My partner acquired an earlier version of this from a house clearance. When I first saw it I thought it was part of a chemistry set. Thanks for showing me how it works. One of the best home brewed coffees I've ever made.
This has taken me back to happy memories of our family sitting around the dining table after Sunday dinner watching my dad perform the coffee making ritual using a similar contraption with the methylated spirit in the little burner. The whole event fascinated me. It was the only occasion we drank" real coffee" For the rest of the week it lived on the window ledge in pride of place. Love it, wish I had one now!
I remember my mum had one of these in the 70’s. She ground the beans herself in a wee Dutch grinder. Watching the process always fascinated me. Our methylated spirits were almost pink rather than blue.
Me too, now I do almost every method of coffee and collected a few box grinders like the one we had in Dorset. Cannot find a Cona here in Thailand but if I could I'd get one.
My mum and dad were given a Kona as a wedding present in 1961. The heart source is an electric ring rather than a spirit burner, but otherwise it's the same. I still have it, it is beautiful, and it still makes a decent cup of coffee.
Interesting. I have used a Cona D for 25 years and I have never made less than a whole pot. I use 36g of coffee, and when the hot water in the pot "burps" as it reaches the bottom of the funnel, I set a 4 minute timer. At some point I carefully (so I don't hit the glass filter) stir the water in the upper chamber, then at 4 minutes I put the flame out. I have found that it's better to wait until ALL the moisture from the grounds is drawn into the pot. You can see the last bit of moisture on the grounds disappear. If you decouple early it loses some of the flavor nuance. Good video!
You're right to make a whole pot using the water volume they are designed for. The process does depend on the right amount of water to work properly. Cona also made 3 other sizes of this design - all in imperial measures - a Model A (1/2 pint) a B (1 pint) and a C (1 1/2 pints). The D in the video is really designed for 2 pints. You can still buy the Model D new, but the other sizes are discontinued. Still a few around of those, but the prices are getting quite high especially for the B size, and even more so for the A size. They also sold small electric heaters in place of the spirit burners. I think this model range was introduced in the early '60's. Before then Cona sold ther similar "Rex" - designed by Abram Games as this one was - a great piece of mid century design and now much sought after.
Back in the 1960s when I was living in Perth Western, Australia the Cona was the brewer of choice. We avoided places with espresso machines. I dream of the Cona. The wine bar we used to visit had two Cona and often we would be in a queue. I think it is the slowness of Cona that make the coffee so good.
This is so cool and interesting, I never knew this was a thing, but now I feel like I’ve discovered an amazing part of history, thank you so much for sharing! 😸😸✨✨
Happy memories of student days when everyone gathered in my room to drink my coffee made, of course, with a Cona! The one drawback with the Cona is that being glass, sooner or later some part of it breaks.
As you say, so elegant. I've been hankering after one of these since about 2015 but, sadly, I just don't think I can squeeze one into my tiny kitchen! The Royal Belgians are also wonderful !
Finally the only issue is that it takes much more time to be done and can't be done without you assisting (wait for water to bowl to put the top part in place, then wait for the process to be done to put the cap on and then wait for the last process to be done to remove the top part, is that it ?
You can buy something quite similar new in Japan, where they have been in use for more than 100 years. Many coffee shops in Japan (喫茶店 kissaten) in Japan use them. I have several. They don't use the glass "filter" shown here but instead either cotton re-useable or disposable paper disks. They also make similar designed herb tea pots.
The model you demonstrate (the "D" version) is too big for the amount of water you are using. Cona also made other smaller versions - the A, the B, and the C - these use 1/2 pint (imperial) 1pint and 1 1/2 pints respectively and are designed for those specific volumes. Thge D version is designed to use 2 pints of water. The process doesn't work as well if you use the wrong amounts which may be why the draw down was so slow.
My partner acquired an earlier version of this from a house clearance. When I first saw it I thought it was part of a chemistry set. Thanks for showing me how it works. One of the best home brewed coffees I've ever made.
This has taken me back to happy memories of our family sitting around the dining table after Sunday dinner watching my dad perform the coffee making ritual using a similar contraption with the methylated spirit in the little burner. The whole event fascinated me. It was the only occasion we drank" real coffee" For the rest of the week it lived on the window ledge in pride of place. Love it, wish I had one now!
I've just bought one from Marketplace and your instructions were just what I was looking for. Many thanks.
I remember my mum had one of these in the 70’s. She ground the beans herself in a wee Dutch grinder. Watching the process always fascinated me. Our methylated spirits were almost pink rather than blue.
Me too, now I do almost every method of coffee and collected a few box grinders like the one we had in Dorset. Cannot find a Cona here in Thailand but if I could I'd get one.
My mum and dad were given a Kona as a wedding present in 1961. The heart source is an electric ring rather than a spirit burner, but otherwise it's the same. I still have it, it is beautiful, and it still makes a decent cup of coffee.
