Coffee maker - How does this work?

[Happy Pirate]

I'm not a coffee drinker but my GF is and hates instant, so I thought I'd buy her something special.
I saw this which looks to fit the bill but I don't get how it works.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/311356260611?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Does it sit on a stove? What's that small brass valve on the side for?
Any help greatly appreciated..
Steve

[climberman]

Yes, it sits on a stove.
The valve is a pressure release valve.
You will need a cup that can fit under the outlet and will not melt.
Your GF will love a lovely espresso camping.
Great gift for the coffee lover.

[Strider]

Yes it sits on a stove and uses the same principle as a moka pot (cafetierre). The brass thing on the side is a pressure relief valve.

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[andrewa]

Like one of the old Italian stove top coffee makers. Water in bottom, coffee in top. Place on stove. Boiling water forced up through coffee and out through nozzle into cup. Valve on side no doubt stops something exploding!

A

[oyster_07]

I still love the physics of these:
- water becomes hot
- air above water gets hot and expands
- water is forced up, through coffee, and out the spout/fountain

[damoprz]

These are great, I have yet to find one in Australia though.

GSI also make a 1 and 4 cup version, http://www.gsioutdoors.com/1-cup-stainl ... resso.html, maybe better quality, though pricier.

[Happy Pirate]

Thanks for the help folks.
Most appreciated
cheers
Steve

[MeanderingFlyFisher]

I run one similiar to this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/131503914572?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT and it weighs 270gm.
I also run a battery operated milk frother and a digital thermometer which makes a great cappucino with chocolate sprinkled on top.I think it is the only reason I get invited along with my hiking/fishing mate.

[Happy Pirate]

These are great, I have yet to find one in Australia though.

GSI also make a 1 and 4 cup version, http://www.gsioutdoors.com/1-cup-stainl ... resso.html, maybe better quality, though pricier.

That GSI One Cup looks awesome and at 235 grams is pretty light. And the Aluminium one even lighter.
Will be a toss up between this and the ebay kit.

S

[damoprz]

Someone needs to convince Snow Peak to make a Ti version.

[GPSGuided]

HP, you may be able to save a few extra bucks on Aliexpress (US$29.61 with free shipping).


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[Orion]

I was given one of those, a similar one made by GSI. I put it on the stove to test it, forgot about it and burned it up. I couldn't get that burned smell out of it so I threw it away.

I used to take a 3-cup moka pot on walks but it was kind of heavy. Even the little GSI weighed over 200g, closer to 275g with it's little metal cup. I think a better way is to use an Aeropress. They weigh a little less (about 175g) and you can make a much bigger cup of coffee. Easier to clean too.

I still love the physics of these:
- water becomes hot
- air above water gets hot and expands
- water is forced up, through coffee, and out the spout/fountain

I agree they are interesting but that's not quite how they work. It's the water vapor that is the main driver; the air partial pressure actually decreases.

[Gadgetgeek]

I used a GSI one cup as my home coffee pot for quite a while, it worked pretty well, but that style are a bit splattery I found. I now use an aeopress. Depending on what you are using for a stove, I'd recommend the aeropress, unless you know the other pot will fit on your stove. Either one is good though,

[vanNek]

Also look at an aero press

http://www.aeropress.com.au


"No half measures......"

[cams]

Damn. Here I was thinking I'd be the first one to recommend an Aeropress. Then there was a rush of posts. They are awesome. Only problem is if you use a collapsable cup you have to have the strength to hold it and push. If you end up using it at home too, look into a metal reusable filter too. The other good camping option could be a lightweight pour over. Haven't investigated this though.

[Orion]

For camping I think a paper Aeropress filter is superior as it is one less thing to clean.

A cone for pour overs works unless it's cold out. Then the exposed, slowly filtering water chills down too much.

In the future we may all be happy with instant coffee. Google "suddencoffee".

[ggorgeman]

I do like the mini espresso units with the tube that pours directly into cup/s as they achieve a quite reasonable crema when compared to the moka units. I do have and use both. I also have one of the handpresso units that takes grounds (as well as pods) and this produces a nice shot too. I guess the issue with all of these is weight, but can usually manage one of the above for car camping and the like.

Edit: re subsequent comment from Drew, I'm referring to 'normal' stove-top version, not a camping specific model. Cant comment on those, never tried them. Cheers.

