Making Coffee

[foraloysius]

Yes, I guess you are right, I haven't used this machine in years. Perhaps the seal dried out. As a matter of fact I bought this machine very cheap, they didn't sell very well at the department store where I bought it. IIRC I paid 39 Euros for it. This is the first time it leaked, it didn't do that before. The coffee experience was just the same though, just like before I missed the acidity in the coffee. At the moment I don't feel like spending money on it, but I'll keep it. It looks great after all, in that aspect it sure beats the Moccamaster!!

 

[chachp]

My Daily Coffee Routine

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">Here is my daily coffee arsenal. I use the Technivorm mostly during the week because I don’t have the patience to wait for the water to boil, etc. I really like the coffee in the Vacuum Cory Pot and when I am in the mood for perked I like this GE Belly Pot. I don’t know what it is about this pot but in my opinion this beats out all my other percolators. Maybe it’s the shape I don’t know but it really does make good cup of coffee. </span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">I prefer the Breville grinder to the MoccaMaster grinder because it’s more flexible and a hell of a lot cleaner as you can see in the picture. I keep the grinders in the utility room off the kitchen so I can close the door and grind the coffee without waking hubby who sleeps about an hour later than I. I could grind it the night before but I want to grind it just before I make it. </span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">I also have a gram scale which I didn’t photograph that I use to weigh the coffee. </span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">My routine: </span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">Technivorm: I measure 60g of finely ground coffee. Just shy of the Espresso grind on the Breville grinder. I fill the container to the 8 cup mark. This is their recommendation and I stick with it. It’s a great cup of coffee. I start the maker with the Filter basket closed so that it fills a part way and gives the coffee a moment to BLOOM. Yup I’m one of them!! Coffee gotta bloom and water gotta be 200 degrees. Nothing more nothing less. In my opinion, Technivorm excels in that area for a drip coffeemaker. After about a minute I open the Filter basket (the thing you close to grab a cup while it’s brewing whatever that’s called). </span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">Cory Pot: I measure 47g of coarsely ground coffee (just a little finer than percolator on the Breville) and fill the pot to just shy of the 6 Cup mark with water that has heated in a kettle. This helps to speed things up. (Post 854685 from Eddie who suggested heating the water in a kettle first. Works Great!!) I let the water come to just under a boil (again that 200 degrees) and put the top bowl on. I wait for the water to start to rise and when it makes that signature big gurgle I dump in the coffee. I time it for 90 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, and turn it off. Great, Great coffee!! </span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">Percolator: I use the square fold over filters that Kevin mentioned. I prefer those to the disc and they work better at keeping out the grinds. I never make percolator coffee without a filter which is just my preference. I use the same measure of coffee in the percolator that I use in the Cory only I set the grinder all the way to percolator which is a coarse grind. </span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">I’m probably a little fussier than most when it comes to making coffee but my taste buds tell me it’s better that way. Some think I’m nuts and some think I could be fussier. I think it’s just about what tastes good to us.</span>

 

[washer111]

You've Got Me Now!

Ran out of my favourite pre-ground coffee (Robert Timms) and haven't found it at two of the nearby IGA's thus far. Will have to try the Aldi (if they're even finished building yet) or Coles nearby it seems.

Anyway, you've tempted me and now I've gone onto... (Cue Blood-Curdling Scream, the "Dramatic Chipmunk" or something else) eBay!

Within Australia there is a Phillips drip machine, a couple of Sunbeam units and a couple of 70's GE "Poly-Brew" units in varying absurd 70's styling.
And they're about $30-$40 a pop.

What do we think?
(Hoping links are good)
Sunbeam Unit: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sunbeam-...541833?hash=item41a6fe0e09:g:HI0AAOSws4JW76xF

Phillips Drip: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Phillips...946074?hash=item3abf9e9c1a:g:jFYAAOSwAuNW6iYw
(Would be concerned about the carafe surviving the postal service)

GE Poly-Brew:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/RETRO-OR...989574?hash=item1a1024b046:g:HCsAAOSwFNZWwlAm

 

[chachp]

If it were me...

I'd go for the sunbeam perc. it looks to be in nice shape and very clean.

No screaming about ebay here. That's where most is mine have come from.

