I didn't think I'd use this much because it's a bit more of a hassle than a french press, but I like the coffee it makes so much that I use it every day. I'm surprised it makes coffee that is better than the french press, but it does make it a lot smoother and the cup has absolutely no grounds or mud in it.
I roast my own coffee now, and this the perfect companion to the roaster for the way I like coffee, which is smooth, consistent, and flavorful. Plus it is fun to watch it work. The included bottom glass makes enough to for two normal sized coffee cups or one large mug for the road. It includes 5 cloth filters, and I have used the same one for many months now. Daily cleanup is with the sink sprayer which gets the filter clean enough for more use. Then once a week, I pull the filter out of the metal holder and clean it up well.
The amazon page states quite a long lead time for shipping, but it came in just over a week--which was great.
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If you love a French Press, but want to move into something a bit more elegant and exotic to make coffee the Siphon Based System is just the answer. I opted for this device because it is fueled by Butane Gas the same gas to fill Cigarette Lighters.If you love hot coffee that is not burnt or over cooked, and you wish to get away from the paper filters, this Siphon Pot of perfect. I loved it.
Best Deals on Yama Glass 5 cup Tabletop Ceramic 20oz Syphon w/Butane Burner
My parents used a vacuum coffee maker back in the 1950's...that being said the absolutely best cup of coffee I've ever had in my life was in Jakarta (on, of course, the island of Java) from a table-top vacuum coffee maker.This product makes absolutely perfect coffee. The presentation for guests is amazing.
YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS COFFEE MAKER.
Honest reviews on Yama Glass 5 cup Tabletop Ceramic 20oz Syphon w/Butane Burner
You wouldn't be investigating this product if you didn't love your coffee, so the fact that this is more work than a drip machine is likely irrelevant to you. The payoff for (not really all that much) extra work is a great cup. Once you've gone a few rounds with this method, the end to end time (burner-on to coffee-down) is less than 10 minutes. Actual brewing, which is the only part where you actually need to pay close attention, is 2 minutes. And man, the coffee is good.I have no fewer than 6 coffeemaking appliances -ancient Bodum Santos Electric (a warhorse that I used constantly for over 10 years, still works like new...sadly, Bodum stopped making these); reasonable mid-line drip machine (only use when I need to produce a volume of coffee for guests); a Bodum french press; an Aeropress (pretty cool, makes a smooth cup); a Coleman percolator we use for camping; and the Yama. They all have something to recommend them, but my runaway favorite is the Yama.
The manufacturer has made an honest attempt to make this unit pretty, with the floral scrolling in the base and its overall design. Even so, the first impression is that it's a bit rickety-looking. The screw-on uprights move a bit, and the whole thing flexes in a mildly unnerving way. But I've brewed well in excess of 100 pots in the Yama and it shows no sign of wear or failure. Nowadays I don't even question its sturdiness...it has help up just fine.
A few weeks into usage, I started getting a nasty flavor note. After some investigation online, I determined that it was buildup on the 3 cloth filters. I tried the various methods that were suggested for cleaning them, but was never able to completely eliminate that off-note, so I tossed them. There are two excellent alternatives to the cloth filters. First, you can use the paper filters for Aeropress. They are very inexpensive and fit well. They do deposit a little more sediment in the cup, but some people like that. Since I don't, I tried another method, which is a Yama stainless steel filter. Make sure you wash the steel filter well before putting it to work, as it does present a slighty metallic taste on first use. But it doesn't leave as much sediment as the paper filters, produces a cup that I think is as good as the cloth filters, and most importantly doesn't get nasty with use. It rinses clean under a faucet, and stands up to repeated use. Mine has had most of those >100 pots pass through it, and it's still in fine shape.
I think the butane burner is the most effective of the available means of producing heat. Stovetop would probably work if you have a gas stove, but electric stovetops are too up-and-down on the temperatures, making for more drama than needed during the brewing process. Alcohol burners work ok, but they take longer than butane burners....a lot longer, in my experience.
YMMV, but for my money, vac pots are the best way to brew coffee. I'm giving the Yama 5 stars because it is a good value for the money, it hits its design goal beautifully, and for me it has stood up to a lot of use. It does everything it is purported to do, and it makes killer brew.
