OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

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islandboy5150
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OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by islandboy5150 » Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:50 am

I have been searching high and low for a coffee maker that screams "buy me". Every maker out there it seems has some feature that turns me off to it. And, they're getting super expensive in some cases. Thinking about just buying a good ole percolator.

I made coffee the other day, to have the basket not seat properly and the valve at the bottom didn't open. It back flowed or overflowed out of the filter basket into the water reservoir. It ruined the machine. Now looking for a replacement. I tried a Keurig, it makes the weakest cup of coffee every time. Waste of money, as I hate weak coffee. The only thing worse than weak coffee is cold coffee.

Of all the coffee drinkers out there, what's your recommendation on a machine? Maybe I will see something I haven't discovered yet. Hope so, nothing out in the stores now is doing the trick.

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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by nanwilson » Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:06 am

Ha ha just sounds like what I did a couple of months ago..... I went out and bought one of the coffee makers that has a thermal decanter... keeps the coffee hotter than leaving the hot plate on. I hate cold coffee too and I sure don't like those one cup at a time machines, my daughter has one and it makes the worst coffee ever.
Good luck in your search.
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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by DoriC » Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:13 am

I use Cuisinart, a little pricey but makes the best coffee and the plate keeps it hot. The thermal pots keep the coffee hot too but my only complaint is you can't see how much coffee is left in the pot, at least the one I had.

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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by Stormynights » Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:17 am

The absolute best coffee is made in a pot with nothing but water and coffee grounds inside boiled over a campfire. Unfortunately this can't be made at home with the same wonderful results. My husband bought a very cheap little coffee maker from Walmart that I expected to be complete junk. It is the best CM I have ever had. It is fast and the coffee is hot. We have used it for several years now. I guess we just got lucky.

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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by BlackSpinner » Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:26 am

The market seems to be taken over by those K-cup machines. I bought a Black & Decker "8" cup simple coffee maker. I don't know what they use as a cup measure but 4 "cups" makes 2 mugs which is all I need.

The best and cheapest coffee maker is the simple espresso pot you put on the stove. Heat the milk in the microwave and you have Cafe au Lait.

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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by PST » Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:36 am

DoriC wrote:I use Cuisinart, a little pricey but makes the best coffee and the plate keeps it hot. The thermal pots keep the coffee hot too but my only complaint is you can't see how much coffee is left in the pot, at least the one I had.
I have a Cuisinart too, the DCC-1200, and I think it makes great coffee. It is pricey, but I make a pot or two every day, so it's worth it. (And okay, it was a gift.) The one criticism I have is there is no window on the fill reservoir, so it is difficult to see how much water you've put in. For that reason, it would be a poor choice for anyone who really wants a thermal pot. You need the glass pot to know how much water you're adding. However, the hot plate is very good. I've never had coffee that tasted burned or cold after an hour or so. Maybe someone who puts a pot on and drinks it all day could do better, but this works for me. I like a nice strong cup, and this lets me make it the way I want, something those one cup machines are poor at.

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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by dotyj » Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:37 am

bonjour islandboy5150

May I put a few ideas out here?

I have had coffee of many countries made by different methods.

As a young man my parents used the percolator. It seemed to make bitter coffee more often then not and as I understand it, bitter coffee is a reflection on the coffee going bad, fermenting, and being boiled. I also did not know that boiling water destroys the real flavor of coffee.

In the late 70s we purchase the Mr Coffee. The coffee seemed better but at times would still come out bitter as the coffee was old from the pantry or grocery.

The 80s we purchased the Bunn Coffee maker. the coffee seemed better than that which was brewed by the Mr Coffee but still at times was bitter; old coffee.

I have grown to like a good cup of coffee maybe two each day and do not and will not sit at the desk and drink coffee all day.

In the late 90s we Purchased the French Press. The coffee was able to be made more to taste and being more to my liking (stronger and not burnt) but still could be bitter at times; still old coffee.

I purchased the Keurig. I can buy coffee of many countries that I enjoy and the machine makes it to my preferred taste; coffee seems more fresh and rotated in the stores; best coffee comes from outside the U.S.; of course.
After a few hundred cups I have not been disappointed. Until the Keurig most coffee consumed in the U.S. where coming from the same plantations and would sit in the silos and ferment.
At first I believe it an expensive machine. the questions that sold it for me was: do I want a great cup of coffee when I want it and without the expense of having to heat the pot till empty burning the coffee? And do I want a great cup of coffee not just a good cup; of what I was used to since the beginning of time.

My question sold the machine for me and other than cleaning once every six months has worked almost flawlessly with a few quirks that you will learn of if you have one. Second, device was the French Press and it uses hot water and muscle power (easy). Purchase better coffee and not the standard coffee sold in grocery stores. Get over the price of good coffee. It is worth having one or two great cups a day; I am worth it are you? If you can not get passed having to drink a few pots through the day you may want to stick to the old stuff you are used to.

The Kuerig I had was given away to a veteran that uses it daily.

Never boil the water you pour over your coffee as it destroys the flavor. Take my word for this.

Of course I discovered these hypothesis while I possessed a home and now I can just pass on my experience as a homeless person.
While reading my posts remember that I was not always homeless and unemployed. I have much experience in home making; learned while raising two children.

Something I learned is, the U.S. coffee drinker has a difficult time letting go of the old nasty taste they are accustomed to. It seems we do not know when we have had a great cup of coffee.
Go to another country and you will think the coffee to strong. But coffee should be enjoyed in cup of desired size and not drunk all through the day; water is better to drink through the day than coffee.

