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Thread Number: 78647
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Help me choosing a coffee maker |
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Post# 1026481 , Reply# 1 3/7/2019 at 09:15 (1,877 days old) by lakewebsterkid  (Dayton, Ohio) |
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Large French Press? My French press takes about 6 minutes from start to finish. The taste is incredible. Also, it’s cheap! Keurig coffee is horrible tasting in comparison. | ||
| Post# 1026485 , Reply# 3 3/7/2019 at 10:46 (1,877 days old) by Iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas) | ||
Bunn | ||
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Post# 1026493 , Reply# 4 3/7/2019 at 13:11 (1,877 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay) |
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 The basic Cuisinart auto drip maker that's been around for many years consistently receives top ratings by CR as well as various coffee authorities. I had a few of their burr grind & brew machines, because they kept having issues under warranty. I'd steer clear of those. Maybe the kind with blade grinders are more reliable.
Ultimately, when I was done with Cuisinart and in the market for a replacement, I ended up with a glass carafe Bonavita auto drip teamed up with a '60s/'70s vintage KitchenAid grinder (which took a while to find at a reasonable price on line). I hacked the Bonavita with a glass Chemex carafe and the brew it rendered got even better. No frills, no blue tooth, no clock, it won't tell you who won the World Series of 1934 or how bad the traffic is, and as a result it does the one thing it's designed for really well with just a single on/off flip switch.
I don't like the idea of storing brewed coffee in a metal thermos. Glass lined is OK, but most that are included with auto drip makers these days are not glass lined. | ||
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Post# 1026494 , Reply# 5 3/7/2019 at 13:32 (1,877 days old) by luxflairguy (Wilmington NC) |
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Love my French press! Faster than anything else and the quality is better too! | ||
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Post# 1026498 , Reply# 7 3/7/2019 at 13:51 (1,877 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.) |
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I’ve owned and used just about every kind of coffeemaker and coffeepot known to man. I have enjoyed collecting them and learning how to make coffee in all the many different ways possible.
That being said, this past summer I bought a Braun Aromaster 10 on ebay, and it is bar none the very best coffeemaker I’ve ever owned! It makes constantly excellent coffee, quickly and easily. It has a small footprint on my kitchen counter and its simplicity makes it look very nice sitting out on the counter too. I have a digital electric outlet timer programmed for both my morning pot and evening pot of coffee, and I mostly just use plain old preground Maxwell House Colombian coffee, and always get a nice rich, strong full flavored brew. I have the permanent gold filter, but I find that I like the brown Mellita #4 paper filters better. This is a very easy coffee carafe to keep clean too. Out of all the over 100 different coffeemakers I’ve owned, I’ve used this Braun for a longer period of time than any of the others. In fact, its cured me of my obsession to continually acquire another coffeepot. Got that monkey off my back, LOL. Eddie | ||
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Post# 1026503 , Reply# 8 3/7/2019 at 14:32 (1,877 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay) |
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What Eddie Said! I completely forgot about the Braun Aromaster! That brewer has always received high marks. We had one for many years (paired with the same Sunbeam toaster) until I upgraded to Braun's variant, the "FlavorSelect," which employed an additional side-shot of brewing water into the basket. I still have that one as a spare/camping brewer (like we camp or have an RV anymore, lol).
I've sworn off thrift stores since making my giant purge before moving last year, but in my experience Aromasters could often be found on thrift store shelves or just their carafes to have on hand in case of breakage.
