History of the Syphon
It’s no secret that the syphon brewer is one of the most attractive brewing methods to watch unfold. Combining total immersion with filter brewing, a syphon will give you a full-bodied coffee without the bitterness.
The first coffee syphons were born in Europe, with the very first created in the 1830s by German company, Loeff. In the coming years, several patents were filed to improve Loeff’s design but it wasn’t until 1841 that Madame Vassieux of Lyon filed a patent showcasing a double “balloon” globe held by a frame – a syphon many of us recognise today.
In the early 20thCentury the US market took a liking to this new brew method and by 1915 they were being manufactured and sold en masse to hotels and coffee shops, as well as becoming popular household items between the 1930s - 1950s.
Hario was significantly influenced by the American culture during this time, and began to produce coffee syphons using heatproof glass. The coffee syphon was the first household product that Hario produced, and in 1946 they began to develop a prototype of the all-glass vintage Cory vacuum coffee pot – a ten serving syphon which came to be the most popular coffee pot in the US at this time. The decline in use of the syphon came in the late 20thCentury as people looked for more convenient ways to brew coffee in the home.
Moving forward to the current day, syphons are making a comeback and can often be found on the brew bars of specialty coffee shops. Their popularity can be further seen with the introduction of the Japan Siphonist Championshipwhich has been running since 2003 and further extended to the World Siphonist Championship(WSC) in 2009, of which Hario are a sponsor. The WSC sees competitors prepare three blended syphon coffees plus three signature beverages in their 15 minute performance time.
In 2019 the Hario Syphon turned 70 years old. In a time described as the “third wave of coffee”, it would seem the Syphon is again capturing the attention of baristas and coffee enthusiasts around the world.
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