When it comes to Bougie coffee brewing, nothing tops the siphon. While it does look like something straight out of chemistry class, this brew method can yields some of the best coffee I have ever had! It may be temperamental and it may take you a little while to master it, but once you do, it’ll be well worth it!

Our Top Choice – Hario Technica 5-Cup Glass Siphon Coffee Maker

Why is this our top choice?

  • As far as siphon brewing goes, this is one of the lower price points while still being from a dependable brand
  • Large capacity for brewing coffee for you and your friends

Why Siphon Brewing?

I will admit, the siphon is one of the more difficult brewing techniques out there. However, it is absolutely my favorite! Why? This method offers precise temperature controls that, if done properly, ensure that the beans are totally submerged in water that is kept at the perfect temperature. The siphon extracts all of the subtle notes from your bean without any of the bitter, burnt taste you’ll get from other methods. I’ve had friends that swear that they hate black coffee.. that is until they try a cup of geisha brewed in a siphon! Don’t believe it? Well, guess you’ll just have to find out for yourself!

How Does it Work?

Shy of Gale’s coffee contraption in Breaking Bad, siphon takes the prize for the coolest-looking brewing method out there.

Step 1: Prepare your setup

Soak your filter in warm water for a few minutes, then hook it into the hopper, or the top glass component of your siphon. Fill the bulb, or bottom glass component of your siphon with about 12 oz. of warm water (per cup). Insert the glass tube of the hopper into the bulb and gently press down, ensuring that the rubber gasket properly seals — careful not to press too hard! Position the assembly over your heat source and cover the top of the hopper to speed up the heating process.

TIP: Use warm water to decrease the amount of time it takes your bulb or flame to heat the water in the bulb!

Step 2: Prepare you beans

While the water is heating, grab 25 grams of coffee and grind it a little finer than you would for regular drip coffee.

Step 3: Allow the water to heat into the upper chamber

You’ll notice that the water will begin to boil from the bulb into the hopper! Here is the chemistry at work – the heat from your heat source will keep the water suspended in the hopper! When nearly all of the water is in the hopper, remove the cover and turn down your heat to get the water in the hopper to 190°F.

Step 4: Add your grounds and brew

Gently pour your coffee into the hopper and submerge it with a bamboo paddle. Stir it for 5 seconds to make sure that all of the grounds are wet. Let the coffee brew for about a minute and 15 seconds, you should start to see a “head” form as the grounds rise to the top. You should see a thin layer of gas in between the grounds and the water.

Step 5: Release the gas and finish the brew

Take your bamboo paddle and whisk the coffee, releasing the layer of gas. Turn off your heat sources and allow the coffee to fall back into the bulb. Because the pressure from the heat is no longer in the bulb, gravity feeds the coffee through the filter!

NOTE: After about a minute or so, you should see the coffee drain completely from the hopper and a dome of grounds form on top of the filter. If you see this, you did it!

Before You Buy

What’s Your Budget?

With all of the awesome-looking $100+ siphon setups out there, it’s important to figure out how much you are willing to spend and what exactly you need out of a siphon. Someone that only plans on using the siphon occasionally will have different needs than someone that is using this every day. Some of the less expensive setups out there use gas burners – it’s important to consider the cost of refills if you use this frequently!

What Filters and Other Materials Do I Need?

Siphon – This is the bulb and hopper glassware that will hold your water and grounds.

Heat source – This is what will actually heat your water. Your choice here is the difference between this process taking 5 minutes or 15 minutes!

Filters – Quality filters are a must, as the total immersion of the grounds yields a more delicate flavor palette — why skimp on subpar filters when you’re already shelling out for a siphon?

Paddle – While a butter knife will suffice, we recommend a bamboo stirrer to round out the expert barista vibe you’re giving off!

Understanding Heat Sources: Burner vs. Stovetop vs. Halogen

Burner

These setups are usually the least expensive and have a small footprint. The concept is very similar to a small camping stove. While they are relatively inexpensive, you will need to refill them over time and most give off a gas smell while in use!

Stovetop

If you plan on using a stovetop as your heat source, but sure to get a compatible setup! There is no ongoing cost with this method, so if your budget is tight, consider going this route!

Halogen

When you think of siphons, this is probably what you picture. Straight out of chemistry class, this is the most Bougie (albeit expensive) option. Besides the occasional replacement of the bulb, there is very little ongoing cost with a halogen heat source! The cost may be a bit too high for some, but if you’re looking to splurg on a setup, check out our options below!

Before you go!

If you are interested in any (or all) of these brewing methods, go ahead and check out our in-depth articles on them! We encourage every aspiring Bougie barista to get to know each method, the pros and cons, and learn a thing or two about how others brew!