Manufacturers of vacuum pots and coffee aficionados claim that the vacuum method brews the purest coffee and preserves the subtleties of fine blends. I’ve never owned a vacuum coffee pot but the physics of it are intriguing.
Essentially, you have two chambers with a funnel between them. Heat is applied to the lower chamber, creating pressure, forcing water up through the funnel and grounds into the second chamber. After most of the water has been forced through, the heat is removed and the coffee returns to the lower chamber.
From 1859 to the present, the vacuum coffee pot has been continually refined and re-imagined. One of my favorite patent infographics is from July 17th, 1928 detailing a vacuum pot that appears to tilt like a balance scale.
Another infographic detailing the procedure for using your Santos vacuum coffee pot:
Personally, I’m a fan of espresso. I won’t complain if anyone wants buy me one though.