 

[washer111]

Tried my luck at the Sunbeam and was sniped at the last minute. We'll see if this one pops itself back up, or if it genuinely sold.
A couple of these un-identified units have popped up: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-...491935?hash=item2a6397625f:g:aDAAAOSwAuNW7QKl

Not sure if thats GE or Sunbeam, or maybe even something else.

 

[chachp]

Maybe Westinghouse?

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">The lid and handle look very much like one of mine that is a Westinghouse although mine doesn't have a plastic basket.  </span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">But what's up with that "it's posted on another site with a bid, go there and bid"?  I've been buying/selling on eBay a long time and that's a first.  The seller should take down the eBay auction if it's as good as sold on "the other site" whatever that might be.  If I read that in an auction I'd likely look for another seller.</span>

 

[washer111]

Yeah, that had me stumped too. Might be worth mentioning *where* it is listed. LOL

The GE's appeal to me, they're cheap (if a little corny).
My only concern would be 1970's or 1980's plastics leeching God-Knows-What into the coffee, or even the plastic itself being brittle.

Otherwise this unique-looking Westy is definitely another choice. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VINTAGE-...639560?hash=item23641f7908:g:wNcAAOSwu1VW2V3R

(Thanks for your help so far. And a Happy Easter to you!)

 

[chachp]

Westy pot.

It looks like a nice pot in good shape. Also seems like an honest seller with great feedback.

Having said that some feel an aluminum pot imparts a metal taste. I have personally never found that in my aluminum pots nor have I ever felt paper filters impart a paper flavor on the coffee. Some find that to be true too and therefore rinse their paper filters before they use them. I have used them rinsed and unrinsed and found no difference.

This is definitely a unique looking pot and would likely be fun to play with.

 

[volsboy1]

Techivorm is the only coffee maker that I use but, I am picky about my coffee.There made like a tank in Holland by hand.They are kinda pricey for a coffee maker and you have to turn it off it's not a auto off the keep warm part.

 I am a evil bitch until I have my coffee..I am NO morning person at all.. My Ex was a morning person and would be asking me if a sent this bill off and did this and does this tie go..I am picturing in my head bashing his head in my bowl of Special K. Delonghi Espresso/Cappuccino machines are wonderful if you like those..I broke down and bought one cause I was spending 12 bucks a day at Starbucks.. That adds up quick really quick..

 

[washer111]

You Can't Beat

A good homemade cuppa. Whichever of the many methods one chooses.

A brick of my favourite pre-ground coffee costs about $11, lasts around 3-4 weeks with about 2 cups a day (and tastes good too). If I decided not to do that and went to a coffee shop of some sort, that might work out to something crazy like $280 (assuming $5 per cup, which seems roughly accurate) for the same time period.

Guess that buys a lot of coffee and quite a few percs (or french presses. I have a bad habit of torturing them to destruction).

 

[panthera]

Fresh water, good coffee

And the rest is strictly a matter of taste. My real German T8 made outstanding coffee in Munich. I've had excellent percolator coffee.

Those (and yes, I know, I know, ten points off the person who says they're not) Italian aluminium espresso makers for the stove top makers make great coffee, too.

 

I've also had horrid Starbucks coffee more often than McDonald's.

Apart from the water and the coffee, it's all a matter of taste. 99% of the snobbery is just plain silliness.

Me? Oh, I only buy German coffee beans here because I like the packaging. No other reason.

/snark

 

[psych101]

As someone of Italian extraction, it's a Bialetti stovetop moka pot or it's nothing for me! I just wish they made a stainless steel model as the aluminium is a PITA to clean and keep from tarnishing...and obviously not dishwasher safe. On that note does anyone have any tips or products to restore tarnished aluminium?

 

[foraloysius]

Bialetti sells a few stainless models like the Kitty Nera, the Musa and the Venus here on their website:

http://www.bialetti.it/it/mondo.html?mondo=MOKA+E+CAFFETTIERE

They come in different sizes and some of them can be used on an induction cooktop.

Kevin uses a stainless model in the video.

 

[chachp]

Water and Coffee..

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">I agree it's just water and coffee but in my opinion there is one more component and that's the process.  Poorly done that water and coffee can yield a really bad cup.  But you are right.  At the end of the day it's all a matter of personal taste.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">I've been using my Drip for the past few weeks because it's fast and easy.  But when I watched the video and saw that look on Kevin's face when he took a sip of the cup out of that old percolator I was reminded how much I like the taste of percolator coffee.  I thought it was time to get mine out and the past couple of mornings that's what I've been using.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you Kevin for the video.</span>

 

[toploader55]

I have a Zero Water Filter since they had to Sanitize the Domestic water tank in town.

