Green Coffee Buying Club

Coffee Discussion boards => Hardware & Equipment => Topic started by: Tex on April 10, 2009, 06:15:29 PM

Title: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Tex on April 10, 2009, 06:15:29 PM: I picked up a 5-cup Yama Tabletop vac pot the other day, and I've decided that it's now my non-espresso coffee maker of choice. First; understand that what Yama calls 5-cups is really two typical American coffee mugs.
(http://www.sweetmarias.com/yama_images/yama_5cup_tabletop.jpg)

First I preheat the water before I pour it into the lower pot using a funnel. Then I light the can of Sterno (preferred over the alky burner) and as soon as the water returns to a boil I put the top pot in place.

After all of the water has risen to the top I dump in my coffee, give it quick stir, and start the count down timer at three minutes. When the timer goes off I push the Sterno can out from under the pot and slip the top on it.

After the coffee settles back into the lower bowl I pull the top unit off & set it into the holder/top. I then decant the perfect cup of drip coffee; which to be blunt about it is nowhere as good as espresso/Americano.

The Yama Tabletop vac pot will be added to my emergency storm equipment and the Silex returned to display status. This is a good thing because all of my vintage Silex's are worth many times more than the Yama.

If your looking for a one or two cup coffee maker then I recommend the 5-cup Yama Tabletop. They can be found at very reasonable prices by searching (http://www.thefind.com/search?query=yama+vacuum+tabletop&filter%5Bcategoryorder%5D=AwEGAxYAAA%253D%253D&filter%5Bqpcookie%5D=%24%24K87ILy9ITE8tqSxItTXUAQA%3D&filter%5Bsortby%5D=price_desc).
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: bobvilax2000 on April 10, 2009, 06:42:57 PM: Have you had much luck getting a good single cup out of it? It's definitely the best cup if I use it at full capacity, but lower quantities suffer presumably because of the water left in the lower chamber. Maybe the rounded butane globes leave less water behind making smaller quantities better.

- -Barrett
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Tex on April 10, 2009, 06:46:57 PM: I fill to the 3-cup level for single cups (primarily all I've used). It makes an excellent single cup of coffee - better than a Melitta single cup & almost as good as the Americano I make using my HX espresso machine.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: peter on April 10, 2009, 07:04:25 PM: I have the Yama 5-cup stovetop (from B|Java) and found as Barrett did, that for a single cup too much water is left in the bottom and the coffee is somewhat diluted.

But for a full pot (like Tex says, about 2 full mugs) it's a fantastic brewer.

Why monkey around with a Sterno and preheating water tho? Other than wanting to be ready for power outages, a stovetop is far more practical.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: J.Jirehs Roaster on April 10, 2009, 07:07:04 PM: Yep... vacpot is the best... especially if you can get a Cory Rod filter in the mix (IMHO)

I look forward to my 5 cup stove top yama from B|vacpot so I can make just 2 mugs instead of using my Cory gasketless

did you see this thread.. (http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?topic=4246.0)
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: John F on April 10, 2009, 07:20:28 PM: Quote from: peter on April 10, 2009, 07:04:25 PM
I have the Yama 5-cup stovetop (from B|Java) and found as Barrett did, that for a single cup too much water is left in the bottom and the coffee is somewhat diluted.

But for a full pot (like Tex says, about 2 full mugs) it's a fantastic brewer.

(http://djforum.free.fr/smileysmileysmiley/v2/surprises/surprises.smileysmiley.com.54.gif)
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Tex on April 10, 2009, 07:38:24 PM: Quote from: peter on April 10, 2009, 07:04:25 PM
I have the Yama 5-cup stovetop (from B|Java) and found as Barrett did, that for a single cup too much water is left in the bottom and the coffee is somewhat diluted.

But for a full pot (like Tex says, about 2 full mugs) it's a fantastic brewer.

Why monkey around with a Sterno and preheating water tho? Other than wanting to be ready for power outages, a stovetop is far more practical.

I've got stove top vac pots & vac pots with hot plates. But since I've always got the electric kettle on @200Â°F, I figure using preheated water speeds up the process. Almost as fast as instant coffee!

The curvature of the bottom pot leaves just enough water in the bottom pot to keep the heat from damaging it - much less than the flat-bottom stove top models.

