Sunbeam C50 quick question

[paulg]

Just picked up a great C50. Works perfectly.
However, is there any way to reheat the coffee once the initial brew process has completed?
Thanks much!

 

[ea56]

Paul,

I think you would just leave it on warm to keep the coffee hot. Or, if you had unplugged the pot with coffee still left, I would also reheat it on the warm setting. If you use the high or brew setting to reheat, I’d stand right there and watch it like a hawk, because it will come to a boil very rapidly, the warm setting would prevent burned leftover coffee.

HTH,
Eddie

 

[launderess]

Congrats and weclome to my world

Have nearly NIB C50, but rarely use....

No, the "warm" function on this coffeemaker relies upon whatever heat remains from brewing process. Once the thermostat clicks off to "warm" that is all there is heat wise. This is not a bad thing since these pots retain so much heat after brewing the kick down/extraction takes rather longer than many prefer. In fact that is the one reason many do not like C-50 vac pots. It is rather difficult to avoid over extracted brew.

One just decants coffee made in C-50 into a serving thermos carafe as with all other brew made in vac pots, automatic or range top.

Since C-50 lower pot cannot be submerged in water you really don't want coffee remaining longer than necessary anyway IMHO. The eventual residue/staining will sooner or later require deep cleaning to remove in order to keep coffee fresh tasting. Problem is by the time Sunbeam came out with C-50 vacuum coffee brewing was in decline, so they took some of the money out of design. The chrome plating inside these pots isn't nearly as robust compared to earlier models. Owners have literally scrubbed off this layer in aide of getting lower pot clean.

In particular because lower pot gets very hot during brewing the first attempts at kick down cause liquid to almost flash evaporate (or burn more like), until temps cool enough for full draw down. That residue will be a particular concern. And it is often the bottom of lower pot around heating element that people have scrubbed to death removing layer of plating in process.

 

[ea56]

Re: Reply #2

Well, this is a change from the C-30’s. I’ve owned 4 and they all kept the coffee hot on the low setting. There are separate thermostat adjustments for both the high and low settings. I had a problem with two of mine in the low setting, where the setting wouldn’t hold and the coffee would boil on the low setting. This is ultimately why I gave up on using a Coffeemaster as a daily driver. But, that said, I’m glad that I had the experience of owning them and using them. They are built like tanks, and beautiful examples of 1930 thru 1950’s design and workmanship.

Eddie

 

[launderess]

Many actually prefer older Sunbeam automatic vac pots over the C-50 for many reasons. Problem is often the gaskets on older units is shot or nearly so making the pot almost useless.

Give Sunbeam credit for attempts at perfecting state of the art, and had drip coffeemakers not made huge inroads into the market things may have ended differently. But as noted by time Sunbeam came out with C-50 auto drip pots were fast taking over from vacuum coffee brewing. It was either them or auto perc pots.

http://snag-blog.com/coffee-physics-the-sunbeam-coffeemaster-c50/

http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/vacpots/sunbeamvacpots/latest

In the interest of science just went and plugged in my C50 and left knob on "warm". After several minutes pot didn't feel any warmer so am still going with previous statements. When knob is turned to "brew" light comes on and things quickly and noticeably start warming up.

 

[mattl]

I've been on the look out on and off - off at the moment - for a C50.  Got a 20 a d few 30's but always wanted a 50.  Prices too high for the limited use it would get.

 

For some reason I always thought the C50's were immersible, fully sealed with no options of adjusting the thermostats.

 

[launderess]

You're not missing much IMHO

As stated got a near or totally NIB C50 years ago; used it a few times and that was it, has sat sitting ever since.

Just too much work with timing and all to prevent over extracted/burnt coffee. Can get better results using stove top vac pots. Now that have switched over to metal (FlavorSeal) no more worries about breaking things.....

Far as one knows C50's are "sealed" in that the base isn't supposed to be taken off to adjust thermostat. Recall seeing service manuals for earlier Sunbeam automatic vac pots that gave directions for "adjusting" internal thermostat.

In the C50's favor it does make *HOT* coffee. You have to watch friends/family if using it at a party or whatever because unsuspecting persons may touch outer surface of lower pot and get a nasty surprise.

