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simonp
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Post subject: Vac pot?
 Posted: Aug 18, 2005 - 11:19 PM
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Joined: Apr 08, 2004
Posts: 1877
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Status: Offline
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I've been drinking a reasonable ammount of caffetiere coffee recently, as I've been working late, so no access to an espresso machine. I quite like coffee this way, but it can be a littele muddy, so I've been thinking about a vac pot. They are a little costly, so wondering if I should or not.
I know the Cona is the best, but I'm wondering if I should start with something cheaper in case I'm not keen on this method. I have seen Hario Technica ones on ebay going cheap, but I'm not sure what they are like. |
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Isomac Rituale
Mazzer Mini
Mahlkonig Vario
Chemex
2 Bodum press pots
Hottop updated to a B
Imex roaster, dimmer mod on heater (under spare bed)
Rival popper, with split motor and dimmer mod on heater (retired)
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simonp
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 18, 2005 - 11:22 PM
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Joined: Apr 08, 2004
Posts: 1877
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Status: Offline
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| Oh, forgot to say, can I use a vac pot on a halogen hob cooker? |
_________________
Isomac Rituale
Mazzer Mini
Mahlkonig Vario
Chemex
2 Bodum press pots
Hottop updated to a B
Imex roaster, dimmer mod on heater (under spare bed)
Rival popper, with split motor and dimmer mod on heater (retired)
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motoman
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 19, 2005 - 08:02 AM
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Joined: Jul 09, 2005
Posts: 948
Location: Bridgnorth, Shropshire UK
Status: Offline
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| Can't see a problem there Simon as long as you turn it on gently, blasting it with No 6 on to cold glass may invoke the explosive side of physics. |
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La Valentina Levetta(I love you)
Mazzer Mini E
Joe Behm Special, WOW
Bodum s/s Press Pot(Covered in dust)
Mokka, Vietnamese Press and other pots(unseen since I fell in love with La Valentina)
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phil
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 19, 2005 - 11:36 AM
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Site Management
Joined: Aug 22, 2003
Posts: 2315
Location: Swindon, UK
Status: Offline
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If you're using the stovetop version, the price difference between a new Cona and a new Bodum Santos (both available new from UK sources) is not that great. Both are much cheaper than the notoriously expensive table-top Conas.
I like the Santos and it does a good job. The Cona is trickier in my experience, but it does a better job. Also the Cona is sturdier - the Santos is made of much thinner, more fragile glass (as I found out to my cost when a small circle of glass just dropped out of the top globe one day!)
Stove-top Conas don't come up on eBay as much as table top ones. I just decided to buy a new one. The other thing with Conas is that you can replace every part - spares are available. You break anything on the Santos, you buy a new one.
Don't let me discourage you from buying a Santos though - they're good, and a lot less fiddly than Conas. |
_________________
Da Boss
La Spaziale Spazio 2 group semi-auto
La Spaziale Lusso grinder (espresso),
Macap MC4 shop grinder (brewed coffee)
Three Thor tampers
Two Hottops, first since Feb 2003
No partridge, no pear tree either
Conas, Zassenhaus hand grinder....
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matts
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 19, 2005 - 08:07 PM
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Joined: Apr 12, 2004
Posts: 263
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Status: Offline
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Cona Junior stove top off e-bay if you can snag one. I've got a couple by that route and it's just about the right size for one person, there's a lot more of the Standard size stove top Model going about but that is a pretty big pot of coffee. I find vac pot a bit more demanding on the grinder than cafetiere and you can end up with an overextracted brew in no time flat, I am still getting away with my ageing Solis 166 for press pot but makes a bit much dust now for the Cona.
(forgot to say if you have a Bodum outlet store somewhere near (there's a couple in Scotland) they were doing the Santos for £39.99, and the Mini E Santos electric one for £59 I think?)
HTH
Cheers
Matt |
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simonp
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 19, 2005 - 10:50 PM
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Joined: Apr 08, 2004
Posts: 1877
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Status: Offline
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| I was using the Rocky for the caffetiere, but having re-taped the threads as it was no longer staying between steps it is now to hard to change settings by much so I've been using the old Isomac (the one with the same burrs as your old Iberital), which seems to work fine for the coarser grind, so I'm hoping that will be OK for a vac pot. |
_________________
Isomac Rituale
Mazzer Mini
Mahlkonig Vario
Chemex
2 Bodum press pots
Hottop updated to a B
Imex roaster, dimmer mod on heater (under spare bed)
Rival popper, with split motor and dimmer mod on heater (retired)
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steves
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 24, 2005 - 11:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 06, 2004
Posts: 188
Location: North Wiltshire, UK
Status: Offline
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Simon
You are more than welcome to borrow my santos for a week or so if you like to test drive it (please PM me). You can (or certainly could) get one for £35 which is still quite a bit cheaper than the stove top cona.
