Posted Thu Dec 2, 2004, 1:18pm Subject: Re: Melitta Clarity First Look
I have one (the presto scan-design), very good taste, as for tempurature consistency, no idea (it is always hot, but I've never measured the temp.), it is very well-built, the swing arm basket stays in place, and very easy to pour in the water.
Posted Thu Dec 2, 2004, 11:11pm Subject: Re: Melitta Clarity First Look
I have measured the brew time for an unmodified Melitta Clarity.
There is no coffee, and no filter, just a run of water through the system.
The water was filled to 10 cups (approx 44 ounces).
The time it took from when the ON button was pressed to completely dispensed was 9:16. IIRC, it took < 1 minute before water actually starting flowing. That still puts it at about 8 minutes. A little long for some peoples idea of extraction time.
As mentioned before, temps of approximately 192F-197F were measured, which is quite good.
I will have the Presto this weekend, and plan on actually brewing coffee, taste-testing, and posting some pics of grounds dispersion for the TV (1 hole pipe & multi-hole pipe) and Clarity (un-modded & modded) and the Presto for comparison sake. Maybe some other trivial details as well.
Posted Fri Dec 3, 2004, 9:36am Subject: Re: Melitta Clarity First Look
Brew time is really the time water is in contact with the grounds, not from when the button is pushed. The time to heat the water varies significantly from one machine to another. The point to start your timing is when water hits the grounds.
Total time from button push is important for calculating morning routines, and the impatient, but not for taste. :)
Posted Fri Dec 3, 2004, 10:26am Subject: Re: Melitta Clarity First Look
cafedj Said:
Brew time is really the time water is in contact with the grounds, not from when the button is pushed. The time to heat the water varies significantly from one machine to another. The point to start your timing is when water hits the grounds.
Total time from button push is important for calculating morning routines, and the impatient, but not for taste. :)
Good point, and I will provide that info too. IIRC, it took < 1 minute from when the button is pushed to when water started flowing. Still puts it at around 8 minutes.
Posted Fri Dec 3, 2004, 12:18pm Subject: Re: Melitta Clarity First Look
OK.
I used mine for the first time today. I ran a pot of plain water with no filter or coffee first. I didn't measure time but the temp measured 92C (197.6F) using my nifty little thermocouple (accurate within 1 degree C).
AFAIC you can't get better than that in a drip maker for $30. You can't get better temperature than that in a drip maker for $100 or even more IMHO (my personal preference is generally to brew at ~195 anyway).
Then I brewed a pot. I took a wild stab at grounds-to-water ratio: I filled the reservior to the 8 cup mark and filled the filter basket about 1/2 way to the top. The first pot was amazingly good. Everyone here in the office loved it and agreed the brew was much better than what we have been making on average using the office NEWCO machine.
There are 3 coffee drinkers altogether in this office and the first pot was GONE in 5 minutes. So if you consider "proof is in the cup" then I'd say the machine did well.
I've made two more pots. One right after we downed the first one and one more just now (after lunch). I'm now using ~1 level cup of whole beans and filling the reservior to ~9 cups (1/2 way between 8 and 10 marks).
Here's what I notice right away:
The machine is quite forgiving in terms of coffee grind and amount.
The Clarity has great looks (much better in person than online).
Build quality gets a A- from me: Carafe seems like sorta thin glass and I'm not fond of the "pause-n-brew feature (I may disable that later). Still, for $30 it's amazing and it beats the pants off your run-of-the-mill Mr. Coffee machine (similarly priced).
I didn't modify the water arm, but the grounds are getting beautifully saturated, no dry spots, and the bloom stays right where it should. I'm leaving it as supplied.
One negative point: The water arm seems to keep a small amount of water in there that drips out when I raise the arm to remove the basket. It's just an ounce or or so, but if the arm was slightly angled towards the pot that wouldn't happen. Of course, our counter at work here might not be level either...