Really don't bring out my auto vac pots now for that reason. There is always that family member or guest who insists on "helping" and or is in awe of the thing "how does this work?", "what does this do?", "can I help?". You warn them off because these things do get hot, but never the less they reach across or otherwise touch the pot and there you are.

Certainly do not use any of those small Silex stoves at table either for that reason. Everything is done in kitchen and coffee brought out when ready.

 

[paulg]

I learned a lot!

Thank you all and especially Launderess for the succinct yet information-filled responses. I am glad to have the information.
I have been through a number of C30s in the past. And as we all know, those have a warm function which is nice. Wasn’t sure if my C50 knob was jammed or it just didn’t have a warm feature. I now know.
I really liked the C30s but they seem to have a high mortality for me. It seems to me, and I may be wrong, that the C30s suffer from some adjustment drift resulting in tepid coffee or boil-overs. Being a techie this doesn’t bother me as I find malfunctions just as interesting as good performance (as least with coffee makers). However, since I got a very good C50 for near nothing at a thrift store - I will tolerate its ideosyncrasies.
I have always found these coffee makers fun. One of my recently deceased C30s took me off-guard. I make my morning coffee and was reading the paper. The C30 cycled off but I continued reading. I suddenly heard “whomp whomp whomp whomp” and looked to see a coffee volcano on the counter.
That coffeemaker was retired and so I went back to my GE-Universal for a while. I’ve tried adjusting the pots but find it too much to do. Shame. Sunbeam Service was nearby for many years but is long gone.

 

[ea56]

Paul,

I’ve had the same experience with the unexpected boil overs on the low setting with my C-30’s too, also the not hot enough coffee. I had the repair manual bookmarked and learned how to adjust both the high and low thermostats. The only problem is that the settings wouldn’t hold. I have some very small open ended wrenches that allowed me to make the adjustments, but without the proper tools the tighten down the adjustment after it has been made, the screws work loose again, and the accurate settings are lost.

I had no idea that the C-50 didn’t keep warm on low, thats why I made the recommendation to use the low setting to reheat/keep warm. Seems very stupid for Sunbeam to have deleted this feature on an “automatic” coffee maker, that kind of defeats the whole purpose of it being automatic. I used to covet having a C-50, not now, I’ll pass. But I hope that you enjoy yours. They go for a pretty penny the last time I checked.

Eddie

 

[paulg]

The joy of Goodwill

I think I paid $3.00 for my C50 at Goodwill. Ultimately I’ll get five dollars of fun and some passable coffee along the way. Not a bad deal - me thinks.

 

[ea56]

Such a deal, LOL.
Congrats!
Eddie

 

[mattl]

Wow, that is a great price! 

 

I stopped looking when the C50's price got north of $50 - That was about my limit for an item I might occasionally use, more a curiosity.  These prices tend to go in cycles and at some point they will be down again and I might buy.

 

[ea56]

I’ve just looked at several pictures of C-50’s on ebay, and they all show the switchs to have a “warm” position.

So, it would seem that originally these Sunbeam C-50s DID have the capability to keep the coffee warm, which only makes sense for a coffeemaker that is advertised as being automatic. So, if the C-50’ owned by Laundress and PaulG no longer keep the coffee warm, perhaps both of these appliances no longer function as Sunbeam originally intended and are broken, otherwise why would the switches have a “warm” designation on them?

Eddie
[this post was last edited: 5/15/2019-14:07]

 

[launderess]

IIRC The "Automatic"

Of Sunbeam's C50 coffeemasters was that the process was just that; fill lower chamber with water, upper with filter and coffee, attach together, plug in, and turn to "brew". From then on nothing else need to be done until brew was complete.

Sunbeam touted their improved design sent currents of hot water surging into upper globe that mixed and distributed coffee. With other models of vac pots and certainly range/stove top one must stir the coffee and water to create an even brew.

Also again the C50 switched itself off at proper time instead of one having to unplug or turn off/down heat. Again totally automatic.

Regarding the warming function or lack thereof; will have to see if can lay hands on owners manual and or box to see what there is.

These units are rather heavy for size and get very hot. So again am assuming the "warm" function was merely using carried over heat from brewing to keep coffee warm. Only way to truly see if any current is drawn during "warm" would be to take the thing apart and get out a multi-meter. Am not going down that road. *LOL*

Never left coffee in lower pot with unit plugged in, so cannot say what temp coffee is fifteen minutes or even an hour later.

