(Part 2) Best coffee makers according to redditors
We found 2,841 Reddit comments discussing the best coffee makers. We ranked the 648 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
Bodum makes a damn fine coffee, but maybe you need an all metal one eh? $25 to get you something a little less Fra-jee-lay Secura Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker 18/10 Bonus Stainless Steel Screen (1000ML) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JE36GLQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_49WvCbA4JTH5S
The Bonavita Immersion Dripper is made of porcelain, the only other thing the coffee touches is the silicone stopper.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MFJX7P4/
Not only that but, despite this incredibly long and detailed explanation, making your coffee better is really easy. Any one of these changes will make an improvement. Do all of them and you might never bother going out for coffee again.
For 1 and 2, I'll admit that buying $110 in equipment just for your coffee is a lot, but both the drip maker and the grinder will last you for years and years and will give you better coffee the whole time. If it saves you from buying just one cup of coffee per week, it pays itself off in a year.
The others cost very little, and will make an improvement immediately.
$12, just add filter, ground coffee, and water.
No moving parts, no running vinegar through it, no plugging it in, lasts forever, and likely makes a better cup than your Keurig or drip coffee maker.
We have a Rok and love it.
Go for something stainless steel?
Just the first one I found, can't personally recommend any because I have a glass one.
Hey, he's using a coffee siphon!
No need to break the bank on one:
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-French-Press-Coffee/dp/B005ADS5FO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332704516&sr=8-1
On the job hunt and starting to think LinkedIn is working against me. I've also grown tired of espresso drinks I was drinking daily with the help of my Bialetti. Is now (when I don't have a job) really the time to purchase a cold brew machine, or should I continue picking up a pre-bottled cold brew at the store? The answer is neither, but I have no self control, so one of these will prevail. Will keep you updated.
This is the one that I got. Worth every penny. I only use it on weekends because it's a bit more involved than other methods, but I love it.
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Santos-Stovetop-Vacuum-34-Ounce/dp/B00005NCX5
I bought a gorgeous polished stainless Frieling french press, but I still use my bodums, because it's just too classy for everyday use.
I suspect most responses here will focus on method of brewing over brands or specific origins or roasts of coffee, although Starbucks is not well-loved. Sumatran beans can be extremely earthy, dry, and strong-flavored, though. "Strong" is very subjective, and when I think of a strong cup my first desire would be to find an extremely bright, light roast that is bursting with acidity and flavor; others might interpret that as a dark roast. You didn't mention your location, but I suggest you find a good local roaster and sample their fresh products. Best is to grind your beans at home just before brewing, but you can also tell the shop your method of brewing and have them grind for you. Unfortunately the ground coffee loses a lot of flavor and aroma far faster than you can use up a bag, and this might be a big part of a coffee not tasting "strong" enough.
If you're using an auto-drip brewer, you just aren't going to get a quality, rich cup of coffee no matter what. The strongest coffee short of straight espresso you'll get is either from a stovetop or a turkish preparation. French press also brews a very full-bodied cuppa, with all the oils and flavanoids intact (no paper filter to remove them), assuming you brew at proper temperature (195-205F). This is a much easier, more accessible, and more desirable method, IMHO. You will have some coffee silt at the bottom of your cup. Some say the aeropress yields a similar product as the French Press, but I don't have any experience with it.
Also, more grounds does not automatically mean a better or stronger cup, it can actually mean a more bitter, under-extracted cup because you didn't have enough water to get all the desirable compounds out of the grounds and into the solution. Follow brewing instructions and use a proper water to coffee ratio.
Can i be a hater for a second. You're better off asking for an independent grinder like this baratza and this drip machine if you're set on a top quality drip
the SCAA has a list of approved drip machines theyre going to be the best of the best for what you need. The biggest issues with most drip machines is evenness of the brew and temperature variability. Unfortunately im not aware of any good all in one solutions but i can whole hardheartedly recommend the baratza and the brewer can be open season
I have a Cuisinart Brew Central. I have had it for probably 6 years, it was given to me by my brother second hand and he had had it for a few years before that. It is the best coffee maker I have ever had. We love it so much that recently when my husband was cleaning the pot and it cracked we just got a new replacement pot, because there no way we are replacing this workhorse.
