Showing posts with label stainless espresso maker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stainless espresso maker. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Northwest Glass Yama Stovetop Coffee Siphon, 1-Unit

Northwest Glass Yama SY-5 22-Ounce Stovetop Coffee Siphon, 1-UnitThis has to be my favorite (non-espresso) method of producing good coffee. Vacuum brewing (often called siphon brewing) was very popular before convenience assumed more importance than the quality of coffee produced.

While lacking quite the grace and style (and "coffee-table theatre") of the Cona version, the Yama brewer carries a much smaller price tag. Though it is made of glass, the Yama feels quite sturdy and should be quite serviceable given suitable care. If it breaks, the cost of replacement is reasonable.

The Cona has a glass rod/filter which is very effective, zero cost, and low maintenance. I do not like the idea of brewing through re-used, laundered cotton filters as provided with the Yama, so I use an old Cory glass rod filter (check out eBay) which works perfectly with my 40 oz unit. A simple wire grid is provided and works well with my electric smooth-top. The whole process soon becomes very quick and easy with practice.

Maybe I'll buy a small butane burner to achieve the Cona's "coffee-table theatre".

The main complaint I have read about the vacuum/siphon coffee maker that it was a pain to clean. I received the 8 cup version as a Christmas gift. I have been experimenting with how many scoops of beans I need to grind for the perfect cup of coffee for the amount of cups I want and I now have that down good. And I might say this device makes a wonderful cup of bold flavored coffee! And it's kind of fun to watch to boot....

Now about the cleaning. I find that it takes roughly 5 minutes to clean this device. The vacuum action of the brewer basically sucks much of the moisture out of the grounds. After brewing my coffee I remove the top portion and set it on the provided stand. Later on in the day when I get around to it I take the top portion outside and use the provided plastic scoop/spoon to scoop/scrape out the dry grounds into my garden area out front. Coffee grounds make a good compost for lawn or garden. I could have scooped out the grounds over the trash bag inside the house but I like using the grounds in the garden. I then go back inside and put some Dawn dish soap into the bowl, add water and take my round nylon brisle brush and swish around the sudsy water and clean the sides and filter. I then dump the water, remove the filter and give the filter and bowl a good rinsing and set them off to dry. It's a piece of cake to clean in my opinion.

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Was in the market for a coffee maker as my Hamilton Beach drip was on it's last leg. I had decided I wanted to move away from drip and ended up settling on a stainless percolator after reading many reviews. My motivation was to get away from plastic and stainless seemed like a cleaner way to go.

I won't go into great detail about the percolator except to say it seemed cheaply made ((the way the lid fits seems downright dangerous)) and it made a very so so cup of coffee with little or no control to change that. Back to the drawing board and read further reviews.

The siphon coffee brewers came into the radar and the more I read about them the more interested I became. I'm not a coffee snob but do know a good cup of coffee when I taste it and usually grind my own beans........well always actually :)

The Northwest Glass Yama got good reviews and was readily available at Amazon so still on the quest for a better cup of coffee I place the order for the reasonably priced glass siphon coffee maker.

As I awaited it's arrival I did further research finding out what I could about it's use ,finding several videos on you-tube to watch. I was really looking forward to it's arrival!

The day it arrived I eagerly unpacked .giving it a good initial cleaning and setting it up for my first brew test. I decided to heat the water from a cold state and this takes quite awhile on medium heat atop an electric stove.as the water seemed to approach the proper temperature I ground my coffee adding it to the top section then onto the bottom section on the stove. As watched as the hot water from the bottom pot was pushed through the tube into the top when ample water flooded the grounds I gave a few gentle stirs. When the bubbling action started when all the water that will evacuate reaches the top chamber I began timing.my initial brew for 1 min and 30 seconds ...............adding 7 level tablespoons of dry grounds to my 8 cups marked on the pot ((these equate to 8 5 0z servings according to literature that came with the Yama)) Once the timing was over I simply moved off the burner onto a waiting wooden board and watched as the cooling commenced and the kickdown took place.

Now for the true test........I poured into a cup adding some sugar as is my custom and let cool slightly as it makes a very hot brew. Oh my it was good and my initial foray into this magnificent form of coffee brewing from our past has me hooked. The control you have is remarkable especially compared to most of the more modern brewing methods. If you don't mind a little extra effort with the brewing and cleanup and feel a better of cup of coffee is worth the effort you can't go wrong with this method.

I have a Brunn stainless water kettle that I have used also to heat the water before hand this makes the process very fast, preheating water adding to pot then transferring to stove and beginning the siphon process.

This is the way coffee used to be made at home in our country, sometimes the old ways are just plain better!