Steve |
_________________
La San Marco 85 16M-2, Rancilio Silvia with PID Controller
Mazzer Super Jolly with Doozer, Isomac Macinacaffe Professionale, Zass
I-Roast, Modifed Rival popper
Santos & various other bits and pieces
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simonp
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 - 12:18 AM
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Joined: Apr 08, 2004
Posts: 1877
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Status: Offline
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Thanks, I might give that a go  |
_________________
Isomac Rituale
Mazzer Mini
Mahlkonig Vario
Chemex
2 Bodum press pots
Hottop updated to a B
Imex roaster, dimmer mod on heater (under spare bed)
Rival popper, with split motor and dimmer mod on heater (retired)
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pault
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 - 10:47 AM
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Joined: May 11, 2004
Posts: 486
Location: Manchester UK
Status: Offline
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Hi there,
I'd recommend the "bijou" Cona Stove top (the 1 person one) I'd also recommend a heat diffuser (flat, layered piece of metal that goes straight on top of the heat source)
I like the Cona a lot because it's all high quality dense glass - very little plastic (and none which touches the coffee itself)
given all we spend on espresso kit I don't think it's pushing the boat out too much to get the best Vac Pot you can, it's still relatively cheap ...
best,
Paul. |
_________________
Spazio 2 Group, Pavoni Pro.
Pavoni JDoser & Mazzer Mini Elec Grinders,
Vac Pots - Mini Santos Electronic & Cona 'D'
Various Press Pots
Hottop Roaster
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simonp
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 - 11:28 AM
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Joined: Apr 08, 2004
Posts: 1877
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Status: Offline
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Quote:
given all we spend on espresso kit I don't think it's pushing the boat out too much to get the best Vac Pot you can, it's still relatively cheap ...
Yeah, I know what you mean. I do drink only a small ammount brewed coffee though, so I wan't to make sure I'll get the use out of it. |
_________________
Isomac Rituale
Mazzer Mini
Mahlkonig Vario
Chemex
2 Bodum press pots
Hottop updated to a B
Imex roaster, dimmer mod on heater (under spare bed)
Rival popper, with split motor and dimmer mod on heater (retired)
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pault
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 - 11:36 AM
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Joined: May 11, 2004
Posts: 486
Location: Manchester UK
Status: Offline
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but it's a bit of a Catch-22 isn't it? - you don't drink that much brewed coffee because you don't have a Vac Pot - get one and you will ...
apart from "variety is the spice of life", I find drinking brewed coffee increases your appreciation of espresso (by way of contrast)
best,
Paul. |
_________________
Spazio 2 Group, Pavoni Pro.
Pavoni JDoser & Mazzer Mini Elec Grinders,
Vac Pots - Mini Santos Electronic & Cona 'D'
Various Press Pots
Hottop Roaster
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matts
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 - 09:15 PM
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Joined: Apr 12, 2004
Posts: 263
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Status: Offline
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I don't use my vac pot that much but when you get a nice bean in it's great to roast some up and do a pot, I like Yemen and other fruity African stuff. A good weekend morning activity, cappuccino and full fry up not good partners
Cheers
Matt
'the full Glasgwegian please' |
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Steve
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2005 - 10:53 PM
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Founder Member
Joined: Aug 22, 2003
Posts: 3365
Location: Stafford UK
Status: Offline
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One statement
"VAC POTS RULE" |
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Paul L
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Post subject:
Posted: Nov 18, 2005 - 03:32 PM
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Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 381
Status: Offline
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I've used a cafetiere in the past and disliked the powdery result and the seeming inability to filter properly, the overly strong result etc.
So, and a genuine question, what exactly is a vac pot and why are they so well respected? Presumably I can read all about them somewhere? |
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phil
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Post subject:
Posted: Nov 18, 2005 - 03:49 PM
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Site Management
Joined: Aug 22, 2003
Posts: 2315
Location: Swindon, UK
Status: Offline
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A vac pot is a vacuum brewer, typified (in the UK anyway) by the Cona. Basically two glass balls one on top of the other. Some sort of filter in the middle. Coffee in the top, water in the bottom. Water heats, goes up, soaks the grounds. The pot is then allowed to cool and the brewed coffee goes down.
As I understand it, this brewing method is popular because
1. The filtration is much better (Conas use a glass rod for a filter, the Bodum Santos uses a plastic disk) - so the flavour is much clearer and cleaner
2. I've heard it said that there are some temperature benefits too.
All told, the taste of the brew is much cleaner and clearer than with press pots.
In the UK, you have a choice of Bodum Santos and Cona (three different sizes). Conas are a little bit pricier but most people think they produce better results.
Footnote - it's just possible that Hario brewers may show up in the UK soon too.
Also consider balance brewers. I fancy trying one of Patrick's brewers - the Royal or the Cafetino - but they're serious money.
HTH |
_________________
Da Boss
La Spaziale Spazio 2 group semi-auto
La Spaziale Lusso grinder (espresso),
Macap MC4 shop grinder (brewed coffee)
Three Thor tampers
Two Hottops, first since Feb 2003
No partridge, no pear tree either
Conas, Zassenhaus hand grinder....
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