Edit to add: I have extremely hard water, I have never run anything through this thing to clean it, though I do change the filter in the water tank about once a month, they are like $10 for something like 36 of them on amazon.
After breaking my 3rd glass french press, I moved onto a bodum Columbia, which is an all metal french press. Its absolutely gorgeous, but kinda expensive. http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-1308-16-Columbia-Stainless-Steel-Thermal/dp/B00005YY9X
http://www.amazon.com/Glass-Stovetop-Coffee-Siphon-Syphon/dp/B002CVTKW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393865731&sr=8-1&keywords=vacuum+coffee
http://www.amazon.com/Cuissential-Manual-Coffee-Grinder-Ceramic/dp/B008YK3IUM/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1393865405&sr=8-9&keywords=coffee+mill
If you want to get in on the ground floor, so the speak, start with a [french press] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ADS5FO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aeh3xb6XXSXTYand) and/or [pour over] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YA7OUK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Xhh3xbR6CNMZ4), and a [grinder] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001802PIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_njh3xb7MY9XAP).
Those are all very entry level versions, there is better everything avaliable of course, but you would barely break $50 for all this stuff and have plenty of opportunity to learn and upgrade as you go!
Brutally honest answer: not worth your time and your money to make this work because you wont ever get the results you want.
More informative answer: The amount of extraction time during the brewing of a K-Cup is not enough to properly get the full flavor of the coffee. Additionally you have no control over water amount or grind amount. When I had a Keurig I bought one of the reusable holders and despite it saying 2Tbsp I could barely fit 1 1/4Tbsp. The most control you have is the water temperature and even then the temperature is not ideal. Also Keurig's are kind of junky, I had one fail after a year and the replacement was acting up within two months. No matter the grind, temp, bean, etc the coffee will always come out under extracted and not enjoyable.
90% of this sub hate keurigs, myself included, but we often do understand the appeal of them. However you need to be aware with that appeal comes major drawbacks like your experiencing now. They are meant entirely as a no frills way of making coffee for people who just want a cup of a coffee.
This would be my recommendation: If you like the appeal of a no frills coffee setup but want to experiment with different beans then I would consider selling the Keurig to a friend or family member. I would use that money to pick up a higher quality drip machine and a hand grinder. If you don't like the idea of using a hand grinder than maybe consider buying a Baratza Encore but it will cost more (FYI watch the Baratza site, every Thursday they restock the refurbs store so you could get a deal).
The Oxo Cold Brew kit is also on sale today. Anybody have experience with this one? Worth getting? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVSVM36/
and cleaning. ugh grounds. i switched back to a Drip but I use the behmor item-- it heats the entire volume of water to the ideal brewing temperature and only then brings it in contact with the grounds. A wonderfully customizable unit that produces coffee as good as my french press but without the sediment.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PKEYY8U/
What about extending that budget by $30 and getting one of the ones on this list? I can personally vouch for Behmor's customer service, but not their brewer.
Moccamaster $309
Behmor $130
Kitchenaid $144
Kitchenaid $141
Bonavita $130
Bonavita $144
OXO $200
OXO $300
Wilfa $190
Bunn $130
Cuisinart $168
Your best bet for dorm room drinks is going to be an Aeropress. It's a weird plastic tube that you use to push hot water through coffee. People here swear by them, and I do too. They don't make espresso, but they can make a terrific cup of coffee as well as a coffee 'concentrate' that can be used as a worthy espresso substitute. In terms of milk, it's really easy to froth milk in a french press. You just put warm milk in a french press and pump the plunger up and down a few times.
