Coffee Makers – A Brief History

It is believed that the Yemen were the first to drink coffee from beans in the 15th century: others say it was the Turks. It is also believed that the coffee maker was nothing more than a pot. Today, the Turks say that the first coffee maker was a copper or brass Ibrik. The Ibrik was somewhat round on the bottom half and then had a straight body the rest of the way up. There was a long fairly wide spout at the top and a metal strap handle in the shape of a large C connected to the pot. When coffee was made they put roasted coffee “berries” that had been coarsely ground in the bottom of this coffee maker. Hot water was then poured over the beans in the bottom and then boiled for several hours. When Arabs traveled through the desert, the Ibrik was put into the hot sand and the heat from the hot sand brewed the mixture. Different spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamon and anise were often added to the brew.

            The first noted commercial coffee brewers were those used in coffee houses that opened in Istanbul, Turkey in 1554. Drinking coffee from coffee makers spread to Persia and on to the Ottoman Empire and northern Africa. Next, the taste for coffee spread to Europe; it is the Dutch sailors who then spread coffee and the need for coffeemakers to the rest of the world. Coffee came to America by way of the British in the 1607. Colonists, who were mainly tea drinkers, began to drink more coffee; especially after the Boston Tea party in 1773. All this coffee drinking then inspired a need for a better coffee maker.

            During the time mentioned above coffee was made by dropping the grounds in the bottom of a “coffee pot” that now came in various shapes with a spout at the top on one side and a wooden handle on the other; some were very ornate and made of silver. Hot water was poured over the coffee grounds and boiled for a few minutes. Then, in the late 1770s, a two chamber coffee maker began to be used. Coffee grounds were put in an upper chamber. Boiling water was poured into the upper chamber that allowed only liquid to go to the lower chamber.  This was an expensive coffee maker and not many people had them.

            Next, there came a series of coffee makers. The first of these was the percolator in 1865. It was the stove top percolator similar to the ones we have today. When it was placed on a hot stove, the boiling water was forced up the hollow stem and over the coffee in a “basket.” Many people still prefer this method as it makes a stronger tasting coffee; however, today, they also prefer electric percolators. Another coffee maker that some still like to use is the vacuum coffee maker, which looks like two pots, one upside down on the other. When heat forms a pressure, it forces hot water up into the top chamber where it infuses with the coffee grounds. When the heat is taken away, the pressure is released and the hot water, now coffee, returns to the bottom chamber. Not too much later the electric percolator was introduced; the French Press coffeemaker was introduced as well. Course coffee was placed in the bottom of a straight container and a plunger with a filter in the center was pushed down and allowed the coffee to come to the top. This is another method that still remains popular today.

            The most popular form of coffee maker was introduced by the Mr. Coffee brand of coffeemakers. It is called the “pourover” method coffeemaker. Whether water is pumped over or poured over, hot water is infused with coffee grounds in a basket, usually with a filter that allows the coffee to drip into a decanter below.

            Last, but not least are the espresso makers of today. The first one was made in France, but did not work very well. An Italian bought the patent and improved on it. After World War II, the Italians concentrated on the improvement of espresso machines. Today, Italian espresso machines and cappuccino machines whether made in America or Europe, or for the home or commercial use, remain highly sought after.   

About the Author

Joyce Kaaland was a stay at home mom for three grls, then went back to college and graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts in comparative Asian studies. On graduation, she was offered two jobs and taught ESL, G.E.D. and citizenship to Asians for 6 years. While going to college Joyce was a substitute aide and later teacher in her local school district. After retirement, Joyce taught at Xinyang College in China. She loves to travel in untraveled places in the world like the jungles of Indonesia and untraveled parts of eastern France.  

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