Ok, first post in here, I'll try to get to the point. I never drank coffee until my late 20's. I always loved the smell though as my parents are heavy coffee drinkers. Eventually as my wife was drinking it, I started too, easy enough when its right there. I started with various flavored creamers. When I'd drink it out, I'd get double/double. Over the years I weaned myself down to just cream, then to milk. Lately in the interest of a new diet I've switched to black coffee. This led to me drinking tea for about 3 weeks. I just didnt have a desire for black coffee. Now its slowly growning on me. So my parents came over for lunch last weekend, I offered to make some coffee. The black and decker drip coffee maker made half a pot then died. No hotplate, now its just a clock. So I'm debating what to get next. My wife does like the idea of the money for a keurig, and frankly I use them at work all the time and i dont see us using that much. I'm leaning more towards the stovetop percolator type. We generally only make coffee on mornings we have more time, I'll take tea with me and get coffee at work during the week. So I'm looking for opinions, do people love or hate these? Frankly part of the appeal to me is not having a big coffee maker on my counter that i hardly use anymore.
What coffee maker should i get?
- Thread starter rwbrown04
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I should also mention an electric kettle we use for hot water for tea. Should I consider a press pot? I'd like to be able to make coffee for guests when they come over too.
For one cup I use an Aero press - $40.00 and it is better than a french press, you can google it, It makes an amazing cup as you stir the grounds in the hot water and then press that out into a cup for an expresso or full with water for an americana. For two or more cups I have a Bun model HG. It heats the water before it passes through the grounds and does a great job. I have had all the other makers and I think this $80.00 Bun is the best I have tried. If you want super high end the home jura machines are worth looking at.
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Ha, i had to watch a video of the aero press to get it. I saw it while searching and it looks like its out of a chem lab. I like that it can do finely ground coffee just fine though, where a french press may be course ground only.
If you are willing to spend a few bucks for another drip maker, I highly recommend the Bonavita BV1800. I think it was $150 on Amazon, and it is one of the few affordable makers that heat the water to the correct temp (195-205F). Not too big, reasonably attractive and easy to clean. Oh yeah, makes really good coffee.
Do not go keurig vue. I have a friend whose wife works in coffee development and they don't think that version well be around long.
If you don't do coffee much, I would think a decent sized Bodum French Press would be the thing. That way, you don't have to keep it on your counter and can pull it out when you need it. I like the Aeropress, but it only makes a cup at a time, which would be a problem for guests.
Keurig would seem to me to be overkill if you wouldn't use it much, as would the Bonavita. I would caution against a percolator. I used one for maybe a year and and the coffee was always pretty bitter and overcooked.
If you decide you like coffee a bunch and have it every morning, that would be the time for a good quality auto-drip.
YMMV, of course.
Keurig would seem to me to be overkill if you wouldn't use it much, as would the Bonavita. I would caution against a percolator. I used one for maybe a year and and the coffee was always pretty bitter and overcooked.
If you decide you like coffee a bunch and have it every morning, that would be the time for a good quality auto-drip.
YMMV, of course.
Considering that you're used to an autodrip Black and Decker, the easiest transition would be to another autodrip, but this time, a good one. I second the plug for the Bonavita.
If you are interested in a french press, it's not hard to brew two presses at once for guests, assuming you can heat enough water at one time.
If you are interested in a french press, it's not hard to brew two presses at once for guests, assuming you can heat enough water at one time.
IF you are not adverse to using a kettle to boil water I would suggest the following
French press: http://www.bodum.com/us/en-us/shop/prodlist/262/
Chemex: http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/
Melita: http://www.melitta.com/products,164.html
If you don't have the time for a manual maker then the cost goes up exponentially so decide which you have more of, money or time and choose between a Keurig, high end auto drip, espresso machine, or one of the manual brewers I recommended
French press: http://www.bodum.com/us/en-us/shop/prodlist/262/
Chemex: http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/
Melita: http://www.melitta.com/products,164.html
If you don't have the time for a manual maker then the cost goes up exponentially so decide which you have more of, money or time and choose between a Keurig, high end auto drip, espresso machine, or one of the manual brewers I recommended
If you're looking for something manual, several have recommended the Aeropress. Count me in that number as well. Paired with a good grinder and freshly roasted coffee, my wife can now no longer drink coffee at work. My other preferred manual method is the Clever Coffee Dripper (CCD).