Grinding your own beans, if you want to make good tasting drinks, is unfortunately unavoidable. When was first getting into coffee I quickly became bummed out that the expensive and most important part of the process wasn't the exotic, perfectly roasted beans, nor was it the beautiful brewing devices, but instead... the grinder. Fortunately, a basic hand grinder will last you a long time and won't cost too much.
Aeropress - $28
Hand Grinder - $24
French Press - $17
In total that's about $70 worth of stuff. Add a bag of beans and you're at around $80-85 (hey, Christmas is fast approaching!).
Oh, and flavors like french vanilla and pumpkin spice don't really occur naturally in beans, at least not the way you're going to get them somewhere like Starbucks. Cafes typically use syrups, either artificial or natural, to get those flavors.
Do science in your own home for the dizzying price of $33!
http://www.amazon.com/Northwest-Glass-SY-8-40-Ounce-Stovetop/dp/B002CVTKW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303269704&sr=8-1
Well here's the thing about coffee, it's finicky stuff. Much moreso than most Americans would give it credit for. Automatic machines like you have can deliver quality coffee, but unless the one you have cost $200 or more, it won't really be up to the task of making cafe quality coffee. If you want coffee of the same quality (or even better) you'd find at a cafe, you're going to have to know a couple things. Don't worry, I'll tl;dr this with a few specifics at the end, but right now I'm going to go over the things that affect how coffee tastes:
Bean quality: probably the most esoteric and taste-dependent part of coffee, it's not much worth getting into grading, processing, etc, just suffice it to say that folger's is definitely not using top-rate beans and they're mixing robusta (high caffeine, very bitter) in with arabica (moderate caffeine, much better flavor), whereas a decent coffee shop is using 100% arabica
Freshness: Coffee goes stale quick and the flavors dull within about three weeks, a month tops after roasting. Those mass market beans are months old by the time you get them off the shelf. The good news is that there's almost definitely a roaster near you who sells decent beans that are nice and fresh roasted. The bad news is that the cheapest decent coffee you'll find is ~$10/lb most places.
Grind: piggybacking on my last point, coffee, even when sealed in those cans, goes stale VERY fast after being ground (like, within an hour), so buy whole bean and grind it yourself right before brewing
Grind consistency: if the grind isn't uniform, the coffee won't extract evenly and will taste off. The normal blade grinders you think of when you think "coffee grinder" won't work, you'll need a burr grinder, whether hand crank or electric. Doesn't have to be fancy but it does have to be a burr grinder
Brew ratio: coffee will optimally be brewed (for most methods) with 16 or 17g of water (a fat tablespoon) for each gram of coffee. You can guestimate it but digital kitchen scales that read in grams can be had for dirt cheap on amazon. IME people who don't know about brewing coffee tend to use way too little coffee for the amount they brew. This extracts too much from the grounds and makes it watery and bitter
Brew time: each method has its own ideal brew time but for most, like pourover or french press, ~4 minutes is optimal
Water temperature: Coffee should ideally be brewed between 195-205Fthis is where the vast majority of home drip machines fail, the reason that /r/coffee approved drip machines start off at like $200 is that they have big, heavy copper heaters that can reach ideal brew temp, most drip machines have crummy weak heating coils that end up brewing at lower temperatures and making the coffee taste flat and sour.
TL;DR
I know this seems overwhelming, so I'll give you a nice, easy starter kit and instructions how to use it to get you started. And I know you said your bank account was getting crushed, so I'll make this nice and wallet-friendly
For a grinder, go with either this manual one which has the advantage of being really cheap and producing decent grinds, but will take some effort to grind your coffee (2-3 minutes) and setting the grind size can be a pain, or if you want to spend a little bit more and get an electric, go for this one, it's not the greatest in the world but for a starting point it works ok and it's darn cheap.
You can either keep brewing with your auto drip or, if you're still not satisfied, get a french press. They're crazy easy to use (weigh coffee, put in press. Place press on scale and tare. Pour in water. wait four minutes. drink), and they can be had for damn cheap
Then find someone who roasts coffee near you, get some beans, and enjoy!