Have fun with the machine hunt and the coffee.

Merci et paix.

jos

Wulfman...

Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by Wulfman... » Sun Oct 27, 2013 1:30 pm

islandboy5150 wrote:I have been searching high and low for a coffee maker that screams "buy me". Every maker out there it seems has some feature that turns me off to it. And, they're getting super expensive in some cases. Thinking about just buying a good ole percolator.

I made coffee the other day, to have the basket not seat properly and the valve at the bottom didn't open. It back flowed or overflowed out of the filter basket into the water reservoir. It ruined the machine. Now looking for a replacement. I tried a Keurig, it makes the weakest cup of coffee every time. Waste of money, as I hate weak coffee. The only thing worse than weak coffee is cold coffee.

Of all the coffee drinkers out there, what's your recommendation on a machine? Maybe I will see something I haven't discovered yet. Hope so, nothing out in the stores now is doing the trick.
After years of trying various brands and types with varieties of options, we settled on the Mr. Coffee 12 cup with the simple On/Off switch. They're pretty cheap (at Walmart) and when they give out, the pocketbook doesn't hurt quite as bad as some of the more expensive ones. We also have one in the 4 cup size for taking along on our road trips.


Den

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drifterdon
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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by drifterdon » Sun Oct 27, 2013 1:37 pm

Since I only drink 2 cups a day I love my Keurig machine.

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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by pendulumbob » Sun Oct 27, 2013 1:46 pm

Hello we tried expensive, many makes, Mr. Coffee still makes the best, not many$$$$.

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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by CapnLoki » Sun Oct 27, 2013 2:16 pm

CapnLoki's Rules of Good Coffee:
1. Coffee is a matter of taste - if you like it, it's good coffee. Espresso is different, not better.
2. Good beans and hot water is all it takes; the method of brewing is secondary.
3. Beans should be ground within minutes of brewing, otherwise the coffee is stale. If you don't grind, don't bother paying extra for high quality beans.
4. Water should be near boiling (about 195 to 200 degrees) but not boiling. Cheap brewers sometimes route the heated water through the water reservoir, guaranteeing poor extraction.
5. Hot plates tend to burn the brewed coffee; a thermal carafe is best. A mark of quality coffee/brewing is that it tastes good even as it cools down.
6. Beans should only be frozen if sealed completly. Defrost before unsealing. Opening a jar of cold beans sucks in moisture which stales the beans quickly.
7. The best coffee comes from small farms which cannot afford to be certified "organic;" most organic comes from large plantations that were clear cut rain forests. Fair Trade is a nice concept but is run by co-ops and ends up being a negative incentive on high quality. This best small farmers can make double the FT price or more. You might feel better with "Fair Trade" or "Organic" but it implies mediocrity.
8. Coffee always tastes better on a boat.
9. Percolators are evil.

For the record, I roast my own beans; I favor Hawaiian Kona and Guatemalan. My primary brewer is a Capresso with a built-in milk frother (my wife likes cafe au lait). On the boat I use manual pour over into a Thermos; frequently I use Hario V60 for single cup pour over; not a big fan of French Press or espresso.

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Last edited by CapnLoki on Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by Vader » Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:33 pm

I use the Cuisinart DCC-2650, which is an awesome coffee maker. It's a little pricey, but I say worth every penny. It's far superior to Cuisinart's cheaper (under $99) models.
If you're going to grind your own beans, don't waste your money on those cheap $20 grinders. They overheat the beans and ruin the taste. I wouldn't use anything less than a good burr grinder. Also, Don't refrigerate or freeze the beans. Store at room temperature for optimum flavor.

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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by sleeplessinaz » Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:49 pm

I just recently purchased the Keurig VUE --not the one that takes the KCUPS. I bought it since you can make a STRONG cup of coffee in it--unlike the regular Keurig Brewer. It also has a setting to make it hotter as well as strong. take a look at them as they have improved them and I like being able to make just one or two cups and not waste a whole pot.
Hope this helps,
Carrie

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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by BlackSpinner » Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:53 pm

sleeplessinaz wrote:I just recently purchased the Keurig VUE --not the one that takes the KCUPS. I bought it since you can make a STRONG cup of coffee in it--unlike the regular Keurig Brewer. It also has a setting to make it hotter as well as strong. take a look at them as they have improved them and I like being able to make just one or two cups and not waste a whole pot.
Hope this helps,
Carrie
The strength of your coffee comes from the beans and the roast and how much you use. To make it stronger via machine they just brew it slower.

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Re: OT: Coffee maker selections, which to choose?

Post by RogerSC » Sun Oct 27, 2013 4:03 pm

Just went through this since our old Krups coffee maker started to leak onto the counter. Did a *lot* of looking at reviews, and almost went for Cuisinart, since I like the brand. We have a Cuisinart food processor and pots and pans made by them, too. But I noticed enough reviews that mentioned "fire" and "catching on fire" that steered me away from them for peace of mind *smile*. Chances are that wouldn't happen to me, but don't like taking chances with things like that.

Ended up with a 10-cup Capresso. Nice, makes good tasting, hot coffee, and the price was comparable to the Cuisinarts. Let's see, it's an MG600 Plus, model #484...While we've only had it a few weeks, very happy with it. It has a 3-5 cup setting that takes longer to brew for a smaller pot, and gets more of the flavor out of the coffee grounds that way. And the carafe doesn't leak when you pour it *smile*, that's a nice touch...we've had several dribble pots.