Posted Tue Oct 19, 2004, 10:31am Subject: Alfi Thermal Carafe -- is it worth it? Also, a Senseo question
Hello all,
I'm in the market for a thermal carafe. I have a great Nissan stainless commuter mug, but I broke my old (probably cheap -- no brand name) SS thermal carafe recently. I would like this to never happen again, so I'm embarking on a very extensive thermal carafe search before I buy.
From what I can determine, Alfi is the absolute top of the line in this category (SS, glass lined, thermal carafe-type vessel, rather than a thermos-shaped vessel). I've seen these in a hotel I stayed in in France. It kept coffee hot for almost two days! Also, the shape is classic and particularly beautiful.
The problem is the price. I drink drip coffee (I can't get myself to like espresso other than in lattes, and I don't have he machinery for it at home anyway. I really like just plain drip), and I like to make one pot in the morning, and sip all day. I'd love to have a cup of coffee after dessert at night that was brewed in the morning and is just as hot (or almost) when I brewed it. I don't like to make coffee more than once a day if I can help it.
So, if I do buy this extremely expensive carafe, (around 200$ for the 1 liter) I will undoubtedly get a good product. But, I do want to know if there is a similar stainless-steel carafe (holding around 1 liter) that is just as good as an Alfi? Does Nissan have a product that keeps liquids hot for 13+ hours like Alfi does? Does anyone out there have one (a carafe, NOT a bullet thermos) that they currently use? What/'s a good price for one of these? If I buy the Alfi will I be massively overpaying for a European prestige object, when I can get the same performance from a different brand for a fraction of the price? :)
Also -- I've seen these new "Senseo" coffee makers on TV, that make a foam layer on top of a cup of coffee. Looks good to me, but it also seems a bit gimmicky. Anybody have one, or have used one, and can tell me if it's any good?
Posted Wed Oct 20, 2004, 5:23am Subject: Re: Alfi Thermal Carafe -- is it worth it? Also, a Senseo question
Briseid Said:
Hello all,
I'm in the market for a thermal carafe. I have a great Nissan stainless commuter mug, but I broke my old (probably cheap -- no brand name) SS thermal carafe recently. I would like this to never happen again, so I'm embarking on a very extensive thermal carafe search before I buy.
From what I can determine, Alfi is the absolute top of the line in this category (SS, glass lined, thermal carafe-type vessel, rather than a thermos-shaped vessel). I've seen these in a hotel I stayed in in France. It kept coffee hot for almost two days! Also, the shape is classic and particularly beautiful.
The problem is the price. I drink drip coffee (I can't get myself to like espresso other than in lattes, and I don't have he machinery for it at home anyway. I really like just plain drip), and I like to make one pot in the morning, and sip all day. I'd love to have a cup of coffee after dessert at night that was brewed in the morning and is just as hot (or almost) when I brewed it. I don't like to make coffee more than once a day if I can help it.
So, if I do buy this extremely expensive carafe, (around 200$ for the 1 liter) I will undoubtedly get a good product. But, I do want to know if there is a similar stainless-steel carafe (holding around 1 liter) that is just as good as an Alfi? Does Nissan have a product that keeps liquids hot for 13+ hours like Alfi does? Does anyone out there have one (a carafe, NOT a bullet thermos) that they currently use? What/'s a good price for one of these? If I buy the Alfi will I be massively overpaying for a European prestige object, when I can get the same performance from a different brand for a fraction of the price? :)
Also -- I've seen these new "Senseo" coffee makers on TV, that make a foam layer on top of a cup of coffee. Looks good to me, but it also seems a bit gimmicky. Anybody have one, or have used one, and can tell me if it's any good?
As far as the Senseo, I bought one at Costco, and took it right back. It was a total gimmick.
The carafe thing is something different. I am really intrigued with the Alfi, as I had never heard of it. However, Nissan-Thermos, Tiger, and Zojirushi all make a variety of carafes. The Nissan is my favorite. They have a few glass-lined versions that are very reasonable. However, 13 hours is probably pushing it. Here are some links:
Posted Wed Oct 20, 2004, 10:56pm Subject: Re: Alfi Thermal Carafe -- is it worth it? Also, a Senseo question
I recently bought a Nissan Thermos 1.5 liter carafe from Zaccardis. I think the model number is TGS1500. I believe it was $49.95. It is a double-walled stainless steel model that works well, but is still only good for about 4-5 hours with a FULL pot. The performance goes down substantially as the amount of hot coffee in the carafe lessens. I usually preheat it with boiling water prior to filling it with coffee. I am kind of disappointed, because the carafe does not come close to matching the performance of their commuter mugs or thermoses. It is, however, a carafe; IMO it is not meant to keep coffee hot for any longer than it does. While we're discussing it, which insulates better - glass lined or double-walled stainless?
Posted Thu Oct 21, 2004, 5:20am Subject: Re: Alfi Thermal Carafe -- is it worth it? Also, a Senseo question
RacerX Said:
I recently bought a Nissan Thermos 1.5 liter carafe from Zaccardis. I think the model number is TGS1500. I believe it was $49.95. It is a double-walled stainless steel model that works well, but is still only good for about 4-5 hours with a FULL pot. The performance goes down substantially as the amount of hot coffee in the carafe lessens. I usually preheat it with boiling water prior to filling it with coffee. I am kind of disappointed, because the carafe does not come close to matching the performance of their commuter mugs or thermoses. It is, however, a carafe; IMO it is not meant to keep coffee hot for any longer than it does. While we're discussing it, which insulates better - glass lined or double-walled stainless?