The big thing that confirmed the excellence of the Aromaster happened on TV when I spotted one on a counter in Ina Garten's kitchen. Even if it was only a prop, it made a statement. This post was last edited 03/07/2019 at 19:27 | ||
| Post# 1026511 , Reply# 9 3/7/2019 at 17:05 (1,876 days old) by funktionalart (Rison, AR) | ||
An oddball choice for most, but I swear by these:
Krups Moka (aka t8). I probably wouldn't buy the newest version (made in China, I believe). I use one of the late 90s/early 2000s French made ones (mine's the black one in pic below). Mine was made for the US/North American market electric power...though you can get a 220v European one and either convert it for power here or rig up a 220 outlet in your house.. These were HUGELY popular in Europe since the 60s. They deliver the tastiest brew (to me, at least). Use great quality water and equally good beans of your choice, and you'll be hooked. The flavour is not far off from French Press method. The brew system is by steam/pressure, and it leaves a quite dry "hockey puck" of grounds behind in the filter holder. You can basically smack the back of it and the compacted ground drop into the trash.
The downside (to alot of Americans, anyway) is that they can seem time consuming to set up. There is only on/off (no timers, etc). If you want coffee ready when you wake up, you'll have to fill the machine at night and plug it into a timer. I also agree with the recommendations of older Braun Aromasters. | ||
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Post# 1026553 , Reply# 11 3/8/2019 at 06:16 (1,876 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands) |
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I have one of those Krups T8 models too, I bought it in the nineties. In the past I have had one of the original ones too. In comparison the newer versions are lighter built, the carafe is thinner (more vulnerable to breakage) and they take longer to make a full pot of coffee. I have had it on my countertop a few times to use it as a daily coffee maker, but I never got excited about it. It takes more coffee to get a decent cup of coffee in comparison to other systems I have used.
Right now I have a Moccamaster again for daily use. It's much faster and gets more flavour out of the coffee. Don't use brown paper filters though, they influence the taste of the coffee in a negative way. I use white paper filters (Melitta) at the moment, but also have a gold filter. French press is good too, it's a fast way of making a good cup of coffee. It takes a bit more time to clean it though. If you consider a French press, look at a Bodum, their filter is better than most of the other ones. If you don't want to spend a lot of money and you want to grind your own coffee, consider a french press or a glass poor over and a Krups F203 coffee grinder. In general buur grinders are better than blade grinders, but this is a good blade grinder and much better than a lot of the cheaper burr grinders. The Krups is available on Amazon for $18.95 and a french press will set you back $15.- - $30.- | ||
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Post# 1026584 , Reply# 13 3/8/2019 at 13:39 (1,876 days old) by lotsosudz (Sacramento, CA) |
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Perked Coffee
I have a 12 cup Farberware Superfast Percolator, that makes a nice, hot whole bodied cup of brew. Sometimes I think in this day of automation, and Technology, we often overlook the simple methods, that were tried and true. I think we over complicate our lives with all this gadgetry. P.S. the farberware is quick for those mornings when you need the caffeine kick fast.
Hugs, David | ||
| Post# 1026590 , Reply# 14 3/8/2019 at 16:13 (1,876 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania ) | ||
I have to say that my favorite pot is my Corning Ware Drip-o-latorits simple to use, makes a good cup of coffee fairly quick, and it’s eady to clean.
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Post# 1026594 , Reply# 15 3/8/2019 at 18:20 (1,875 days old) by GusHerb (Chicago/NWI) |
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My drip brewer is a Bunn VP-17 commercial brewer. Almost impossible to screw up coffee in that, always comes out good (provided you put something good in it). I have a shelf full of brewers and that’s my go-to. | ||
| Post# 1026597 , Reply# 16 3/8/2019 at 18:57 (1,875 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs) | ||
 I like reading all these coffee maker reviews. Just about everyone loves their coffee. I guess I've just been lucky with my choice of brewers. 17 years ago when I bought this house I purchased a Capresso machine. I chose it because of the thermal carafe and that the water reservoir is removable for easy filling. All these years later it still works perfectly. I have never used the milk frothing feature. I occasionally use Dip-It coffee maker cleaner to keep it humming.
Unfortunately this model is no longer made. I've seen them offered used. I don't know how much the Swiss know about coffee drinking but they sure know how to build a coffee maker.
