by Lura Lee

The Starbucks Utopia brewer was launched later because the Bodum Santos. This text was written in 2002 when the Utopia was launched, however the suggestions additionally apply to the Bodum Santos brewer.

The Utopia vac pot brewing system is made from plastic and has built-in electrical parts, so cleansing and sustaining it’s not as straightforward as sustaining different espresso gear, such because the French Press. And one mistake may cause you to must spend extra time cleansing down the road. This text will stroll you step-by-step by means of the correct cleansing course of. Moreover, this text consists of suggestions and methods for profitable Utopia use and delight.

Utopia Vac Pot earlier than cleansing

Utopia Vac pot after cleansing

What you want with the intention to clear

• a comfortable fabric
• a chopstick
• a bottle brush
  or flex-head toothbrush
• baking soda
• 409 (or comparable cleaner)

What you must keep away from

The largest mistake which you can make with the Utopia is to make use of harsh cleansing instruments. Don’t, underneath any circumstances, use a kind of sponges with the abrasive facet. Scrubby sponges scratch the plastic and depart it cloudy. As soon as the plastic is scratched, extra oils will construct up and also you’ll simply have to wash it increasingly more usually.

The Identify Recreation

The important thing to understanding this text is knowing the names of the elements of the Utopia.

Utopia Vac Pot Gear

1. Basket Lid
2. Espresso Filter Basket
3. Filter
4. Arm Relaxation
5. Base
6. Heating Ingredient
7. Espresso Pot
8. Espresso Pot Lid

Step #1 – Rinse and Start

Rinse all remaining espresso out of the pot and the espresso filter basket (prime chamber). Disassemble the espresso pot lid. Disassemble the armrest (for the espresso filter basket) on the bottom. Take away the espresso filter and place it in a bowl with heat water and a couple of tablespoon of baking soda. Agitate the water sometimes and let it soak whilst you clear the remainder of the gear.

Soak the Utopia filter

Step #2 – Clear the Heating Ingredient

On the base of the pot, there’s a heating ingredient. The truth that it’s linked to the pot is the explanation why you’ll be able to’t put the pot within the dishwasher. However the factor will get soiled over time and has burnt espresso on it. How do you get it clear? A thick paste of baking soda and a few elbow grease. Combine up a paste of baking soda in a bowl to the facet. Then use a bottle brush or a flex-head toothbrush to use the paste, and use the bristles to wash the underside concurrently. When you can’t get all of it, simply do what you’ll be able to and let the baking soda break up the remainder of the oil by setting the pot to the facet.

Step #3 – Clear the Espresso Filter Basket

Shake a bit of little bit of baking soda in your moist fabric. Use the chopstick and the baking soda laden fabric to wash the tube. Rinse the fabric, then apply extra baking soda. Make it possible for the baking soda dissolves on the fabric. Undissolved baking soda will scratch, which is what you need to keep away from doing to the plastic. Vigorously wipe the within of the basket with the fabric. Use the toothbrush to wash between the plastic enamel on the lid.

Cleansing filter basket.

Step #4 – Clear the Base and Lid

Wipe the bottom of the Utopia with 409 and a dry fabric. Use the toothbrush and baking soda to wash the armrest. If the espresso is caked in there, soak the armrest in the identical bowl because the espresso filter.

Step #5 – Clear the Espresso Pot

When you’ve rinsed the baking soda paste from the heating ingredient, use the comfortable fabric and baking soda to wash the within of the pot. Use the chopstick to information the fabric across the sides and clear the pot. The baking soda does a superb job of cleansing the pot with out the suds and aftertaste related to cleaning soap.

Wipe the Utopia Vac Pot.

Step #6 – Run a Water Cycle

Rinse and reassemble all the items. Run a transparent water cycle with no espresso. This may produce a couple of rattling sounds (the filter is normally weighed down by espresso).

Water rinse Utopia Vac Pot

Between main cleanings, rinse the Utopia and use solely a comfortable fabric to wipe it down.

Further Utopia Ideas

Listed below are some issues which may assist you to together with your Utopia. These are pretty disconnected suggestions, however they’ve been urged from varied sources for inclusion on this article.

Stopped mid-brew

In case your Utopia stops mid-brew, you’ll must throw out the pot of espresso and begin once more. It tastes horrible when it double-brews. Flip over the bottom of the Utopia and, should you haven’t eliminated it already, you’ll see a transparent plastic ring that goes across the base. This ring is meant to maintain the bottom from sliding round in your counter. The issue with it’s that it will possibly get displaced and trigger the sensors within the base of the Utopia to miscalculate. This may generally trigger incomplete brew cycles and double brews. Starbucks recommends the removing you probably have this sort of drawback.

There’s a plastic ring across the base

Espresso is Clumping and never making Full Contact With Water

Sometimes, the water rises up from the pot however appears to not combine with the espresso. In the meantime, the espresso mainly sits in an enormous blob alongside the facet of the basket. If this occurs, take away the lid from the basket, and watch out to not break the seal that the basket has with the pot. Use a knife or spoon to softly combine the espresso with the water.

Espresso Tastes Weak

1. Just remember to’re brewing a full pot. The Utopia works greatest when working at full capability.
2. Strive a barely finer grind, however don’t go all the way in which to the espresso grind or your filter received’t be capable of deal with the additional work.
3. Vac Pot espresso has extra readability than French Press, so it could style a bit of ‘weaker’ by advantage of the truth that extra oils and sediments have been filtered out.

Damaged Filter

Apparently, there have been some issues with the primary batch of filters. So in case your filter breaks, name Starbucks (1-800-Starbucks) and so they’ll substitute the primary one totally free. I’ve had my first filter so long as I’ve had the vac pot, however fairly a couple of different folks have had issues. I’m additionally starting to see some Utopia filters on the market in my native Starbucks shops. Unusually, nevertheless, they’re not promoting them on-line. My recommendation: complain to Starbucks and see if you will get a alternative totally free. You in all probability will.

Closing Ideas

To this point, I’ve made lots of of pots of espresso with my vac pot. The overwhelming majority of them have gone easily, however sometimes I’ve needed to throw out a pot. It’s nice for company, who love to look at the spectacle, and it’s good for individuals who aren’t accustomed to French Press espresso. Plus, I like that this vac pot is straightforward to wash up and the truth that I get extra constant outcomes with the Utopia than I do with different vac pot manufacturers. I hope that you simply get pleasure from your Utopia as a lot as I’ve loved mine.

Revealed on June 1, 2002