Making coffee for the day

[Alacrity59]

Ok I'll admit that the idea of making coffee in the morning for consumption for the next 8 hours is probably not the best idea for great coffee. That being said there is a wealth of knowledge here at Badger and Blade. I've been amazed more than a few times when I do a Google search and the first answer that comes up is one posted here.

My challenge is that my wife has difficulty dealing with making coffee due to a disability that is progressive in nature. I'm looking for the best way to make coffee for her, possibly already with creamer etc. I'm thinking some sort of thermos with a push button dispenser, and a thermal mug that is very stable and durable if dropped yet is easy to manipulate.

What can you think of. All thoughts are welcome.

 

[StillShaving]

This is not the best solution and may not be of much help for you, but I sometimes make a super strong coffee (using 1.5 - 2.5 times more ground coffee than normal) into a thermos. I use a pour over, but an auto-drip machine with a thermos should give the same results. I sometimes make this coffee concentrate as a lazy way to avoid brewing cup 2, 3, 4 or to serve multiple people at a time, as I recently pushed aside my big auto-drip machine. It does add more complication in that I need to boil water to add to the concentrate, but it is an easy to mix 1/2 water and 1/2 pre-brewed coffee, with the side benefit of getting a hotter cup of coffee than what would otherwise come straight from the thermos. I drink mine black, but one could add cream and sugar before hand into the thermos.

 

[gearchow]

I've taken concentrated coffee with me backpacking. It's not weight or volume friendly, but it's better then instant.

Mike, that push button thermos might be good as long as she has good dexterity with her hands. I think some of them have lever handles? If she can use the microwave, heating up a cup isn't so bad especially if your adding creamer.

-jim

 

[StillShaving]

She might also consider using one of those 3-in-1 or 2-in-1 coffee packets. It is instant coffee, but the creamer and/or sugar is already in mixed into a single serving packet, so it very quick and easy to make a cup. Add a hot water dispenser and it should be one the easiest ways to make a cup. It is more popular in Asia that in USA, so you might need to buy online.

 

[Curlingfly]

An Airpot has a pump on top with might be easier for her to dispense. They are fairly stable.
Or you could freeze a larger batch of coffee in ice cube trays and either reheat in the microwave or make it strong and add to a little hot water.

 

[takeshi]

A good thermos is definitely a must but most of the ones that seal well for heat retention may be difficult to operate.

Is premade the best approach for her? Could she operate a single serve machine -- and does she like what they produce?

An Airpot has a pump on top with might be easier for her to dispense.

Didn't think of airpots. Those could be easier to use. Our brewers here at the office brew into thermal containers with dispensing spigots at the bottom that also might be easier to use.

heating up a cup isn't so bad

That's definitely YMMV. I can't stand reheated coffee.

 

[Alacrity59]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking the airpot with the coffee and cream pre-mixed is the next step. Pouring hot things, adding things, and mixing and then pressing a lid on the result is becoming dangerous and messy.

 

[Mick]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking the airpot with the coffee and cream pre-mixed is the next step. Pouring hot things, adding things, and mixing and then pressing a lid on the result is becoming dangerous and messy.

This would be your best bet. We've used an air pot for as long as they have been available (not premixed with milk and sugar but for dispensing warm coffee through out the day). Coffee stays at a drinkable temperature for about 4-5 hours if you preheat the air pot with boiling water before filling with coffee

They come in 2 flavors. With a button (which might be hard to operate depending on her situation) and a lever which is easy. We have both but have settled into the lever model as all you do is push the lever down and it dispenses 8 oz of coffee with each depression.

 

[Alacrity59]

My hat is off to Bunn Canada. I contacted the person responsible for sales in Ontario on the weekend and he provided the 3 closest distributors. One was very close to where I work so I dropped in on Monday. For the record, Playfair Coffee in Brampton. . . great guys, we discussed the issues as I described earlier . . . I felt they were truly interested in helping. . . . placed my order . . . and picked it up today at lunch.

This is a great piece of kit. Looking forward to trying it out.

Here it is in my home: