Both thermal servers and airpots are similar in that they hold coffee at temperature for up to two hours in a thermos type glass lined and insulated vessel. However, airpots and thermal servers differ greatly in how they are filled and discharged, as well as convenience of use and cleaning. Airpots are filled through fragrance and temperature robbing open lids. Thermal servers feature brew through lids which keep the coffee warmer and more fragrant right from the start. Airpots discharge their contents through a removable air displacing pump system and high mounted spigot.
Thermal servers utilize a bottom mounted foot valve and spigot arrangement.
While an airpot requires manual labor to pump the discharge, a thermal server uses gravity. The thermal server is also easier to keep clean. We think that the best feature of a thermal server is the site-glass which at a glance indicates remaining coffee level in the pot. An airpot has no such device and leaves you to guess your remaining coffee volume. Neither an airpot or a thermal server is forgiving if you drop them.