Oduman Cosmo Bronze Black Glass - Hookah of 60 cm with Titanium Coating and Valve

Oduman builds the Cosmo as a single series with fifteen finishes; this is the variant with bronze-coloured metal and a black base, known at the factory as COS-03-BLACK. The layout is that of a modern shisha: a short stem on a widely flaring base, with the functional block halfway up rather than at the bottom.

How large and how heavy is this model?

Measured by the manufacturer the hookah comes to 60 centimeters tall and 24 centimeters long, at 4.7 kilos. That weight counts for more here than the height: the base flares low and wide, which keeps the centre of gravity just above the table. Knock into it by accident and it slides rather than topples, and with a glowing bowl on top that matters more than a few extra centimeters of height. It ships disassembled in a box of 29 by 37 by 29 centimeters.

Why titanium and not lacquer

The bronze colour is not a layer of lacquer but a titanium coating, applied over stainless steel. You only notice the difference after a month or so: lacquer picks up scratches around the threading you turn every session, a coating far less. The glass gets the same treatment, which gives the black base its deep tint instead of a flat coat of black paint. The steel underneath is inox, so water in the base and condensation in the stem leave no rust spots.

The smoke travels up, not straight down

On the Cosmo the vapor leaves the block upward, toward the tray, before it finds its way to the base. That gives it a longer route through metal before it meets the water, which helps it cool. At the bottom of the smoke guide sits a diffuser that breaks the airflow into finer bubbles; that audibly dampens the gurgling and makes the draw feel more even.

The valve and what you use it for

Inside the block sits a check valve. If the smoke in the base has gone stale because you did not draw for a while, you blow through the hose and that air leaves the hookah via the valve. You do not have to unscrew the base for it and you lose no water. Without a valve you would have to take the bowl off, and that is needless trouble with a glowing coal on top.

The charcoal holder on the tray

The tray has a recess with a perforated plate set into it. That is where you put a burning coal when you want to turn, stir or refill the bowl. Because the plate is open, the coal gets air from below and does not go out. On an ordinary solid tray it does, and you have to relight it on your coal burner. The stem also carries two engraved brackets: a hose holder and a separate mouthpiece holder, so the hose does not end up on the table or the floor between two draws.

Hose and mouthpiece

Included is a silicone hose of one and a half metres in food-grade quality, plus the matching mouthpiece. Silicone takes on no flavour, so you can move from a fruity session to a spicy one without rinsing first. There is one hose port, so a second hose does not fit.

Assembling it

Fill the base with cold water until the smoke guide sits a centimeter or two below the surface. More water makes the draw heavier, less water lets the smoke arrive too warm. Set the stem on firmly, check that the grommet seals properly and then place the tray. Test the seal by covering the hose port and drawing: if you hear or feel air leaking, tighten the connections once more.

What you still need yourself

No hookah bowl is included, as with every model from this brand, and no coal tongs either. You pick a bowl from the hookah bowls; on a hookah this size a phunnel works nicely because you can keep the heat higher without scorching the tobacco. Tongs and other tools are with the hookah accessories.

Cleaning

Rinse the base with warm water after the session and let it drain upside down. Clean the inside of the stem with a long brush; outside, a dry cloth is enough. Do not use a scouring pad or descaler on the coated parts, as those attack the titanium layer. Glycerin from the tobacco settles on the glass as a hazy film; leave it there and you taste it again a few sessions later.

Coals at this size

Count on three coconut coals of 25 millimeters along the rim of the bowl. Natural coals burn slower and add no aftertaste, unlike quick-lighting coals. Have a look at the natural coals for that, and only lay them on once they are fully grey.

Want it in silver rather than bronze? Change the finish with the colour menu at the top. Nothing changes technically.