[Drew]

In my experience these camping specific stovetop coffee pots are crap. They weigh much the same as a traditional stovetop coffee pot but spit the coffee all over the place and burn it rather than smoothly filling up the pot.

[keithy]

Also look at an aero press

http://www.aeropress.com.au"

A mate took one on his 8 month trip to South America, and he said it was great. I think the aeropress is only slightly heavier than the lightest stove top camping coffee maker I've seen.

The only thing with the aeropress is keeping all the bits and bobs together.

[drakkar]

Also look at an aero press

http://www.aeropress.com.au"

A mate took one on his 8 month trip to South America, and he said it was great. I think the aeropress is only slightly heavier than the lightest stove top camping coffee maker I've seen.

The only thing with the aeropress is keeping all the bits and bobs together.

Cap on, Porlex grinder in main shaft. Spare filters in glad bag in plunger side. Depending on length of trip can normally squeeze a couple days worth of beans into the plunger as well.

Aero press+Porlex is on the heavy side, makes a pretty good cup. (I prefer an espresso, aero press is much closer to a French press) Bean choice and fresh grind are everything.

[GPSGuided]

Aero press+Porlex is on the heavy side, makes a pretty good cup. (I prefer an espresso, aero press is much closer to a French press) Bean choice and fresh grind are everything.

Even tried to grind the beans in an Aboriginal styled grinding groove? Saves on carrying the Porlex.

[Happy Pirate]

These are great, I have yet to find one in Australia though.

GSI also make a 1 and 4 cup version, http://www.gsioutdoors.com/1-cup-stainl ... resso.html, maybe better quality, though pricier.

Actually on further investigation it seems the 1 cup GSI model is just a 'one shot' model delivering a huge 71ml of caffeinated goodness at a go. You'd need the 4 shot model to get a proper sized 300ml (small) mugfull. And at 550gms it disqualifies itself.
I'll look at the aeropress but GEEZ; you coffee drinkers; it's like a dark art of secret alchemy just to brew a mug.
Do you guys have a secret handshake too?

GPS G -what is this thing called Aliexpress? A coffee expresso machine for aliens?

cheers guys

Steve

[GPSGuided]

Yes HP. You are not an alien so won't know all the dark secrets!

Thinking about all this talk of coffee grinders, why not just pre-grind the coffee? Not as if most of us are into multi-week walks. Seal it in a bit of foil and how much freshness can one lose over 2-3 days? 300g or more for a grinder will take a bit of will.

[Strider]

71ml is enough for two cups of coffee Steve (standard shot is 30ml).

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[Happy Pirate]

Yes HP. You are not an alien so won't know all the dark secrets!

Thinking about all this talk of coffee grinders, why not just pre-grind the coffee? Not as if most of us are into multi-week walks. Seal it in a bit of foil and how much freshness can one lose? 300g or more for a grinder will take a bit of will.

I know! I haven't encountered such complex alchemy since I started Gum Bichromate printing. I was thinking the same re: grinding BTW.


So now I'm looking at a 'French Press'. Is this a fancy way of saying 'Plunger'?

71ml is enough for two cups of coffee Steve (standard shot is 30ml).

Isn't there a difference between a cup and a shot? Louise requires a mug of brown stuff in the morning. My Orikaso mugs hold about 400ml and that seems about right for a morning brew. 30ml of fluid in them would just get lost in the folds.

So much still to learn...

grasshopper

[Strider]

A mug = a shot + water to top up

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[GPSGuided]

What do the bush coffee connoisseurs do for milk? Just milk powder? Or fresh dingo and wallaby milk?

[Hermione]

Black coffee or powdered milk. Though being total a coffee tragic neither is ideal. Black coffee is a bit blah since even when I've made it with reasonably fresh beans (various methods, not tried aero press yet) I haven't managed a really decent espresso. Powdered milk is just generally blah in my opinion, but I'm not a big fan of dairy generally. Weight is another factor for me, particularly on longer trips, coffee making accoutrements & ground coffee, then the wet coffee grinds you're left with.

[Orion]

A mug = a shot + water to top up

It depends. Typical espresso is a lot stronger than typical moka, at least twice as strong. A 2-shot moka pot (it probably produces about 60ml) might only give you something like 100ml of coffee at a decent strength once diluted. GSI doesn't provide the details for their little device though.

I think they are cute little toys. I wasn't at all sad when I accidentally burned mine up.

[ribuck]

Coffee bags. The practical half-way house between instant coffee and fancy coffee.