Sunbeam C20-B Vacuum Coffee Brewer! MY first vintage appliance!

[stevet]

I saw this Brewer 2 weeks ago at the Flagler County Humane Society's Thrift shop. It was sitting up on a top shelf all nice and shiny and I just had to check it out. Upon my surprise, it appeared to have little or no use on it and all the parts for it were there, including spare cloth filters and the Line Cord!

I was afraid someone else might have scored it but it was still there today and I took it right down and bought it.

I took pictures of it to post and then just had to give it a try and even more to my amazement, IT WORKS! Perfectly!!! The little thermostat selector even switches automatically from high to low to keep the coffee warm just like the brewing guide says it will!
I have to admit that I did have the fire extinguisher standing by in case it erupted in flames but not a hint of trouble.

The 6 foot cord gets pretty warm so I may use a short one next time but now have to figure out how to assemble the filters which are washable.

Does anyone else have one like it? Anyone maybe have the instructions they can scan and email? You can see that my copy is torn and tattered.

I really want to know how to put the filters in properly. Seems to have one that ties on and then another one that looks more like the paper types ut again, made out of cotton.

I am so excited that this Coffee brewer works. My first antique and it works!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations

The filter frame is in two pieces. There is the main part with the sort of hook handle on top and the socket on the bottom that screws into the threaded post at the bottom of the lower bowl. There is a round piece that slips up from the bottom of the main post that locks in place and anchors the filter in place. In this first design, it is the filter frame that holds the two bowls together. The ingenious design of this brewer is also noted in the bracket under the knob on the cover. That little bracket grabs the horizontal hook part of the filter allowing you to use the cooler Bakelite knob to turn the top of the filter to unscrew it from the threaded post in the lower bowl thus allowing easier separation of the upper and lower bowls after the brewing is completed.

These are remarkably durable pieces of equipment. When Consumer Reports tested coffee makers after WWII, they mentioned that they were surprised that the prewar Coffeemaster was still working fine. Until the C-50s, these always rated highest in CU's tests of coffee makers.

The heating element is nichrome wire sandwiched between two sheets of mica. The high heat circuit operates to heat the water to almost boiling which drives all but a tablespoon into the upper bowl. The little expansion hole near the top of the tube prevents the water from rising until it is just the right temperature. The tablespoon of water that remains in the lower bowl boils away to agitate the coffee and water in the upper bowl. When it boils away, the temperature of the lower bowl rises rapidly, triggering the thermostat to shut off the heat. It is a remarkably simple way to produce such sophisticated and consistent results whether brewing two cups or a pot full.

The bowls are nickle-chrome plate over copper. The nickel-chrome is very fragile. Do not ever scour it. Use only a soft cloth for washing and another for drying. Because of the way that the first few spoons of coffee return to the lower bowl and sizzle away, the lower bowl gets cooked on coffee oils unless cleaned thoroughly. Any such dark deposits should only be cleaned by heating water and dishwasher detergent in the bowl. Periodically, the whole brewer can be cleaned by running a cycle with just water and dishwasher detergent. It will also clean the cloth filter which then has to be thoroughly rinsed.

I do not have the instructions for your C-20, but I have the instructions for the newer model C-30 which are basically the same except for the filter instructions. After each use, the filter has to be rinsed clean of grounds and the fine sediment then stored in a jar of water in the refrigerator to keep the coffee oils from getting rancid. Let me know if I can scan them and send them to you as an email attachment. You might also check the ephemera files for them.

Let me know if you have questions.

Vacuum coffee brewers and Coffeemasters are sort of icons among the original members here. I introduced John and Jeff to them in 1981 and through us others have been exposed to the wonders and wonderful taste of Coffeemaster coffee.

I hope you have lots of fun enjoying your new treasure.

 

[rp2813]

Lots of owners here Steve.  You'll get all the info you need. 

 

I think if you use the Super Searchalator for the term "coffeemaster" or "sunbeam c-20" you'll get hits for quite a few threads where they've been discussed.

 

Great first find!  And it's so complete!

 

This was my parents' first coffeemaker in 1949 and it lasted into the mid-'60s.  Vacuum coffee from that machine is the first kind I ever drank as a kid.

 

[mattl]

I  love mine, been using it for years.  I actually have 4.

