Posted Sun Jan 2, 2005, 12:35pm Subject: Clarity vs Presto: The Shootout
Ok ! In the left corner The clarity, in the right corner the Presto from Skandinavia, shake hands and come out brewing.
I own the clarity and have been thinking about trying the Presto so I will ask those who have tried them both if you could be so kind as to say which of the two you would pick and a brief explanation why. All I've heard is that the presto's water may be slightly more hot,which is important but how does that translate into taste. Maybe we will finally be able to settle one of the most talked about enigmas in coffee Geekdom. If we get a good response we may even be able to post the Clarity /presto shootout statistics. So what say you? Who will be standing strong when the grounds have settled?
Posted Mon Jan 3, 2005, 12:53am Subject: Re: Clarity vs Presto: The Shootout
I am a recent Presto convert (haven't tried the Clarity). I switched over from an 8-cup Chemex. I am just not that patient or organized in the morning to fuss with the Chemex, so I was looking for an "everyday" coffeemaker. I considered the Clarity, but it seemed like a counterspace hog. I got the Presto for Christmas from Costco. Reading other postings on excellent Presto brew temps really made the decision easier. The Presto has a small footprint and unique styling; it really is a sleek machine made of better quality plastics.
I couldn't wait to get fresh roasted beans from the local Intelligentsia, so I ran out to a 24-hour supermarket to pick up some S$'s Caffe Verona whole bean coffee. After a couple of attempts, I found a nice "dialed in" grind/ground coffee/water standard. I've been making the most consistently excellent drip coffee with the Presto. I can't wait to pick up some freshly roasted beans(Intelligentsia) on my days off.
The interesting thing about the Presto is that its "showerhead" has only 3 of 9 available holes opened up to dispense hot water to the coffee grounds. The 3 that are open are aligned in a single row. It looks like its perfect for a Clarity-type mod. It would seem as simple as using a small drill bit to open up the remaining holes. Grounds saturation is already very good, so I will not be the brave one :)
The Presto hotplate is supposed to constantly adjust to maintain the proper coffee temp, but it is not an issue as I usually down one cup immediately and transfer the remainder of the brewed coffee into a thermal carafe and/or thermal commuter mug. The water supply tube that leads to the "top" heating element does not pass through the water in the reservoir like so many other domestic coffeemakers. I'm sure that helps keep the water temps hotter.
The negs I've experienced have been a difficult to read digital clock and small buttons. I don't use the auto programming feature anyway. The dripstop is not the best, but if you remove the carafe slowly, it helps to eliminate any coffee dripping onto the hotplate. A neg that I've read from others is that the Presto does not accomodate permanent gold filters very well. Again, not an issue for me as I use Melitta #4 white paper filters. Sorry if this turned into a review for the Presto, but I really am very satisfied with it. Neal
Posted Mon Jan 3, 2005, 3:59am Subject: Re: Clarity vs Presto: The Shootout
And I have a Clarity, but not a Presto. The first pot I brewed with my clarity was less than stellar. I think this was a combination of issues, but not enough coffee was the first one. Also I don't think the brew water was hot enough. With my thermocouple I only measured 188 as a high temp, which I wasn't pleased by.
Well, lets fast forward to friday night. I made a second pot (I don't make a lot of drip coffee), but this time I used a bit more coffee (I had 40oz in the pot, and I used almost a full cup of beans), but I preheated the water in the microwave. Not to the boiling point, but probably to 160-170 degrees. I didn't measure. I used Black Cat to brew with (which makes AWESOME drip coffee), and everything came out great. Very smooth, not a hint of bitterness, and I even enjoyed the last couple lukewarm cups out of the pump pot the next morning. I really enjoyed it.
There are a couple features about the Clarity which are nice. It is very easy to lift the lid and stir the grounds while it is brewing, which you can't do on the presto, from what I understand. Also on the clarity, all the metallic looking parts really are metal, not plastic. I really wish I had bought a few more when they went to $20 from Chef's. From what I understand, they have gotten really difficult to find in the last couple weeks.
I'm thinking about getting the presto for my dad, who wanted a Clarity, but I haven't yet.
Posted Mon Jan 3, 2005, 6:57am Subject: Re: Clarity vs Presto: The Shootout
I have both and like the Presto bettter, I think they both make great coffee but the Presto takes up less space. Most important is the auto shut off of the Presto. The Clarity plate is very hot and does not have the auto shut off feature. It also has a very small light to indicate the power is on. I am always wondering with the Clarity if I remembered to shut it off.
mjolson Senior Member Joined: 3 Jan 2005 Posts: 2 Location: MPLS, MN Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Jan 3, 2005, 7:45am Subject: Re: Clarity vs Presto: The Shootout
RacerX Said:
I am a recent Presto convert (haven't tried the Clarity). I switched over from an 8-cup Chemex. I am just not that patient or organized in the morning to fuss with the Chemex, so I was looking for an "everyday" coffeemaker.
I'm in the exact same situation. I've got the 8cup Chemex and like it, but I'm getting sick and tired of dealing with it in the morning. I considered the MT500 - but my better half choked at the price. I have the Presto on order from Costco, so we'll see how it goes.
Posted Mon Jan 3, 2005, 8:46am Subject: Re: Clarity vs Presto: The Shootout
mjolson Said:
I'm in the exact same situation. I've got the 8cup Chemex and like it, but I'm getting sick and tired of dealing with it in the morning. I considered the MT500 - but my better half choked at the price. I have the Presto on order from Costco, so we'll see how it goes.
Mike, Don't forget to run a couple of "water only" cycles through your new machine before your first brew. I'm currently using the white Melitta filters. When I use the Chemex, I usually rinse the filter out with some near-boiling water from an electric kettle before brewing. I am also doing this with the Melitta filters in the Presto filter holder. I do it because someone mentioned it in another post. I haven't tried brewing without rinsing the filter, but I can't detect any paper taste imparted to the coffee whatsoever, so I will probably continue rinsing. I think you will be impressed with the overall quality of the Presto. Enjoy! Neal
Posted Tue Jan 4, 2005, 4:52pm Subject: Re: Clarity vs Presto: The Shootout
I have both and I like the Presto for the following reasons:
Hotter water temp Extraction time closer to ideal Slightly better grounds dispersion out of the box Looks better (just my opinion) Parts don't feel or look too cheesy 3 heating elements - Hey, at least you can tell your friends that their coffee maker only has 2 heating elements! Costco Lifetime warranty
Negs of the Presto:
Hard to clean the "cool-looking" carafe Gold filters don't fit too well
Posted Tue Jan 4, 2005, 5:08pm Subject: Re: Clarity vs Presto: The Shootout
ChrisatCafeGreenBean Said:
I have both and I like the Presto for the following reasons:
Hotter water temp Extraction time closer to ideal Slightly better grounds dispersion out of the box Looks better (just my opinion) Parts don't feel or look too cheesy 3 heating elements - Hey, at least you can tell your friends that their coffee maker only has 2 heating elements! Costco Lifetime warranty
Negs of the Presto:
Hard to clean the "cool-looking" carafe Gold filters don't fit too well
I'm using Melitta #4 white paper filters. Some prefer natural, unbleached brown paper filters (which Melitta also makes), but if you rinse the filter with near-boiling water prior to use (which I've been doing), I think it doesn't matter.
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