For some of your coworkers, a morning cup of coffee is life. If you're hosting an early morning meeting, protecting yourself from a tired but angry mob requires copious amounts of coffee. When a household coffee maker simply won't do, you need a machine capable of brewing 42 cups of bean juice at a time. General Electric makes such an appliance, and it's easy to use. Simply fill the urn with water, fill the basket with coffee and turn it on. Do it early, however, as it takes about a minute per cup to brew coffee in a large urn. Allow 40 to 45 minutes of brewing time when making 42 cups of coffee.
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Pack and Prep
To begin the process, lift the top cover from the urn and remove the coffee basket and the long stem upon which it sits. Fill the urn with the appropriate amount of cold water. Return the stem and coffee basket to the urn and then fill the basket with ground coffee, being careful not to drop any down into the stem in the middle of the basket. Spread the coffee evenly across the basket when filling it. You will need the following ratios of water and coffee:
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- 42 cups of coffee require 10 1/2 liters of water and 2 1/2 cups of coffee
- 36 cups of coffee require 9 liters of water and 2 1/4 cups of coffee
- 30 cups of coffee require 7 1/2 liters of water and 1 3/4 cups of coffee
- 24 cups of coffee require 6 liters of water and 1 1/2 cups of coffee
- 18 cups of coffee require 4 1/2 liters of water and 1 cup of coffee
Begin Brewing
After loading the urn, place the cover back onto the unit and give it a twist so it locks into place. To turn the urn on and begin brewing, simply plug it in. The unit will automatically heat the water and begin making coffee. When the coffee has finished brewing, the ready light on the front of the unit will turn on, and you can begin dispensing coffee. Before you do this, remove the urn's lid and carefully remove the basket and stem to dispose of the coffee grounds. This prevents the coffee from developing a bitter taste. Use a potholder or oven mitt as these parts will be hot. Put the lid back on the coffee maker, which will keep the coffee hot until you unplug it. To serve the coffee, press a mug or cup against the dispensing bar, holding it there until it's full.
Cleaning Up
After use, unplug the coffee urn and allow it to cool. Wash the coffee basket and stem in hot soapy water or clean them in the dishwasher. Remove the urn's lid, dispose of any remaining coffee and then wash the urn in hot soapy water as well. Note that the urn itself isn't dishwasher safe. Clean the inside of the urn and the lid thoroughly, using a scouring pad if necessary. Rinse the urn thoroughly, remembering to manually press the dispensing bar to run some water through the serving spout. Dry the interior of the urn, basket, stem and cover before reassembling the coffee maker. Wipe down the outside of the appliance with a damp cloth before storing it until its next use.
If you notice mineral deposits building up inside the urn, fill it with 1 quart of cold water and 1 quart of white vinegar. Place the stem and empty basket into the urn, place the lid on the appliance and plug it in. Allow the coffee maker to run through a brewing cycle. After it finishes, allow it to rest for 15 minutes and then empty and wash it as you normally would.