Damn Consumer Reports! The cover story for their latest edition is "The Great Gift Guide - Top products of the year based on style, performance, safety, and sustainability", and within the "Pleasure Seeker" section they featured this KitchenAid siphon coffee brewer.

You know, I have to confess to being a sucker for new gadgets, and ever since I read the review, I can't get this thing out of my head. I think this method of brewing coffee was invented by the Japanese some time ago, as they were around when I was living in Japan in the early 1990s. But this takes it to a new level - no need for a Bunsen burner and lab coat!

Consumer Reports wrote "The process is slow, but the results are worth the wait."

Consumer Reports lists them as costing $200, but I see on Amazon they are currently offered at $180.

After reading through several of the reviews at Amazon, people seemed to like or love them with the following two drawbacks: First, there is no warming plate, so the coffee needs to be drunk immediately, or transferred to a thermos flask or the like. Second, clean up seems to be a bit of a hassle.

I'm a 99.9999% espresso coffee brewer here at home, but occasionally I do just want a simple cup of coffee at which time I make an Americano with my espresso maker. (I just noticed that my Breville BES900XL espresso maker has been replaced with a newer model, the Breville Bes920xl Dual Boiler Espresso Machine).

Anyhow, I will just have to wait and see what Santa might put in his sac for me. If you end up getting one of these for yourself or as a Christmas gift, please let us know what you think in the comments below.