Anyway sorry to bombard you with the wall of text but coffee's a complicated thing and we're hobbyists (and snobs) around here. Hope that helps! Feel free to ask more questions
EDIT: forgot to add in Todd Carmichael's awesome instruction video for the french press.
That drip station is indeed pretty, but with that distance between the dripper and your cup/mug, you're probably going to have quite the mess of splashes and splatters to clean up afterwards.
If you're really looking to improve your coffee and not just decorate the counter, I'd start with a simple plastic V60-02 for the dripper. For the grinder, since you're already contemplating spending ~90 USD, why not bump it up another $25 and get a Knock Aergrind; it'll be a significant step up in grind quality from the ones you listed.
Looks like it's called a ROK manual espresso maker:
http://www.amazon.com/ROK-ROKMAKER-Manual-Espresso-Maker/dp/B00AV1E0GI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374965113&sr=8-1&keywords=rok+espresso
$200 ain't bad if it makes a good cup...
I have the OXO Barista brain 9 cup coffee maker. It is SCAA certified as well.
I burned through at least one glass Bodum a year for several years, 6 years ago we got this on sale for $55, still looks and functions perfectly and we never have to baby it.
Amazon Bodum Press
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-1-Liter-34-Ounce-Coffeemaker/dp/B004NBYADU/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1369897008&sr=1-2&keywords=french+press+bodum
I'm not too familiar with French press but Bodum is generally what comes to mind
Also this photo just came up on my tumblr so maybe it's a sign
http://25.media.tumblr.com/58b46b3f590a2c36a869cf5b2761e147/tumblr_mmmtl0KOwa1qfffyto1_500.jpg
I'm about to pull the trigger on a Bonavita BV1800 8-Cup Coffee Maker No timer but it's better to grind right before you brew. I guess you can get an appliance timer.
I can't say enough good things about this one.
In order of importance, in my opinion. Now, while the grinder is pricey, it's very important to producing an exceptional cup. But I'd personally start lower grinder-wise to garner more appreciation for good grinders (unless budget ain't a concern, in which case go for it).
Lido E Grinder (all the Lido series grinders are back ordered I think)
V60 Dripper
Fino Pour Over Kettle
AWS Pocket Scale
[V60 filters (although I notice no difference between this and folded #4 filters that are much cheaper)]
(http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001U7EOYA/ref=twister_B00Q60WESO?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)
Video on technique
Where I personally like getting beans, but there are a lot of places for that
Si eres godinez que le gusta su café, [una chemex](http://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B00755F9Z4
) o si no hay presupuesto una prensa francesa, solo necesitas acceso a agua caliente para que funcione cualquiera de las dos. Sabe mucho mejor el café en comparación del instantaneo, ya luego pruebas con marcas de la localidad, si eres de BC te recomiendo esta.. Y como aparte de Godinez eres geek, sirve tu café en una de estas.
Tambien te recomendaría unos audifonos, para que escuches música, podcasts, audiolibros o las noticias sin molestar a tus compañeros de oficina. Si no tienes ya, aqui una breve guía de recomendaciones para que se adecuen a tu gusto y presupuesto.
Para eyecandy en tus monitores checa los subs de /r/ImaginaryNetwork (igual pongo ese porque desconozco tus gustos), en lo personal soy muy asiduo de /r/ImaginaryCyberpunk, /r/low_poly, /r/wallpapers, /r/backgroundart, /r/StarshipPorn
This episode actually made me go out and buy an iced coffee today. Although the cafe I bought it from made it by adding hot coffee to a pile of ice in a plastic cup, which is a big no-no that they bring up in this episode, haha.
I think maybe I'll buy one of those OXO cold brew coffee makers that Sean speaks highly of in this episode. I'm a caffeine addict, so this is right up my alley.
I use this: OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVSVM36/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_gxipzbWYFSEXJ
Coarse ground espresso beans. 1 ounce of coffee for every 8 fl ounces(1 cup) of water. I steep 14 hours room temperature or 24 hours refrigerated. I serve 1 part coffee: 2 parts water.