The Tabletop model is cooler looking too - and once I figure out how to rig it up to use a small hot plate I won't be using Sterno except for power outages.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: peter on April 10, 2009, 07:42:35 PM: What kind of electric kettle do you use that keeps water at 200F?
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Tex on April 10, 2009, 07:44:49 PM: Quote from: peter on April 10, 2009, 07:42:35 PM
What kind of electric kettle do you use that keeps water at 200F?

One I PID'd a couple of years ago. Simple mod really & perfect for tea.

BTW - If you want to do this you'll need a cordless kettle - the PID was built into a base for the heating unit.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: John F on April 10, 2009, 07:48:23 PM: Quote from: Tex on April 10, 2009, 06:46:57 PM
better than a Melitta single cup & almost as good as the Americano I make using my HX espresso machine.

I don't look at it that way...

I take all the brewers separately for what they bring to the cup and sometimes I just want vac pot or other times I might want French Press or pour over.... espresso... Aeropress iced...Vietnamese iced. They are all different cups.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Tex on April 10, 2009, 07:53:37 PM: Quote from: John F on April 10, 2009, 07:48:23 PM
Quote from: Tex on April 10, 2009, 06:46:57 PM
better than a Melitta single cup & almost as good as the Americano I make using my HX espresso machine.

I don't look at it that way...

I take all the brewers separately for what they bring to the cup and sometimes I just want vac pot or other times I might want French Press or pour over.... espresso... Aeropress iced...Vietnamese iced. They are all different cups.

True, but not everyone has room nor the inclination to keep eighteen different coffee makers. If I could only keep two, it'd be a vac pot & an espresso machine.

But that's my personal choice - you may prefer two different coffee makers.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: John F on April 10, 2009, 08:11:38 PM: Quote from: Tex on April 10, 2009, 07:53:37 PM
True, but not everyone has room nor the inclination to keep eighteen different coffee makers.

1) I would laugh right at those people. ;D

2) I would advise them to throw away their couch on the next heavy trash day to make room.

If I could only have 2 brewers I would cry a lot for starters but I'd have to choose pour over cone and espresso machine. The vac pot for me is best when the right coffee comes along and the vac pot makes it sing the way only a vac pot can do. 8)
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Tex on April 10, 2009, 08:52:08 PM: Of course if I only kept two coffee makers my wife would want to know who I am and where's her husband? Right now, I have three HX's, four Gaggia's, a dozen of so vac pots, one Aeropress, three press pots, three drip machines, and a few cone pour overs. Then there's a collection of moka pots (stove top & electric) and a few lever machines, plus I'm sure there are more somewhere hidden away.

So the reference to only having two machines was a hypothetical situation, not one I'd advocate in real life. I use different brewing methods for different drinks; for instance, for NO's style cafe au lait I use a Bialetti Venus. But day in & day out, I'll stick by my two favorites - vac pot & espresso machine.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: peter on April 10, 2009, 09:22:58 PM: Quote from: Tex on April 10, 2009, 08:52:08 PM

But day in & day out, I'll stick by my two favorites - vac pot & espresso machine.

Yeah, I guess if I didn't know how to use a french press, those would be my choices too. ;D
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Tex on April 10, 2009, 09:31:45 PM: Quote from: peter on April 10, 2009, 09:22:58 PM
Quote from: Tex on April 10, 2009, 08:52:08 PM

But day in & day out, I'll stick by my two favorites - vac pot & espresso machine.

Yeah, I guess if I didn't know how to use a french press, those would be my choices too. ;D

The thought of using a french anything - ugggh!
:icon_puke_r: :icon_puke_l:
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: John F on April 10, 2009, 09:45:22 PM: Quote from: Tex on April 10, 2009, 09:31:45 PM
The thought of using a french anything - ugggh!
:icon_puke_r: :icon_puke_l:[/center]

Then call it a press pot...

...or a freedom press. ;D

I've been hitting the FP now and then experimenting with "the clean" (scooping out the grounds before pressing) and if you have not had one in a while you forget how oily rich a cup it makes.

Again, if I only had 2 brewers I would cry so much.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: headchange4u on April 11, 2009, 07:09:56 AM: When I broke the bottom pot on my 5 cup Yama I was really missing it until my new one arrived. I use it everyday. It makes 2 perfect cups of coffee for me and my wife. I still use a Melitta PO for my single cup but I still prefer the flavor of my vac pot over any other brewing method. I had been thinking about getting a "3 cup" vac pot for brewing a single cup.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: J.Jirehs Roaster on April 16, 2009, 05:26:46 PM: I just saw one of these (http://www.centralchef.com/storefrontprofiles/processfeed.aspx?sfid=123094&i=238567926&mpid=7714&dfid=1) at the local Dung Brothers coffee roaster.... (free sample of beans to tide me over while the fresh roast ages) and it is not a vac pot but it is pretty cool with its Stainless washer that closes off the brewed coffee from the grinds..

