Expensive but worth it.I bought my first Alfi carafe 15 years ago after a trip to Europe. All of the hootels we stayed in used them to pour coffee. I liked the way it looked and the waiters assured me it would keep hot liquids hot all day. Well, it does provided that you prefill it with hot water (and then obviosuly dump the water before filling with your beverage). The thing will keep stuff steaming for 7 or 8 hours. If you can afford the freight - it is well worth it.
A Worldwide Classic for CarafesI saw this model of Alfi carafe all over Germany when I was over there in the Army, 1984-87--in upscale hotels, resturants, and well-furnished homes--this Alfi Juwel 1-liter model. Got one myself and paid $75.00 U.S. then. It functioned perfectly for many years, but it got left behind in a divorce. Had to have another one--it works flawlessly too. It costs more than others, but it's worth it--(I've tried some.)
NOTES ON ALL CARAFES: (1) The purpose of a carafe is to retain coffee FLAVOR as well as temperature. Without the airtight seal provided by a carafe, the oils and chemicals of FRESH coffee are steamed/evaporated away into open air quite rapidly if heated on just a warmer/hotplate. A good carafe will preserve FULL flavor. (2) For any carafe to function, it must be preheated with hot water for 2-5 minutes, and then the hot water dumped, just before the coffee/other hot beverage is put into the carafe.
If properly preheated and filled with an early-morning...
Click to Editorial Reviews
