No Electricity Coffee Maker
My gut reaction when I saw the initial description of this novel coffee maker was “WOW!” For one, it would be a perfect gadget for when you go camping or if the power ever goes out (both are very real possibilities in the Philippines; and it is the season for Philippine travel). Another reason, which is more altruistic, is that using less electricity means that you are cutting your carbon footprint down. That’s always a good thing, right?
Then again, when I took a closer look at the specs of this baby, I had second thoughts. Guess how long it will take you to brew coffee using the Hourglass coffee maker? Well, at least 12 hours! Now I am not the most impatient person in the world, but having to wait 12 hours for my cup of coffee is way too long.
The concept behind brewing coffee using the Hourglass is nothing new. The basic idea is to brew coffee using cold water and time (lots of the latter). Some coffee shops actually offer coffee brewed in this manner. Cold-brewed coffee has an intense flavor, making it perfect for those who like their coffee strong. More so, you can also store the extracted coffee in your fridge for up to two weeks. This means that you do not actually have to wait 12 hours each time you want a cup of joe.
Another advantage is that this brewing method is supposed to decrease acidity by around 70%. With this bit of information, I think that I just might give the Hourglass a try. Not all coffeeholics are excited by the Hourglass but it should at least prove to be a good conversation piece.
4 Responses to “No Electricity Coffee Maker”
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[...] | Brewed Coffe Escrito por VelSid el 19 de Agosto de 2009 | Categorías: [...]
I have had Toddy cold brewed coffee before and liked it very much. If you start the process in the evening then it is ready in the morning and that seems to work out well for me. The storage factor is also very appealing.
Is there anything different about how the Hourglass works? The Toddy doesn’t look as good but I think it is cheaper.
Hi Dylan! How is the taste different from “hot” brewed coffee? And will it make a difference if you heat the coffee up? Sorry, don’t know about the difference between Hourglass and Toddy.
Hello Java Queen, As the article says, it is a LOT less acidic, and for people like me who have acid reflux, that is a great thing. The result is almost like a cold coffee syrup, and you can add hot water to is(in similar portions as a Café Americano) and it will give you about the same strength as a regular cup but with a different kind of flavor profile.
It is much less bitter and brings out different flavors in the coffee. It depends on the beans you use, but you are more likely to get chocolate, vanilla, and other sweet notes our of this kind of brew. I prefer to just pour this over ice and add a little milk. If I am going to have iced coffee, then this is my favorite way to do it.