Well, I might make it, here and I have another question, too...
Does anybody know... do coffee pots come with only a certain number of hours of use in 'em, after which they just up and die, or might it be "farm water" that kills more coffee pots a year on me than any six other people y'all care to name?
My hand to Gawd, it seems like I hafta get a new coffee pot every coupla months. And, I do use 'em quite a lot more than average, I know that.We make coffee damned near all day and we also make iced tea in it, but damn, man. You'd think I was making coffee for an ARMY, as quickly as these things croak. It's either that, or it's "farm water".
Because I also used to have to replace the coffee pot more often than usual on the farm back in Bucks. So, which is it, do ya think? I told Eric and George when I started to vinegar-clean the old one, "As long as I can have another cuppa coffee before noon, I'll be okay", and I said that because the "old" one took OVER TWO HOURS to make a pot of coffee early this morning. And, when it seemed to refuse to let me clean it with the vinegar-water, I said "To hell with this" and went to Wally-world and got a new CHEAP one. I figure, hell, if I'mina hafta buy one every three months, might as well just get the cheap ones.
This last one was a Sunbeam, too. I thought a "name brand" one might live longer.
Silly me. Anyway, I got the stupid coffee pot then went to find this mechanic guy. I think I found his garage, but he wasn't there.
Nobody was.
ASSUMING he has a legit reason for not being there (advertised hours are 10a-10p), I figure I'll take another ride out there later and see if I can't find him then. Meanwhile, trying to find him this time took a while and I just now (or rather about 10 minutes ago) got home and started a pot of coffee.
So, maybe I will get another cuppa the stuff before noon. Lord, I do hope so....
Comments
1
Farm water/well water KILLS everything in my house. I have hard water stains in both toilets that I cannot get out.....and I have gone thru two dishwashers (the appliance guy said it was the well water that sounded the death knell)
And whereas my mother (who has city water) has had the same washing machine for 40 years, I have gone thru 3 in 20 years (once again, I blame the well water)
Even faucets here dont last long.....they corrode and drip....
Bottom line: Well water wreaks havoc with EVERYTHING....(and I even have a complicated and EXPENSIVE RUBE GOLDBERG type of water softener system, yet we still have problems)
sigh......
And whereas my mother (who has city water) has had the same washing machine for 40 years, I have gone thru 3 in 20 years (once again, I blame the well water)
Even faucets here dont last long.....they corrode and drip....
Bottom line: Well water wreaks havoc with EVERYTHING....(and I even have a complicated and EXPENSIVE RUBE GOLDBERG type of water softener system, yet we still have problems)
sigh......
Posted by: Ruth at July 06, 2006 11:18 AM (kqTXB)
2
Ah, coffeeblogging. An evergreen.
It does sound like you've got mineral buildup if it takes that long for the coffee to make. And your doing a vinegar clean is a good thing. But consider using a Brita filter (or similar) for the coffee water to stop much of them ineral before it even starts.
Also, the better the water you start with, the better your coffee. Making coffee comes down to three things: the coffee, the water & the method. Any $20 machine makes perfectly good coffee. Any coffee you like is the good coffee. But using good water is a step a lot of people don't think about.
The other ting is, no matter how much you like your coffee maker, after about a year, you will be sick of the things it does wrong (drips when pouring, e.g.) and you will buy another. That one will drive you nuts in about a year as well.
It is the Tao of Coffee.
It does sound like you've got mineral buildup if it takes that long for the coffee to make. And your doing a vinegar clean is a good thing. But consider using a Brita filter (or similar) for the coffee water to stop much of them ineral before it even starts.
Also, the better the water you start with, the better your coffee. Making coffee comes down to three things: the coffee, the water & the method. Any $20 machine makes perfectly good coffee. Any coffee you like is the good coffee. But using good water is a step a lot of people don't think about.
The other ting is, no matter how much you like your coffee maker, after about a year, you will be sick of the things it does wrong (drips when pouring, e.g.) and you will buy another. That one will drive you nuts in about a year as well.
It is the Tao of Coffee.
Posted by: BlogDog at July 06, 2006 11:18 AM (ya03a)
3
I usually go through coffee pots like you do but last time I bought one of them there fancy schmancy Hamilton Beach Brewmasters and it's last over a year so far. I keep a small one cup brewer as a backup, just in case the coffeepot decides to die before I've had a chance to get a few cups in me. I can't handle Wal-Mart on a GOOD day...nevermind trying on a morning without coffee.
Posted by: Chablis at July 06, 2006 11:28 AM (tMoUV)
4
It is probably the hard water buildup causing the problem. If you can afford it, I would use bottled water or install a water softener for the house.
Posted by: surfie at July 06, 2006 11:48 AM (Iuf+m)
5
Key words being "if you can afford it"
My water softener system and all the maintenance it involves has cost me thousands of dollars since we moved here in 1990.....literally thousands. I could have bought a new car with the money I have spent on my water softener system. Yet, without it, we would be shelling out more for new fixtures, appliances, etc.....(and even WITH the system its NOT like having soft, city water)
I love country living, but I despise country water. Its damn expensive....
oh and since I have 7 male cats, I buy spring water for them, in these big three gallon containers with a spigot, as I cant afford to have them having urinary tract problems due to all the minerals in the water......
