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.
Originally posted on August 8, 2009 @ 8:15 am