Vacuum Brewing

Photograph by Kadluba

I'll be taking a different route and instead of introducing you to the method(s) of coffee grinding, I will be introducing another method of coffee brewing. What you see here is a vacuum brewer and takes the infusion process to a different, and very much unique level. Through this method, you may experience the cleanest, purest cup of coffee and I'll show you how through the steps required to utilize it.

Primarily, we have to know how it works. Vacuum brewers utilizes a process of suction -- the result of expanding/ contracting gases and in this case, the gas is water vapor. With it comes four parts, two glass containers, a tube that connects the two, and a filter that allows water/ gases through but keeps sediments, in this case, coffee out. Those two containers sit on top of one another, connected b that tube, and there's a filter in between. Of course, all of it is set on top of a stove or other heat source.

Step 1 requires the actual assembly. Step 2 follows by filling the bottom container with water and the upper container with coffee grinds.  Through the process of heating water, water vapor is formed and water vapor requires relief somewhere and the only relief is through the tube. So as the water heats up and vaporizes at the bottom, liquid from the surface is pushed up through tube and into the second container. At this point, the coffee grinds are undergoing their infusion process. 

Within 1-3 minutes, the process of vaporizing, expanding, transporting of liquids, infusing is over. Remove the entire assembly off from its heat source. At this point, the cooling temperatures affect the vapors and actually contracts the gas, bringing the liquids from the top back to the bottom -- through the tube and ultimately leaving all coffee grinds at the top and pure, clean coffee at the bottom. 

There you go! Though people used to the French press might find it weak since there's more filtration going on, they're always allowed to adjust the amount of coffee grinds.

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Posted in: Coffee,Coffeemaker,Ken,Vacuum Brewer

A Coffee Fieldtrip

On the main counter top of my kitchen sits a Keurig coffee machine and an accompanying coffee carousel. My mother's mission seems to be to keep the carousel full of coffee, tea, hot cocoa and now iced tea "Kcups". For a while it looked like the only places to purchase K cups were online distributors, Keurig  and eBay. I was always finding packages of K cups on my deck and I became a K cup taste tester. Recently, my mother was given a place to actually test and buy Kcups. It's called Filterfresh Distributors and is located a few blocks from Farmingdale State on Smith Street.

We decided to take a field trip to see this place and actually buy some of the harder to find coffees and teas. The building is inconspicuously placed between other industrial buildings and has a few parking stalls. We actually missed it on our first go around but when we arrived we were intrigued. The main entryway had various size  Keurigs and every K cup listed on the obligatory order form that you take upon entry to the building. The people who greeted us were extremely helpful, very knowledgeable about their products and VERY patient. The prices for Kcups were very competitive with online, supermarkets, and big box stores. One could drink several cups of coffee, tea, hot cider and cocoa as long as you want. It was literally a Keurig paradise. We ordered 16 boxes of coffee and tea, established an ongoing account and actually had an employee load the car. It was an interesting experience and well worth the trip.

Picture by Kyle Karlin

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Posted in: Coffee,Coffeemaker,Keurig,Kyle