Coffee maker suggestions

[texas gun person]

I have a Krups.... no clue what model, but I like it.

 

[greater]

For drip I use a Chemex (about $36.00 or so.)

I grind in my grinder (quality burr grinder, yes it's expensive) heat hot water on stove to boiling let it cool for about a minute and pour over the grounds.

If I ever have problems with my quality grinder (I don't I just use hand cranks for fun and GOOD QUALITY GRIND) I would use one of my small low priced vintage german hand crank conical burr grinders (about 50 to 90 dollars) or my small modern japanese marketed Kyocera hand crank grinder with conical ceramic burrs (about 75 dollars.)

Of course I can get excellent results using an old clean sock and a good 50.00 dollar vintage german hand crank grinder.

Never never use a weed wacker grinder, the ones that have tiny lawnmower blades, they will make fowl tasting powdery uneven grinds.

If one doesn't mind the staleness of pre ground coffee (2 hours to staleness after grinding or opening that vacuum pack of pre ground which isn't that great even at it's peak but better than fresh beans with a lousy grind) then all of the above is for the most part moot.

 

[Machaira]

If you want a cup or two at a time, try a Keurig which uses K-cups.

There is a large variety of coffees and it is convenient to use.

The basic model starts at about $100.

M.

 

[UffDa]

I use a stainless French press and a hand operated mill. The only thing some folks may not like is the little bit of sludge at the bottom of the cup. I like the taste better then anything that uses a paper filter. (I can taste the paper.)

While visiting friend, I had some coffee made in a Keurig. I was impressed. It was good coffee. I was not impressed enough to shell out $100 plus for the maker and about 50 cent per cup. Actually, I might, but the thing takes up a fair amount of space on the counter.

 

[David Metzger]

I know this isn't a good answer to your questions but I have to say: A french press makes better coffee I think because the oils are included from the beans, A burr grinder some how slices the beans rather than pulverizing them and it is a better process. Freshly roasted beans and good water are also important. Lots of people roast their own for freshness.

I have a Cuisanart (When not using FrenchPress)- not hot enough when just made but the hot plate brings up the temp. I think Bunn's work well and many of the others. D

 

[holygoat]

Get an electric kettle (stovetop is for chumps) and an Aeropress. If you already have a kettle, you're out $25. Make the water as hot as you like. Best coffee this side of a $500 espresso machine.

 

[kycolonel]

If you're looking for the best machine for coffee, it is Technivorm. As close as you will get to French press flavor, and the coffee is HOT.

 

[Kermit]

I have a cheapo DiLonghi, £15 and it takes gold filters. Tastes as coffee should do and isnt one of those overpriced proprietary doo dad scams.

 

[brizbane]

I have a Keurig and highly recommend it.

I purchased a special adapter separately which allows me to use my own coffee and this way I don't have to buy the overpriced singles.

BTW, I saw a mini model Keurig at Costco without any bells and whistles and I think it was around 50 bucks. But make sure you get that adapter.

 

[STR]

My wife and I are hooked on the Black and Decker coffee makers. We have a TCM413 model thats got to be 15 years old now and its our second one. Its a great machine. The first one was slightly less refined with a old style clock in it and this new one (well, okay its 15 years old so its not new but its the newer of the two,) is digital but the old carafe from the one that stopped working and the basket for the coffee grounds and filter both fit the new one. Its the thermal carafe which is the only way to go for your coffee to stay hot if that means anything to you. We've gotten a lot of years out of our black and decker models. Friends have since switched to them due to our success with them and some of them had Mr. Coffee and others they were not all that happy with for whatever reasons.

The only negative to the model we have if any is that you have to take the lid off to get all the coffee out of the carfe but otherwise its a very good, realible machine. I'm not sure what black and decker sells now in these thermal carafe models but we sure like ours.:thumbup:

STR

 

[greater]

If you're looking for the best machine for coffee, it is Technivorm. As close as you will get to French press flavor, and the coffee is HOT.

I should have one coming tomorrow. It's a used evil bay (a brand new one is too pricey at the moment) 10 cupper glass carafe model (KB741) missing the filter cone lid (a relatively useless item but I did order the lid separately for about $13.00 anyway.)

It does have the horror hot plate but I plan on the coffee being consumed before it becomes noticeable.

