Any coffee lovers with vintage chrome vacuum pots?

[launderess]

IIRC Differences Between the C-30 and C-50

Among design changes is that Sunbeam did not plate the insides of the pots as deeply on the last of the Coffee Master series. Thus you often see the plating inside the lower container of C-50's worn away over time, especially around the nut/stem that hold the metal upper of the pot to the *plastic* lower housing. Over time this wearing down can allow small leaking of water into the base. This sooner or later will cause the thing to short out/stop working.

OTOH the C-30's are heavy and built like tanks even though the C-50's aren't lightweight either.

 

[mixguy]

Thank you!

Reading this I sure will seek out a Sunbeam C50 coffeemaster. 9 cup capacity is awesome over the previous models 6 cup sizes. the improved gasket design has me searching Locally, I only find percolators in the resale shops and have no desire to possess one, new or vintage. I grew up drinking a local brand, Mello Joy, that was bought out by another popular local brand known as Community Coffee and they promptly discontinued the coffee. (their main competition at the time) 25 yrs later, a grandson obtained the rights to bring the coffee back, requiring legal action. The end result is the return of a dark roast coffee I truly enjoy. They sell the roasted whole coffee beans and now I grind my own having found a burr coffee grinder for a bargain price! Does any one buy Jamacian or Kona coffee? any advice or preferences?

 

[stan]

I

have a C30 that I just ordered a new seal from DaySeal.
For those of you that have replaced their seal.. Did you re use the embedded metal part with the teeth. I don't see how or why its necessary? I had a hell of time getting the old one off and the new seal dose not come with metal ring embedded? Put it together with out and seams to work.. But am I missing something?

 

[elmo]

I just received a response from Lee at Day Seal informing me they were still in business

 

[tomturbomatic]

Unlike all of the other Sunbeams, the C50 used a sealed rod heating element around the perimeter of the lower bowl. It took much longer to cool than the mica and wire sandwich heating elements in the center of the lower bowl in the earlier models. When I used my C50, I would unplug it as soon as I heard the water start boiling and going up. That shortened the cooling period which is important because the stress on the chrome plating from the way the temperature soars before the heat shuts down is why so many C50s exhibited plating failure.

 

[launderess]

Haven't used my C50 in ages. Since got a stainless steel vintage vacuum coffee pot (FlavorSeal) and thus stopped breaking glass ones after few months of use, never really bothered.

 

[mountainmimi]

C50 Manual

Hi all; appreciate this discussion; i ran across a C50 like new with all parts and on a tray with a sugar and creamer for $3 so I got it. I filled it with water and plugged it in and it appears to work. I have searched the web for a copy of the original manual but am striking out. Does anyone have a link to one or mind sharing a copy? Thank you in advance.

 

[rinso]

Many years ago, I noticed that my mom's friend's Sunbeam vacuum coffee maker, made far better coffee than mom's Sunbeam percolator. The vacuum-made coffee had a full flavor taste without the burn or bitterness that came from percolator machines. Percolator machines can make good coffee, if you like your coffee a bit on the weak side. I think the vac pot may make better coffee because most all of the water mixes with all of the grounds for the brewing process, and then only once. The process also aerates the brew and keeps it below boiling temperature. Sorry about the sideways view. This is my daily driver. It was made by KitchenAid for a short period of time.