Different Coffeemaker, Different Taste

Wherever the coffee bean voyaged, new brewing apparatus appeared. The people of Italy, France, Istanbul, and other countries devised their own brewing methods to transform the magical bean into an authentic liquid counterpart.

The devices and methods that came closest to achieving this feat have survived to this day. Some coffee enthusiasts have several brewing apparatus and prefer to use one over the other depending on the occasion.

Traditional Coffeemaker with Filter

French in origin, this coffeemaker is made of porcelain, crockery, or metal. Consisting of two sections, it is very easy to use. The upper section holds the filter and coffee grounds. Once water is added to the grounds, the water slowly percolates to the bottom section. It relies on the same principle that guides the action of the famous Melitta of electric coffeemakers, except that the filter paper is placed on a support.

Pressure Coffeemaker

This Italian coffeemaker is made up of two parts that screw together. The bottom part is filled with water, and the grinds are placed in a small filter-container found in the middle. Once heated, the water is sent upwards, passing through the grinds before reaching the top part.

French Press

The French were the first to brew coffee instead of boiling it. The most popular of press coffeemakers, which produces an authentic brew, is the French Melior.

This coffeemaker is a glass cylinder; inside the cylinder sits a long rod equipped with a metal filter at the bottom. First, a measure of coffee grounds (usually 10 grams of grounds per cup) is put into the cylinder. Then, simmering water is poured on top of the grounds and left to mix for roughly two minutes. When the filter is pushed to the bottom of the cylinder, it separates the coffee brew from the coffee grounds. The French Press brews such a good cup of coffee that it is the coffeemaker used by professional tasters. This type of brewing is also used in coffeemakers in your coffee break service.

Neapolitan Flip-Drip

The Neapolitan Flip-Drip origin is... France, and its name dates back to the end of World War II, to a time when this coffeemaker rose to great popularity in Napoly, Italy. Related to today's traditional coffeemakers, the Flip-Drip is also made up of two sections. The bottom section holds the water, and after brewing the top part becomes the actual coffee pot. The sections are separated by the coffee grounds and a filter. Here's how it works: once the water in the bottom part is sufficiently hot, the Flip-Drip is flipped over; the water trickles through the coffee grounds and ends up in the former top section, which is now on the bottom and acts as a coffee pot.

Espresso Machine

When you taste espresso for the first time, you notice its differences right away. You might say that it tastes a lot stronger than regular coffee, but in truth, it's actually weaker. It is the process, the espresso coffeemaker, that makes the difference.

An espresso machine uses high pressure percolation, thus driving the water through the coffee grounds quickly and forcibly. In doing so, the coffee and water are kept to minimal contact, meaning that the coffee's tastes are not heavily diluted with the water. The result is a denser, more direct coffee taste. And because the machine usually holds grounds for only one cup, it gives a different tasting drink each time. To brew a good espresso, these sophisticated machines from Italy must be powerful, well built, and maintained carefully.

Cona Vacuum

The Cona coffeemaker is by far the most spectacular type of coffeemaker. Consisting of two glass globes superimposed and attached to a support, it works using air pressure. You put the water in the bottom bowl and the grounds in the top bowl. A burner at the bottom of the machine heats the water and air in the lower bowl, and under the effects of pressure, drives it to the top bowl. After the water and coffee intermingles and mixes, you turn the burner off. The brew then drips through a glass filtered into your cup.

This technique gives the coffee a chance to express all its tastes and aromas. If you want to taste vintage coffee, get your hands on a Cona coffeemaker.

Turkish Coffee

One of the oldest ways to make coffee is to make what is called "Turkish Coffee." In a container, whether an Ibrik (Arabic coffeemaker) or other, you add two teaspoons of extra fine coffee, two teaspoons of sugar, and two cups of cold water. Then, you boil it. Remove it from the burner and leave it settle for two minutes. The entire operation is repeated three times.

By adding a couple drops of cold water before serving, you allow the coffee grounds to deposit at the bottom of the coffeemaker.