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Post# 1026600 , Reply# 18 3/8/2019 at 21:37 (1,875 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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| Post# 1026603 , Reply# 20 3/8/2019 at 22:18 (1,875 days old) by Hunter (Colorado) | ||
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Vintage percolator I use a late 60s aluminum GE.electric percolator I got at Goodwill for $5. Best coffee I’ve tasted. | ||
| Post# 1026612 , Reply# 21 3/8/2019 at 23:29 (1,875 days old) by sarahperdue (Alabama) | ||
Sunbeam Coffeemaster
Vintage, automatic, vacuum coffee--deep, rich brew. I use Cafe Bustello ground espresso coffee in it. It's chrome plated copper and heats evenly all around the pot so the coffee doesn't get that burned flavor when kept on warm for a long time. It tastes fresh. I confess that I often warm up yesterday's coffee, and it still tastes pretty good. Paired with a Westinghouse timer, it's ready when I am.
My second favorite is the Chemex with the Chemex brand filter papers. Very clean brew. Sarah
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Post# 1026649 , Reply# 23 3/9/2019 at 14:24 (1,875 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay) |
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Tim, I see the V-shaped Melitta type filters at the 99c Only Store all the time. Since I switched to a Chemex carafe, I use their proprietary (I think) cone type filters. If you think the V-shaped ones are expensive, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Chemex filters are tough to find, too. Around here, BB&B stopped carrying them and now the only place I can find them is at ACE.
I suppose the Braun carafes are becoming more scarce at the thrift stores, but that's your best bet for spares. I accumulated way too many thrift store spares after repeatedly breaking carafes for my Cuisinart. Of course, as soon as I had spares, I stopped breaking them. They were added to the inventory of my moving sale last year.
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Post# 1026650 , Reply# 24 3/9/2019 at 14:39 (1,875 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.) |
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The Medelco 10 cup replacement carafes fit the Braun Aromaster perfectly, and are easy to find on ebay and many other places. And you can get #4 cone filters at Walmart and Target at very reasonable cost. I have posted a link for an ebay listing for the Medelco 10 cup carafe.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Medelco-One-All... And I agree with Matt about the Coffeemaster thermostat issues. They are very difficult adjust, and they don’t hold the adjustments well, unless you have the special small wrench to get the nuts tightened down properly. The Coffeemaster’s do make very excellent coffee when they are functioning properly, but they are a hassle to clean and maintain. I too have owned five of them, they are all gone now. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to experience using them, but I’ve got that checked off my bucket list for now. Eddie | ||
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Post# 1026659 , Reply# 25 3/9/2019 at 16:48 (1,875 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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I have to agree with Eddie and Ralph.
I've been using a Braun Aromaster 10 cup forever. I've had to replace carafes over the years, because I'm a klutz. I use the same Melitta brown #4 filters, and we've used the newer bamboo version of them. It's not fancy, but it just makes great coffee! Our current go-to coffee brand is Original Chock Full O' Nuts. When I found a NIB Aromaster on Craigslist a few years back, I grabbed it, just so I'd have another one when mine finally gives out. Fortunately, the first one is still going strong! Barry | ||
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Post# 1026661 , Reply# 26 3/9/2019 at 16:57 (1,875 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.) |
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Barry,
I like the new Bamboo Mellita filters better than the regular brown paper #4 cone filters. The last box I bought are the regular brown paper, and I don’t like them as well as the bamboo. The finished brew has a cleaner flavor with the bamboo filters. And I always used filtered water for brewing, the chlorine in tap water just ruins the flavor of coffee IMHO.
Eddie | ||
| Post# 1026669 , Reply# 27 3/9/2019 at 17:54 (1,874 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
One option I've liked in the past are small drip makers that sit on top of my coffee cup.
