Coffee on board

Carib said:
What, instant coffee?
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??
Stella lager, actually. Instant coffee comes from poo.

I used to recommend a squirt of white vinegar to help keep pipework clean and fresh. I'm not so sure about its efficacy now though. I've had to clear my 38mm outlet pipe twice this year only two years after replacing the pipes and refurbishing the pump and valves. I used white vinegar every few days in that time (full time liveabirds). The first time of cleaning the pipe had only a 15mm bore left through the calcium (the reaction of urine and seawater referred to) and accumulated, umm, greasy organic material. Only a few months later it had started to build up enough to restrict the flow again. Agua Fuerte - diluted hydrochloric acid - has eased that.
One of the side effects of restricted flow in the pipes was urine not been cleared fully from the rising pipe and slowly finding its way back down into the pan. It doesn't take much over a warm couple of days to smell bad.

The other source of smell in my heads is the seat and seals. I've avoided using bleach in the heads, being told it affects the rubber diaphragm and valves. Ordinary disinfectant isn't getting the seat completely free of the drops of urine that cause a smell so I might relent on my no bleach rule
 
Sandy said:
You may find that coffee might induce sea sickness. I never drink coffee as sea as I find it dehydrates me. I find a decent pot of tea more hydrating.
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It certainly induced air sickness at the start of my flying career. Happy to say that i'm now immune to any type of travel sickness but it took a desensitisation course to do it and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.
 
We have a Nespresso permanently rigged to the inverter, and a large cafetiere for when we don't want to start the engine. I also found these VERY nifty cups which I recommend; the key to not getting "gritty" coffee" is to let them sit for some minutes before plunging the plunger.

Zyliss Hot Mug Cafetiere, Red: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

Re the heads. I don't see any need to use bleach, which may not harm the yacht's system, but I don't think helps the sea system.

First of all, when you can do so, "short-staffed" use just one heads and let it enjoy the "throughput". Second, if your PVC pipes already smell, replace with posh rubber ones. Third, if they don't already smell, you can make them last ages and ages with proper flushing habits. Fourth, flushing - use copious amounts of water, flush through the whole pipe (not just the bowl); I think they say 7 pumps per metre of pipe which for most of us means 20-25 wet pumps AFTER emptying the bowl. Fifth, whenever you won't use the heads for more than a day, flush through with copious fresh water. Sixth, occasionally flush with white vinegar and allow it to sit in the tubes... the smell doesn't last, it's green, clean and can help prevent (but not really remove, you need stronger acid) scale build-up.

My heads smell lovely and that's all it takes.
 
mrangry said:
I am trying to make the boat as appealing as possible to the missus, she is new to sailing and already been sea sick. With this in mind she likes coffee (easy pleased) but not instant, so can I ask what you guys do to make coffee on board. I am also hoping it will mask the boaty toilet smell and with three heads its not easy to keep on top of. I had a look online and it seems you can get 12v coffee machines but just looking for your personal experiences. I also have a small stove top thing at home but it doesn't seem well balanced.
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Just out of interest caffeine and sea sickness are best friends.
 
Coffee: We have a La Cimbali M1 but the generator can't handle it ;0) Hence we're reduced to a Handpresso, even though it's a bit of a faff, for espressos and a stainless steel insulated cafetière for americanos.

Fresh ground is preferred, but my sloth often dictates pre ground. It only lasts a short while around here anyway. Just to annoy people I keep it in the 'fridge.

I prefer uninsulated cafetières, partly because the larger internal bore makes cleaning easier, but they are lighter and press deeper & I don't do American style 'kept' coffee, I just couldn't find one when buying for the boat.

I have milk frothers too.

Heads: A good flush followed by a one quick spray of bleach before leaving the boat and there is no odour and minimal pollution. Yes the rubber bits may not last so long, but who wants them to last if they smell bad? I also occasionally do a fresh water flush (whenever the tide is out!) Not sure if it helps, but hey...

Also, use the heads frequently! I recommend ageing and plenty of coffee.
 
