At $90 USD ($165 Cdn, once you factor in duty, exchange and shipping, but not sales taxes), this is an expensive brewing device. But not as expensive as the Cona vacuum brewer, from Britain. Is it worth it?

Probably not as your first vacuum brewer. If you've never vacuum brewed before, you're better off getting a Bodum Santos (about $40), a Yama stovetop model (about $35), or try picking up an old Cory or Silex model off of eBay (don't pay more than $25 for your first model). You should find out if you like it first before sinking this kind of funds into a device.

As an upgrade, as a collectible, and as a superior small volume vacuum brewer, I would say the Hario Nouveau Syphon Brewer is definitely worth the money. Where many, many products on the market that place more value in the name than the actual design and function of the product (status brand shoes and clothes come to mind, but so do some other Hario products), the Nouveau has a lot of design smarts built into it. As I said eariler, pennies were definitely not pinched when it comes to the materials Hario decided to use in this device.

The functionality of the device is well thought out, the materials are first rate, and coffee it produces is extremely good, (most important factor, when it is all said and done). It easily functions as a dinner table brewer, quietly doing its job as you chat after your meal. Cleanup with the paper filter is easier than cloth setups, and using the device - prepping it, brewing, and serving is easier than most vacuum brewers because of some ingenious design applications.

Two aftermarket "upgrades" to this vacpot that I definitely recommend are the Micro Torch butane burner that can be bought at Lee Valley Tools, and either a Cona glass rod filter, or a Hario cloth filter set and cloth filters.

With all of that, the Hario Nouveau 3 cup model is a very excellent buy, and you will not be disappointed with it... at least until your credit card statement comes in, but that too shall pass :-)