If you're in a bind...

...desperate times call for desperate measures. 

Weekends are when I really get to indulge my coffee addiction. I have to get up at 4:15am during the week, so I usually grind what I need on Sunday to save a little time each morning. I run a cup through the Braun and have it with a bowl of cereal. When I get to work at about 5:30am, I wait an hour and a half for the cafeteria to open and get a biscuit (I keep butter & some kinda spread in our little dorm-size fridge, 'cuz they charge for it). I'll have cup of Columbian from our Keurig (*urp*) to wash it down (I keep French Vanilla creamer, too). Then when I get home, I'll usually fix a *good* cup to wash the Keurig out of my mouth. But, I digress...

So, anyway...I've got about a third of a pound of whole-bean dark to last the week, and being the tightwad that I am, was trying to save a few bucks until payday (vacation's coming up in two weeks). I remembered I had some Folger's filter packs (that I had bought during my last vacation) in the pantry, and thought, "Hey, I can use that crap for my morning cup and save the good stuff."

 I check the "Best Used By" date and figure I'm good...

So, I break out the Aeropress and brew as I normally would.

Cat-piss. Hopefully, it will be (a little) better coming out of the Braun. (I had read an article about using a French press to salvage crappy coffee, but the Folger's is ground a bit too fine for a press pot. But for now, I've got to get this crappy taste out of my mouth...)

The problem with Ebay is...

...a lot of the people selling stuff have *no idea* how to sell it. For instance...

...this is listed as a "Vintage Flameware PYREX Model 7826-B". Do a search on the Flameware 7826-B, and you'll find this...

...straight from Corelle's website. Flameware coffee pots used a *glass* basket, with aluminum top and bottom pieces, *not* an aluminum basket as in the listing. No mention that is complete (or even missing the top spreader), just that there is no damage.

Here's an example of someone not really sure of what they have, but they want *you* to buy it now! Right now before someone else gets it!

"Want it now? Why wait?? Buy it now!!!" But, it's incomplete. It may have the "strainer" (basket/filter), but the upper pot and lid are missing. "Now..if YOU have any other information or data on this piece and would like to share it..." I do, and no, I'm not going to, because you should *know* what you're selling. Even though it *is* a Hall, and it's only $8.99 (plus $18.28 S&H), it's useless to me. And I'm not really concerned that someone else has their "arrow on the bid button".

Condition, next to completion, is what I look for next. Here's an "Art Deco Coffee Maker", with only the generic Ebay condition listed...

  

Pretty neat moka pot ("stove top espresso maker). The thing to remember about these is the condition of the *gasket*, as it brews under pressure; the gasket must be in good condition in order for it to brew. "My guess is you put it on a stove top to brew it." Yup, that's right. How's that gasket? It's easily obtainable (if you know who made it and what size it is). And although the upper section looks pretty good, the lower part looks kinda funky inside.

One more, and I'll stop...



The West Bend "Kwik Drip". There are a ton of these things on Ebay, ranging from about seven bucks to over $60 (yoiks!). "Vintage" may mean "old", but it doesn't mean it's necessarily *valuable*. This particular pot ($21.99, free shipping) has a very detailed description...but...neglected to add the spreader was missing.

So, word to the wise: spend a little time doing a little research before making a purchase. In many cases, there will be more than just one pot listed, so you can make comparisons (and be certain you're getting all the parts). You'll also find one either in better condition or for a better price (sometimes, *both*). There will be times, though, when you run across that one odd-ball piece; in that case, it takes a bit of digging on the interwebz to get the info you need. Worst case (and I've run across this), you won't find *anything*. Then you just roll the dice (depending on how badly you want it) and hope for the best.