Vac Pot Brewing with the Starbucks Utopia (INeedCoffee.com)

Vac Pot Brewing with the Starbucks Utopia

Grinding the Coffee

The included video from Starbucks indicates using 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 6 oz. of water. I found this to be a pretty strong brew. Unless you like your coffee strong, you might want to try lowering the ratio to 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 8 oz. of water. Expect to try a few times before finding the perfect personal ratio. The grind should be a medium grind, exactly the same grind that you would use with a drip coffee machine. Grind the coffee and set it to the side.

Using the Machine

Make sure that the filter has a good seal. To do this, you'll want to use both hands to grip the coffee filter basket. Fill the carafe with the appropriate amount of water, in proportion to the amount of coffee that you intend to use. Note: you may not use the Utopia with less than 4 cups of water or more than 10 cups (20 - 50 oz.) of water. Place the carafe on the heating/power base, pull back the carafe lid and place the funnel of the coffee filter basket in the body of the carafe. Pour the coffee in the filter basket and fasten the filter basket lid. Position the filter basket piece with the lid so that the grip area on the basket filter lid is aligned with the handle of the carafe. Make sure that the coffee filter basket fits securely, so that a seal is created. Turn the machine on by depressing the on/off button.

Add coffee ito upper chamber.

The brewing cycle will begin. The power light will illuminate, indicating that the machine is on. As the water heats, some will begin to rise. The water level in the coffee filter basket will rise and slowly saturate the coffee grounds. At a certain point, the majority of the water will make a dramatic rise into the coffee filter basket. A small amount of water will remain in the carafe; this is normal. The coffee will bubble and swirl. When the coffee is heated to 205慚/96慢, the coffee sensor temporarily shuts off the power to the base, and a vacuum is created. After the coffee has brewed for an appropriate amount of time, the brewed coffee will begin to drop back into the carafe. As the swollen grounds settle on the filter, the coffee will hesitate on the return journey.

Water boils in the carafe. Water slowly rises. Coffee brews and bubbles in the coffee filter basket. Coffee falls into the carafe and filters on the way down.