Oh No, The Acid Monster™ Is In My Coffee Again!

Just when I think I've found the perfect coffee maker, some other coffee gadget comes along and claims to be more perfect... and you know I have to try it, because I love coffee. This time it's the Hourglass® Coffee Maker telling me I have to brew my coffee cold. That's right; cold water brewing is less acidic than hot water brewing and the water can't just soak the ground coffee, it has to infuse the ground coffee. Got all that?

These darn cynic fingers want to type something about this Hourglass's irrelevance, but then my esophagus tells my hands, "Just wait a minute there! You know I get heartburn every day before 10 a.m. Just do your job and report what Hourglass has to say about its new system!"

Heck! I'm a sucker when comes to pain. Here's what the Hourglass is about...

First, there is plenty of information out there about how hot water brewing increases the acidity of coffee. Hourglass suggests that even the heat generated during grinding is enough to cause a more acidic coffee. And, as consumption of coffee and tea increases every year, the incidence of esophageal and gastric problems are increasing as well.

Hourglass has a patented cold water infusion process. There are other cold water brewing systems on the market, but their processes do not use infusion; they soak the coffee and then drain it. Hourglass's end product is a coffee extract which produces 8 full cups of coffee when hot or cold water is added, so don't be shocked when I tell you that one brew requires 2.25 cups of ground coffee. Yes, I know, even that is extreme at 12.99 a pound, but you can brew the coffee twice without losing flavor, according to Hourglass, so you actually get 16 cups of coffee from 2.25 cups.

Brewing in the Hourglass takes at least 12 hours; if you like strong coffee, let it brew for 24 hours. (I thought I would let you have your shocks one paragraph at a time.) On the other hand, you don't have to brew your coffee one or two cups at a time. And, in the morning when you're getting ready for work, the Hourglass coffee extract could come in very handy.

The Hourglass uses no electricity and no paper filters, saving those expenses. The Hourglass has a lifetime guarantee, as does its stainless steel filter. The pot is made of shatter-proof BPA-free plastic made by Eastman® and has a tip-proof design.

Come to think of it, the Hourglass Coffee Maker is not irrelevant at all. I'd rather spend the 70 bucks now than let my esophagus have to worry about getting cancer in the future from drinking hot brewed coffee. Besides, if the Hourglass brewing system doesn't help the heartburn situation, I can return the coffee maker within 30 days and start drinking GABA! (Make sure you read the product's warranty before purchasing.)