for its rich, full bodied flavour.
Siphon coffee is similar to brewing hot tea, except siphon coffee is made with ground coffee beans instead of tea leaves.
In this article we will explain exactly what siphon coffee taste like, and help you decide if siphon coffee is worth your time and investment.
Table of Contents
What Is Siphon Coffee?
A siphon coffee maker, also known as a vacuum pot, consists of 2 parts-
1. Heat source or siphon (vacuum cleaner element)
2. Bottom pot or filter where the siphon is placed on top of.
The two are separated by a siphon which has many small holes in it.
Hot water is then placed in the siphon, and siphon coffee is made by placing ground coffee beans on top of the siphon’s filter.
The siphon brews hot water up through the siphon tube and into the bottom pot while simultaneously filtering out grounds to make a tasty cup of coffee.
Siphon coffee is also known as siphon brewed coffee, siphon brew, siphon method or vacuum brewed coffee.
The coffee makers consists of a siphon pot with an airtight lid and an upper glass globe that has a siphon tube or stem that runs through the centre of it.
The siphon tube siphons coffee from the bowl to the globe.
It is easy to use, but there are several steps involved in making siphon coffee.
What Are The Different Siphon Methods?
There are four siphon coffee siphoning methods.
These siphoning methods are categorised based on the siphon method steps involved in siphon coffee making.
a) first-flush siphon
b) pre-brew siphon
c) full siphon
d) cold drip siphon
The siphon coffee maker is the only way siphon coffee is made.
We will now go into detail about what siphon coffee tastes like and what makes it different from regular brewed coffee.
What Does Siphon Coffee Taste Like?
Siphon coffee is rich, full bodied and tastes almost identical to French press.
Some siphon enthusiasts believe siphon coffee is quite acidic, but compared with drip brewed coffee, siphon coffee actually has lower acidity level.
Although the final brew has less caffeine, it does contain higher levels of caffeine than regular drip brewed coffee.
Siphon coffee gets its full bodied flavour from siphon’s low temperature brewing which makes siphon coffee taste almost identical to French press (which is known for its rich, strong flavour).
The strong, full-bodied flavour is due to the fact that siphon brewers use a two chamber system for brewing.
Beans are placed in one end of the siphon and water is contained in the other section of the siphon.
The siphon coffee maker also extracts almost all of the flavours from the beans leaving a dessert like aftertaste.
How To Make Coffee With A Siphon Brewer?
Step 1:
Add water to siphon brewer and heat until near boiling.
Step 2:
Place siphon tube and siphon base on counter and put filter paper in siphon base .
Step 3:
Add ground coffee to siphon tube.
Step 4:
Pour hot water into siphon brewer until water level reaches bottom of siphon tube and all siphon grounds are wet.
Stir briefly with chopstick to ensure that siphon ground coffee is mixed with hot water.
Step 5:
Let siphon coffee brew for 2 minutes, or until siphon brewer stops bubbling.
Step 6:
Pour coffee from siphon tube into cups by tilting siphon base out while pressing siphon tube button.
Step 7:
Enjoy your cup of siphon brewed coffee!
What Are The Pros and Cons Of Siphon Coffee?
Pros:
1. Siphon coffee has a full-bodied, rich flavour which is very close to French press.
2. Brews coffee at a low temperature making siphon coffee less acidic compared with drip brewed coffee.
3. When siphon coffee is brewed, the ground coffee beans mix with water and brewing extracts almost all of the flavours from the coffee, leaving a slightly sweet aftertaste.
4. Siphons are great conversation pieces and fun to use, making siphon coffee sessions enjoyable to many coffee drinkers.
5. Siphon coffee has a lower acidity level and caffeine content then many other brewing methods.
6. They come in a variety of sizes and styles to choose from.
Cons:
1. Many people are intimidated by the process of making siphon coffee which can lead to people not trying to make it at all.
2. Siphon coffee is expensive as siphons are not widely available outside of specialty coffee shops.
3. Siphons need to be hand-washed after each use and siphon tubes need to be replaced every 2 years if used regularly.
4. The process of making siphon coffee can take up to 10 minutes, which is much longer than many other coffee brewers.
5. Siphons can be difficult to use for people who are not familiar.
6. Siphon brews hot water at low temperature only, so must be consumed immediately or it will lose its rich flavour.
Where Can You Buy A Siphon Coffee Maker?
