coffee updates

got a variac, an AC regulator. It didn't do what I thought it does, according to the Russian ex-rocket-scientist at work who used one as a kid to create explosives. But it doesn't matter if I misunderstand what it does, as long as it makes my roasts better (too soon to tell) and as long as I remember how to use a fire extinguisher (also too soon to tell).

What I do know is that I roasted some SM Moka Kadir with the variac set to 95VAC (the needle pointed to 110VAC, which confirms what I thought: my wall voltage is high) and it took about 6:45 to reach second crack, which is just about what it SHOULD take in smokey, not the 4-5 minutes it was taking w/out the variac.

The other cool new toy is my Yama Syphon Pot:

You put water in the bottom pot, grounds in the top but do not attach the pots. Stick an alcohol burner (or a sterno can -- I got some sterno but haven't tried it yet) under the round pot and when it boils, put the beanpot on top. The water pressure forces the water up into the upper pot, then you extinguish the flame. The system cools and the water is syphoned back down into the bottom, through the grounds, producing... coffee!

it's fun to make and even more fun to watch. A pain to clean. Tastes just dandy. But....

I still prefer french press, which is quicker, cleaner, cheaper, easier, and has better mouthfeel. But FP is not as cool to watch :)