Corey Vacuum Coffeemaker

[whirlcool]

A few weeks ago on Ebay, we picked up a Cory Vacuum coffeemaker for a very cheap price. The seller said it was in good condition. When it arrived, it still had the original power cord all wrapped up and all the original instructions inside of it. I think it had never been used before!
My camera battery recharger has died, so I can't post photos for the time being, (a new charger is on it's way). But this is a grey slightly polished aluminum coffepot. No glass at all,(except for the glass rod) and the metal doesn't have any designs on it at all. I was wondering how old it is? There is no sign of wear anywhere on the unit.

After using it for a few days I actually like it better than our Sunbeams. There are no filters to clean and store and the coffee tastes just as good as with our Sunbeam vacuum pots. But you can tell this unit is not built as heavy duty as the Sunbeams are. The metal is definitely light weight. We love our Sunbeams, but we have been having problems with replacement seals (they only last a year before they start to melt down).

Does anyone else here have a Cory vac pot?

 

[kevin313]

Allen - I have a Cory vacuum pot but mine is a stove-top model. It is also all aluminum and uses the famous Cory glass filter rod. The top is completely open and the cover for the lower section is on a hinge.

It works wonderfully, but because it is not an automatic like yours, I have to watch it. It makes wonderful coffee and is a breeze to clean. When I bought mine at an estate sale, the lady told me she got it as a wedding present in 1956.

Enjoy your new coffee pot! I always liked Cory products.

 

[turquoisedude]

I have what I guess would be a mid-50s Cory automatic.  It is an odd machine - the power cord is 3 inches long so you need an extension cord to you use it!  Must replace that one day...  There may a thermostat issue with mine because it doesn't always heat the water enough to send it all into the upper bowl, but when it works, it does make a fine cup of coffee!

 

I like my Cory 'crown jewel' perk better, I must admit...

 

[whirlcool]

Fortunately the power cord is a cloth wrapped model and is about 5 ft long.
One thing I found odd is that there are no switches or controls on it. You just plug it in and away it goes. It rumbles a lot louder than our Sunbeams do. But it will make 8 cups of coffee in about 9 minutes. I have noticed that once the water goes up in the upper chamber it returns to the bottom very quickly. And that glass rod does a great job of keeping the grounds "upstairs". That was an ingenious design.

One thing I don't like is that there is no handle on the upper chamber. There is a lid though, you just twist the lid so it "locks" and use it as the handle. The top does detach from the bottom very easily though. Not having a handle makes it unwieldy to handle just by the small part of the lid when hot.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations

Oh my gosh a Cory electric brewer. Consumer Reports did not like them. The first one came out right after WWII, but the one you have is constructed out of what the Cory Cororation called Coralume, aluminum, and was made in the 50s. You can polish both bowls to a high shine with Wennell or a similar polish. I think the last report on Coffee makers in CR where the Cory was tested was 52 or 54. You can actually use the Sunbeam stainless steel mesh filter (without the cloth) in it if you flip the filter so that the little prongs are sticking up and don't interfere with the the filter's seating in the upper bowl and the older frame that held the cloth filter will fit in just fine. The coffee filtered with the glass rod can have more sediment. The thermostat is a far more iffy thing to adjust since all of the water does not leave the lower bowl like in a Sunbeam so you don't get the sudden temperature spike signaling the thermostat to shut down the high heat. I have several Cory electrics. The oldest one had a penchant for adjusting itself so that after a few days of making 4 cups of coffee, it would switch from high heat to low heat before all of the 8 cups of water had risen to the top bowl if you tried to make a full pot and with that situation, there was not much adjusting you could do until you emptied everything. The little button on the bottom has the thermostat behind it. I hope you never have to adjust it, but if you do I have instructions I got from Cory when I bought my first one in 1965 at one of those fabled hardware stores where stuff piled up over the decades and many housewares went unsold. The written correspondence from Cory is among my treasures.

One other thing about the Cory electrics is that since water stayed in the lower vessel, as soon as the high heat shut down, the coffee was pulled back down. It did not steep in the upper bowl like with the Sunbeams. That meant that you had to use a finer grind coffee to get the body from the shorter brewing time, but I think they recommended against using fine or vacuum grind because it could clog up the whole works and prevent the coffee from being sucked back down.

Are the Sunbeam gaskets you are talking about the ones you can buy on ebay?

 

[whirlcool]

Tom:

Thanks a lot for the additional information about the Cory electric pots. Mine seems to work perfectly. I always like to know all I can about the appliances I own. It's a fun thing to do. Since this Corey pot is so primitive compared with the Sunbeams, I thought it may be from the 30's or so. I guess not.

I have been on the lookout for a Sunbeam C50 pot, but I think they are priced way too high on the 'bay.

Yes, I bought a gasket from that guy in St. Petersburg who makes them for our C30.

