Specialty Coffee Makers

Vacuum brewers and French presses

If you prefer your coffee without a side of beepers, timers and indicator lights, you could consider a low-tech vacuum brewer or French press. Although these deliver a strong, flavorful brew, they are more labor-intensive than automatic-drip machines. Still, if you consider yourself a connoisseur of fine coffee, reviews say that these machines are worth considering, at least for weekend use or as dinner-party conversation pieces.

Reviews say the Bodum Santos (*Est. $80) glass vacuum brewer brews an especially delicious, nuanced cup, but owners report it's a fragile showpiece that's not for everyday use. The Bodum Santos brews six 5-ounce cups of coffee at a time directly over a stovetop (a heat diffuser should be placed over a gas flame) or alcohol burner. Expert reviewers like the "theatrical" aspect of the vacuum pot. Owners say it's easy to clean and cuts a striking figure on the countertop, but for such a simple device, it's pricey.

To make French-press coffee, you simply add grounds to a glass pot, pour hot water over them, allow coffee to steep and depress a metal filter, which strains the coffee. French presses take up little counter space, but they tend to lose heat quickly. Bodum has remedied this problem by introducing a stainless thermal model, the Bodum Columbia (*Est. $80 for the eight-cup model). It keeps coffee hot and flavorful for hours, and it's easy to clean, say owners. And this handsome pot can do double-duty as a tea brewer.