I made a cold brew tower with laboratory glass
Posted Sep 14, 2022, 5:33 AM UTC
1.7K104
I've been thinking of buying the Yama cold brew tower, but I couldn't justify it, especially the expense and the amount of coffee it could make. So I did a little research and ended up buying just a couple of pieces of lab glass from Amazon and built the above setup.
The pieces of equipment were:
- 1000ml Separating Funnel with 24/29 Joints and Stopcock
- Buchner Funnel Filtering Kit with 1000ml Filter Bottle and 250ml Buchner Funnel
- General metalware set (basically the lab stand with the bits to hold up the funnel).
The sintered glass filter is delicate so I use a metal filter plate on the bottom with a paper that I use in my aeropress and I put a single piece of aeropress filter paper on top.
I grind by hand and I think I dialled it in, but it is relatively course, and I adjust the stopcock to provide around 1 drop every 2 seconds. To go through the whole 1000ml it takes around 8hrs.
You have to make sure you don't set the drip rate too high, or the Buckner funnel will overflow and you'll make a mess (I found out from experience). I tried generating a small vacuum but it wasn't necessary, and honestly I don't like the sound of a vacuum pump in the kitchen.
Overall it is worth it, and it can be put away in a drawer when I am not using it. I think it looks quite industrial, and is around 1/3 or less of the price of the Yama.
EDIT: One other thing about the sintered glass filter is that if you get coffee grounds in it, it will reduce the efficiency of the filter resulting in overflowing and reduced filtration through the filter. Don't follow any of the industrial cleaning guidelines online for these filters as you are using it for food. You can clean it with warm vinegar (just pass the vinegar through it a few times under a slight vacuum), and then run hot water through it a few times, and it'll be as good as new. There will be a slight discolouration, but don't stress about that too much. I wouldn't recommend putting acetone or combinations of sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide through this equipment unless you know what you're doing.
105
You ever seen breaking bad before?
84
I did! There's a coffee machine made from lab equipment in one of the episodes, I can't remember which. It was just designed to look fancy, but I don't think it was a cold brew machine.
43
you are correct. theres a good thread about it here https://www.reddit.com/r/chemistry/comments/1jr3nf/help_recreating_gale_boettichers_coffee_set_up/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
15
Darn, the diagram that guy came up with is no longer available.
2
Pretty sure this is Gale’s account just trying to be incognito.
Side note please be sure to check the peep hole before opening your front door… or get a ring cam.
23
Was super confused as to what sub I was on for a minute as well as why you had no vacuum line connected to the filter flask. And yeah maybe let's not piranha our coffee equipment that sounds like a bad plan for food safety.
10
"How did you end up in hospital again?" "I was following the how to guide on cleaning my coffee filter!"
6
I'm debating whether or not to try this with a 500ml 0.4 um filter. It's gonna be horrible without a vacuum line.
2
Hot piranha works even better than regular piranha
2
Can't clog the filter if it's a gas!
2
wow, hats off to you. have you had the opportunity to compare your end result with the yama tower and if so what were your thoughts and observations?
6
Not against the Yama tower no. I have a flair and I had dialled in the same medium roasted beans I make myself on the flair, and on the flair when I make an espresso I get a little bit of bitterness with lots of dark fruit and deep character. When I used the same beans, ground as coarse as you can see in the photo (I can't remember what the number is, but I have it in the kitchen and I'll try to get it tomorrow and the brand of my grinder), I noticed no bitterness at all drinking it at room temperature and plenty of fruit, but with much less intensity, depth and body than the espresso. Poured over ice, I get less fruit again, and honestly I make it because I like to take it to work, and espresso is hard to make to the exact quality that you need.
Results are very repeatable, and I've made around 20L using this equipment. The first few were pretty miserable because I ground too fine, and set the drip rate too high. You've got to be patient and grind coarser than you think and then dial it finer. I clean the equipment after every use and the glass filter every few days.
7
Chemist here. It could be challenging to degunk your frit. In chemistry we use celite to protect the frit. Maybe some paper could protect it? Any kind of food safe filter aid. How good flow through the frit did you get? Honestly seeing food in glassware freaks me out
5
It freaks everyone out. I remember when NileRed started doing food content he made sure to explain very clearly that he bought an entire set of new glassware that he keeps segregated for use exclusively with food.
1
I use a metal filter on top of the glass and then filter paper on top of the metal filter. It seems to be "OK". All the glass is brand new, never been used on anything else. Not sure about using the celite as I haven't used it before.
1
How much did everything run you altogether?
3
~$100 Just copy the list of items I pasted into Amazon.
5
It could have costed even less from chemical suppliers. I find that stuff to be really overpriced on Amazon.
7
The most affordable option would be breaking into a high school chemistry supply closet.
6
Next time you set this up, can you get a picture of the filter bit, slightly confused at what I'm picturing.
3
Random question, why didn’t you just use the aeropress to contain the grinds? I thought of setting up a dipper like this since the puckpuck seemed a tad expensive.
2
Or a chemex, either or probably would have been cheaper, but OPs looks pretty cool!
3
Really cool man! I’d totally do this especially since those cold brew towers are pricey!
About How much did this setup set you back ? If you don’t mind
1
Very nice setup, and thanks for posting the parts, I've been eyeing cold brew towers for a while and I'm close on deciding for one, and this certainly is worth considering.
1
Yama cold brew tower
There's a nice little coffee shop in Biloxi, MS called Jacked Up that has a 25 cup one and it was the first time I ever saw one. Didn't know what they were called until just now.
1
If you notice strange black cars parked outside your house for the next few weeks, that's just the DEA wondering what you're doing with that shit.
66
Also keep your ringer on and your music down.