 

[ea56]

Re: Reply#13

“Never left coffee in lower pot with unit plugged in, so cannot say what temp coffee is fifteen minutes or even an hour later. “

If you've never tried the keep warm function, how can you imply that the info I gave was incorrect?

I realize that you know a great deal about vacuum coffee brewing and equipment, but so do others here. We can all learn from one another, I thought that this was part of the point of this website.

And to me an “automatic” coffee brewer does more than just brew the coffee and turn off, it also keeps the coffee warm until the pot of coffee has been consumed, rather than having to reheat the coffee with some other method.

And if the C-20’s and 30’s had a keep warm function, I seriously doubt that Sunbeam would have done away with this feature. And if the switch has a “warm” position, I’m also sure that this wasn’t meant to be warmth due to retained heat.

If I’m wrong I’ll always graciously admit it and be thankful to have learned something new. I’m well aware that I’m not always right, but about this topic, I believe that I’m correct.
Eddie

 

[launderess]

Answered your query in another post.

Yesterday got out the C50 and plugged in the lower unit, but left knob at "warm". Light did not go on and after several minutes things were no warmer than before, thus going with nothing happening with heating coils. Maybe heat was so low one didn't notice, but then how could it keep brew at any reasonable temp?

Also as noted when tested and knob moved to "brew" my C50 got hot rather quickly.

In aid of settling this debate when can find a moment will haul out the C50 again, but test using infrared thermometer to check for temperature changes of lower globe when set to "warm". [this post was last edited: 5/15/2019-16:24]

 

[launderess]

Alright then!

Got the Sunbeam C50 box down to find owners manual/instructions. And I was right, wasn't I? These units do not keep coffee "warm" after brewing by any other method than whatever heat is left afterwards.

" .... To REHEAT cold coffee turn switch to left a short period of time until coffee starts to agitate then turn switch back to warm."

In a bit of double speak Sunbeam does say " ... In a short the switch will click to "WARM" setting and in a few minutes later the coffee will return to the lower bowl where it will automatically keep at perfect serving temperature.

These two bit of directions seemingly contradict each other. If the "warm" function keeps coffee at correct serving temperature indefinitely (well long as unit is plugged in) why does Sunbeam go on to advise on how to reheat *cold* coffee?

My theory is that Sunbeam implies coffee as kept at proper "serving temperature" for immediate consumption. This rather than an hour or so later.

As for "automatic" Sunbeam says:

" The art of making perfect coffee is dependent upon these things; The coffee itself must be good grade. The water must be at the correct high temperature when it mixes with the coffee. All water must rise to the brew-top and then vigorously agitate with the coffee. The coffee must then brew for the correct period of tie. ......The Sunbeam Coffeemaster Coffeemaker controls these conditions automatically and therefore gives you the sae delicious coffee every time you make it...".

Clearly Sunbeam made changes between C20, C30 and the C50. For whatever reasons it was decided to eliminate the electrically heating warming function of earlier models. Then again as have said (and others say so as well), by time Sunbeam came out with the C50 vacuum coffee makers were in decline, and in response they took some of the money out of these units. Interior plating of lower pot and other changes are proof of cost cutting.

 

[launderess]

Notice in directions for C30 Sunbeam states to reheat coffee that has become cold in lower vessel to plug in unit then switch to "low". That will reheat coffee without bringing liquid to high temperature. Sunbeam also warns against setting regulator to "high" to reheat coffee. This is almost exact opposite of directions for reheating coffee in the C50.

Ergo and ipso facto we must assume the "warm" function on C50 does not engage any sort of heating at all. For all intents and purposes it simply means "off".

http://www.meba.com/manuals/Sunbeam-Coffeemaster.pdf

 

[ea56]

Laundress,

thanks for the detailed info. The C50 directions do seem contradictory, regarding reheating cold coffee vs keeping the already brewed coffee at “correct serving temperature”, which I know from experience with C30’s, even with the heavy chrome clad copper, the coffee would cool fairly rapidly once unplugged.

The instructions for the C30 are what I was referring to in my original suggestion. I’m very familiar with the C30 instructions, and I just assumed that surely the C50 would function in a similar way, my bad.

Eddie