Read Best Reviews of Northwest Glass Yama Stovetop Coffee Siphon, 1-Unit Here

This coffee siphon works great, the coffee tastes great, and it's just really, really cool. But don't put it in the microwave, even though it says you can, because the handle really doesn't seem to withstand it -the plastic gets very hot and smells bad. Otherwise, we love it. The really great part is if the power goes out, we can still make coffee on the wood-burning stove using the included metal trivet!

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If you are using gas stove top, you must use hot water as instructed to prepare your coffee; otherwise you may risk your chance of melting the carafe's plastic handle. Here is my experience, in summer, room temperature is 82 F, with hot water it takes about 2 minute 45 seconds to complete the vacuum process, and takes about 5 minutes 50 seconds if uses tap water and you can see the lower portion of the plastic handle is melting and dripping like wax in 5 minutes.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Vev Vigano Carioca Nero 6-Cup Espresso Maker

Vev Vigano Carioca Nero 6-Cup Espresso MakerIs it possible to fall in love with an espresso maker? I seem to have. I'm charmed by the looks of this ingeniously designed little appliance and smile when I see it, but it's not just another pretty face.

I drink strong coffee and will often order a 4 or 5-shot latte or cappuccino, which can be a rather expensive morning beverage. I've used small electric espresso machines and even tried a few more elaborate models, but none of them delivered authentic coffee-house-style espresso, even with the best French Roast or Espresso Grinds. Plus, they all had aluminum parts, which bothered me.

Before I purchased the Vev Vigano, I was boiling my coffee in a mixed cowboy/Turkish style manner that delivered a strong brew but was messy and left sludge in the bottom of my cup.

The Vev Vigano is surprisingly easy to use. Fill the bottom with water, lightly tamp in some espresso-ground coffee and screw on the top. I put mine on a very slow heat setting (the three-setting on an electric stove) and place it on the edge of the burner, so the handle doesn't cook. The low heat can prolong the life of your gasket. I heat up a little full-fat milk in a one-quart saucepan and use a $2 hand-held frothing wand to create a thick and stiff foam. Voila! My 24-ounce-mug is filled with a cappuccino fit for the most devout believer in the goodness of strong espresso topped with clouds of froth.

What you won't miss when you replace your electric espresso maker is the rather fetid, steamy miasma that emanates as the espresso is brewing. There's very little aroma involved when you use this espresso maker, just some cheerful bubbling noises as the brew is finishing. You also probably won't miss de-scaling your machine or wondering what lurked in the water chamber.

Cleanup is a breeze. The steam compresses your grounds into a solid and relatively dry puck that is easily knocked into the waste or compost bin. The Vev Vigano is composed of three parts which clean quickly with a little sudsy water. This stovetop espresso maker will exceed your expectations I know it has exceeded mine.

I did a LOT of research and finally settled on this one. I was not disappointed. One thing to say upfront is that it is a very good quality product and made in Italy (not made in China or India) and this is stainless which is important I gathered versus aluminum.

Coffee choice should be a finely ground espresso or dark roast similar to one for a traditional espresso machineand the quality of the output is top notch.

I would definitely recommend and have even ordered a second one to take to camp with me!

Buy Vev Vigano Carioca Nero 6-Cup Espresso Maker Now

I too did a lot of research before buying this one. So far I am very satisfied with this product. It is very well built, no problems yet with the handle or cover. The base is very heavy gauge steel suitable for heating water. I have a gas stove range and this sits well on my burners. Depending on the heat (instructions say to use low heat.) I use med. to low.... it takes 7 min or less to completely brew. One quick note regarding the 6 cup model. It brews about 8 0z of espresso which is suitable for two people. If you are one person, you will probably end up throwing a little extra away. You may want the 4-cup model for just one person. If you are preparing espresso for a dinner party then you may want larger than a 6-cup model. Also you can make a regular American cup of coffee by adding hot water to your espresso, at approx. 1:1 ratio depending on your taste. The straight espresso is great as a topping for ice cream, try it.

Read Best Reviews of Vev Vigano Carioca Nero 6-Cup Espresso Maker Here

This was my second attempt at an upgrade to stainless steel, and I've been using it for about six months. Look no further this is a terrific espresso maker at a very fair price. Nicely designed (none of them have great handles but this one is fine if you keep it out of the flame), easy to clean, doesn't get dingy like the aluminum ones. Makes scrumptious coffee too just the right amount for one addict-sized latte in the morning. Love this pot.

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After a trip to Italy I was very disappointed to come home to American coffee. Have long wanted an espresso maker but don't have the money or space for a professional machine. This model works well and quickly. Stainless steel rather than aluminium is good. As others have stated, because the very high pressures of large machines are not reached, the "crema" normally seen with espresso doesn't form. However, finely ground coffee produces a rich dark cup. I use a hand pump milk frother for cappuccino.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Black & Decker DLX1050 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe

Black & Decker DLX1050W 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe, WhiteYes, I used to have to buy those overpriced, German coffee makers--but not any more. When my latest $100 coffee maker started leaking from both the underside and from the little, unreadable, glass tube on the side, I started looking around for a replacement.