The Bonavita, Technivorm, and Brazen brewer are all terrific auto brewers.
The Bonavita, Technivorm, and Brazen brewer are all terrific auto brewers.
I've had a Bunn 8 cup coffee maker for about two months now. I love it.
It wastes a small amount of electricity in keeping it's water constantly heated, and it occupies a decent amount of counter space.
However, the ability to have a full pot of coffee ready to go in 3 minutes can't be beat. Having hot water constantly ready for tea is also a major benefit.
It's also supposed to keep the water at the correct temperature.
It wastes a small amount of electricity in keeping it's water constantly heated, and it occupies a decent amount of counter space.
However, the ability to have a full pot of coffee ready to go in 3 minutes can't be beat. Having hot water constantly ready for tea is also a major benefit.
It's also supposed to keep the water at the correct temperature.
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Thanks for all the great suggestions guys. At this point since (1) I have an electric kettle to heat water easily and (2) I don't drink as much coffee during the week. I think I'll probably steer towards the french press. I'll keep my eye out for a nicer drip maker as it would be nice to keep around.
For french press, most people just go the Bodum route, because they're cheap and pretty prevelant in stores. However, all the bodum presses make grounds in your coffee a standard occurrence. Most people have accepted that if you're drinking french press, that you're just going to have to get used to grounds in the brew. It doesn't have to be that way. These Espro presses are a little more expensive, but the coffee they are capable of producing is second to none. This would be my recommendation for FP coffee.
I have one of the original keurigs that I love. Are they just sticking with this one going forward?
The patent on the K Cups either has expired, or will very soon. This means anyone can make a cup compatible with the K Cup system, and not pay any royalties to Keurig. Thus Keurig stands to lose a lot of money.
The Keurig Vue is an attempt at making a new proprietary system so that Keurig can maintain their current revenue stream. They are basically attempting to do the same thing Gillette does with their cartridge razors.
With millions of K Cup machines in the field, the K Cup system is not going anywhere; in fact what we should logically see is an increase in the number available coffees in the market, with the cost of the K Cups falling over time.
The patent has already expired. Hamilton Beach, Cuisinart, and a few others have already marketed machines capable of using "k-cup" style cups. The warning I give everyone regarding these types of brewers is this, Beware of old stale coffee. I have, on numerous occasions taken a peek at k-cups available for sale in stores. Many are expired and pass their "recommended shelf life." Bear in mind that the "recommended shelf life" for coffee is LONG past the coffee's actual point of staleness. Fresh roasted coffee loses its flavor and character 2-4 weeks after roasting. No amount of vacuum sealing, etc will keep it truly fresh.
This is correct information. If water is boiling when it comes in contact with fresh ground coffee, it releases acids that make the brew bitter. (this is what happens when coffee sits on a burner) Bunn is one of the few machines that maintains water temperature at below boiling. If you just want a wonderful cup of coffee, it's relatively easy and cheap and I am a coffee snob. Target or Wallyworld will have both a "Quisinart" coffee grinder (about $50 and it will grind espresso also) and a 10-cup Bunn pourover coffee maker ($99.00 on sale). Fresh ground coffee in the basket, pour cool water into the reservoir and less than 3 minutes later you get the best cup of joe anywhere. I have the big two pot commercial model in the kitchen (for crowds & company) and the 10 cup home brewer in my bedroom. Everyone that has coffee at my house comments on the high quality. Of course you will need premium fresh coffee beans, but they are not hard to come by. You will need to try several brands until you find a favorite. JMHO
Ronnie
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For me being a low to medium volume coffee drinker I really like the Chemex. If I just do a single cup I use an aero press or Clever coffee dripper.
If I was forced to go with something electric I would probably save up for a Technivorm or Bonavita
If I was forced to go with something electric I would probably save up for a Technivorm or Bonavita
I can highly recommend a stovetop percolator--if used right they make a great cup of coffee.
I know nothing about shaving but I have a little knowledge about coffee makers. The Technivorm and the Bonavita are great machines - simple as that. The Bunn is close (my opinion and experience only) because it can also make a great pot, but it is less forgiving if you grind fresh (which is desirable) - with a decent grinder (conical burr grinder) you can dial in the Bunn for great coffee too.
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