Posted Thu Dec 23, 2004, 5:25pm Subject: My new Vac Pot...what a find!
Greetings all! I have been waiting to get into vac pots and now I have. Boy am I glad too, the cup is exceptional! I was walking through my local antique mall and found a McKee Glassbake! I dated it between 1903 thru 1951. My pot has a plastic handle on it so I assume it probably closer to the later time in that period. However I bought it complete with Cory glass filter! The glass is very thick and the rubber is in very good shape. I disassembled the pot, soaked and disinfected the glass parts. I polished the metal band that attaches the handle and it now look's brand new! Makes a damn good cup of coffee too. I can make 40 ounces of coffee too! Works like a charm. I have not touched my beloved French press all week! I am hooked. I gave $40 for it, which is high, but the McKee's seem to be rather rare, and it is in fantastic condition. I am happy anyway; it is pictured under my name now to the left.EDIT: The Bodum Stovetop Santos is pictured, my new baby! I am a vac pot junkie now! I already know that I want to start collecting. I will keep a close eye on my antique mall for sure! They also had 4 Sunbeam C30 makers, a complete GE automatic vac pot, 2 different sized MokaBrew pots and some old glass stovetop percs. All in all a very fruitful trip! I would post more pics but I do not have a web page to put them on. I will gladly shoot out some emails though with pics in them, I have plenty and they show the detail very well...
Good question! The vac is distinctly different. Please note that I use the Cory glass rod filter.
First it is a clean cup. What does that mean? Well it means that you can drink the whole cup because the last sip is as clean as the first sip. Something you cannot do with a French press. However the body remains intact in the vacuum method, the cup is clean but the coffee's body is not affected. All the oils get through as well as the smaller suspended solids, so the mouth feel is virtually unchanged.
The aroma is even more pronounced, especially during brewing. Which the show the vac pot puts on during brewing is astonishing! The aroma in the final cup is quite intact and delightful.
The flavor! Yes the flavor is different too. It is enhanced, or more dynamic yet not made stronger. Very nice all around. I had a Mexican Cafe' Oaxaca Pluma Hidalgo and all of the flavors were astounding. The flavor is as light as you want it and as strong as you want it depending on how long you keep the heat on. I like to keep the heat on for 3 minutes.
Overall I love the vacuum method. It is a real treat to watch and the cup is truly outstanding. It can be time consuming, but for us French press guys it is not much longer at all. I can get my vac pot to boil in 12 minutes (on medium low heat), same as with my big kettle on high heat. Brew time is actually a little less for the vacuum method, but the trip south (filtering stage) can be slow. All in all for the time spent and the show that can beheld and the cup that can be produced I really love the vacuum method for everything that it offers. Any self-respecting coffee geek, or even anyone who enjoys good coffee will do him or herself a favor and try the vacuum method. The Bodum Santos can be bought brand new for $30! Granted it comes with a plastic mesh filter but I have read that the Cory rod will work in the Santos. The rod can be bought on ebay for $5-$8! For a small investment you can be treated to a wonderful show and a truly great cup of coffee!
Do I think the vacuum method is better then press coffee? Yes and no. It compliments it! In my opinion every press fan needs a vac pot. Anyone who loves the flavor of the press coffee but hates the grit needs a vacuum pot. The vacuum method is every bit as good as the press method. Given the show the vac pot puts on and the romance behind the history of vacuum brewing the vacuum pot has captured my heart and my cup!
Rawman Senior Member Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 962 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Expobar Office Control ,... Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: Silex Vintage Vac Pot Drip: Bodum chambord FP, Melitta... Roaster: Buzzroaster, HG/DB
Posted Fri Dec 24, 2004, 10:24pm Subject: Re: My new Vac Pot...what a find!
I got a vintage silex model (from the 30s I think) off ebay complete with the corey rod. It was slightly grungy but come caffiza cleaned it right up. Coffee from it is great, and it's a blast to watch. I brought it to a coffee meetup at a local coffee shop. Everyone was impressed, including the owner. Now my fear is that I'll drop it and break it. The thing has lasted 60 years how crappy would it be for me to break it.
Rawman the Expobarbarian.. AKA the Original Jon R.
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