Its funny cuz, when the power goes out (and the well doesnt work) we thank god for the "PET WATER" that we have in the fridge.....And when its real hot, my husband will say, "here, have some PET WATER, its nice and cold".......
(maybe you have to BE HERE to see the humor...LOL)
My water softener system and all the maintenance it involves has cost me thousands of dollars since we moved here in 1990.....literally thousands. I could have bought a new car with the money I have spent on my water softener system. Yet, without it, we would be shelling out more for new fixtures, appliances, etc.....(and even WITH the system its NOT like having soft, city water)
I love country living, but I despise country water. Its damn expensive....
oh and since I have 7 male cats, I buy spring water for them, in these big three gallon containers with a spigot, as I cant afford to have them having urinary tract problems due to all the minerals in the water......
Its funny cuz, when the power goes out (and the well doesnt work) we thank god for the "PET WATER" that we have in the fridge.....And when its real hot, my husband will say, "here, have some PET WATER, its nice and cold".......
(maybe you have to BE HERE to see the humor...LOL)
Posted by: Ruth at July 06, 2006 12:14 PM (kqTXB)
6
Oh Lord... I hadn't even THOUGHT of the cat-aspects of that...
Could this water hurt or even cause death in kittens?
Or could using an "old" beat up teflon "spaghetti pot"? The coating IS chipped and shit.
Almost all the kittens I'm trying to care for seem to pass among them a repsiratory thing. All sneeze and have what I call "booger-eyes". Some die, some don't and I can't possibly afford to run them all to the vet.
I have one now with the "typical" breathing trouble, sneezing, blowing snot and whatnot and he's having trouble with his balance now, too.
Hate to lose this one because he's such a sweet little man.
Purrs STILL when you pet him, even though he's sicker'n hell...
I've been looking online, trying to use the symptoms as the search phrase and am getting strictly NO WHERE as far as finding out what thell I'm dealing with here.
Any thoughts, anyone?
Could this water hurt or even cause death in kittens?
Or could using an "old" beat up teflon "spaghetti pot"? The coating IS chipped and shit.
Almost all the kittens I'm trying to care for seem to pass among them a repsiratory thing. All sneeze and have what I call "booger-eyes". Some die, some don't and I can't possibly afford to run them all to the vet.
I have one now with the "typical" breathing trouble, sneezing, blowing snot and whatnot and he's having trouble with his balance now, too.
Hate to lose this one because he's such a sweet little man.
Purrs STILL when you pet him, even though he's sicker'n hell...
I've been looking online, trying to use the symptoms as the search phrase and am getting strictly NO WHERE as far as finding out what thell I'm dealing with here.
Any thoughts, anyone?
Posted by: Stevie at July 06, 2006 01:18 PM (Gq1we)
7
All I know is that male cats are prone to urinary tract problems...and those problems are "stones" or "grit" in the urine (and hard water with all its minerals doesnt help) I know lots of people who have male cats give them spring water. (me being one of those people)
Anything that adds minerals (well water for example) to a male cat's diet (drinking water) isnt desirable.....
So to be on the safe side, I only put down spring water for the pets. (dog included)
I have an orange Coon Cat named Thomas (he is soooo lovable) and he was the first one (when drinking well water) to have a bout with urinary tract problems.....since then, I give all of mine NOTHING but spring water....and Thomas gets a cranberry pill supplement every day (its a cat thing, and flavored so as to appeal to him) Since he's been on spring water and the cranberry extract, NO MORE urinary tract infections.
Anything that adds minerals (well water for example) to a male cat's diet (drinking water) isnt desirable.....
So to be on the safe side, I only put down spring water for the pets. (dog included)
I have an orange Coon Cat named Thomas (he is soooo lovable) and he was the first one (when drinking well water) to have a bout with urinary tract problems.....since then, I give all of mine NOTHING but spring water....and Thomas gets a cranberry pill supplement every day (its a cat thing, and flavored so as to appeal to him) Since he's been on spring water and the cranberry extract, NO MORE urinary tract infections.
Posted by: Ruth at July 06, 2006 01:32 PM (kqTXB)
8
Just a heads up, Stevie...that teflon coating is definitely a bad idea. I'm not sure if it's causing the illness in the kittens but I do know that it's got toxic properties to birds. If you cook with teflon and have birds in the house, you have to be very careful not to let the pan overheat because the fumes will kill your birds. Just to be on the safe side, I'd use something plastic or stainless steel.
Posted by: Chablis at July 06, 2006 03:05 PM (tMoUV)
9
They just make 'em cheap now a days. My Evil Auntie went back to using a percolator (sp?) because she got tired of shelling out big bucks on coffee makers.
Posted by: Maeve at July 06, 2006 03:26 PM (b/7xM)
10
We have TERRIBLE water here in Lancaster County. I won't even water my plants with the crap. Some days it smells so much like chlorine I think I'm working with bleach.
I agree with Chablis about the teflon pot, especially since it's scratched. A nice stainless steel dish will work much better.
I agree with Chablis about the teflon pot, especially since it's scratched. A nice stainless steel dish will work much better.
Posted by: the other Steph at July 06, 2006 03:44 PM (ZGcUL)
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