What a lovely way to put the "Art" of making Coffee into your eveyday experience ! Nice video and thankyou for reviewing this wonderful device.
You're very welcome. It is a thing of beauty, isn't it? : )
Thank you for the straightforward demonstration and soothing voice!
Interesting. I have used a Cona D for 25 years and I have never made less than a whole pot.
I use 36g of coffee, and when the hot water in the pot "burps" as it reaches the bottom of the funnel, I set a 4 minute timer. At some point I carefully (so I don't hit the glass filter) stir the water in the upper chamber, then at 4 minutes I put the flame out.
I have found that it's better to wait until ALL the moisture from the grounds is drawn into the pot. You can see the last bit of moisture on the grounds disappear. If you decouple early it loses some of the flavor nuance.
Good video!
You're right to make a whole pot using the water volume they are designed for. The process does depend on the right amount of water to work properly. Cona also made 3 other sizes of this design - all in imperial measures - a Model A (1/2 pint) a B (1 pint) and a C (1 1/2 pints). The D in the video is really designed for 2 pints.
You can still buy the Model D new, but the other sizes are discontinued. Still a few around of those, but the prices are getting quite high especially for the B size, and even more so for the A size. They also sold small electric heaters in place of the spirit burners.
I think this model range was introduced in the early '60's. Before then Cona sold ther similar "Rex" - designed by Abram Games as this one was - a great piece of mid century design and now much sought after.
Back in the 1960s when I was living in Perth Western, Australia the Cona was the brewer of choice. We avoided places with espresso machines. I dream of the Cona. The wine bar we used to visit had two Cona and often we would be in a queue. I think it is the slowness of Cona that make the coffee so good.
This is what happens when function and art meet. Fascinating to watch, totally mesmerizing...
I saw something similar in the film"Sunset Boulevard". So chic & graceful.Thank you so much for the demonstration : )
Thank you! I just found a new boxed Cona in the loft! As you say it is a beautiful thing which I'm looking forward to using!
Close to the one-minute mark, I mention that I hope the camera will shift focus for me. It didn't! Sorry about that. : )
This is so cool and interesting, I never knew this was a thing, but now I feel like I’ve discovered an amazing part of history, thank you so much for sharing! 😸😸✨✨
Happy memories of student days when everyone gathered in my room to drink my coffee made, of course, with a Cona! The one drawback with the Cona is that being glass, sooner or later some part of it breaks.
Unfortunately you're right ;o(
they withstand heat fine, but a "ding" and sadness ensues...
As you say, so elegant. I've been hankering after one of these since about 2015 but, sadly, I just don't think I can squeeze one into my tiny kitchen! The Royal Belgians are also wonderful !
Brilliant… thanks for showing 🎉
Thanks for this Video. Can I fill it with boiling water?
Thank you! The Cona was mentioned in " Death in Zanzibar" by M. M. Kaye & I wondered what it was. Beautiful!
The instructions on tis say to use a medium fine grind. Do you find the coarse grind is better?
Finally the only issue is that it takes much more time to be done and can't be done without you assisting (wait for water to bowl to put the top part in place, then wait for the process to be done to put the cap on and then wait for the last process to be done to remove the top part, is that it ?
I really want one (doing a search on eBay right now) but I'm curious how easy it would be to clean.
How is the coffee flavor compared to a pour over? I currently use a Chemex and wondering if the Cona will brew a better coffee. Thank you,
I loved mine but found the glass top half so easy to break.
Enjoying a strong cup made with my Cona that i got from my parents! Tho i just put mine on the stovetop as it's SO much faster hehe
WOO WHEN U LIT THE LITTLE BURNER../THAT WAS ALL FOR ME...A REAL THROWBACK.
What is the inside diameter do the pouring spout?
Hi, which brand fuel are you using? Is it clean burning?
price?
Where did you go?
You can buy something quite similar new in Japan, where they have been in use for more than 100 years. Many coffee shops in Japan (喫茶店 kissaten) in Japan use them. I have several. They don't use the glass "filter" shown here but instead either cotton re-useable or disposable paper disks. They also make similar designed herb tea pots.
you fixed the outlet, it was upside down in the tassimo video
Pretty nice coffee maker
The model you demonstrate (the "D" version) is too big for the amount of water you are using. Cona also made other smaller versions - the A, the B, and the C - these use 1/2 pint (imperial) 1pint and 1 1/2 pints respectively and are designed for those specific volumes. Thge D version is designed to use 2 pints of water. The process doesn't work as well if you use the wrong amounts which may be why the draw down was so slow.
Wonderful. :-)
Wow!
¡Excelente!
What is the flammable blue liquid in the bit at the bottom?
Fuel.
Methylated Spirits
AKA Denatured Alcohol...Denatured Methylated Alcohol. Not the drinking kind, so don't consume.
Meths, stinky stuff used in Europe but poisoned so people don't drink it!