 

I clean mine with Bar Keepers Friend and see no wear.  Inside gets nice and shiny.  I use an updated filter and don’t use the cloth filters but if I recall they should be rinsed out and stored in a glass of water between uses.  I do use a cut up paper filter even though my unit does not require one, it makes the coffee just a bit clearer.

 

If it's working fine you can just use it, but I have found on all my units the temp drifted over the decades and needed to be tweaked.  You will find lots of info online about the correct temp settings, and it can be a bit tricky getting them correct.  For some reason after resetting my daily driver it will randomly boil over in the hold warm position - but only now and then.  I've taken to pouring the freshly made coffee into a corning Thermos right after it's done, I think it makes the coffee hold up better without the constant heating and reheating as i did leave it on for hours.

 

anyway enjoy.  Try a few different types of coffee, other than fresh ground my coffee of choice at the moment is Maxwell house Dark roast.

 

[ea56]

You will love this coffeemaker! The advice that Tom gave you is all right on. The chrome is very easily worn away so be especially careful to not use anything abrasive when cleaning it. I have owned 3 C30's, and currently still have 2 of them. I use the C30A everyday and it consitantly makes excellent coffee, and I find that it is really very easy to keep clean. I use the filter frame and instead of the cloth filter I use either a mesh filter for a small french press or the nylon filter from a Bodum Santos electric vacuum pot that I used to have. Both of these filters work very well and are easy to clean. For really easy cleaning try using a Cory glass rod filter. For clean up all you have to do is pull the rod out of the upper bowl after removing the upper bowl from the lower bowl, and simply flush the grounds down the garbage disposal and rinse off the glass rod. You can find a Cory rod on ebay, or the french press mesh filter can be purchased online through Fantes. Have fun with your new toy! But on second thought you may not be able to use a Cory rod in your C20 since the upper bowl of the C20 is held on to the lower by screwing the filter rod onto the lower bowl.

 

[chachp]

Instructions

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Mine are also from the C30 but as mentioned they are really about the same.  What seemed to vary from machine to machine is the filter mechanism.  I can use these C30 filters in the mechanism of my C20.  I hope these help.  How cool that we actually get to help you for a change!!!</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Personally I prefer the cloth filters to the mesh because there is less of the coffee sludge left over in the bottom of the pot.  Some folks don't mind this.  These make great coffee although mine seems to steep the coffee longer than I prefer so I generally pull the plug when the water hits the top.  It steeps for a minute or so and then goes back down.  Mine will steep for 3 or 4 minutes which is more than I prefer.</span>

 

[chachp]

My Mechanism "As in filter"

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Here is what mine looks like putting it together with the furry or fuzzy side down or against the lower ring as noted in the instructions.  </span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">I have used the same cloth for months.  I rinse them off and store them in water in the refrigerator.  I clean my machine with a tablespoon of Oxi Clean and run it through a cycle.  Comes out really clean.  The filters I just rinse out really well between pots.  I haven't used mine in a while.  I have been on a Chemex craze lately.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Looks like you are well stocked with filters but I have extras if you find you need them.  I bought a whole box of them on eBay a few years ago and they last forever.</span>

 

[twintubdexter]

That's a very nice coffee maker. I've seen the matching sugar, creamer and tray for sale several times on ebay. The Flagler County Humane Society Thrift Shop sounds like an excellent place to spend your money and a great place to donate items.

 

[whirlcool]

These are the coffeemakers that got me off of drip makers. The coffee they make is exceptional. Don't be surprised if your usualy blend tastes a little different in the Coffeemaster. Our usual went from great in a drip pot to being so so in the Coffeemaster. We switched blends and what we use now is just exceptional. Coffemaster coffee is just so smooth tasting.

One thing we like is that you can prefill the unit with water and coffee the night before and when you wake up, just hit the switch to ON. Ten minutes later you have a fresh pot. Or even put the thing on a timer.

As for the cord, go to a hardware store. We did this and bought a heavier duty cord made for coffeemakers. It works without getting too warm.

As for the filters we just rinsed them out really well in very hot water, wrung them out and put them up on a nail in the cabinet over our sink. They never did retain any oils and never went rancid, either.

 

[toploader55]

Nice Steve.

Always fun to get sumtin' old that works like new.