Do you want to experience a true spectacle every morning when you make coffee? Then you need a syphon in your life. It's an entire coffee brewing setup that, at first glance, might look like it came out of a chemistry lab.
Its unusual appearance can give it away. And here we're referring to the two containers connected by a filter, one above the other, and the heat source used, which is a flame you have to light before each preparation. Vapor pressure and gravity are the two key elements involved in the coffee extraction process.
The syphon (or vacuum coffee maker) is perhaps one of the most unique and captivating ways you could experience making a cup of coffee at home. Not only is the entire brewing process truly impressive and fascinating, but the coffee you get is by far a unique experience in a cup. You'll get a clear, bright coffee, without grounds, where you can feel the notes found on the coffee bag extremely well.
How a syphon works
In technical terms, when you brew coffee with a syphon, the final product (extracted coffee) results from a process called immersion. The coffee stays in contact with the water throughout the extraction – that's how we can easily translate immersion. Besides immersion, there's also percolation coffee brewing – ground coffee is filtered using water. Soluble compounds leave the filter and become freshly brewed coffee. One such percolation brewing method is the Moka Pot.
As mentioned above, to brew coffee with a syphon, vapor pressure and gravity need to come into play and work their magic.
The water you put in the bottom bowl heats up with the help of the heat source you place underneath it. When the water becomes hot, it starts releasing gases that will create a vacuum, which will then move the water from the lower part into the upper container where the coffee will be brewed. When the brewing process is complete, the heat source must be turned off, which will help cool the air in the bottom bowl. This will create another vacuum that will gently pull the coffee from the top bowl into the bottom one.
One of MABO's baristas has prepared an excellent syphon coffee for you and shares it step-by-step below. Let the magic begin!
Your favorite coffee (15g) ground fine to medium – We used the coffee of the month for this tutorial
Water – We advise against using tap water. It can negatively influence the final taste of the coffee. Clear, clean water like filtered water is the perfect choice.
A manual or electric grinder – It's super important to grind your coffee every time before brewing. This will help you not lose the aromas released during grinding and ensure your coffee turns out as good as possible.
Scale
Timer
Brewing time!
1
First, put 180ml of water in the bottom bowl and light the heat source. Let the water heat up well until you see it bubbling.
2
Place the container where the coffee will be made on top of the water bowl.
3
After you have assembled all the syphon utensils, you can start grinding the coffee fine to medium and add it to the top bowl. When you notice the water starting to rise, stir slowly to homogenize the mixture well.
4
And finally, you'll see another magic trick. Turn off the flame, and after 1 and a half minutes, during which the water has been in contact with the coffee, it will slowly descend into the bottom bowl.
And just like that, your coffee is ready and waiting for you to savor it. The key to this brewing method is repetition and constant experimentation. The more often you practice, the easier and more convenient the whole process will become, and your coffee will turn out better and better. We suggest you impress your friends with your home barista skills and present them with a true spectacle of brewing syphon coffee.
Enjoy your Mabo Coffee!