I settled on this Black and Decker model because it does everything the high-priced models do, but at a quarter of the price. After three weeks, the clock still keeps excellent time, the machine still comes on when I'm sound asleep so that I wake up to coffee ready to drink. The coffee tastes very good (c'mon, drip coffee is drip coffee--and I am STILL a coffee snob) and is certainly hot enough. The coffee maker is absolutely EASY to program; each button serves but one function. Aside from the fact that it doesn't LEAK, it seems I lose power here with disturbing regularity, so I like to be able to set the clock and the timer easily and quickly and feel assured that I'll have coffee when I wake up.

What I don't miss about the old coffee maker: leaks, erratic, confusing programming and multiple functions for one button, default ON for auto coffee making (and there's no way to turn it OFF), special little (hard to find) charcoal filter gizmo, adjustable temperature settings on the hot plate, and did I mention LEAKS.

What I miss about the old coffee maker: ability to change length of time the hot plate stays hot, "CALC" calcium warning. Both of which are easy to overcome. If I want two more hours of hot plate all I do is hit the "power" button; if I want to decalcify my machine, all I have to do is run a load of vinegar through on the solstices and equinoxes.

I picked out this coffee maker because of a reasonable price and was a recommended best buy in Consumers Report magazine. I have only had a week or so and can't address long term reliability. What it does do is NOT DRIP! It does not drip when pouring from the glass pot to the water reservoir or when pouring coffee into a cup. I do NOT have to be extra careful when pouring. It also stops the coffee flow from the filter as soon as I pull the pot out and does NOT drip on the warmer. Again, do NOT have to be extra careful here. It also does NOT leak condensation out of the water reservoir top when lifting the lid. The condensation on the reservoir lid drips back into the reservoir when the lid is lifted. The time and delay brew functions ARE easy to set and work fine. The coffee brewed fairly quickly and did not overflow the filter to allow grounds into the pot. So far, I am very happy with a product that someone spent some time making user friendly and practical. This is a well engineered inexpensive product.

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This is, far and away, the best coffee maker I've ever bought. My previous was a Mr. Coffee, and the caraffe dribbled everywhere almost every time. This caraffe pours perfectly every time. The controls are so intuitive, I've yet to pull out the instructions. It brews a full 12 cups in 10 to 15 minutes. And the coffee is sooo delicious. Don't waste your time looking at other machines. Buy this one.

Read Best Reviews of Black & Decker DLX1050 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe Here

I purchased this model over 10 years ago. It looks a lot like the new one except they have updated the lines. I just purchased the new model because after 10 years the hot pad only keeps the coffee warm and not hot but the first cup is always hot. Every feature still works on this machine except for the stop brew, to pour when brewing. That is because we removed it since we have broke several carafes over the years. I considered purchasing a fancier machine but figured why mess with a good thing. We have never had any problems. We love the timer and the coffee has always been great. I love coffee and feel like our Black & Decker has served us well and I will be sad to through it away. I know the new one will serve us equally well.

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We have had one of these coffee makers for several months. It makes great coffee and is highly rated by Consumer Reports. The only disadvantages are that it is quite noisy while brewing and the window in the water tank is almost impossible to see through. We have to measure the water in the carafe to fill the tank. Coffee makers only seem to last a couple years these days, no matter what you pay for them, so why buy and expensive one when this one makes just as good coffee?

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Clever Coffee Dripper

Clever Coffee DripperAs one of many who is always looking for the best coffee maker, I was happy to try the Clever Coffee Dripper when it came out. I discovered It is easy and makes the best cup of coffee yet. If you like French press, you've got it here. The dripper has a stopper in the bottom that opens once you place it on your coffee cup so you get a fresh cup each time. And clean up is simple. All you have to do is dump the filter and rinse the dripper that's it. Here is how I make a cup: I place a filter in the dripper and wet it with hot water and then spoon the coffee into it (I use a digital scale to get the same amount each time). Then I pour really hot water into the dripper, put the lid on top and wait 4 minutes. In the meantime I pour hot water into the mug to get it ready. Then when the 4 minutes are up I empty the mug and place the Clever dripper on top the stopper opens immediately and the brewed coffee empties into the hot mug. It couldn't be simpler.

Is it low-tech? Yep, but is a very cool design, too. Finally, I can have French press-style coffee without the clean-up. And you can use regular grind coffee instead of the coarse grind French press requires. Plus, if you are as picky about the heat of your coffee as I am, this is the only way to go. I heat enough water at just below boiling for the dripper and my empty mug. Hot, full-flavored and easy clean-up a no-brainer.

