Customer Reviews

Northwest Glass Yama TCA-3D 15-Ounce Coffee Siphon Vacuum Pot, 1-Unit

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I wanted to try the siphon method of brewing and thought this would be a good entry level pot. I have been very pleased with it so far. I have used it almost every day since I received it and used it for a presentation on coffee brewing methods. I must say that I was a bit disappointed when it arrived to see that the product features had not been (nor still is) accurate. The listing stated (and still does) that this unit also "Includes an bamboo stir stick and a butane burner". Of course it did not. It contained a plastic measuring spoon that also works as a stirrer as well as an alcohol burner. I had done enough research to suspect this was the case.

On the topic of burner; I had read quite a bit about the slowness of the alcohol burner but this really hasn't been too much of an issue for me. I heat my water in an electric water kettle before putting it in the siphon and it is back up to a boil in a very short time with the alcohol burner. I could see this being an issue if you didn't preheat the water or were using a larger pot.

So far I'm very pleased with my purchase and would consider using this company and supplier in the future.

This pot makes a very clean and bright cup of coffee. However, for the price, I would have expected better quality in the construction. While the glass and rubber gaskets seem fine, the plastic components and the base feel cheap. The spring that holds the filter in place seems like it won't last more than a few years. When this eventually gives out, I'll continue to make siphon coffee, but probably find a different company.

Vacuum brewing is a blast!

It may take some trial and error at first, but the high quality of the resulting brew more than rewards your persistence in getting your technique just right.

The Yama TCA-3 was the second coffee siphon I purchased.

The first was a Hario Nouveau 5-cup model. While the build and glass quality of the Yama can't hold a candle to those of the Hario, that was to be expected, as the Yama is about half the price. More importantly, the Yama does make a great cup of coffee.

From a tactile standpoint, the Hario feels better in the hand and seems more solid; the Hario Nouveau's rubber seal between the top and bottom globes is of much higher quality.

Why didn't I buy another Hario, then? Hario has stopped importing them into the U.S. While they can be found occasionally on eBay or bought from vendors in Canada, the availability of parts is a potential concern.

The Yama, at its much lower pricepoint, is a perfectly adequate entry-level vacuum brewer and a reliable "daily driver" coffeemaker.

As such, I definitely recommend it for someone on a budget, or someone who wants to try vacuum brewing for the first time but is reluctant to spend over a hundred dollars on a Hario (or significantly more than that on a Cona).

Don't be surprised if the bamboo stir stick described in the ad doesn't arrive with the brewer: there was no sign of it in my package.

On a side note, if you find you enjoy vacuum brewing, I would highly recommend getting a butane burner to replace the included alcohol burner: the butane flame burns cleaner and hotter.

any coffee connoisseur must own a vac pot. THese guys have a rich history, and are well worth it. People can complain about the butane burner, you can complain that it takes too long, but with a few simple tricks, this can become an easy, little hassle, artful way to enjoy coffee. A few tips for you guys

1. Preboil the water, wait for it to come off of a boil then pour into the lower globe

2. Use the burner to heat the glass for about 15 seconds before you pour the water

--- those two tips can save 20 minutes or more on coffee time... when done right, the whole thing should take about 10 minutes.
go to brewmethods.com to learn everything else for making coffee in this guy. email me at fjwright04@gmail.com if you have any questions... i love coffee, and would love to help you

great can be used for any infusion , I personally use it in creanting broath infusions for my cooking with oustanding results, try a fish broath infusion with geranium and bergamote skins

Brews a very tasty pot of coffee. Tried it out as soon as I got it, it works as advertised!

The coffee siphon is one of the oldest brew methods around. It's the only table-top brew method to use negative pressure (vacuum power) to brew coffee. A well-made coffee in this siphon yields a juicy, delicate brew that will delight the palate while putting on quite a show!

This particular siphon design is elegant and functional, with plenty of room for a large pot of coffee without boiling over. The tall upper pot makes brewing coffee seem especially magical as you get to watch an entire pot of coffee brew while suspended in the upper pot, seemingly by nothing!

From a practical perspective, the coffee siphon is useful since it makes brewing temperature management relatively easy. Coffee is sensitive and brews best between 195-205 F, and the coffee siphon makes it easy to keep this temperature by holding the brewing coffee safely away from a direct source of heat. It may be bubble, but it won't boil!

Five stars for a beautiful, functional and classic coffee maker.

Excellent value syphon which is a great fun way to make coffee. Instructions in japanese but plenty of videos on YouTube. You definitely need a good grinder and a good source of fresh beans. The burner works OK but a butane burner would be a great addition.

I love this coffee maker so much. It is fun making coffee. The coffee is always hot and tastes great!!

When I was a baby-boomer rugrat in the 50's, my parents had a siphon coffee maker that, to my even-then-nerdy eyes, was way too cool and fascinating. Two hurricanes and several moves later, I have no idea what happened to that pot.

Fast-forward to the present. I am a budding home-roaster and coffee aficionado, and having asked around for the best way to get the most flavor out my roasts for smallish quantities (alas, my spouse does not drink coffee), was told a siphon was the way to go. Memories re-surfaced, and I found this beauty on Amazon, and was hooked!

The subtleties of good or great coffee are revealed with this brewer! Don't expect miracles, mediocre coffee still tastes so-so, but the bitterness and acidity of all coffees are toned-down somewhat.

Now, the negative is that it takes a good while to make coffee in the Yama. Even preheating the water in a microwave and using a butane burner, it's not speedy!

And then there's the "it's all glass" factor. Though sturdy tempered glass, the odd shapes make it vulnerable in the sink or drainboard.

Suggestions: I did buy a butane burner, but cost and trouble regulating the flame moved me back to the alcohol burner, BUT, with 90+% denatured, not isopropyl, alcohol. You can get it at hardware stores as paint remover, and a quart can, about $5, will last a long time!

Next up, a larger siphon for when I have friends over!