Carib said:
I hadn't heard of this.. Please tell us more if you can!
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my course was in the late 1980's. It's probably less aggressive now.

Phase 1: Strapped into an apparatus the spins on 3 axis and given various tasks whilst being spun to the point of intolerable sickness then given relaxation exercises to recover then repeat. Several hours a day for several days.

Phase 2: Similar tasks but done in the seat of a Hawk whist being thrown around. Repeat for several days.

All under the watchful eyes of the RAFs finest aeromedical specialists.

To be honest I think it was the fear of having to do it again that cured my airsickness :-)
 
RJJ said:
We have a Nespresso permanently rigged to the inverter, and a large cafetiere for when we don't want to start the engine. I also found these VERY nifty cups which I recommend; the key to not getting "gritty" coffee" is to let them sit for some minutes before plunging the plunger.

Zyliss Hot Mug Cafetiere, Red: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

Re the heads. I don't see any need to use bleach, which may not harm the yacht's system, but I don't think helps the sea system.

First of all, when you can do so, "short-staffed" use just one heads and let it enjoy the "throughput". Second, if your PVC pipes already smell, replace with posh rubber ones. Third, if they don't already smell, you can make them last ages and ages with proper flushing habits. Fourth, flushing - use copious amounts of water, flush through the whole pipe (not just the bowl); I think they say 7 pumps per metre of pipe which for most of us means 20-25 wet pumps AFTER emptying the bowl. Fifth, whenever you won't use the heads for more than a day, flush through with copious fresh water. Sixth, occasionally flush with white vinegar and allow it to sit in the tubes... the smell doesn't last, it's green, clean and can help prevent (but not really remove, you need stronger acid) scale build-up.

My heads smell lovely and that's all it takes.
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Ah, that sounds like somebody who doesn’t liveaboard in a nice warm climate. The rule for flushing if you are lazy and don‘t fancy leaving the anchorage to empty your holding tank more often than you need to is to flush just enough, and not a drop more, to clear the bowl. Which means the outlet pipe is permanently full of poo. And that’s all fine if you use bleach and change the pipes regularly or change to butyl.
 
prv said:
To be fair, I think Vyv's only assertion was that clean seawater doesn't smell after being left in a closed container for a while. I don't think he included grubby river water in his test, and I'm sure he didn't include a pump barrel that's had poo squeezed through it. Remember the inlet and outlet sides of a Jabsco share the same pump surfaces and are separated only by a single O-ring.

As you say, the first few pumps after a period of non-use will often smell a bit, and it makes sense to get those out of the way before you're shut in the compartment doing your trousers back up.

Pete
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I admit I've not conducted any formal trials. I do notice, however, that the smell takes quite a long time to reach my nostrils....as in, it wasn't after the first pump but after pump 6 or 7 that I get that familiar sulphurous whiff. Who knows where it comes from exactly....I've already spent too long thinking about it today.....first world problems....etc etc
 
Nesspresso machine and cafetière for in port, coffee wise, and instant underway.

Heads whiffs improved greatly - to non existent - when I nipped up every jubilee clip in the run from heads to holding tank to pumps. However that is with impractical fresh water flush.
 
One of these is the best I've found

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Café Ole 6 Cup Double Walled Straight Sided Cafetiere Coffee Maker, Satin, 800 ml/0.8 Litre: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

As for cleaning, there's plenty of sea not far away. A good rinse over the side and a quick rinse with fresh water and job done.
 
La pavoni for espressos (and a cheap hand operated grinder which is better than the Gaggia MDF at home!)
converted the toilets to freshwater flushing, no smell ever since. Best thing I've done re heads!
 
Coffee threads should be added to the anchor thread list as popcorn worthy!

As to us, simple cafetiere for black coffee. No milk or sugar. Simple.

Instant never crosses our threshold! Peasants... :rolleyes:
 
Steel (unbreakable ) cafetiere. Mine is by Gator and is double walled, so helps it stay hot longer.

French Press Collection. I note they now have colours.

It's part of the coffee ritual to be able to smell the coffee during the preparation process :)
 
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