Quote Originally Posted by maine guide View Post
I like the coffee urn idea. Do you plug it in and keep it warm I suspect you do. That plus getting the filters hot and wet sounds like something to try. I think I'll get some haines T shirts at Wally world as well.
With the urn I run it through it's brewing cycle with a quart or two of water. Use an extension cord because you want to leave it plugged in at all times, unplugging it will start the brewing again and you don't want that. When it clicks into warming mode I dump the water, place a thermometer probe in, and place three already moist prefilters into the urn and fold over the top to keep in place. Timing is sort of critical because you want the syrup to be ready at this same time. I literally pour the finished syrup right into the urn and start bottling with the spout right away. When the first prefilter becomes plugged, I pull it up and grab the bottom with tongs and dump it into the second. With one or two gallon batches I never have to go past the second prefilter.

Usually I am hovering around 190-194 degrees while bottling. I have been doing this for a couple years now and just use the prefilters. I have bottled in glass with excellent clarity results. I don't sell anything, and just use at home or give away to family and friends. I often fill glass first then plastic jugs for the rest in case slight cloudiness does form, but I have filled glass at the end just to test and that is usually still clear too.

It's slightly cumbersome at first but it becomes really efficient and easy once you do it a few times. The next time I bottle a batch I have to take some pictures.