The first gasket stood up to an entire year of daily use with no problems, then it started to deform so we ordered a second. It lasted about 7 months before it started to deform and not seal well. We ordered a third that did not fit at all.
It seems that the indent for the bump on the bottom of the upper chamber was not drilled deep enough and would not fit at all. We sent it back, and got another one that wouldn't fit either, so we gave up on that. I think the quality control of the later replacement gaskets this guy is offering has gone downhill. But it IS nice of him to offer replacements in the first place if they fit. I am sure this has put a lot of Sunbeams back into action.

 

[wiskybill]

I have a Cory Automatic electric too. It's a model DEA.

I removed the short cord and replaced it with a brand new unused cloth covered electric iron cord. Works well. Makes great coffee.

 

[whirlcool]

I have noticed that there is a distinct difference between dripped coffee and vacuum coffee.

It seems that when made via the vacuum method, the coffee tastes differently. My normal blend (Guatamalan) isn't as good vacuumed and our local coffee shops stores House Blend usually is a mediocre tasting coffee tastes superb when made via the vacuum pot.

It seems that the vacuum method results in a coffee that is less bitter and amazingly smoother.

 

[launderess]

Have or Had Several

Cory coffee makers.

Two automatic: one was the stainless steel model, the other like yours early aluminum model. The former either stopped working or one grew tired of it cannot remember which, but it ended up being chucked into a box going to thrift store in one my cleaning jags.

On the bottom of the Cory automatic pots you will see a small thumb-tack sized metal disk. Upon prying this loose there is a small screw underneath, this is the time adjustment. Cannnot remember which turn is which but by moving the screw slightly left or right youc an control how long the coffee will brew before heat cuts off.

Stopped using Cory automatic pots once one got the MIB Sunbeam C-50 that one used to death over several years. Simply felt the Sunbeam was a more substantial and produced nice strong and more importantly *hot* coffee.

You can use either the "Silex" of "Cory" glass rods in these pots, and even tried using the Silex (or Cory) cloth covered ceramic cloth disk system in both my metal and glass versions of vac pots by this maker.

Have some Cory glass pots around, but most of my stash is Silex and quite honestly it has been a few years now since the Sunbeam died and pressed the glass stove top
Silex into service, and really prefer the results over the Sunbeam.

There is considerable debate amoung vaccum coffee brewers and well as the wider circle of coffee lovers in general about brewing coffee in metal (especially aluminum) containers.

 

[launderess]

Oh, forgot to mention the aluminum Cory pot sits sitting in a box up on a shelf somewhere. Really need to either move it on or do something....

 

[washendry]

Cory thermostat adjustment

I have the Cory with the short cord/ext plug in, it doesn't get hot enough to boil water to top bowl, can the temp be adjusted and is it something I want to mess with or just leave alone, when I first got it from my 89 yr old neighbor, it worked fine, Any suggestions?? thanks for your time, enjoy the Cory, glass rods do work in the Sunbeams too
Kim

 

[lordkenmore]

difference between dripped coffee and vacuum coffee.

I've noticed that, too. I have even noticed differences between different examples of the same technology. My small Farberware percolator vs Electromatic, for example. I have changed coffee makers just to get something different. Although that is just as easily accomplished by changing coffee, which I do almost every time I buy coffee. (Partly because I look for the best deal, partly to get something different.)

 

[whirlcool]

OK, here is a photo of the coffeepot. What look like scratches on the finish actually is scome kind of adhesive that washed right off. The surface is as smooth and unblemished as could be.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Allen, these new gaskets that deform, do they accept the stainless steel skirt spring OK? I don't understand how it deforms if the spring is inside.

Kim, with the original model, you have to remove the three little screws that hold the base on. When you lift it off, you will see a screw that goes through the leaves of the thermostat. I am sorry that I cannot remember which way to turn the screw to increase the high heat temperature, but the last time I worked on mine was in 1967 or so. I finally got fed up and just set it to go full blast and timed the minute in the upper bowl then pulled the plug. Shortly after that, I got my first Coffeemaster and put the Cory away.

Turn the screw no more than 1/8 of a turn, replace the base, fill the vessel with COLD water up to the screw at the top of the handle, put the top bowl in with filter and plug it in. The water should rise and gurgle for 60 to 90 seconds, depending on how strong you like your coffee. If it does not work as well as it does now, you should try turning the screw in the opposite direction. The important thing is that you have to completely cool the lower vessel between tests, like with ice water

 

[whirlcool]

Tom:

No, the replacement gaskets do not have the springs inside. But they are perfect replicas of the originals otherwise. The first one I received worked perfectly, for about a year.

What happens is that the gasket appears to get softer and softer as time goes on, but always springs back to it's original shape, for about a year. Then the gasket deforms and stays that way. Eventually it'll no longer seal.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The gasket won't work properly without the spring. It has to be transplanted from the old one to the new one when the gasket is replaced. Do you want me to find one of mine and send it to you? Do the new gaskets have the channels in them to accept the prongs of the spring? Look down in the gap between the inside and outside rings of the gasket and see if there are lots of flat channels for the spring.

 

[whirlcool]

Tom:

No, there is no gap in the gasket where the spring would fit, it's just flat rubber between the inside and outside diameter.

We have an original Sunbeam gasket that's in great condition, but when you use it the coffee takes on a strong burnt rubber kind of taste. We've used other original gaskets before and they haven't done that, nor did the replacement seals.