I can't say enough good things about the principles of companies like technivorm and the high price is a realistic reflection of the costs of supporting a free democratic country where people are properly paid for quality work.

I also like Bunn Coffee makers as well, particularly their commercial line of machines which are easy to service, built like tanks, with an abundance of easy to obtain common replaceable parts. Bunn support is outstanding. If you get one of these in working order for cheap and you are able to disassemble and clean it you will be set for a very long time. The Bunn house models are good also but they still don't hold a candle to their commercial line.

What can I say, I am a gadget freak with a craving for top quality and an insatiable taste for excellent coffee.

 

[Erasmus]

I use the cheap "lawnmower blades" bean grinder to make my "fowel coffee". Or is it "Lab coffee". Set your cup down on the coffee table, and the Labs will mob you for it. One distracts you, while the other sticks his nose in it.

 

[Horned Toad]

I should have one coming tomorrow. It's a used evil bay (a brand new one is too pricey at the moment) 10 cupper glass carafe model (KB41) missing the filter cone lid (a relatively useless item but I did order the lid separately for about $13.00 anyway.)

It does have the horror hot plate but I plan on the coffee being consumed before it becomes noticeable.

I can't say enough good things about the principles of companies like technivorm and the high price is a realistic reflection of the costs of supporting a free democratic country where people are properly paid for quality work.

I also like Bunn Coffee makers as well, particularly their commercial line of machines which are easy to service, built like tanks, with an abundance of easy to obtain common replaceable parts. Bunn support is outstanding. If you get one of these in working order for cheap and you are able to disassemble and clean it you will be set for a very long time. The Bunn house models are good also but they still don't hold a candle to their commercial line.

What can I say, I am a gadget freak with a craving for top quality and an insatiable taste for excellent coffee.

Just an update but my Technivorm just died last week after only a year and a half. I think the heating element went out. I have been busy and not had time to even see if I can just get a heating element. It made a least two pots a day or more every day for as long as I had it but I still think that’s a short service life. I used percolator for a week while I was on vacation and have just pulled my old Bunn out of storage. I really cleaned the Bunn before I put it away so I just dusted it off, ran a few pots of water through it and its still running. I am not sure how old the Bunn is it is but a good guess would be at least 5 years old now.

 

[greater]

Just an update but my Technivorm just died last week after only a year and a half. I think the heating element went out. I have been busy and not had time to even see if I can just get a heating element. It made a least two pots a day or more every day for as long as I had it but I still think that’s a short service life. I used percolator for a week while I was on vacation and have just pulled my old Bunn out of storage. I really cleaned the Bunn before I put it away so I just dusted it off, ran a few pots of water through it and its still running. I am not sure how old the Bunn is it is but a good guess would be at least 5 years old now.

Oh no that is bad it should last at least a decade if not a life time. I have heard of this happening a few times but I have also heard many other stories about them lasting a very long time.

Sometimes the float switch (turns off the coils after tank is almost empty) has been known to jam eventually causing the coils to run without water in the boiler. It can happen from scale and stuff. I am not sure if your coils may still be good since I remember reading Technivorm coils have a heat fuse. The bad news is heat fuses are not always fast enough.

I made a cup of coffee with mine today (I just got it in the mail) and it lives up to it's reputation as far as making great coffee.

In light of what happened to yours I think I may just do a descaling of it and not rely on the descaling light to tell me it's time.

Do you have any recourse ? If it's just a blown fuse and a stuck floater switch then I think you are in luck as those can probably be cheaply remedied. If the coils are gone (there are two of them,) well that can be a problem. I am sorry to hear this. If you are really lucky then the float switch is jammed in the off position keeping the coils from firing up. Did you ever see smoke or smell any unusual odors ? If not (although your luck is still not guaranteed) that could be a good thing.

I have had experience with a Bunn STF-15 and if this is an example of Bunn construction then Bunn commercials are tanks although the STF-15 at work makes really good coffee I have to give the nudge to Technivorm for better taste (maybe it's because mine came with a stainless swiss filter I don't know) but not by a huge margin. I have also had experience with a Bunn home model which I gave to my sister and it still is running after what must be at least 6 or seven years. She uses it every morning if not more and she is not very gadget smart. Bunn home models do not have adjustable thermostats like the commercial ones. They use lots of plastic and are not anywhere near as tough.


