Coffee Makers – The Neapolitan Drip Filter
This is possibly one the best coffee makers in existence. Elegantly simple, extremely beautiful and capable of producing the some of the tastiest coffee in the world, the Neapolitan drip filter is a 19th century French design that while perplexing at first is remarkably easy to operate.
Combining the elegance of a stovetop espresso pot, with the principles of steam extraction and percolation, with a finish akin to a French press, the Neapolitan drip filter is the ultimate in coffee design. Rare as hen’s teeth, the pot consists of three basic parts, and occasionally a lid. There is a pouring spout attached to one of the pots, a top pot that fits snugly into the jug, and a filter insert that allows for ground coffee to be introduced to boiled water.
How it works can take some figuring out, but it is actually remarkably simple. As with a vacuum brewer, the process is a two stage one, requiring the removal of one of the vessels to serve the coffee. There are numerous designs incorporating oil lamps for heating and pivots to make the flipping of the pot, a crucial part of the process, safer and easier but even the simplest drip filters make excellent coffee.
The process begins by filling the filter with ground coffee. The coarseness of the grind is quite significant here, as if the coffee is ground too far it will flow through the filter and into the final brew. Getting the grind right can take practice. Once it is filled, and the filter cap screwed back into place, the filter can be inserted into the pot with the spout. This is then connected to the base pot, without a spout, in which the water is boiled. Make sure to fill the base pot with water before connecting the top pot.
Once filled and connected the base pot, the pot lacking the spout, can be placed onto a heat source. The presence of a lip will prevent the filter from falling down into this. The water is boiled in the base and once it has done so the pot should be removed from the heat and allowed to cool briefly. Once cooled slightly, the fun can begin.
The most amusing part of the process of brewing with the Neapolitan drip filter is definitely the flip. What happens here is that the pot is inverted to allow hot water to pass through the filter, and brew the coffee. The combined efforts of steam percolation and filtration produce a coffee that is truly fully flavored. Enjoy the gurgling and bubbling noises that the pot makes as the water passes through. Make sure that you don’t knock the pot over at this point otherwise the top heavy chamber will come crashing down, covering you with hot water.
Once the water has finally dripped through, you can remove the pot on top, without a spout, and place the lid on the now spouted bottom pot. Pour the coffee into prepared cups, add milk and sugar to taste and enjoy.