An inexpensive and sturdy introduction to the vacuum brewing method. More functional than beautiful.
Positive Product Points
Works exactly as a vac pot should. Produces excellent, hot coffee superior to drip or french press.
Negative Product Points
"Old" Cory Rod leaves a little sediment. Not especially pretty. A little more work than making autodrip (but worth the extra effort).
Detailed Commentary
I paid about $20 plus shipping for this pot on ebay - about average. My pot is very plain, without any decoration and did not include the carafe lid or stand/top lid, which I wish it had. I am using a vase as a stand until I find a Cory stand.
I have paired it with an old style ceramic and coiled wire electric "stove" (really a hot plate) resembling the Cory and Silex stoves, but labelled McGraw Electric, that I bought for $5 at a thrift shop. This is very convenient for tableside brewing. I start with 190 degree water from my instant hot water machine, so startup takes just a couple of minutes. Guests love to watch the vac process... the older ones remember the pots from their youth and the younger ones are enchanted by something they have never seen. Not only do you get good coffee, but free entertainment! By modern standards, these stoves are unsafe as the entire stove become dangerously hot during use, so be careful around them.
My gasket is in good condition, which is essential to these pot‘s performance. To get a good seal, you need to insert the top at an angle and rock it down, rather than pushing straight down. Although I have nothing to compare it to, I can‘t imagine a vac pot working any better. I experience "textbook" kickups and kickdowns in seconds after the pot is removed from the heat, with the grounds sucked dry. The large neck simplifies cleaning of the carafe - just put your hand in. The narrow necks may look better and be more tolerant of questionable gaskets, but they must be difficult to clean without special equipment.