 

[tomturbomatic]

So sorry.

What a shame he is not selling actual reproductions. They would be very expensive to make. Glad I did not buy one.

 

[whirlcool]

The price for the gaskets is $24.95, which isn't too bad. And they do work great, for about a year, maybe. But that's a year of everyday use. I imagine if someone would use it less they would last longer.

Right now I am perfectly satisfied with the Corey vacuum pot. The coffee tastes just as good as with the Sunbeam and the cleanup is SOOOO much easier, no filter to hassle with.

I wonder why vacuum coffeepots left the mainstream in the 50's & 60's? They make the absolute best coffee!

 

[lordkenmore]

I wonder why vacuum coffeepots left the mainstream

I've wondered that, too.

An article about vacuum coffee makers has some ideas. Article is at the link below. Scroll down to: "Vacuum Brewer Era, Its Ending, and My Theories on Why"

http://www.coffeekid.com/coffee/vacpots/vacpotheyday

 

[launderess]

Cleaning my stove top Silx vac pot is no more effort than washing anything else. Neither was doing the same for the Sunbeam C50.

Coffee Kid (great website by the way, know him from old via alt.coffee newsgroups), pretty much nails it down when he states automatic drip coffee pots and to an extent percolators did in vac pots. Housewives and others liked the ease and grace of "setting and forgetting" when it came to making coffee. I mean who wants all the bother of a vac pot early in the morning? Especially when one has to get breakfast for hubby and several children, not to mention get them out the door for work/school.

Early adoption by the wealthy or trend setters for automatic coffee machines probably also helped them take hold. Imagine the first housewive on the cul-de-sac to serve coffee the girls at the weekly card game from "Mr. Coffee".

 

[tomturbomatic]

Actually, it was automatic percolators that displaced vacuum brewers. They were far cheaper to make. And instant coffee was making its appearance, too. Most people could not afford the automatic electric vacuum brewers and most of the stove top models were easily breakable glass; the stainless steel stove top models were quite expensive and they required watching, just like the glass models. The Sunbeam's bowls were made of copper before being nickel-chrome plated. As the price of copper rose and fewer people were interested in vacuum brewers, Sunbeam, the last of the three makers of the electric brewers quit production in the late-mid 60s. Incidentally, the plating inside the C-50 was far thinner than on previous models and often came off in a short time while the plating on older models is still intact if they were properly cared for.

 

[whirlcool]

I find that using the Cory vac pot is no more difficult than our Cuisinart drip machine is. You just put the water in, then the glass rod & coffee and then plug it in. That's all there is to it. No meesing with fabric filters, filter holders, etc.
Wat I do find kind of strange is that the top half into the lower half is not nearly as tight a fit as the Sunbeams have. But it still works, and fast too!

On the bottom is the model number, our machine is a Cory Model EAU. I hope it lasts as long as the Sunbeams did.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The narrower opening into the lower bowl of the Cory did not require the spring to hold the gasket in shape and require the twisting of the upper bowl into position although a gentle twist to position the upper bowl will avoid the geyser up through the bowl you can get if you just push it down. It is always best to wet the rubber before putting the bowls together.

Part of the reason that the Cory does not need such a tight fitting gasket can be explained by the lack of a hole in the tube that runs down from the upper bowl. In the Sunbeam, this hole allows the expanding air over the heating water to escape before the water comes just to a boil meaning the water rises all at once under pressure. That is why it rumbles and roars as it goes up. If the gasket were not held in place by the spring and flange, the pressure could force the lower bowl out of position. In the Cory, the water rises gradually as it is pushed up by the expansion of heating water and air in the lower bowl and only comes to a boil near the end of the process. Not only is there less pressure, but the weight of the upper bowl increases gradually as the water rises into it, making it less likely to be forced out of position. I learned about this with a glass Cory of the "rubberless" design that uses ground glass surfaces at the mouth of the lower bowl and the area around the tube on the upper bowl to make the seal. Steam condenses on the ground glass to make an airtight seal for the vacuum return. You can't put the upper bowl on the lower bowl while the water is boiling. The steam pressure will lift the upper bowl and spray boiling water out before it will force it through the tube and up into the upper bowl. Steam power rules.

 

[launderess]

Knew There Was Another Reason Why I Didn't Like Cory Pot

Automatic that is:

As the water in lower chamber beings to heat it rises and expands up the tube. This occurs long before the proper temperature is reached for extracting good "hot" coffee and can lead to over brewed coffee. This is because of the coffee becoming "wet" before it's time.

As mentioned the Sunbeam C50 (and one assumes others) avoided this by adding that little hole in the upper chamber stem. This allows the "cooler" water to drain off before the final Woosh up. Sunbeam's also claimed that this system eliminated the need to stir coffee once it reached the upper chamber, a process common to all vac pot brewing, stove and or automatic.

When making coffee with my glass Silex stove top units, I don't slip the upper chamber onto the lower pot until the is a hair away from boiling. This allows water of the proper temperature at once zoom up and start the brewing process.