The Clever Coffee Dripper uses #4 cone filters, but only makes one cup at a time. Recommended time for steeping the coffee is 4 minutes. It takes about another minute to drain all the coffee into your cup.

It makes great coffee! Easier clean-up than a French press or a stove-top espresso maker. Better coffee than an automatic drip coffee maker.

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I'm not what you would call a 'fanatic', but I just have to have a good strong cup of coffee. I've tried most of the other methods with varying degrees of success. I liked the French Press, but couldn't deal with the sludge at the bottom of the cup. I'm told that the proper grinder will eliminate this, but who wants to spend $200 on a grinder? This is the best $20 I ever spent on a coffee gizmo.

Some others have commented that the coffee gets too cold, or doesn't make a good cup. All I can say to them is...you're doing it wrong.

1) Pre-wet your filter & pre-heat your cup or carafe.

2) Heat water to boil.

3) Take water off heat & start grinding your beans.

4) Pour water over coffee, stir, cover, wait four minutes.

5) Steep into cup.

If you grind your beans too soon, or if you let your water get too cold, that WILL affect your cup of coffee. With a little practice and experimentation, you can have a fantastic cup of coffee in about 6 minutes flat, and it didn't cost you $500 in equipment to get.

Read Best Reviews of Clever Coffee Dripper Here

I've used one of these for a few years now, and love/hate it.

First, the idea is sound and it does make a great cup of coffee. But it is NOT durable. Don't even think about putting one in a dishwasher, or the plastic will craze and begin leaking. To the manufacturer's credit, they do tell you this if you read the documentation.

And, if you store it upside-down the seal unseats and will dry out. The result is a puddle next time until the seal moistens up and becomes tight again.

The lid if you get one is concave and dishes inward. So if you're trying to max the capacity, you'll coat the inside of the lid with coffee mud.

Even with it's faults, I love the coffee it makes and just keep replacing them. I'm wearing out number five right now.

I'd LOVE to see this thing redesigned in glass or ceramic. And if the lid was redesigned to be convex so the center clears the upper edge of the dripper by at least a quarter-inch you'd have the perfect product IMO.

UPDATE 03/25/12 Number five is worn out. It lasted about 9 months, used between once and twice a day. It's never been in a dishwasher or microwave yet it is thoroughly crazed and leaking.

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I own a café and am used to having really delicious espresso. I've tried a number of different gadgets including French press (too cloudy), pour over (not rich enough flavor) Aeropress and Toddy (both delicious but a hassle). I love this little guy she's so easy to use and wonderful coffee there's something gratifying about putting the gadget on top of the coffee cup and watching all the coffee just flow out. Excellent. Five stars.

Friday, February 21, 2014

[Best Holiday Gift] PHY 4-Cup/0.6L Switch Espresso Coffee Maker / Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe & P

[Best Holiday Gift] PHY 4-Cup/0.6L Switch Espresso Coffee Maker / Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe & Permanent Filter & Semi Transparent Water Tank, RedI was looking for a 4 cup coffee maker, with a cone filter, with a glass carafe, and if it was in red it would match the other red items in my kitchen. So I ordered this coffee maker. Not only did it meet all the criteria, it makes good coffee, takes up very little space, and is a bargain price. The only thing I wish for is an automatic shut off timer. Other than that, perfect!

The title claims "switch espresso coffee maker." It's basically just your regular coffee maker. There's only one switch on the machine (on and off).

Pros:

-Small and compact (fits right under the cupboard)

-Comes with the permanent filter

-Really fast

-Easy to clean

Cons:

-No automatic shut off

*Would definitely recommend to any solo coffee drinker like myself.

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It's small enough to meet my coffee needs, but the impact in color greatly enhances the decor of my kitchen!

Read Best Reviews of [Best Holiday Gift] PHY 4-Cup/0.6L Switch Espresso Coffee Maker / Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe & P Here

Excellent coffee I woul recommend this coffee maker to all.

maker--the very best at this price.

It works very good, I like it.

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I needed something really small for my bedroom, after a foot surgery, this worked perfectly for a small space where it was needed.

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Monday, August 12, 2013

Basket Coffee Filter (Set of 200)

Basket Coffee FilterWhite paper contains about 4,000 chemicals, some of which are added in the bleaching process. The way the FDA works is that all prior chemicals are grandfathered in, no proof of harmlessness required. So caveat emptor.

DO NOT BUY!! You get 200 filters. The package didn't say how many you get and there is a reason. These guys are crooks! For $15.63 (a bit more than twice the price) you could get EIGHT TIMES this amount. SHAME ON YOU!!!

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