NOVELTY - A hydrogen generating apparatus (A1) comprises a reactor chamber for performing hydrogen generating reaction and containing several catalysts in a staged configuration, where the several staged catalysts are provided to form a staged catalyst medium.    USE - As hydrogen generation apparatus for generating hydrogen (claimed) useful in fuel cells and other applications.    ADVANTAGE - The apparatus exhibits flexibility to effectively and efficiently generate hydrogen from 1-4C hydrocarbon fuels without necessitating a change in the catalyst while minimizing the production of the coke residue. The method provides at least 300 sccm of hydrogen or reformed gas stream in conjunction with residence time of less than .5 seconds. The apparatus utilizes hydrogen generators with only minor modifications for the generation of hydrogen from 1-4C hydrocarbons without changing catalysts thereby facilitating multi-fuel reforming.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a hydrogen generating apparatus (A2), where hydrogen is generated by steam reformation of hydrocarbon fuel comprising a steam reformer containing a portion having several steam reformation catalyst disposed in it. In the steam reformer a reaction resulting in steam reformation of the hydrocarbon fuel is performed;    (2) generating (M1) hydrogen involving: providing a hydrogen reactor chamber; providing several catalysts within the hydrogen reactor chamber to form a staged catalyst medium, where the staged catalyst medium contains a series of distinct zones or portions, each zone or portion having a distinct catalyst with a unique definitive characteristics; and passing a feed stream of hydrocarbons through the staged catalyst medium to produce hydrogen; and    (3) generating (M2) hydrogen by steam reformation of hydrocarbon fuel involving: providing a steam reformer; providing several catalysts within the steam reformer to form a staged catalyst medium; and passing a hydrocarbon fuel feed stream in the steam reformer to obtain a hydrogen containing reformed stream, where the reformed stream is purified to produce hydrogen; and    (4) manufacturing (M3) a hydrogen generation apparatus involving: providing an element of the apparatus, where a reaction associated with hydrogen production is performed; and providing within the element, several catalysts in the staged catalyst medium.