One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

[Thundergod]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

Bill,

the way I read it, the zip-lock bag is used as a liner.
Even if it was air tight, you wouldnt zip it.
Then the valved bag does its job and the zip-lock keeps it clean.

[yeeza]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

Exactly! It is genius in its own right.

[Javaphile]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

Why use an expensive ziplock bag when a much cheaper sandwich bag would do the job just as well? :-/ :-?


Java "Keeping it cheap" phile

[Thundergod]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

My wife suggested freezer bags.
She says theyre very cheap.

[yeeza]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

Maybe with all the savings from using freezer bags instead of running through valved bags, it can just add to the justification of spending 1000s on coffee equipment.
Like I used to my family and friends the ol, "If I get a Minore II, then I wouldnt have to go out and buy coffee at cafes all the time."

Some of the excuses I have used to justify my equipment (now and to come) are outrageous and would not stand up in a courtroom as credible evidence :-[.... I dont care though, its mine and no one is gonna take that away from me haha ;D

[jacs]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

I agree that it is certainly a good idea, but what a pity we seem to be throwing more and more plastic out into our environment. One of the reasons for getting rid of plastic shopping bags. What is needed, is a container that has a movable piston that is airtight, but that also has a one way valve in it. That way, when you use the beans, it doesnt matter because the piston is simply pushed down onto whatever level of beans there is left in the container. So youre not getting an ever increasing air space above the beans and your not getting a vacuum, and the one way valve still allows the beans to degass, plus the container would be easy to clean and above all, reusable.

[yeeza]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

One thing I am trying at the moment is using my old Vacuvin (seeing as though Ive found them useless after reading about how theyre not good for string beans) containers without the vacuum. That is, putting fresh (not totally degassed) beans into it and clamping the lid down (as opposed to using the vacuum pump) to seal it. Then, hopefully the gas escapes through the valve. So theyre not in a vacuum, but are air tight with the allowance of the gas escaping through the valve.
Any feedback on this would be appreciated too (if anyone has thought of this).

[NewToEspresso]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

These one-way valved bags are available in bags of 100 for about 40 to 50 cents each. I have been trying to find ethyl alcohol as well and other alternatives to clean out the bags (ethyl alcohol is not allowed to be sold) and the costs of the alcohol isnt exactly cheap either. Now, using the zip lock bags and throwing them away after every use is neither enviro friendly nor cheap and it might actually work out better to just buy bulk packs of these bags rather than spend precious time and other costs (inc water which is in short supply in Melb but obviously not in Qld) trying to recycle them.

[Sunbeamer]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

you could use a paper lunch bag rahter than plastic and just roll the top up, I dont think they oils would soak through into the valved bag in the time it takes to consume them

[NewToEspresso]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

I thought it wasnt just the oils contact with the beans but also the lingering aroma that might affect the beans in it?

[Oily]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

Why use an expensive ziplock bag when a much cheaper sandwich bag would do the job just as well?

Excellent point - the purpose is to serve as a liner to keep the valved bag clean, so any available oil-proof bag should do. I only use the ziplock bags because I have a good supply of them, and they work, but the idea of re-using or recycling other cheap bags makes a lot of sense.

As to ziplock bags being airtight - theyre not, at least not completely. If you put something compressible in a sandwich bag (like clothing, beard clippings, or even sandwiches!) and compress to exclude as much air as possible, it will probably look "vacuum sealed" initially. But most bags after 10 minutes or more will have puffed up a little, showing that some air can get in. The leakage may be tiny, but its enough to allow for de-gassing. As Thundergod suggests, it doesnt have to be fully zipped.

I thought it wasnt just the oils contact with the beans but also the lingering aroma that might affect the beans in it?

Ive noticed a small lingering aroma and wondered about that too, but so far, for me, it hasnt lingered long or affected my beans. Time could prove me wrong (maybe my roasts just havent been very stinky?), but there does seem to be a lot less aroma than when a valved bag has oil residue in it.

[Dimal]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

I have been trying to find ethyl alcohol as well and other alternatives to clean out the bags (ethyl alcohol is not allowed to be sold) and the costs of the alcohol isnt exactly cheap either.

Looks like I was lucky to buy mine when I did...

Anyway, an alternative source for near pure Ethyl Alcohol that is regarded as Food Safe too, is the pure stuff that you can buy in Paint Supplies shops and Mitre 10 stores, etc. You need to make sure that you ask for the 100% pure stuff (or as near as they sell) typically used for dissolving Shellac. It is cheap bought this way and should last a hell of a long time.....

Cheers,
Mal.

[Javaphile]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

Anyway, an alternative source for near pure Ethyl Alcohol that is regarded as Food Safe too, is the pure stuff that you can buy in Paint Supplies shops and Mitre 10 stores, etc. You need to make sure that you ask for the 100% pure stuff (or as near as they sell) typically used for dissolving Shellac. It is cheap bought this way and should last a hell of a long time.....

Are you sure it is food safe Mal? Over here its been contaminated with a small amount of methyl to make it unsafe for drinking. :-? :P :-/


Java "Methyl diet = Bad!" phile

[Dimal]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

Yes mate, it is..... (You cant drink it though Methyl Alcohol is poisonous if consumed, but suitable for use as a cleaner/antiseptic)

Doesnt use a petroleum based denaturing agent so that when applied, all of the spirit evaporates leaving no residue behind. On the other hand, if you buy the spirit from your local supermarket or discount store or whatever, it will most likely contain a petroleum based agent that will leave a residue behind. I know of quite a few people who use the 100% stuff for cleaning and disinfecting containers that will ultimately hold food and/or drink for the very reason that no residue is left behind to taint the contents. One needs to make sure that you buy the stuff from a reputable outlet though, or you might not get what you paid for..... It is still cheap though,

Mal.

P.S.
As a matter of interest, a very well known brand of mouthwash uses this class of denatured alcohol to avoid attracting Govt. Taxes.
M.S.D.S. for the Australian manufactured product is here.

[speleomike]

Re: One Way Valve Bags Re-Used

Hi all

I reuse the black one-way valve bags. I just fill them with warm water and dishwashing liquid, give it a wash with a brush inside, and let it soak for a while. (I have also used spray-and-wipe.) Then rinse out well and fill with clean water and let it stand for an hour or overnight. That ensures all traces of detergent are gone. Then let to air dry for a day. Most times it will have no smell of coffee.

Eventually some bags will have a scent of rancid coffee - then its time to chuck em. This way I reuse as much as possible. A bag can be used several times.

Mike