Well, I will generalize based on my own experience. I have found a good Stainless Steel carafe keeps liquids hotter longer than glass-lined. However, I do not like the taste it imparts, so I prefer the glass-lined.
BUT, it looks like Alfi uses (at least in some models) both SS and Glass. But I am not prepared to spend $200 right now on a carafe.
ljguitar Senior Member Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 2,450 Location: Cheyenne Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Expobar Pulsar Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly, Solis Drip: Bunn Roaster: iRoast2
Posted Thu Oct 21, 2004, 5:29am Subject: Re: Alfi Thermal Carafe -- is it worth it? Also, a Senseo question
Hi Elizabeth Are you wanting a carafe for cosmetics? I have never found a caraffe which keeps coffee as hot as a thermos.
I use a Zojirushi thermos which holds one pot of coffee and keeps liquids hot for 6 hours plus. It is not as 'pretty' as a caraffe, but it is effective. Having used many brands, this one is the best of the lot. Had used Nissans up till finding the Zojirushis.
Posted Thu Oct 21, 2004, 9:29pm Subject: Re: Alfi Thermal Carafe -- is it worth it? Also, a Senseo question
Hi Larry, and all who've answered,
Thanks for the information, all of you. Yes, I admit, I definitely want a carafe for cosmetic reasons. I want to be able to use it on the table during a dinner party, with friends over for coffee and dessert, etc. A thermos-shape is great for keeping coffe hot, I agree, but it's not as convenient or nice-looking at the table.
I did look at the 39.99 model on Amazon (thanks!), but then I did a little reading about it. That's a tea-filtering one that's got plastic trim and doesn't have that 13+ hour guarantee. The only ones that have that long of a time keeping a liquid hot are the white ceramic or stainless-steel ones. The glass lined ones do keep the liquid hot that long.
I'm glad I did hear that the Nissan carafe only does keep it hot for 5-6 hours.
It looks like I may have to buy the super-spendy Alfi carafe, if I want to get that nice stainless steel carafe shape/look, with that long heat-keeping time.
For the SS non-plastic glass lined, the 195-200$ range for Alfi is pretty much standard (not just the super-pricy Williams-Sonoma). I've never seen the model I like in a store or a website for any less than that (sigh)
I'll start saving now. Anybody else have a good SS carafe who wants to weigh in and save me from spending so much dough!
Posted Thu Oct 21, 2004, 10:37pm Subject: Re: Alfi Thermal Carafe -- is it worth it? Also, a Senseo question
Here is a link to the Thermos website. My link shows the Nissan model that I own. It states that it is good for 12 hours hot, but from my own experience, I would disagree. For what it's worth, the carafe looks very nice(cosmetically), and although it is SS, it doesn't show fingerprints like you would expect: Click Here (www.thermos.com) BTW, if you decide to purchase this carafe, DO NOT buy from the Thermos website. You will pay FULL PRICE. I have seen it for as low as $45, but you have to call to make sure they have it in stock. The 1.5L model seems to be extremely popular. Neal
Posted Fri Oct 22, 2004, 8:44am Subject: Re: Alfi Thermal Carafe -- is it worth it? Also, a Senseo question
RacerX Said:
Here is a link to the Thermos website. My link shows the Nissan model that I own. It states that it is good for 12 hours hot, but from my own experience, I would disagree. For what it's worth, the carafe looks very nice(cosmetically), and although it is SS, it doesn't show fingerprints like you would expect: Click Here (www.thermos.com) BTW, if you decide to purchase this carafe, DO NOT buy from the Thermos website. You will pay FULL PRICE. I have seen it for as low as $45, but you have to call to make sure they have it in stock. The 1.5L model seems to be extremely popular. Neal
Posted Mon Oct 25, 2004, 1:29pm Subject: Re: Alfi Thermal Carafe -- is it worth it? Also, a Senseo question
Hi Timeggers, thanks for answering the post,
I have tried French press coffee. I have a Bodum pot, and still make it from time to time. My sister and her husband, excellent cooks/coffee afficianados both, always use theirs and I've enjoyed their French press cofee often.
I don't like French press as much as a good drip. I don't know why, but for me the texture of the coffee is different. Actually, I think French press is "thicker" -- is that possible? Anyway, it's good, I enjoy it, but I prefer, and am more used to, the "thinner", clearer, and, to my mind, more consistent results of my Krups. I'm hoping to move into a vacuum pot soon, and see if I prefer that to drip.
I hear you about just brewing a fresh pot -- but I do have a couple of good reasons for not brewing more than one pot a day. I am the only person in the house who drinks it, so I would like to only make it once. I love the coffee that my Krups 625 grind-and-brew, and want to keep using it, but the grinder is incredibly loud. We have a baby and two dogs in the house and none of them like that noise very much! Also, I'm thinking of a "save money and save the planet" type of scheme. The thermal carafe uses no energy, whereas brewing more than once a day would. Also, I'd rather brew a full pot (the coffee tastes better anyway) and then save it for later, thus conserving water/coffee.
I may, however, just be kidding myself. It may take me 25 years to make up the savings in coffee/water/electricity to pay for the spendy carafe.
The truth is I really just want that beautiful Alfi carafe. Those Germans know how to make a good thermos, by dang. I was just looking for validation (or refutation!) from the online community.
Haven't bought it yet -- still looking around. I will let the group know if/when I buy it if it lives up to expectations!
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 