Hottop rear filter cleanable replacement filter

[zapty]

Has anyone from TMC tried this yet?

http://home.surewest.net/frcn/Coffee/Ho ... ilter.html

Could save quit a bit of money, especially as the filters seem to be on sale right now by nexfan.
(Of course only for those whose warranty on their Hottop has run out in order not to void it)

[phil]

I would expect it to work quite well. Randy (along with Jeroen, aka "HV") was one of the original Hottop testers 3 or 4 years ago so he knows a lot about them. He also wrote much of the original manual.

[zapty]

Sounds good Phil, I will order one or two to use in the future as the original replacement filters are really way to expensive.
Randy must know what he is doing then.

[HughF]

If you don't roast dark enough to see oil on your beans the filters may last quite a while. I've only had to throw away one in over a year, doing two roasts a week, so it works out OK for me. One roast each week is into early second crack for espresso and one just to end of first crack for cafetiere.

Cheers,

Hugh

[badwolf]

hugh


i like to roast on the light side too, so your post really interested me

how do you decide when the filter has given up the ghost?


seems to me that if your lucky enough to have a good roaster within striking distance you should feel obliged to support them

for those of us not in that enviable position home roasting is the only way to achieve a constant supply of fresh roast beans


for me, setting aside the £400/£500 outlay for the hottop, the two bug bears have to be the delivery charges and the cost of new filters

there's not a lot we can do about delivery charges but i find the 50p/roast cost of replacement filters (based on the recommended 30 roasts/filter) something of an issue

obviously i'm not on my own here but i don't feel comfortable using randy's alternative, despite his undeniable credentials, so i was keen to learn more from your experience


you seem to have succeeded in pushing the boundary by a factor of three, saving £30

what i need to know is, what is your yardstick?

how do you decide when the filter has finally bitten the dust?

i think we should be told


cheers

john :drink:

[phil]

You can soon tell by visual inspection if the black part of the filter is starting to clog.

Tip: you can wash the black foam bit. Open up the frame, and treat the black foam bit very carefully. Wash carefully with a mild detergent and dry. Replace and re-assemble the frame. I know folks who say they've never bought a new filter. Hottop say you can't do this, but people will always try and I know a charming lady who claims success with this technique.

Another tip - Hottop used to provide replacement filter elements (the insides, not the frames). Steve has never had any so don't hassle the poor guy, but Shelly (the Hottop lady) sent me a bunch once. Taking the filter apart and replacing the filter elements is a major PITA. I can't be arsed any more myself.

Final tip - and I've lost count of the number of times I've told people this - the dead give-away that your filter needs replacing is when the machine dumps your roast prematurely because it's overheated. This happens with a blocked filter as the cooling fan can't draw air through the roasting chamber.

Does that constitute telling you?

[simonp]

Taking the filter apart and replacing the filter elements is a major PITA. I can't be arsed any more myself.

Interesting, I found it quite easy to get apart, but then I'm used to awkward things.

[phil]

You've met Allyson haven't you?

Sure it's not hard, I'm just getting lazy - or actually too tied down with other stuff, in all honesty.

Simon - OT - I owe you a reply re a document you sent me a little while ago. Nag me tomorrow, why don't you?

Cheers

[simonp]

You've met Allyson haven't you?

Oohh, brave man, I take it she doesn't look at TMC?

I have re-done the document, I'll send you the new one.

[badwolf]

the dead give-away that your filter needs replacing is when the machine dumps your roast prematurely because it's overheated.

not sure i'd like to take it to that extreme

not for fear of loosing the roast

i'd be more concerned for the hottop's welfare

perhaps i'll just play it safe and bite the bullet

Does that constitute telling you?

not sure but thanks for trying

[Steve]

I love the idea of these replacment filter that last forever. There a night mare for me, and I'd rather not stock them. I could go into the whole thing about them but you may lose the wil to live so I'll leave it

Steve

[simonp]

Too much caffeine Steve? you're either up unhealthily late, or unhealthily early

[phil]

Steve's in Bolivia, doing his Cup of Excellence thing again. Lucky sod.

[pault]

just one thought about this - in the technical discussion about the metal filter he does mention the issue about particulates in the smoke ...

maybe I'm being over-cautious but I think the charcoal/paper combo absorbs potentially harmful aspects to the smoke so I won't be changing to metal anytime soon ...

best,

Paul.

[zapty]

I have modified the filter holder so that it fits both the (washable) charcoal filter and the metal one.
As I vent outside (I roast in my garage) the harmfull effects to my health would be negligable at any rate.
It sure is a saving considered over the long run.
I purchased 4 metal ones for the price of less then one original one from HT.
Just threw out the paper filter, washed out the charcoal one, made the holder to fit the metal one by trimming the edges of the plastic holder, inserted both the charcoal and metal one and off you go. Works like a charm to.