Disclosed is a method for producing a coffee extract with less bitterness, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a coffee brewing vessel comprising an intimate mixture of coffee grounds and an aqueous medium； b) reducing the pressure in the coffee brewing vessel so as to be in the range of 3.4 - 84.7 kPa (1-25 inHg)； c) brewing the coffee at reflux whilst maintaining the pressure in the range of 3.4 - 84.7 kPa； and d) increasing the pressure in the coffee brewing vessel to atmospheric pressure. Also disclosed is Caffe` Depurato obtained by the above method which has a noticeably improved flavour relative to other conventional brewing processes, and which also possesses less bitterness. Further disclosed is a coffee reflux extraction apparatus comprising: a coffee brewing vessel； a cannula； one or more vacuum pumps for reducing the pressure in the coffee brewing vessel to the range of 3.4 - 84.7 kPa (1-25 inHg)； a steam condensing means having an evacuation means； and a collection vessel having a collection vessel evacuation means； wherein the apparatus is configured for the extraction of coffee grounds at reflux for a predetermined time period at a pressure in the range of 3.4 - 84.7 kPa (1-25 inHg)； and wherein the apparatus is further configured to subsequently transfer hot liquid from the coffee brewing vessel into the collection vessel via the cannula under the action of a pressure differential provided by one or more of the vacuum pumps and mediated through said evacuation means.
