Strain through a coffee filter after steeping in water would be an easy way. With regards to the very few beers I brew that have spices, they are just added to the boil.
5177 + 10gal APA and 10 gal pilsner = 5197
Pretty much my most productive year since before my daughter was born, (she's almost 5) hopefully next year I can add a few more batches:bigmug:
I would cut down the saffron. 2g of saffron is really quite a bit, it's a really strong flavor. Dogfish head makes Midas Touch with saffron. Here's a link to a post for a clone recipe out of Sam's book. It uses 10 saffron threads for a 5gal batch...
I'd say you might have a little something in there other than sacc but it is hard to be sure... As far as I know, PET has low permeability but what we're usually concerned with is O2. What did you use to clean and sanitize your bottles before filling? Have you tasted one?
+1 on this. This is what I like to do.
Like @MattyHBT said, pitching heavy is a good thing. Depending on where you're reading the pitching rate is basically double that of an ale fermentation and it looks like you did just fine on that part. With my lagers, I don't think they're ever lagged...
Generally speaking, I wouldn't want to put hot wort directly from the boil into my plastic fermenters. Even though they are food grade, I spent some good money on my brew cubes.
That said, I will get my wort as cool as my ground water will allow (usually to about 90 or slightly below) and then...
If you could I'd let it age out for a bit. You might find that as the hops mellows and the beer comes together and smooths out, there is a little more malt or caramel than you're tasting now. Next time you could try steeping an oz or two of whichever crystal malt you like in your brewing water...
https://www.google.com/search?q=homebrewtalk+carb+cap&oq=homebrewtalk+carb+cap&aqs=chrome..69i57j33.9817j0j4&client=ms-android-verizon&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
I'd try these threads. They might have what you're looking for.