(http://images.marketworks.com/hi/72/72196/CMC-3381MR6.jpg)
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: headchange4u on April 17, 2009, 06:17:55 AM: I've been looking for something similar to that press. What were those selling for?
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Stubbie on April 17, 2009, 07:16:26 AM: If you click on the link, you'll see they want 25.99 for it. :)

-Stubbie

Quote from: J.Jirehs Roaster on April 16, 2009, 05:26:46 PM

I just saw one of these ([url]http://www.centralchef.com/storefrontprofiles/processfeed.aspx?sfid=123094&i=238567926&mpid=7714&dfid=1[/url]) at the local Dung Brothers coffee roaster....
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: headchange4u on April 17, 2009, 08:02:07 AM: Quote from: Stubbie on April 17, 2009, 07:16:26 AM
If you click on the link, you'll see they want 25.99 for it. :)

-Stubbie

Quote from: J.Jirehs Roaster on April 16, 2009, 05:26:46 PM

I just saw one of these ([url]http://www.centralchef.com/storefrontprofiles/processfeed.aspx?sfid=123094&i=238567926&mpid=7714&dfid=1[/url]) at the local Dung Brothers coffee roaster....

Duh :P Missed the link.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: J.Jirehs Roaster on April 17, 2009, 09:27:28 AM: Quote from: headchange4u on April 17, 2009, 08:02:07 AM
Quote from: Stubbie on April 17, 2009, 07:16:26 AM
If you click on the link, you'll see they want 25.99 for it. :)

-Stubbie

Quote from: J.Jirehs Roaster on April 16, 2009, 05:26:46 PM

I just saw one of these ([url]http://www.centralchef.com/storefrontprofiles/processfeed.aspx?sfid=123094&i=238567926&mpid=7714&dfid=1[/url]) at the local Dung Brothers coffee roaster....

Duh :P Missed the link.

I think it was 1 or 2 dollars more with Dunn Brothers name on it... but if no shipping (if there is one near you)

I didn't buy one.. yet... but I may loose all my french presses to justify it >:D
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Tex on April 18, 2009, 10:36:32 AM: The 5-cup Yama Tabletop fills this 16-ounce mug (http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?topic=6047.msg90703#msg90703) perfectly!
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Tex on April 22, 2009, 01:15:41 PM: A quick video showing how I use my Yama 5-cup table top vacuum coffee maker. There's also a sneak preview of the GCBC coffee mug (albeit white, not blue).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXBSV3i9knc[/youtube]

Off camera activites;
Wait for water in tea kettle to boil.
Grind 25 grams of Yirg IMV.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: John F on April 22, 2009, 01:37:18 PM: Did you pre-grind because of the vid?
How much coffee did you use... (it looks light).

Also, (just my opinion) you should try cutting that dwell time in half to compare cups. With your stir and syphon time you were in contact for 6 min. and change.....
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: Tex on April 22, 2009, 01:43:06 PM: Quote from: John F on April 22, 2009, 01:37:18 PM
Did you pre-grind because of the vid?
How much coffee did you use... (it looks light).

Also, (just my opinion) you should try cutting that dwell time in half to compare cups. With your stir and syphon time you were in contact for 6 min. and change.....

Thanks John - There are many tweeks possible, varying by bean, roast & how I feel.
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: peter on April 22, 2009, 01:44:00 PM: Nice video Robert!
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: John F on April 22, 2009, 02:43:39 PM: Quote from: Tex on April 22, 2009, 01:43:06 PM
There are many tweeks possible, varying by bean, roast & how I feel.

For sure. ;)
Title: Re: Perfect 1 - 2 cup brewer.
Post by: mp on April 22, 2009, 02:53:34 PM: Quote from: Tex on April 22, 2009, 01:15:41 PM
A quick video showing how I use my Yama 5-cup table top vacuum coffee maker. There's also a sneak preview of the GCBC coffee mug (albeit white, not blue).

Off camera activites;
Wait for water in tea kettle to boil.
Grind 25 grams of Yirg IMV.

That was a nice video Robert ... thank you for doing that.

:)