My sister and her family are in town right now, which of course necessitated a trip to Goodwill. I did my usual sweep through the store, and then just followed my sister around, chatting and glancing down at the shelves. And then suddenly, there it was. Shining its golden surface up at me like a forgotten bottle of whiskey floating in Charlie Sheen’s toilet tank.
The bottom half of a Swiss Gold reusable coffee filter.
Let me start from the beginning. My husband Dale is a coffee drinker, and has been using the same Swiss Gold coffee filter over the past ten years or so. These 23 Karat gold individual filters normally cost $19, and it was a big decision to buy one at the time. We’ve been hesitant to buy another one, and subsequently baby the one we have. Unfortunately, daily use has taken its toll, and the coffee is not as beautifully filtered as it once was. And ironically, I was just waxing poetic about how I once found one a garage sale for 50¢, which I then gave to my father.
And here’s the best part. I only needed the bottom piece to the filter, and that’s exactly what was sitting on the Goodwill shelf.
I love Goodwill, and I will try to remember this purchase, as I try to hold back from going too often in an attempt to avoid recluttering my house. Such a perfect purchase! Not clutter at all!
Ahh . . . .
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
Hello, lover.
Can you tell which filter is the new one?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Yay! I just love it when a Goodwill trip turns out like that.
Oooooooo, lovely new filter. — SCORE!
Did u play the lottery too? Lol.
Wow!! It looks brand new! What is the benefit of this filter and coffee maker?
It can be used repeatedly, without ever having to buy disposible filters. Of course, the manufacturer says it’s because of the superior cup o’ joe. 😉
Katy
As you know, we love our coffee. We also love our gold filters, although we have conical rather than basket-shaped ones. Just a thought…have you immersed your old filter in a bowl of vinegar water (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water) for about 30 minutes? Works wonders on cleaning filters (although from the picture, yours make take more vinegar and some hot water). When the manual for our Cuisinart Coffee Maker surfaced several months ago, I read the cleaning directions and was amazed at the difference it made. Then googled for directions to clean the thermal carafe. Wow! So we do that every few months now and continue to spoil ourselves with almost-perfect-Portland coffee every morning. And yes, coffee maker, grinder, filter cones, and thermal carafe were all thrift store finds. Our Fair Trade coffee beans and the vinegar are new, however.
Didn’t you say once that when you need something it always turns up at Goodwill? Or was that somebody else. I like the comment about cleaning everything.
I love this. I’ve never really been to Goodwill I have to say but I guess I should take a stroll on one of my kid free days.
I use a 4cup coffee pot and so I don’t know if they are eligible for these filters but since I compost my filter and grounds I don’t feel too bad about having to use a new one daily. Especially since about a year’s worth of filters are like $3.oo.
If I ever move up to a full size coffee pot I’ll keep these in mind.
We compost my filter and grounds, too. Great for that.
Congrats on your find!!
I thought of you Saturday as my husband and I visited 3 local thrift stores, and our only purchase was a 75 cent book. We were kind of checking out things we might get for our daughter who will be living in apartment this fall in college, she will be sharing with 3 other softball players, but they will need some furniture, and new is not an option.
I tell ya one thing, I will never consider buying a new vase again……in the past for a teacher or something I’d go to Wal-mart, but they were plentiful and 50 cents or a dollar at all thrift stores….bargain!!!
I do admit some things were really disgusting…ha ha! I was looking for a pampered chef stone or piece to treat myself….maybe next time.
Ah . . . the apple, she do not fall far from the tree! This afternoon, in my current quest to reenter society as I know it, I went to the As-Is and — wonder of wonders — found exactly what I was seeking. Some time ago, in a foolish quest to ream out some junk, I unkindly tossed some really revoltingly dented and rusted round metal trays, each sporting a U.S. state map and flower. Turned out my husband cherished them. Oops. So I’m on a quest for replacements. UNRUSTY ones. Katy and I scored an Idaho one in what we call a “retail” Goodwill last week. Today at the priced-by-the-pound As-Is: Montana.
Wow. I’m not too surprised though. I can ALWAYS find what I need from the thrift stores. The ones here are like Wal-Mart practically.
That is great, Katy! That’s how I got my gold coffee filter, but at a VFW rummage sale, new in the box for 25 cents.
Last weekend’s score was a Revere Ware saucepan for $3 and a big Revere Ware soup pot for $5, which was high for me, but it was an estate sale and I couldn’t come back the next day for half-price day. Got a good, sturdy, made-in-the-USA (which means it’s an antique, haha) potato masher for 25 cents at the sale, too.
so, miracles DO happen! 😉
My hubby is a coffee drinker too, so I bought a little 4 cup pot, thinking that would reduce his coffee consumption on weekends, when he’d make an 8-cup pot. Trouble is, now he makes two pots…every day. And there’s no reusable filter for the 4 cup pot. wah!
Score is right! I love finding something wonderful at Goodwill. Enjoy the coffee.
I’m LOVING your blog!! You have a new follower! 😀
Love thrifting – wanted to send a certain book to our nephew, went to GW to buy some clothes for our needy son, and voila! Also found the book, for 50 cents, plus a great bread machine cookbook for $1, and a tiny book for my granddaughter, for 50 cents. (And spent $20 and bought several outfits and a new belt for my son….)