6
NileRed x James Hoffman
43
One can dream
7
Shower thought. This should be called cold drip instead of cold brew. Cold brew is the more basic soaking of the grounds in cold water then sticking in the fridge. Calling it the same thing when it's two very different things is weird.
16
Not sure why you were downvoted - my first thought as well.
But, to OP, that's a very cool setup nonetheless.
3
I was about to post the same. I started second guessing myself. Cause if this is cold brew then I guess I do like cold brews. I’ve also heard it called kyoto … iced or drip. Now I forgot.
2
No, with that thinking you'd not call a pour over a brew.
-4
I built something similar a few years back: https://imgur.com/a/uhX50P0
Bought a Graham condenser (spirally boy) too but didn't have the vertical space to add it (and it wouldn't have actually contributed to the coffee.
I had trouble controlling the flow with a stopcock so ended up using an IV drip chamber and roller clamp which worked perfectly. I also had trouble with clogging of the Buchner funnel's filter which was partly mitigated by adding filter paper but your solution looks more effective. Sulfuric acid was really what unclogged it (and requires special handling to say the least). Your taller Buchner was a better choice too.
15
Gale, is that you?
13
But why be smart when you can use in emulation. It's for 2 factor authentication, and also use a second eSIM. Thanks for clearing it up for you to leave if they wanted too but they seem cool enough that I'd want them to smell like baby vomit with a side of AP please...damnnn
1
Yeah science!
11
Yeah Mr. White. Yeah SCIENCE. YEAAHHHH....Blowfishin this up ....
takes a huge ass bong rip while the other one keeps coughing. 😏🤣😭
3
espressoparts.com sells Yama parts. You can buy the ceramic filter YAMCDM8CF for $21 and the middle beaker YAMCDM8MB for $29. I made a similar setup using ebay chemistry glass and a home made metal stand. Less than $100 all in, works as well as the real deal.
10
Certified r/labrats moment
9
Your lack of a clamp holding the fritted filter is giving me anxiety.
I've been burned by Keck clips too many times to rely on them...for anything.
But on topic - how is the flavor and texture? I'd think a frit would be akin to a Chemex filter but extra
8
Jesse...
6
Jesse we need to brew Jesse
3
Very nice looking cold drip system, i also made one long ago but never been successful, the water drip can not drop consistently either too fast or too slow and much of the time are stopped...it was really annoying 😀
5
Last guy who made this got shot by a meth head.
You might wanna be careful, yo!
3
This looks very cool. Could anyone explain the benefit of slow dripping for cold brew versus for example just doing an immersion?
When I cold brew, i typically just add water and grounds to a French press.
3
Yeah, you could buy a sep funnel, a buchner (complete with overpriced filters), and an erlenmeyer. Or you could just buy a jar. Grinds in. Water in. 24h. Pour through a drip funnel into another jar.
Another way which I just did for a bulk batch was someone helped me find one of those big punch/lemonade dispensers at the store for $2.50 (summer end of season clearance). Put my whole giant can of cafe bustelo in with about 3gal of water. Dispense through drip funnel into like a dozen mason jars.
3
The sep funnel is the funniest shit I’ve seen in a while. With this method you could do multiple passes if you wanted, but I know more about chemistry than I do about standard cold brew methodology.
3
True, but then you gotta worry about oxidation in your aqueous solution of coffee. I mean, you do with this, too.
..I need a vacuum chamber.
2
My mom warned me that coffee was a gateway drug.
I didn't think she was right until now...
3
That’s awesome! Im surprised you omitted the cooling coil haha. I made a similar system but with a vent on the bottom. I figured if it were sealed like yours the bottom container would eventually have a positive pressure and mess up the timing/distribution of the drips coming out.
2
I thought about cooling coils because the Yama has them, but decided not to waste the money. I know you're kidding, but everything is running at room temperature! I haven't noticed any pressure issues, but I typically apply a small vacuum right at the end and extract everything left in the filter.
2
It’s really cool the part that holds the grounds has that vacuum option, i have put my whole drip setup into a canvas bag and swing it around like Thor’s hammer.
1
You wouldn't want to apply heat to an Erlenmeyer flask.
1†
Did you even read the title?
-4
It's a Breaking Bad reference
7
Yeaaah, science bitch!
6
This is the best coffee I've ever had!
2
As much as this reminds me Gale Boetticher's set up for coffee making in the meth super lab, i feel like he was using a modified siphon.
That being said, this shit is ultra luxe. Nice job, OP. Gotta lot to learn from you.
That and his setup was for hot coffee. We started rewatching Breaking Bad recently, for the first time since I've started 'getting into' coffee. When I saw Gale's setup I wondered "Wait how well is the thermal insulation on that, does that coffee just turn cold? I don't see a heating pad and even if that's there heating pads suck!" Got an amused "Oh you weirdo" reaction from my girlfriend.
Also, this actually ain't luxe at all. If anything it's fantastically r/redneckengineering, but like the labrat version of that. The gear we're seeing is not terribly expensive I think? A 1-liter Erlemeyer flask is like, €15 I think? Yo now I wanna see if I can make this myself.
Legit, it seems easy enough, just the glass filter bit sounds like a bit of pain in the ass.
there are porcelain funnels without sintered glass - just holes like a drip coffee pot. You'd just need a filter paper (or not, depending on your grind size and tolerance for fines passing into your coffee).
I have like 150 Gooch Crucibles if you want any lol
Gooch crucible
^([ )^(F.A.Q)^( | )^(Opt Out)^( | )^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)^( | )^(GitHub)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)
To be fair.....A pour over doesn't "Stay Warm" you just make the coffee you want to drink right now. then you make more later when you want more. Hell, that's half the fun is making more.
Man i was gonna comment this
Why are we making meth?
The real question is why aren't making meth?
?