Jun 29 2008
The good, the bad and the E-bay
Glass, so pretty, so fragile. Okay, I will admit I got a little shop happy on Ebay when I decided to bid on two vintage glass coffee makers. Something inside warned me against trying to get fragile glass objects shipped to me through non-professional third parties. But, I went ahead and did it anyway. I was blinded by my desire to taste new coffee concoctions from different coffee devices. Most coffee fanatics that I have run into on cyberspace swear by the Chemex brewer and I have always been fascinated by the principles of vacuum brewing that the Silex Coffee maker utilizes (it just seems so scientific).
The Silex was the first to arrive, or at least attempt to arrive. Being a little self conscious of all the crap that I was getting sent to my place of actual work. I decided to get the Silex shipped directly to my home. This of course, ended up being a hassle, since my postman is weary of leaving large packages for me sitting in the apartment’s lobby. (I had told him it was cool to do so, but he was not having none of that in Oakland.) So instead of my package, I got a little card instead saying that I had a package. I signed the little card and checked the box indicating I wanted the sucker left by the mailbox and spent the next couple of day fretting about my new toy. It finally arrived two days later. Much to the relief of my concerned postman, I happened to be home when it arrived, absolving him from the problem he had of leaving a big package in the lobby of an apartment in Oakland. Giddy as a schoolgirl who just got her braces taken off, I ran upstairs with my prize. The package made a some noise as I walked up the stairs. It sounded like a bunch of loose change rolling around in can. I knew that it could not be good. I placed the box on the coffee table and carefully opened it, digging through the bubble wrap to pull out a busted vintage Silex coffee pot. The top globe had shattered on one side leaving a pile of glass on the bottom of the box. I nearly cried. I ran down to confront the postman about it, he just shrugged and said that it seemed like the thing was not properly packaged and that I needed to bring to the post office. The package was insured, so hopefully I can I least get my money back. Upon examining the Silex, I made the conclusion, that it was not something I would actually attempt to brew coffee in anyway. It was old and dusty, a thing meant to be displayed, not used. I will probably try to get another more modern vacuum brewer later on.
The following day, I got yet another little card saying that I had another package waiting for me at the post office. Apprehensive of having to deal with another broken coffee brewing device, I decided to go directly to the post office to pick it up, instead of letting it do anymore dangerous traveling. The line at the post office was actually non-existent and I got my package without any hassle. When I got to the car, I immediately opened it up and was pleased to see that the packer had used bubble wrap and packing peanuts and that the Chemex was all in one piece. Of course, I was then forced to put it in the trunk and drive around for half the day. Every time I hit a pothole, I would wince, and my girlfriend would roll her eyes at me. We finally made it home and the pot was still very much intact. I can now see why the Chemex coffee brewer is on display at the Museum of Modern Art. It so simple, yet so elegant, I almost thought twice about actually trying to make some coffee with it. Almost. I had gotten some filters at Target, that were not exactly Chemex brand filters, but I figured that they would do the trick. I brewed up some Panama Carmen Estate 1800+ meters, and got a really good cup. A really, really good cup. It was definitely one of the better cups I have tasted from a drip type coffee brewer, yet it was not something that would make me toss out my French Press. I attempted to re-enact my success this morning and found out that I had better hurry up and get myself some actual Chemex Brand filters. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until I dumped in the last of the water in. The filter begin to fold into itself, and before I could do anything about it, the whole thing, grounds and all, slid through the hole and plopped onto the bottom of the holding chamber. The filters I had bought, apparently are not thick enough to withstand the Chemex process. I fished all of the contents out and attempted to pour it through another filter, only to have that one break also. I finally ended up pouring the brew into my French Press in order to get some sediment free coffee. Still, I love my new Chemex and I cannot wait till I get some actual filters that work for it. It is a shame about my Silex though, but I will chalk it up to a learning experience.