All in all I would say I like the Clarity very much after 1 day's use. My first impressions have been very positive, and maybe w'ell measure the bew time later. Just a note about the vendor: I went through Chef's Catalog and the machine arrived within 48 hours of my order. It was double-boxed for safe shipment. AFAIC that's very good service.
Posted Fri Dec 3, 2004, 12:29pm Subject: Re: Melitta Clarity First Look
Awesome!, Thanks for this report Jon! I was worring about the packaging, but not now after ya said it was double boxed & that's even in the same state & all!, so I'll have no worries about the trip coming to Canada I'm sure! {:-D
kzoonative Senior Member Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia Grinder: Macap M4, Zassenhaus HM,... Drip: TV MM CD, Bodum FP Roaster: Zach and Dani's
Posted Fri Dec 3, 2004, 2:06pm Subject: Re: Melitta Clarity Second Look
Another one to consier is the Presto Scandivnavian. 38 Dollars plus shipping from Wal-Mart. My non expert review gives it high marks. Much better then my Krups. I think Sumo is going to be posting his review shortly on the TV, clarity and presto. My guess would be they all make great coffee.
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,475 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Fri Dec 3, 2004, 10:14pm Subject: Re: Melitta Clarity First Look
Jon...I guess we pretty much agree on the Clarity...(I think you posted on my thread?) You're so correct about the machine being forgiving about variations in amount of ground coffee used For my tastebuds, @10 "cups" as measured on the Clarity, around 60 grams seems to do it for me...somehow I believe it is the fineness of the grind that may be a bit more critical... too fine a grind coupled with the 8 minute extraction time could possibly make for a more bitter brew...i must have the grind pretty close, as the brew is definitely NOT bitter...as I mentioned earlier in my thread, the taste is full bodied, even using the #4 Melitta flavor pour filter, as opposed to a gold mesh filter...I might spring for a Swiss Gold #4...we'll see... I'm enjoying this clear brew, as a chngeup from my Infuze vac Pot...though i believe my Solis' worn down burrs are probably the culprit...not a problem with a paper filter.... And as we BOTH have so eloquently stated ;>D @ $29 shipped, it's a no brainer... We should combine our 2 threads into 1 gigantic consumer review...after a month's worth of usage, to be sure!...You can edit!
ksmccul Senior Member Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 257 Location: iowa Expertise: I live coffee
Grinder: pro-line Vac Pot: old school glass cory Drip: Mellita Clarity/Pour... Roaster: convection/stir crazy combo
Posted Sat Dec 4, 2004, 12:57am Subject: Re: Melitta Clarity Second Look
I'm glad someone took some actual readings on this pot I've been using it for 9 months now(??), and I broke the dang pot, thin glass is correct, first time i've ever broke a pot in my life!.... but I have a back up so no harm done, @ 29 I bought another (3rd one) and chefs delivered it Fedex in 2 days not a mark on the box, dbl boxed....
So i have another back up......I did use a straight melitta pour over pot under the water head and that worked quite well actually...wasn't as good as the drip basket...but the nice thing is ...you can do it with this machine... lot of manuvering room...
another thing i noticed is the cover over the resevoir @ least for me ....seems to keep it fairly damp in side the reservoir and it develops this "funky" stale water taste...solved the problem by leaving the reservoir cover up during brewing, so most of the "ending steam " escapes, and then i close it, when i dump the grounds..just a FYI on that...
yes i hate that extra "bit" of water that is in the neck of the water head also...but ah-well, it's damn good coffee...
if it does get the "funky stale" taste, rinse out the reservoir under the sink, and work some clean water up through the water head....
the grind definately makes a difference, it can get pretty bitter if it's too fine...but i go with a pretty fine drip grind in mine, 2/3 of a cup of beans as usual....
I hate to think that someday there will not be any of these left...
3 units and 2 pots will have to suffice... until after xmas anyway...
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