The one I used was a 3 part design. There was a filter assembly (with permanent filter), a water reservoir that would fit on top of the filter, and a lid. (I often didn't bother with using the lid, figuring that the heat loss probably wasn't a significant factor.) One simply poured hot water into the water reservoir, and the water would slowly drip down into the coffee grounds. Unfortunately, I don't know if this style is even made now--it's been years since I've seen it in a store, and I just checked one place that had these on-line a few years ago, with no luck. Also this coffee maker was obviously more work than an electric coffee pot with disposable filters. Melitta (and others) make similar coffee makers that use cone filters. These seem common enough--the last I knew, several stores in my area had these. Some love these. I, however, wasn't overwhelmed when I tried one. I can see pluses (disposable filters make them more convenient). But the coffee wasn't as good IMO as the style I used years back. A large part of this, I think, is that the Melitta system requires more care--my old system you could just dump in the hot water, and be done. The Melitta system may need more care with putting water in for optimal coffee. Also the permanent filter of my older coffee maker might have been better than paper filters. Still...the Melitta system is cheap enough for most people to gamble a few dollars on, and even if one doesn't like it, well, it might be good enough to be a backup coffee maker. | ||
| Post# 1026670 , Reply# 28 3/9/2019 at 18:10 (1,874 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
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Farberware Superfast Percolator
Years back, I went through at least a couple of phases (and maybe more...) of using old percolators. I was inspired by this site. This site has a lot to answer for. LOL
During that time, one percolator I used was a smallish Farberware (4-6 cups), which is a nice size for those looking to brew a small amount of coffee. It didn't make the best coffee ever, but it was a very nice daily driver coffee pot. Coffee snobs hate percolators, but based on my experience, a good percolator carefully used can make better coffee than a bad drip maker. One day I'd like to have another Farberware like that one. And, as mentioned above, the Farberware is fast, which is nice in the morning when one is rushing about to get ready for the day. I defaulted to my Farberware many days just because of how fast it was. | ||
| Post# 1026672 , Reply# 29 3/9/2019 at 18:10 (1,874 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
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| Post# 1026673 , Reply# 30 3/9/2019 at 18:16 (1,874 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
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Sunbeam Coffeemaster
I also went through a phase of using one of these... I can't remember my impressions of the coffee. It must have been drinkable, at least, because I wouldn't have continued using it. But I wasn't wowed to the point of "I'll never use anything else again!" Honestly, I think I might have enjoyed my time with percolators more, even though I think the Coffeemaster coffee would be better. One thing to note: I used it "as is" from the thrift store. Thermostat adjustments might have made it work better.
I'm not sure I'll go back to using a Coffeemaster ever, although "never say never." I'd like to use a vacuum pot again...but I'd rather have glass so one can watch the coffee brew. This would be for "relaxed after dinner" coffee, not first thing in the morning. Although I will the Coffeemaster does look pretty sitting on a shelf... I don't have it on display, but I could see doing that, like I have several old percolators that I've never used that are entirely decoration at this point. | ||
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Post# 1026674 , Reply# 31 3/9/2019 at 18:17 (1,874 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI ) |
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 One can never go wrong with a vintage Norelco Dial-A-Brew. The unit in the photo was found at a church rummage sale about 6-7 years ago for $5.00. My wife has a standing order that if I see one at a estate/tag sale I'm to buy it. We have 2 spares already, but she wants to be on the safe side because she loves it so much.
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| Post# 1026676 , Reply# 32 3/9/2019 at 18:25 (1,874 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
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Braun | ||
| Post# 1026678 , Reply# 33 3/9/2019 at 18:30 (1,874 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
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Cone filters
From my memories, the paper filters are a bit more expensive. But they are common, and there are ways of saving money (generic filters--very common--or IIRC Target had good prices once on big boxes of filters).
Another option: they make (or used to make) permanent cone filters. These aren't as convenient when its time to clean up, however. My mother had one of these, and she felt the coffee was better, too, although this is probably one of those "your mileage may vary." | ||
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