The Best Siphon Coffee Makers, Revealed (AKA Vacuum Coffee Brewer)

I get unabashedly excited about the unique brewing methods as a full-time coffee fanatic. and none excites me as much as the siphon coffee maker (the vacuum coffee maker). part science experiment, part performance art, part coffee pot – buy the right one and you’re sure to impress your friends and satisfy your taste buds.

Finding the right one is easy with this roundup of reviews! home grounds has tracked down the five best siphon coffee makers of 2022, from budget to luxury. one of them will surely be perfect for you, so read on to find out which one.

Reading: Best siphon coffee maker

5 of the best siphon coffee makers of 2022

Now that you know what to look for and what you’re seeing, let’s take a look at the best options out there. in no particular order (i.e. all are great options).

if you’re googling vacuum coffee makers right now, trying to learn more about the funky contraption behind the bar at the coffee shop, chances are the hario technica is the same funky contraption you saw (1). this coffee maker seems to appear everywhere: in dark cafes, trendy corner cafes, and plenty of youtube videos, and for good reason.

Thanks to the Japanese penchant for simple and efficient design, the hario technica is a user favorite. the quality of this coffee maker far outshines the yama stovetop siphon, so you won’t run into any of the problems (brittleness, inadequate sealing, and poor drainage) that seem to plague the yama.

the technica is a freestanding coffee maker, sure to impress at first sight. It comes in a 3-cup or 5-cup size, and includes its own spirit burner (not attached). If you’re looking for a classic vacuum coffee maker, this should be at the top of your list.

read our full review of hario technica.

The Yama glass ceramic siphon coffee maker is the least expensive on the list, but only by a hair. is a stovetop coffee maker, which comes in two different sizes: 22 ounces and 40 ounces, which means you can choose the right capacity for your needs.

compared to other vacuum coffee makers, the yama has a simple design and is very easy to use. Most Yama buyers find its simplicity appealing and its brew quality on par with more expensive vacuum brewers; however, some have claimed that this simplicity simply masks poor quality.

While one would expect a device made almost entirely of glass to be brittle, the Yama has been criticized for its thin glass, which makes it relatively brittle for a vacuum brewer.

read our review of the yama coffee siphon.

If you’ve ever walked into a Starbucks (don’t lie), you’re probably familiar with the Bodum Pebo (also known as Santos): Starbucks loves to advertise Bodum French Presses in all their windows. This Scandinavian company is known for its clean, minimalist design without sacrificing utility. the bodum stove is no exception to this discipline.

This vacuum coffee maker is only slightly larger than the Yama stove, but the Bodum stove is made with slightly higher quality materials.

Surprisingly, the Bodum Stovetop Coffee Maker doesn’t use a cover for its top chamber, which isn’t usually a problem unless you add too much water.

read our bodum pebo review.

If you’re looking for something to impress, or to go with your new top hat, then the Nispira Belgium Balance Vacuum Coffee Maker is the way to go. Nothing says class and refinement like a throwback to the early days of coffee brewing. Essentially, the Nispira is a new version of one of the first vacuum coffee makers. Although it smacks of impractical snobbish elegance, the machine works just as well as most modern vacuum brewers.

Unfortunately, this device is the most expensive on the list; however, I’m sure you were expecting this as it literally has “luxury[aw8]” in the name.

Unlike other vacuum brewers, which stack one chamber on top of another, the balance siphon chambers are placed side by side. Despite this unique design, the balance siphon works on the same basic principles, but you can see it in action here:

Unfortunately, the balance siphon is not as easy to adjust as some other vacuum brewers, and replacement parts can be very hard to find.

So, you liked the Nispira Balance Siphon, but your monocle-wearing days are over. you like the show, but want something with more of the open source nature of other vacuum brewers. well, dear reader, the yama desktop siphon could be the ideal coffee maker for you.

This vacuum coffee maker comes with an elegant three-arm stand with a decorated ceramic base, but other than that, its design is very similar to the hario technica.

