Today’s post throws the spotlight on a little known, but personal favourite of mine; the Cona coffee maker. I don’t think it is hyperbole to say it is an icon of the coffee world. The vacuum coffee maker is the purists’ way to enjoy coffee because the coffee only comes into contact with glass, and the water infuses with the coffee at the perfect temperature. OK, it isn’t espresso I hear you scream, but I like to throw light on unique products and encourage you to try something from the time of your grandparent’s youth that is still selling today. How many things can you say that about? The all glass Cona coffee maker is a work of art even when it is not in use. It is best suited to those few moments we have today when we are not under time pressure, such as serving coffee after dinner. Its detractors will say that it is fragile, slow, and the glass needs to be kept clean, all of which is true. For my money, the experience it provides outweighs the negatives. It is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum to an espresso, both in terms of the length of time it takes to make the coffee, perhaps 25 minutes, and in taste – it is a very delicate method of extraction, ideal for coffees with very subtle nuances. The legendary Cona was perfected in England way back in 1910! The Cona firm still exists in Wimbledon today. If I have whetted your appetite click on the link here: cona.co.uk (don’t be put off by the slightly off-beat website, the product is a gem and the service is like the product – old fashioned, but first class). And to answer the cynics (I am one myself, after all), no I am not in anyway connected or affiliated to Cona, or any of its subsidiaries, employees, or officers, other than being the proud owner of the Cona Classic Table Model ‘C’. If you know someone who loves classic cars, cameras, etc, or indeed has any appreciation for old machinery, I think this would make a superb gift.