There is a wide variety of Siphons available for purchase on Amazon alone.
Therefore, we have saved you the time and effort and found our top three Siphon Coffee Makers you can buy.
The Top 3 Siphon Coffee Makers
Hario “Next” Glass Siphon Coffee Maker
The Hario “Next” Glass Siphon Coffee Maker is a unique brewing device that allows you to brew coffee using the vacuum method.
It comes with a built-in burner and glass upper and lower bowls.
Key Features
- Upper bowl, lower bowl and burner are made of the best heat resistant borosilicate glass from Hario.
- Stand, burner cover, and filter are made of stainless steel; stand handle has silicone cover.
- Item dimmensions are: 15″H x 7″W x 4.5″L; 5-cup capacity.
- Fasteners are made of brass; windbreak is made of aluminum.
- Imported from Japan.
Diguo Belgium Siphon Coffee Maker
Diguo Belgium Siphon Coffee Maker is a siphon coffee maker that’s made from high-grade heat-resistant borosilicate glass.
The siphon brewer comes with a burner, siphon tube and siphon stand for easy storage.
Key Features
- Flavourful and clean.
- Cloth filter resulting in bold coffee.
- Plate in stylish black and silver.
- Tee handle and matching black wooden board base.
Twinbird Siphon Coffee Maker
The Twinbird siphon coffee maker is a siphon coffee maker that comes with a siphon, siphon stand and siphon burner.
With this design, it’s possible to brew delicious siphon coffee quickly.
It has an amazing 1800W heating power with one-touch ignition switch.
Key Features
- Solid brass siphon burner has an 1800W heating power.
- One-touch ignition switch.
- Siphon is made of high-grade borosilicate glass for long lasting durability.
- Siphon stand and siphon included for effortless storage after use.
- It comes with a cloth filter that results in rich siphon coffee taste.
How To Clean A Siphon Coffee Maker?
When siphon coffee maker is used on a daily basis, the build-up of residue can be quite significant.
Therefore, you’ll need to clean it regularly to keep the siphon in good condition.
1. Rinse siphon thoroughly with water after each use.
2. Soak siphon in a lemon juice and water mixture for about an hour.
3. After the soaking, scrub the inside of the siphon with a bottle brush to clean it completely.
4. Drain out excess water from the siphon
5. Rinse siphon with water.
6. Finally, dry the siphon thoroughly to avoid bacterial growth in it.
TIP: Siphons are not dishwasher safe. So, take care if using dishwashers.
What Does Siphon Coffee Taste Like Frequently Asked Questions?
A. Similar to French press, siphon coffee is full-bodied in flavour which makes siphon ground coffee beans with similar flavour profiles preferable for siphon brewing.
Examples of siphon ground coffee include Brazilian siphon ground coffee, Indonesian siphon ground coffee
A. Siphons are definitely more expensive than drip-brewed coffee makers.
A siphon brewer can cost anywhere from $50 to about $250 while some siphon brewers, like the siphon brewer made by Yama Glass may be on the more costly side at upwards of $1,000.
A. Once siphon coffee is brewed it should be consumed immediately as siphon coffee left for too long loses its flavour.
A. Yes, you can make tea using siphons however it is not recommended to use tea leaves in siphons as residue from the tea leaves can collect and block siphon tubes as well as give siphon brewed tea an unpleasant bitter taste.
Conclusion: What Does Siphon Coffee Taste Like
In conclusion, the taste of siphon coffee is unique and complex, but it has a reputation for being one of the most delicious flavours in all of coffees.
If you’ve never had siphon coffee before, it’s worth trying.
Due to its unique taste, Siphon coffee can be made to suit any drinker’s preferences.
So if you’ve been looking for a new way to enjoy your coffee, then siphon brewing may be the answer, and although it requires an artful approach and some patience, those who have mastered it swear by its results.
If you enjoyed this article, read more like this by checking out our Specialty Coffee Buyers Guides.