Here is a link I found with some pics of Technivorm internals and a brief summary of its operation http://www.terroircoffee.com/content/view/179/39/


Here is another link with full schematics and part numbers for Technivorms
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48152011/spare-parts

I hope you get your Technivorm fixed.

 

[Kermit]

My wife and I are hooked on the Black and Decker coffee makers. We have a TCM413 model thats got to be 15 years old now and its our second one. Its a great machine. The first one was slightly less refined with a old style clock in it and this new one (well, okay its 15 years old so its not new but its the newer of the two,) is digital but the old carafe from the one that stopped working and the basket for the coffee grounds and filter both fit the new one. Its the thermal carafe which is the only way to go for your coffee to stay hot if that means anything to you. We've gotten a lot of years out of our black and decker models. Friends have since switched to them due to our success with them and some of them had Mr. Coffee and others they were not all that happy with for whatever reasons.

The only negative to the model we have if any is that you have to take the lid off to get all the coffee out of the carfe but otherwise its a very good, realible machine. I'm not sure what black and decker sells now in these thermal carafe models but we sure like ours.:thumbup:

STR

I took a look at their hanging units, not too expensive and as B&D have always been reliable in my experience so have ordered one

 

[Horned Toad]

Oh no that is bad it should last at least a decade if not a life time. I have heard of this happening a few times but I have also heard many other stories about them lasting a very long time.

Sometimes the float switch (turns off the coils after tank is almost empty) has been known to jam eventually causing the coils to run without water in the boiler. It can happen from scale and stuff. I am not sure if your coils may still be good since I remember reading Technivorm coils have a heat fuse. The bad news is heat fuses are not always fast enough.

I made a cup of coffee with mine today (I just got it in the mail) and it lives up to it's reputation as far as making great coffee.

In light of what happened to yours I think I may just do a descaling of it and not rely on the descaling light to tell me it's time.

Do you have any recourse ? If it's just a blown fuse and a stuck floater switch then I think you are in luck as those can probably be cheaply remedied. If the coils are gone (there are two of them,) well that can be a problem. I am sorry to hear this. If you are really lucky then the float switch is jammed in the off position keeping the coils from firing up. Did you ever see smoke or smell any unusual odors ? If not (although your luck is still not guaranteed) that could be a good thing.

I have had experience with a Bunn STF-15 and if this is an example of Bunn construction then Bunn commercials are tanks although the STF-15 at work makes really good coffee I have to give the nudge to Technivorm for better taste (maybe it's because mine came with a stainless swiss filter I don't know) but not by a huge margin. I have also had experience with a Bunn home model which I gave to my sister and it still is running after what must be at least 6 or seven years. She uses it every morning if not more and she is not very gadget smart. Bunn home models do not have adjustable thermostats like the commercial ones. They use lots of plastic and are anywhere near as tough.


Here is a link I found with some pics of Technivorm internals and a brief summary of its operation http://www.terroircoffee.com/content/view/179/39/


Here is another link with full schematics and part numbers for Technivorms
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48152011/spare-parts

I hope you get your Technivorm fixed.

thx for the info I will check it this weekend and keep you posted

 

[greater]

I use the cheap "lawnmower blades" bean grinder to make my "fowel coffee". Or is it "Lab coffee". Set your cup down on the coffee table, and the Labs will mob you for it. One distracts you, while the other sticks his nose in it.

I tend to agree with you it's "Lab coffee" but if you like the taste that is all that matters

 

[STR]

I took a look at their hanging units, not too expensive and as B&D have always been reliable in my experience so have ordered one

Yeah I'm sold on the Thermal carafe models no matter which brand I buy. If there is one thing I hate in the morning its burnt coffee taste and thats why I won't buy another glass bowl model on a hot plate. I can make 8 cups in the morning around 6 or 7 when I get up and be drinking coffee til noon with what I have and even then its still hot so to me its the best of both worlds for a thermos. If I do end up with glass containers when this coffee maker breaks and we try one like some posted here I'll be dumping what coffee I make with it in one of my B & D thermal carafes to keep from burning it.

STR

 

[maverick3981]

Nespresso rocks!

 

[BostonBull]

To me you have 2 choices for a great cup of coffee, only one is under $50. You cant have a perfect cup of coffee with a shite brewer, its impossible. A burr grinder is mandatory as well.