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Ratio Eight FAQ

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Mark Hellweg
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What is the difference between Edition and non-Edition units?

All models of the Ratio Eight have these fundamental parts in common:

  • Aerospace-grade die cast aluminum that is post-machined for a precise fit with incredibly tight tolerances.

  • Sophisticated electronics to detect the water volume in the tank and optimize the brew cycle accordingly, meaning a small batch of just two cups is as evenly extracted and full of flavor as an 8 cup batch.

  • Borosilicate glass internal supply lines.

  • Precision stainless steel shower head that evenly distributes an ideal flow of hot water over the ground coffee.
 
The Edition line uses the most exquisite materials available, which also means it takes more time and effort to produce these units. 
 
Glass:
 
No one uses borosilicate glass to form a water tank in a coffee maker because it’s exceedingly expensive and difficult to reproduce accurately. 
 
The Ratio team spent the time to build up a supply chain capable of making accurately sized borosilicate glass water tank, internal water lines, and carafe. The process used to form these parts involves a lot of tedious work by hand, and it requires great skill to produce parts that can be assembled in the tight tolerances of the Ratio Eight. A few millimeters off can make a part unworkable.
 
(By comparison, The Ratio Eight machine uses a tank made of optically clear, BPA free polycarbonate, which is a very dense and food safe material.)
 
Wood:
 
The Edition line features domestic hardwood trim. Each piece is precision-machined before going through multiple stages of hand sanding to achieve the right level of finish before being coated for water proof durability
 
Our wood trim pieces are made in Puget Sound by a small fine furniture and cabinet maker outfit.
 
(By comparison, The Ratio Eight is also made of solid wood that is finished by hand, but we use a simple maple variety, while the Edition line features figured maple that has a soft iridescence.)
 
 
Coating:
 
The Edition line features an advanced satin metallic coating that is extremely durable. The soft sheen has just enough reflective surface to reveal the undulating curves of the Ratio Eight.
 
(By comparison, the Eight line is finished with gloss powder coating, which gives a vibrant, fresh look.)

 

Have the tank markings been improved since the original machine?

Yes. A different technique was selected to apply the tank markings, along with improved fixtures to improve accuracy. Ratio removed the markings on the carafe as it was almost impossible to get them to line up perfectly with the tank due to the handblown glass difference in wall thickness. 


The plastic tank on the white model is very accurate because it does not have the glass variability.

 

What is the warranty policy?

Ratio offers exceptionally generous (and long) warranty periods. Read more at ratiocoffee.com/warranty.

 

Is there a hot plate?

No. Adding heat to brewed coffee ruins the flavor within minutes. The Ratio glass carafe is thick, tempered borosilicate glass, and with the lid in place it keeps the coffee hot for about 15 minutes.

 

Will you have a thermal carafe?

Yes. The Ratio Thermal Carafe is in final production stages. This carafe will retain heat for up to 4 hours. The Eight can be used with the glass or thermal carafe interchangeably. Pricing and availability will be announced soon.

 

Are there any plastic parts?

FDA-grade silicone and a single BPA-free plastic component are used internally. The plastic we have incorporated into the Ratio Eight is medical grade quality. Made of polysulfone, this food-grade quality plastic is FDA certified and a NSF compliant material.

 

Can I run the glass carafe through the dishwasher?

We do not recommend putting the Ratio glass carafe in the dishwasher. The silicone base has an adhesive that can break down from the hot water and detergent. The Ratio carafe is made of tempered borosilicate glass, similar to laboratory glass. After each brew, we recommend rinsing the carafe in warm tap water, using a drop of dish soap if you’d like. You may use the Ratio Machine Wash as frequently as you’d like to remove mineral buildup and coffee stains.

  

Can I use a Chemex carafe?

The Ratio Eight uses a magnet in the carafe to detect if it is safe to deliver hot water. Other coffee makers use a mechanical button that the carafe pushes against to turn the machine on. The trouble with these mechanical buttons is they tend to wear out over time, and often get stuck in the “on” position. Using a magnet eliminates this moving part. Unfortunately, the Chemex carafe does not have this magnet, so at this time it cannot be used with the Ratio Eight. 

 

What filters do I use?

You have your choice of filter to the Ratio carafe. This can either be a conical paper filter (such as the Chemex paper filter) or a permanent stainless filter like the Able Kone for Ratio. The Able Kone for Ratio is an optional upgrade.

 

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