What kind of fuel do I use for a Hario TCA/50A coffee syphon?
I just received a Hario Coffee Syphon TCA/50A as a birthday gift which makes use of an alcohol-fuel powered wick/lamp to heat the water.
However, I'm a bit confused which fuel I should be using exactly? The manual states:
Use only fuel-type alcohol. Never use gasoline, benzene or kerosene. Purchase fuel-type alcohol from a pharmacy, etc.
However, what exactly should I be asking for? I live in Germany and none of the Apothek/Pharmacies said they had what I was looking for. I feel like there should be a more common name for the exact fuel I need to use! (eg: Should I be looking for Butane or Ethanol?)
Best Answer
Ask them for Brennspiritus. You can get it in bigger drugstores like DM or Rossmann, I don't know who else will have it, but maybe home maintenance (?) stores (Baumärkte).
You can't use butane, that's a different fuel and obviously not suitable for your case. You should be able to use pure ethanol, but due to alcohol import laws, medicinal ethanol without dilutants is extremely expensive, and medicinal ethanol with dilutants might have dilutants which create something bad when burned. Brennspiritus is ethanol with dilutants which can be burned safely, while still making it undrinkable.
If everything else fails, you can start burning high-percentage drinking alcohol, my grandpa uses it sometimes on Spiritus burners. The problem (besides being more expensive) is that you need both a high ABV (something around 70% will be good) and a pure alcohol (vodka or obstwasser); alcohol types which you are likely to find at these percentages (such as rum) can leave layers of badly combusted gunk inside the burner.
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Quick Answer about "What kind of fuel do I use for a Hario TCA/50A coffee syphon?"
Use only fuel-type alcohol.What fuel do you use in a coffee siphon?
Burners for Tabletop Siphon Brewers There are three kinds of burners commonly used for tabletop siphon coffee brewers: alcohol, butane and halogen.How do you use a Hario coffee siphon?
Steps to brew with syphonWhat is the coffee ground used in coffee siphon?
Siphon coffee requires a medium grind size between filter and espresso but closer to the filter size. Siphon coffee makers typically use a cloth or metal filter, producing a full-bodied and clean cup. You don't want the grinds to be too fine that they'll clog the filter and you don't want them to be too big.Which is the heating source of coffee siphon?
Constant Heat Source A consistent heat source is what makes the siphon brewing method so special. Heating options for burners include denatured alcohol, butane, gas, or halogen. As for what burner to use, that's largely a matter of preference, though halogen burners are probably the most widely preferred option.[HARIO]COFFEE SYPHON Instruction Movie [TCA]
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Answer 2
Alcohol stoves use either methanol or denatured alcohol, which is ethanol mixed with about 10% methanol. Either should work for your burner.
Alcohol stoves are often used on small boats or for camping, so an outdoors store or a boating supply store are possible sources.
Methanol is also used as a thinner/sovent, and can be found at many automotive or home repair stores. In North America, it's usually labelled methyl hydrate, but that's just another name for methanol.
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