Tap water now smells and tastes like Clorox on Tap.

What a difference that made in the Morning Cups of Joe that end up on my keyboard after Nate's Dissertations. LOL

I have a Krups as my Daily Driver that must be 9-10 years old. My Others are a Universal Coffeematic, Melitta, and a Pyrex Perk in which I haven't used the Pyrex in Decades.

I like my coffee Strong and drink it Black.

The Beans are Ground to order in a Vintage KitchenAid Burr Grinder.

 

[washer111]

Found a GE Cafe Royale PA30 machine, $55 + $20 postage. I decided to make something of a "low-ball" offer of about $40, and to my surprise, the seller happily allowed it.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-General-Electric-Cafe-Royale-Percolator-Model-PA30-/201527279554?

It will need a good cleaning by the looks of things, but I guess that isn't much of a concern.

Agreed from above that coffee is a lot about the coffee itself and the water.
Persoanlly find that dark roasts generally don't have much in the way of nice flavor, always taste burnt in a plunger (and its hard to get plunger coffee wrong!).
Espresso machines as used by coffee shops seem to overextract, so a black coffee when going out is just not viable. I feel again as though overextraction is an issue, many places I've seen use a dark roast and it tastes burnt and very bitter - guess this coffee is best suited for various milk-based incantations where the two balance one-another or something complicated like that.

Will consider trying some different coffees now that I'm in the city, but the thundercloud over my head makes me steer for my old standby... Too many bad experiences, wasted money and caffeine headaches. LOL (<- although it wasn't at the time).

 

[chachp]

Zero Water Filter

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt;">I have one too and find the same thing.  Our water seems to be over chlorinated or over something.  You can smell it.  I got the Zero Water filter years ago when I couldn't get my Pizza dough to rise using tap water (and you don't want to be around this Italian when he doesn't get his pizza!!).  When I went to the filtered water it was just fine.  Not sure what killed the yeast but I figured it wasn't something I wanted to drink.  </span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: 12pt;">Washer: Congrats on your purchase.  It looks like a nice pot.  </span>

 

[panthera]

Cleaning aluminium

It depends on how bad the tarnish is. As coffee is acidic, generally speaking, you shouldn't have too much trouble unless, of course, the poor thing's been through the dishwasher.

I have a stainless steel Bialetti I bought in Verona about 30 years ago. My aluminium makers I keep shiny with ketchup.

If, however, things are really dreadful, do the same as one does to restore an aluminium pot - lots of videos on Youtube about the process.

Basically, you clean everything with a stainless steel soap pad. Once you're clean, you can buff with an abrasive to remove the oxidation. Smokers toothpaste works really well on the bad stuff, a soft-scrub product for ceramic range tops is a step up from that. Rouge and a buffing wheel up from that, emery and a buffing wheel the absolute furthest I'd go.

But - clean first, try toothpaste. Finish with ketchup. You'll be surprised.

 

[toploader55]

Hey Chach.

The Chlorine is so out of control, I am changing my filter every 14-20 days.

The water starts to taste like lemons when the filter needs changing.

If your Pizza Dough wouldn't rise, my bet is the chlorine is killing the yeast or God knows what else.

 

[58limited]

I use a French press daily but, surprisingly, the best coffee I've made hands down was in the old fashioned graniteware campfire pot: pour in the water, put in the grounds, and boil. Pour some cold water down the spout to settle the grounds and enjoy. I make it on my stove but have made it over a campfire as well.

I don't make it that way very much for two reasons: the pot is big, about 1/2 gallon, and I don't need that much in the morning (it is not as good if you try to make a small batch in it); and it is messier to clean up. But, unless you are the unlucky one to pour that last cup - no grounds in the cup if you settle them with the cold water.

I have a Sunbeam just like the one to the left of your Farberware perc. It is from 1957/58 and was salvaged out of a home after hurricane Andrew in 1992 and sold to me by the family in a garage sale.

I bought a Regal Polyperc in 1987 when I was in the army to use in the barracks. I carried that thing around for several years and used it in college before it finally quit on me.