The $5 Vacuum/ Syphon Coffee Maker

I made this coffee maker for around $5 because I wanted one but didn't want to pay $150-$300. I haven't used my regular coffee maker since. Anyone want to buy a slightly used Francis Francis X1?

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Coffee
• Maker
• vacuum
• syphon
• X1
• Francis

[chrisfic]

Yes, I split the end of the tubing lengthwise first in half then turned it a quarter turn and split it again about 1/2 inch. I bent the four ends out perpendicular to the tubing, filing the edges to remove the sharp edges. I used a key ring (just the round part) about one inch in diameter to make the "filter" round having a little more surface area. Cut a piece of cotton cloth about three inches in diameter. Lay the ring on the cloth, set the cut ends of tubing in the middle and tie with string.

[chrisfic]

I have used this hundreds of times with no broken flasks. If you don't get the stopper down in there good enough the pressure will blow it up to the ceiling. I'm certainly not advocating that anyone build and use this thing, it can be dangerous. I put it together more as an experiment to see how it would work and if the coffee would be good. That's a good trick filling the tube with sand, thanks.

[JacobSijsma]

Impressive, how does the coffee compare to filter coffee ?

[chrisfic]

@JacobSijsma I don't own a regular drip filter coffee maker but I have filter coffee at work. I have tried bringing my own fresh ground beans hoping it will be better but no luck. I like the vacuum syphon coffee much better. I'm not sure why it is so much better but it is. I have seen postings about vacuum syphon coffee on the internet but haven't done much reading about it.

[kennyt1230]

I have a glass-top stove and I use a pyrex percolator. To use Pyrex on it you need a metal trivet or else you risk shattering the pyrex--also, you shouldn't move a hot pyrex glass to the cold burner or else you can also shatter due to the instant change from hot to cold. Just turning off the burner should make the coffee flow back into the glass pot.

[chrisfic]

@kennyt1230 I also have a glass top stove and have no problems using Pyrex on it. And it's not like you are moving the hot Pyrex from the stove into a bucket of ice water, so there's no problem there. People have been cooking with Pyrex for decades. Thanks for your concern.

[chrisfic]

@mrGadlo It was just an experiment. I don't think you have given a siphon much thought. You don't control the temperature of a siphon, it happens according to physics. As far as copper leaching, we drink water that has passed through copper pipes daily so it's not an issue. The real advantages of using this cheep little contraption is the fun of completing a project using the least amount of money, watching it do it's thing and enjoying a cup of coffee that is better than Mr. Coffee.

[sumdude4]

Out of curiosity, does the copper affect the taste of the coffee? I would think the acid in the coffee would corrode the inside of the copper pipe and add a different taste to the coffee in the long run.

[jmcshane3317]

do you have a filter of any sort?

[bluesquidny]

I think copper is fine. Its used in the production of everything. One way to bend the copper easily is to fill it with fine sand and then bend however you want. Old distillers trick.

I have seen that a small stainless steel chain in the bottom of the heated glass will help propagate bubbles and help avoid the glass breaking.

[BelialAndar]

@chrisfic There is potential for a problem there. People have been cooking with Pyrex for decades and some of those people have disfigured faces now because they opened the oven door, or set the glassware on the stove top. There is always that small chance so be careful.

[PieXNinja]

@kennyt1230 No, what differentiates pyrex from conventional glass is it's ability to withstand rapid temperature change, this is why it's used in labs.

[mrGadlo]

@hitachi088 perhaps the sock is not great, but safer than leeching copper. The claim that copper is good for you is totally unfounded and irresponsible. Vitamin manufacturers have started removing copper from multi-vitamins due to early results of research that shows problems.