Unfortunately, its performance is not up to par. The rubber seal on the Yama table siphon is not always effective, which can prevent a vacuum from forming. however, this coffee maker comes with its own butane burner, which is a very efficient and constant source of heat. Plus, you have the option of using this vacuum coffee maker on a stovetop.

Have you used any of the vacuum coffee makers on this list? I guess you like to pour over your coffee too, so check out our favorite pour-over coffee makers or these really cool slow drip coffee makers.

what is a vacuum coffee maker?

There is a short and long answer to this question:

The short answer: A vacuum coffee maker is that little thing you’ve seen in a handful of hyper-hipster coffee shops and never knew what it does.

The Long Answer: A vacuum brewer is a full immersion brewing system that uses a constant heat source to create a vacuum in one chamber by forcing water into another chamber, where it settles ground coffee. soaked, and then allows the brew to drain back into the lower chamber.

Although this process may sound more confusing than in regular coffee machines, I promise you it is not. To get a good picture of how it all works, watch steven from home demonstrate it in this video:

why vacuum/siphon?

In addition to a nickname (siphon) that would fit in well with the X-Men super mutant team, vacuum brewers have four unique features that set them apart from other brewing systems:

full immersion

The first is that vacuum coffee makers brew with a spectacular-sounding process called total immersion.

This brewing method will be familiar to you, as both the French Press and the Aeropress use this method to brew beer. Basically, full immersion is the same as steeping, and generally results in a clearer, lighter-tasting brew. Unfortunately, this method is not as good at extracting flavor from your ground coffee as the drip method. think about cleaning a dirty sponge under running water instead of soaking it for a while, which brings me to…

the void

The feature that gives this mad scientist’s experiment its name is also the most defining.

After the coffee grounds have steeped for a while, becoming looser and more relaxed than their furry uncle in the community bathhouse, the vacuum created in the lower chamber draws all that caffeine-saturated liquid out into down through the filter. By forcing the water back down through the grounds, this method is also effective at extracting any remaining soluble to which the coffee grounds are still attached.

constant heat

Another unique feature of a vacuum coffee maker is that it provides constant heat throughout the brewing process. Unlike other brewing methods, which require you to pour pre-heated water over ground coffee, a vacuum coffee maker heats continuously. Since temperature is one of the most important parts of brew quality, having a constant heat source allows for greater control over brewing.

beautifully designed

I will not pretend that I am not superficial, because to a certain extent I am. I admit that sometimes I choose coffee beans based on the design on the label and, yes, I like vacuum coffee makers because they look great. Having a vacuum coffee maker on your kitchen counter (or in the trophy case, I would) will immediately capture the interest of any guest wondering what kind of amazing science experiments it’s used for.

okay, so how do I choose a siphon brewer?

In addition to the features listed above, there are a few other things to consider when looking for a vacuum coffee maker on the market. Let’s review some of these considerations:

stove versus freestanding

In terms of brew quality, there’s not much difference between a stovetop or a stand-alone vacuum brewer.

The basic difference is that a cooktop (as the name implies) is designed so that it can sit on top of a gas or electric cooktop. A freestanding vacuum coffee maker has its own sleek stand and a built-in or separate gas or alcohol burner that rests neatly below the bottom chamber.

amount of preparation

Like most other brewing systems, many sous-vide brewers brew different sized batches, typically ranging from 3-8 cups per brew. the amount of caffeine you prefer in your mornings (or the size of your family) will determine which size is best for you.

how stylish are you?

Given the price range of these coffee makers, I can safely assume that anyone considering buying one has a soft spot for the style. Whatever your sense of style, there are vacuum coffee makers for the Elton John in all of us. but just a fair warning, the more elton you are, the higher the price you should expect. if you’re looking for something simpler (and boring), maybe a regular coffee pot.

the verdict

Although the competition was tough, I have a clear winner: the hario technica.

This vacuum coffee maker is the coffee maker of choice for many coffee shops because, compared to its counterparts, it offers the highest and most consistent quality.

incorporates the unique iconic design of vacuum coffee makers without sacrificing any functionality. furthermore, hario technica is well built with superior materials, which means it doesn’t suffer from the same sealing issues as other vacuum brewers.