STRANGE BREW

Looking like something out of a mad scientist’s lab, a siphon coffee maker heats water in a lower chamber, which sends it into an upper chamber by vapour pressure. There it mixes with coffee grounds and gets sucked back through a filter by vacuum pressure. In addition to making a superior cup, the process will bring a bit of theatre to your next brunch. Hario from Japan makes a number of oldschool siphons (from $109, amazon.ca) or for a more user-friendly process, try the KitchenAid Siphon Coffee Brewer ($299.99, cookstore.ca).