Once upon a time there was only the lowly percolator. Coiffed housewives would sit lovingly staring at water being heated until pressure forced it up a small tube and over a basket full of grounds. Well, it was amusing to watch even if the coffee couldn't be very good. Boiling coffee and running the liquid over grounds more than once can each produce a brew less than ideal. The drip coffee maker was later invented and making coffee took on a whole new meaning. Now a pot of coffee was a process of merely a few minutes and the results were delicious. For over 30 years now this method of making coffee continues to be the most popular and preferred. Later came pre-packaged 'pods' of a favorite blend, changes in materials and all sorts of controls to adjust the brew, and internal spouts that spread the water evenly over the grounds. Whether cone or flat, always near 200F (93C), please. In the '90s, espresso makers became the rage, with the importation of European culture and the application of American ingenuity to lower the cost without ruining the flavor. Hot water is forced under pressure through finely ground dark roast and in a few minutes, out pours a delicious, aromatic drink. Why stop at espresso? Many espresso machines will heat your milk and whip it into foam while your coffee brews. The combination of the two gives you a great cappuccino with the same machine. One hot new rage is odd in its look but the results are great. A glass with a built in filter at its bottom and a stick running up the middle and capped off with a lever. This interesting contraption, called the French plunger, introduces another European coffee drink to homes everywhere. The coffee grounds go directly into the glass and are topped by water that has been brought to a boil. This French plunger presses the coffee grounds against the filter as the coffee brews in the boiling water. The result is a strong, rich drink that can be enjoyed straight from the brewing glass. Another type of coffee maker works somewhat like the original percolator system. The vacuum brewer has two containers stacked. As the temperature rises the water ascends into the container on top. When the temperature is reduced the water begins to cool and falls over the coffee grounds and into the bottom container where you find your brew of coffee.
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