JRaderph Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2001 Posts: 15 Location: Plano, TX Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale S1 Grinder: Mini Mazzer Vac Pot: Cona Drip: Technivorm Moccamaster Roaster: Behmoor
Posted Sun Feb 15, 2009, 5:25pm Subject: Cona D and a Butane Burner Question...
I really enjoy using the Cona. However, the alcohol lamp is certainly quaint but really slow - even with boiled water. So, I got the butane burner from SM. I rigged up a way to elevate the the Cona so I could use the butane. What a difference!!
So, my question is will the burner damage the Cona? I would think one would need to keep the flame at a reasonable level, but any other concerns? If not, I'm going to make a stand for the Cona so the burner will fit.
What do you think?
Thanks!!
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste great with ketchup.
Posted Mon Feb 16, 2009, 5:32am Subject: Re: Cona D and a Butane Burner Question...
I use the Cona stove top model on a gas hob, so I don't think there should be a problem as such using a butane burner with yours unless heat was concentrated over a very small area.
BellaJava Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 432 Location: Jacksonville, FL Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Livia 90 Auto Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: Silex, Cory, Hellem, Cona,... Drip: Chemex Roaster: Alp, FR+, HWG
Posted Sun Mar 15, 2009, 4:13pm Subject: Re: Cona D and a Butane Burner Question...
As with any glass vacpot to be used with an open flame... NEVER allow the flames to lick up past the water line. This is most important while the water is all up north and the water line is considerably lower. Other than that you shouldn't have a problem.
Posted Fri Jul 6, 2012, 1:01pm Subject: Cona and Butane burner Set up Works!
I, too, just rigged my new Cona "C" for use with a butane burner. I was concerned with the heat also, but found a Micro Burner that puts out only 1100 degrees and can be turned down to almost nothing. Amazon for $27.16!!
Had a 12x15 inch cutting board that was 7/8" thick, cut a 3 1/4 inch hole in it, sat the Micro burner in it. The distance from the burner to the Cona glass pot was exactly the same as the Spirit burner....about 7/8 inch. There is a bit of "wiggle room" with the burner in the hole and I can center it under the pot perfectly. (By the way, the Micro burner cannot be used under the pot without dropping it 7/8 inch....the igniter TOUCHES the Cona lower pot! )
Cut my total time from around 10-13 minutes with spirit burner and boiling water added to lower pot.....to 3 1/2 minutes TOTAL!! Absolutely fantastic!
And the great part was that this particular Micro Burner is Chrome and black, and aesthetically match the Cona set up as if it were made for the Cona.
Been wanting to do this as soon as I got my Cona, and now that it is done, am quite pleased with the result. From boiling water to draw down, everything is improved.
Not bad for less than $30!!
Now I'm thinking of staining the cutting boad to bring out the wood grain!
Posted Fri Jul 6, 2012, 1:30pm Subject: Re: Cona and Butane burner Set up Works!
Bit late to suggest it I know, but as an alternative that doesn't need any modifications to the stand, have you tried using the cans of alcohol gel used as heaters for chafing dishes ?
They fit exactly into the hole in the stand, and give just the right clearance below the pot.
Give out more heat than the standard Cona alcohol burner, but not too much that they overdo the water simmering once it has gone up north.
Cheap from any food service supplier over here - about £0.59 I think for the last ones I bought - about 90 cents US. Even less if you buy in quantity.
Posted Fri Jul 6, 2012, 2:06pm Subject: Re: Cona and Butane burner Set up Works!
Good idea on the alcohol gel!! We have the Sterno cans too. Never even thought of that.
And, man, I've got more alcohol camping stoves than you can name.....carry them on the motorcycle when camping. Tried them all to see if they would fit, but none really did. But, now with the 7/8 inch drop, some might! More fun to experiment with.
But the main convenience for me has been the ability to adjust the flame to let me experiment a bit. I DID find that I could make the Cona rod rattle a bit if I overdid it.....and I could instantly lower the flame so that didn't happen. And the fill ups are a breeze; at Academy Sports, a can that will fill it about 3 times runs about $3.00. So, I guess about $1 a fill. I'm not sure how many pots I can make on one fill. (But I DO keep the Spirit Burner on the board, just in case it runs out in "mid-process!" Haven't had that happen however.)
Now that I look at the package the Micro Burner came in, I need to modify a couple of statements:
Maximum temp is 1300C (2450F) But that might be the slightly larger model: R--4001
Burn time is 60-120 minutes on one fill. Brand is Roburn Micro Burner, model R-2001.
Posted Sat Jul 7, 2012, 3:34am Subject: Re: Cona and Butane burner Set up Works!
Chafing gel is definitely worth a try. Less messy than burning alcohol (what we call methylated spirit here because of the methanol and other unpleasant stuff they have to put in to make it undrinkable).
I get the 100% ethanol gel chafing cans. I think they burn quite a bit hotter than the methanol ones, but not sure how significant that would be. Cheap and easy to experiment anyway.
Sorry I didn't see this sooner. I don't know how to post pictures (man, am I out of date!!)
But basically any 7/8 thick piece of wood would do....just cut a 3" or 3 1/4 inch hole in it, whatever size that is the bottom diameter of the burner you have...allow a little more to be able to center the burner. First time I used a hole saw, too! I think a thicker piece of wood would not give the clearances for the burner handle to fit. Most burners taper from a larger diameter base to a small top. The burner BASE would NOT fit in the hole of the standard Cona base....but the smaller tapered part DOES, and also, it LOWERS the burner enough to give it proper distance from the Cona bottom pot. If you just SIT the burner ON the top of the base, the burner igniter TOUCHES the bottom of the glass....not good!
Place the Cona stand hole over the hole in the wood, and drop the burner in it....drops just the right amount and looks great!
If I had put more thought in it, I would have gone over to the local Cypress wood shop and gotten a piece of solid cypress. The cutting board with lots of strips was a little tough to cut. But..it was what I had at the time.
I know this was not as good as a picture, but the best I could do in description.
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