FAQs
1. What is the difference between the two types of Unimatics you offer (Gas and Electric)?
When the Unimatic was invented and made, back in the 1960s, there were two types of stoves: an electric range and a gas powered range. The difference between the way the heat sources function was taken into consideration in pot construction (i.e. electric heat is intermittent and hotter, while gas heat is constant and less hot). Note: the Unimatic for the electric stove does NOT mean that it's an electric, plug-in type coffee pot for a countertop. Unimatics are wireless and are intended to sit atop your stove. Our pots have been designed with the specific heat source in mind to optimize their efficiency. Although they can be used interchangeably on a different stove type, but we don't recommend this is done long term, only for one-off occasions (normally for when people go traveling or visit friends and family, etc). The only difference you might see when this is done is a difference in heat / perk time, but it won't impact how delightful your coffee is. If you don't know which model to adopt, we always recommend going with the gas - as they are slightly more versatile. Both make the perfect cup of coffee :)
2. Does the Unimatic work on Induction stoves?
This is something we are currently researching, as they did not exist when the Unimatic was created. There is a heat plate on the bottom of the pot that is made of the correct material for induction to be compatible, however there is a slight detail that makes us unsure that it is optimized for that type of stove. You see, when you turn the pot over, there is a lip around the outside of the pot that precludes the flat bottom from touching the surface below - it’s only a centimetre or two, but from our preliminary research, we believe that the bottom needs to be fully touching the stovetop plate on an induction stove.
We did have a lovely woman purchase pots for her children (at least one of whom had an induction stove top) and we have not heard any bad news from her!
3. Do you ship Internationally?
We do! We ship all across the world and have Unimatics in homes in over 28 countries!
Unfortunately we don't have any control over customs or import charges and cannot predict what they may be as customs policies vary widely. We recommend you contacting your local customs office for more advice.
4. How do I clean my Unimatic?
We recommend simply using soap and water and a soft sponge. Please do not put it in a dishwasher! We've also heard that Barkeeper's Friend is a great product to use to keep your Unimatic shiny! If you’d prefer to not lose the mirror finish, note that Brillo and other harder types of sponges do scratch the surface. If you do use Brillo or a scrubber sponge or brush (i.e. something that isn't completely soft), the surface luster will fade into (what we think is a beautiful) patina. It is a personal choice as some people prefer to keep the shine but others prefer to see the more worn patina as it shows how much it is loved!
- The water should always be filled up to the line in the pot, you shouldn't need less water than this for the optimal taste.
- You can amend the amount of coffee you add, this bit is completely up to you. If it helps, we always add enough to just below the little dimples in the basket in the center stem.
- It's also important to not 'tamp' the coffee down and pack it in like for espresso, it needs to be loose so that the water can drip through readily.
- If there's too much coffee or if it's too coarse the water may not be getting through properly. If you're grinding your own coffee, we recommend a setting of may be a 7 or 8 (out of ten) works well.
- If your coffee is light, or doesn't seem to be perking perfectly, drop us a note! There are only a couple things that it could be and they're easily remedied! :)
If you have any other questions, please drop us an email at ciao@caffeunimatic.com