Siphon Coffee Maker: Operating Methods and Procedures

The Origin and Development of Syphon Coffee

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In 1840, a laboratory glass tube triggered the invention of the syphon coffee pot. The Englishman Napia created the first vacuum coffee pot using laboratory test tubes as a blueprint. Two years later, Madame Barshon in France improved this somewhat simple-looking pot, and the familiar up-and-down convection syphon pot was born.

What is the English Name for Syphon Pot?

The English name for syphon pot is "SIPHON," so it's also called siphon pot. It utilizes the thermal expansion and contraction caused by water vapor when heated, pushing hot water from the lower pot into the upper chamber to blend with coffee grounds. When the temperature decreases, the water flows back through the vacuum tube into the lower pot, thus obtaining coffee liquid.

Regarding the origin of the syphon pot, we can trace it back to the early 19th century, nearly a hundred years earlier than pour-over coffee. According to relevant records, in 1826, German physicist Johann Norremberg invented the syphon pot using laboratory equipment. His original intention was to demonstrate the power of steam to students, so he did not apply for a patent, and his design did not become popular. Until the mid-19th century, this device was improved by French inventor Marie Fanny Amelne Massot, and the up-and-down convection syphon pot was born. She obtained relevant patents in 1842, and this device was able to enter the market for sale.

Around the same period, Scottish engineer Robert Napier designed his Napier Coffee Pot, which also utilized vacuum principles to brew coffee. Although it won an award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1856, Napier never applied for a patent for it.

From then on, similar vacuum brewing devices began to spread across Europe and were introduced to places like the United States. However, due to the later emergence of automatic drip coffee, the use of syphon pots gradually decreased among Americans.

What Kind of Coffee is Suitable for Syphon Pot?

In our impression, Japanese coffee has always favored dark roasting, emphasizing fragrance, richness, mellowness, and thickness. Additionally, Japanese people have a natural affinity for things with exquisite craftsmanship and ceremonial qualities. Therefore, when this equipment was introduced, the syphon pot deeply attracted their attention with its elegant brewing process and solid coffee taste, becoming an important part of the local specialty coffee culture. Although times have changed and various new coffee devices emerge endlessly today, the syphon pot remains the primary brewing method recommended by many Japanese specialty coffee shops.

In 1925, KONO's founder Akira Kono officially established the company and developed a vertical syphon pot. Later, in 1964, the second-generation president Toshio Kono continuously improved it, resulting in a syphon pot design closer to what we see today. The birth of the second-generation syphon pot coincided with the rise of the Japanese coffee boom. Against the backdrop of Japanese dark roasting, it not only further popularized the syphon pot and made it widely used in major specialty coffee shops but also developed a unique Japanese syphon aesthetic.

Later, this coffee brewing ceremony was no longer limited to Japan. Its aesthetics and essence began to cross oceans - for example, Taiwanese people who were deeply influenced by Japanese coffee culture added this "fashion item" to their shops. The earliest popularity of syphon pots in mainland China was brought by the rise of Taiwanese-style business coffee shops.

Friends who have drunk syphon coffee know that the difference between syphon coffee and pour-over coffee is still very significant, both in terms of mouthfeel and taste. Pour-over coffee tastes cleaner, with more distinct layers and prominent flavors; while syphon coffee tastes richer and more mellow, with more intense aroma and a more solid mouthfeel.

Therefore, to highlight this characteristic, when using syphon pots to brew coffee, FrontStreet Coffee recommends these medium-roasted coffee beans: FrontStreet Coffee Huilan, FrontStreet Coffee Bird of Paradise, FrontStreet Coffee Diamond Mountain, and FrontStreet Coffee Queen's Estate, which can give coffee both nutty aroma and rich body. Besides coffee beans, tools needed for brewing coffee with syphon pots include: syphon pot, coffee beans, alcohol lamp (other heating sources are acceptable), hot water, and dry cloth.

Syphon Pot Brewing Steps

Step 1:

Set up the alcohol lower pot and alcohol lamp, and install the hook of the upper pot filter cloth in advance (put the filter device in the upper pot, stretch the hook from below the pipe and hang it on the end of the pipe).

Step 2:

Pour in 220ml of hot water.

Step 3:

Wipe the lower pot dry and turn on the heating source (wiping the lower pot dry prevents it from cracking during heating).

Step 4:

Insert the upper pot diagonally into the lower pot, with the explosion-proof bead touching the bottom of the lower pot.

Step 5:

When the lower pot starts to boil and water droplets appear, straighten the upper pot and press it firmly, waiting for the water from the lower pot to be drawn into the upper pot.

Step 6:

When the upper pot stops drawing water, pour in the coffee grounds and start timing. For the first segment, use a patting motion to press the coffee grounds into the water to begin even extraction.

Step 7:

For the second segment, at 25 seconds, begin using FrontStreet Coffee's recommended stirring method to shake evenly, allowing the coffee to clearly separate into three layers: coffee foam, coffee liquid, and coffee grounds.

Step 8:

For the final segment, stir clockwise at fifty seconds. When reaching 60 seconds, remove the heat source and wait for the coffee liquid to flow back into the lower pot. (After removing the heat source, wiping the lower pot with a dry cloth can speed up the return time).

At this point, the syphon coffee is ready! Compared to clean and clear pour-over coffee, the syphon pot brewing method has a richer and more mellow taste! No matter what brewing methods people adopt, they all point toward being able to drink a cup of coffee that makes people feel comfortable and at ease. Good coffee is that simple, and also very pure.

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