by Julia
The ceramic coil has been a significant topic of conversation in the vaping community. While not entirely new, it’s certainly garnered renewed interest, particularly since Vaporesso introduced their groundbreaking cCell ceramic coils last year. Now, Vaporesso has taken its ceramic coil technology a step further by launching a new tank designed specifically for it: the Vaporesso ORC Ceramic Tank.
The ORC, an abbreviation for “Organic Cotton Replacement Ceramic Coil,” is a top-fill tank with a 3.5ml capacity. It introduces a revolutionary feature for ceramic coils: the ability to replace only the organic cotton surrounding the ceramic heating element. This innovative design promises to extend the life of the ceramic coil, which is traditionally very long-lasting, by allowing users to refresh the wicking material as needed.
Vaporesso sent us a pre-release version of the ORC for review, and we’ve put it through its paces. Is it a worthy successor to their highly acclaimed cCell coils, or simply an incremental update?
The Vaporesso ORC Ceramic Tank
Upon unboxing, the ORC presents itself as a well-crafted tank. Its design is clean and professional, with sturdy construction. Key features include its top-fill capability, which is always a welcome convenience, and its relatively compact size despite a respectable 3.5ml e-liquid capacity.
The standout characteristic, of course, is the ORC coil head. Unlike standard cCell coils, the ORC coil allows for the replacement of the organic cotton wicking. This addresses a common issue where the ceramic element itself lasts a long time, but the surrounding cotton can degrade or become saturated with flavor, requiring coil replacement. With the ORC, you can potentially swap out the cotton, clean the ceramic, and extend the coil’s overall lifespan even further.
ORC Ceramic Tank Specifications:
- Diameter: 22mm
- Length: 67mm
- Weight: 51g
- Capacity: 3.5ml
- Thread: 510
- Material: Stainless Steel and Pyrex Glass
- Coil: CCELL 0.5 ohm Stainless Steel
In the Box:
- 1 x Vaporesso ORC Ceramic Tank
- 1 x ORC cCell 0.5 ohm Coil Head (SS, pre-installed)
- 1 x Replacement Glass Tube
- 1 x Replacement Organic Cotton Pack
- 1 x Drip Tip (delrin)
- 1 x User Manual
The Vaporesso ORC and cCell Coil Head
The ORC tank arrives with a pre-installed 0.5 ohm Stainless Steel (SS) ORC cCell coil. While it’s a pleasant surprise to find an SS coil, allowing for both wattage mode and temperature control, the original cCell coils were primarily Kanthal. Spinfuel’s initial tests with the original cCell Kanthal coils were overwhelmingly positive, establishing them as superior to standard coils for flavor and longevity.
The key innovation with the ORC coil is the user-replaceable organic cotton. While replacing cotton is straightforward for RTA/RDA users, this is a unique feature for a sub-ohm tank coil. It aims to reduce waste and save money by extending the life of the ceramic heating element. This design maintains the benefits of ceramic – superior flavor, excellent wicking, and minimal spit-back – while allowing for refreshing the wicking material.
Performance
To evaluate the ORC’s performance, we used a variety of premium e-liquids at different wattages. The primary focus was on flavor production, vapor density, and the effectiveness of the replaceable cotton system.
The ORC as a “Flavor Tank”
From the first vape, the ORC delivers a clear, crisp flavor that cCell users have come to expect. The ceramic element ensures a clean taste, allowing the nuances of e-liquids to shine through. The vapor production is dense and satisfying, striking an excellent balance between flavor and cloud output. Compared to other sub-ohm tanks, the ORC stands out for its flavor fidelity, particularly with complex dessert or fruit blends.
Wattage
The 0.5 ohm SS coil performs optimally between 30W and 45W. Pushing it above 50W starts to diminish the flavor and can lead to a warmer vape than ideal. In temperature control mode, using a DNA200 device, the coil performs admirably, maintaining consistent flavor and vapor within a temperature range of 400-450°F (204-232°C). The SS coil’s versatility is a definite plus, catering to both power and TC enthusiasts.
Longevity and Leakage
One of the main promises of ceramic coils is longevity, and the ORC lives up to this. The core ceramic element is incredibly durable. The ability to replace the cotton wicking further enhances this, theoretically allowing the coil head to last for weeks or even months with proper maintenance. During our testing, there were no instances of leaking, a testament to Vaporesso’s design and manufacturing quality.
Here’s a closer look at the Vaporesso ORC Ceramic Tank:
ORC Final Thoughts and Recommendations
The Vaporesso ORC Ceramic Tank is a significant step forward for ceramic coil technology. It successfully builds upon the foundation of the original cCell coils by introducing user-replaceable cotton, which enhances coil longevity and cost-effectiveness without sacrificing performance. The flavor production is exceptional, the vapor is dense, and the overall user experience is highly positive.
For vapers seeking unparalleled flavor, consistent performance, and the extended lifespan benefits of ceramic coils, the ORC is an excellent choice. The inclusion of SS coils supporting both wattage and TC modes makes it versatile for a wide range of users. It earns our enthusiastic recommendation.
Where to Buy the Vaporesso ORC Ceramic Tank
As this was a pre-release version, availability might vary. We recommend checking:
- Vaporesso’s Official Website
- Vape Crawler for pricing and retailer options.