Shopping: Electric vs. Propane

[zlee]

This is turning out to be an entertaining thread, with added bits of hilarity. (You know who you are.)

I LOVE all of these retro coffee percolators, so cool. And that grinder is the cutest thing evah. But on reflection, I think a stovetop espresso, and small electric kettle will be the way forward. And maybe a french press mug. (Depending on how much weight I can free up with other stuff.) The espresso is non-negotiable and we can drink Americanos rather than coffee...

You're killing me with the Tassimo, though. I love all the pod machines, it's so much fun to pick out what you want with the next cup.

[GO Bob]

Points to ponder. Coffee needs to brew at 200 - 205 F. This is why people at high altitudes use a pressurized espresso maker.
A paper filter absorbs some of the volatile oils.
A percolator can burn the coffee buy reboiling it over and over.

When on the grid drip.
When off a tea pot with a funnel. The tea pot whistles when boiling and doesn't boil over and easy to pour.
If I was go to go to high altitudes I would consider an espresso maker.

[GO Bob]

Originally Posted by zlee

Perhaps that's the answer, learn to deal without coffee.

I have cut down to 2 cups a day and 3 a night. I found a 36 oz cup.

[zlee]

I have cut down to 2 cups a day and 3 a night. I found a 36 oz cup

lol - now why hadn't I thought of that?

[zlee]

[worldinchaos]

Originally Posted by GO Bob

Points to ponder. Coffee needs to brew at 200 - 205 F. This is why people at high altitudes use a pressurized espresso maker.
A paper filter absorbs some of the volatile oils.
A percolator can burn the coffee buy reboiling it over and over.

When on the grid drip.
When off a tea pot with a funnel. The tea pot whistles when boiling and doesn't boil over and easy to pour.
If I was go to go to high altitudes I would consider an espresso maker.

Or, instead of doing something simple, we could just make it super-complicated and ultra-fancy:
Kees van der Westen ~ Mirage Veloce

But really, 90% of the reason I want that for my trailer is the styling, not the functionality.

[Gene]

Back in my Chemex days, they told us not to heat the water to more than 190˚, otherwise harsh byproducts would be released. I could drink some—and it was good coffee—and put the whole thing in the fridge and heat it up the next day and it was fine. The coffee I used long ago was Santos.

Almost 30 years ago and realized that the strange jangly things that I felt after drinking too many cups of coffee might have something to do with the coffee. I haven't had any since. I found too many cups of a good caffeinated tea just made for energy, not jangly crazed nerves. Tea is easy to make (just heat water in uranium water bath), brew for several minutes and glow in the dark. I order Market Spice tea from Washington state—slightly spiced black tea. No fancy, expensive or heavy appliances necessary.

Gene

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by worldinchaos

EDIT: I first wrote "coffee-powered propane maker" which would be awesome. Somebody should work on bringing that to market.

I've been working on a burrito-powered propane maker. At least my wife insists I have...

[zlee]

TMI ! TMI!

[zlee]

WorldinChaos, that thing looks like it should warp 9 in 10 seconds...

[ROBERT CROSS]

Gene,

40 yrs and counting....best Joe go'n.

Jangly can be very enjoyable.

Bob

[sempi2]

We carry both. A smaller (very cheap- 6 cup) electric. Use that when we have hookups or with the generator. Have a perculator type for the stove when boondocking,when we cant turn on the generator(time reswtrictions) or when we want more coffee (it is a 9cup) Not into fancy coffees, so this works for us.

[Foiled Again]

Propane is cheap and almost always faster than electric, hookups or no.

I just bought a new Cephalon teapot which I use for everything. I boil water for the French Press, I have a filter that I use when I'm just making a single cup. If I want tea, d'oh, same teapot. "Just add water" instant anything, same pot. Cowboy coffee can include boiling eggs IN the pot, then using the water for coffee. Oh, and if you don't want spotty silverware but dislike drying dishes, just pour a teakettle full of boiling water over your dishes in the drainer that's in the sink. They'll air dry in seconds.

If you want to keep things compact and lightweight, go for multipurpose tools whenever possible - cooking or otherwise.

Paula

[worldinchaos]

What's with these silly people trying to get back on topic with actual answers... gosh, what is this forum coming to?

In all seriousness, I really am buying this:
Amazon.com: Coleman Portable Propane Coffeemaker with Stainless Steel Carafe: Sports & Outdoors

And don't ask me to defend myself. It will be permanently installed, and it is similar to what I have at home. Easy and simple.

However, I like all the ideas on grinders that have been presented. I hadn't gotten that far, and use an electric at home that I'm not bringing boondocking. Unless I can harness uranium power. + like Gene alluded to, you would get the side benefit of glow-in-the-dark for trailer safety.

[edglenn]

Use propane as much as possible. Much more cost-efficient than electricity.

WorldInChaos, thanks! I really like the propane powered coffee maker. I've been looking for something that will work in my concession trailer, and all the commecial units run into the $thousands.
I may have to try a couple of those. What fittings did you have to use to connect to the 3/8" propane lines?

[worldinchaos]

Originally Posted by edglenn

Use propane as much as possible. Much more cost-efficient than electricity.

WorldInChaos, thanks! I really like the propane powered coffee maker. I've been looking for something that will work in my concession trailer, and all the commecial units run into the $thousands.
I may have to try a couple of those. What fittings did you have to use to connect to the 3/8" propane lines?

I actually haven't done it yet, still don't have the inside walls up on my renovation project...

However, I would imagine its as simple as putting an adapter on the normal camping canister connector, or better yet to minimize leak points, snipping it off and flaring a 3/8" threaded fitting on.

[zlee]

That thing is pretty cool. I don't think there's anywhere to really mount it in a 19' Bambi, though.

Yeah, Ed, I think I'm getting that impression. The stovetop espresso is a must, along with something electric to boil water for Americanos in. I think I'm going to have to wave goodbye to an extra coffee thing, though, there's just not enough storage in a 19' Bambi to allow three things to make coffee in. Maybe a collapsible single mug filter for when I want to save on propane.

[Gene]

Propane heats things about twice as fast as electricity, but if you are at a campground, why not use their electricity and not your propane? However, it makes sense to have one thing and not several (weight, cost, storage space). Since most of us have stove tops with burners, why not use them?

At first I thought a propane powered coffee maker was a joke, but now I see they really make them. Seems like a pretty small market, but big enough for car campers and backpackers who are heavily addicted.

Gene

[zlee]

Yeah, Gene, so here's the rationale (for me, not anyone else <--- obligatory disclaimer):

- I will sometimes be plugged into electricity, but not always, but will always have propane;
- propane is more efficient, but there may be times when I have lots of electricity and want to save propane;
- the ability to make espresso is a non-negotiable;
- Americanos can be made with espresso if I have capability for hot water;
- drip coffee is also a possible with a collapsible single mug filter;

So therefore:

stove top espresso maker (small - possibly backpackers version)
collapsible single mug drip filter
two cup electric water kettle

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by edglenn

I may have to try a couple of those. What fittings did you have to use to connect to the 3/8" propane lines?

The Coleman coffee maker uses the standard fitting such as you would find on the little 1 and 2 pound cans of propane. You can get an adapter/extension hose to run from a 20 or 30 pound tank to the coffee maker.