The Balancing Siphon Coffee Maker

Regardless of how delightful the finished product may be, most methods of brewing coffee are pretty dull. Drip machines just sit there and dribble, percolators burble a little, and plunger pots don't do anything at all. If you enjoy having people over for coffee, you might want to try a coffee maker that puts on a show.

The balancing siphon coffee maker is an elaborate device for making coffee, and it's both beautiful to look at and fun to use.

The set-up consists of two canisters, or jars. One is usually metal (for the heating of the water) and the other is glass (for the actual brewing). There is a small alcohol burner that sits under the metal canister, and the two canisters are joined together by a slim pipe. Here's how the system works:

You place the ground coffee in the glass jar, and boiling water into the metal chamber. Light the alcohol burner to continue heating the water. As the water boils, it flows through the pipe and into the jar with the coffee grounds. The water is just below boiling when it mixes with the ground, which is just ideal for excellent coffee. Eventually, the water chamber will boil empty, and the balanced lever will tip the canister and put out the burner. Meanwhile the coffee is happily brewing in the glass jar. When the metal canister cools, it creates a vacuum, and the finished coffee is sucked back through the pipe from the glass jar. There is a spigot at the bottom of the metal chamber, where you pour the finished coffee.

There are no filters to alter the flavour of the coffee, and the nature of the system keeps the water at the right temperature for brewing. Though it will make you a great cup of coffee, this might be too elaborate for your important first-thing-in-the-morning cup.

Thank you to Royal Coffee Makers for the use of their great photos