I typically prepare 5 ounces coffee: 5 cups of water. It yields 4 cups concentrate.
What you're looking for is the Bonavita Wide Base Porcelain Immersion Dripper, which is functionally just like the Clever, but it's mostly made of porcelain. Mostly. A lot less plastic than the Clever anyway.
Considering getting an actual coffee maker instead of doing the clever dripper I've been using.
Right now I have my eye on the Behmor Brazen Plus. Seems to be the most controllable and least expensive SCA certified brewer.
Anyone have that one or another coffee maker that you love?
What's your budget?
One of the many coffee makers I own is a quality drip coffee maker. It’s like a V60 pour over built into a drip coffee maker. And you’ll stay in budget. You won’t be disappointed. Enjoy!
OXO BREW 9 Cup Coffee Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YEYKK8U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_zLTHDb29QMTB6
Not OP, we buy my father-in-law a new coffee maker every couple of years. We've spend as little as $50 and as much as a couple thousand. Dude loves is coffee as impossible to buy for. The new model this year was inexpensive compared to the others, it is the OXO BREW 9 Cup Coffee Maker.
Looking back, the super fancy espresso, coffee, whatever machines all suck after about 3 months and are impossible to keep clean, but this one has been a home run from the first. Having the money to blow on a really expensive coffee maker is one thing, but having to live with one that could break the bank and sucks is another.
I am using a Bodum Vacuum Coffee Maker, and I've got it locked in pretty nicely.
A few things to consider:
It's a neat contraption, and it produces a lighter coffee overall. I had a few friends try it, and they preferred it black over anything else. Kinda cool!
I'm not really sure what an "iced coffee blender" is. Are you talking about making iced coffee, or frappuccinos (blended coffee-like drinks)?
If you mean regular iced coffee, you really don't need to spend $150. You need a decent grinder and a cold-brew system like this one.
Also, make iced coffee ice cubes or put your glass(es) in the freezer to prevent dilution.
As far as flavors, you may be in the wrong subreddit for that kind of question. You could try a decent mocha powder like the kind that Intelligentsia offers because it mixes well with espresso, but honestly, the coffee should really be allowed to speak for itself.
"Flavors" like caramel mask the taste of mediocre (or worse) coffee with sugar and artificial sweeteners. Trust me, I worked at Starbucks and looked at the ingredients in those syrups. If you need those syrups to enjoy the coffee, there's really no point in shelling out more money for better coffee or equipment.
Swap your areopress for a vac-pot with a cloth filter.
Kind of looks like a much smaller version of https://smile.amazon.com/Glass-YAMCDM8CBR-Brown-Frame-Coffee/dp/B002RL9DW6/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=japanese+iced+coffee+maker&qid=1567161751&s=gateway&sr=8-7
I forget the motivations, but if you search there was a thread recently discussing Japanese Ice drip coffee vs conventional. I think it was meant to be even smoother.
While it is certainly not the same as Gale's setup, you can always pick up this coffee maker.
Supposedly it makes a good cup, and it looks damn cool.
A cheap gooseneck kettle and a plastic Hario V60. You will need filters too.
If you want to spend a little more this set has it all.
Keep in mind that a scale is extremely helpful too. If you don’t want to spend the money on a grinder, which everyone is going to recommend, just get pre-ground, quality coffee. I recommend HappyMug online. Happy Mug makes great coffee and will grind it for you before shipping. They also have an awesome little timer for $5 that is helpful at first If you’re using your phone for recipes and stuff.
French Press, https://www.amazon.com/Secura-Stainless-French-Coffee-Screen/dp/B00JE36GLQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=french+press&qid=1566748969&s=kitchen&sprefix=French+p&sr=1-4
It tastes better, is easier to clean, and is faster than drip coffee.
That's awesome. I picked up this. https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Wide-Porcelain-Immersion-Dripper/dp/B00MFJX7P4
It makes a single cup and uses easily accessible filters. There is no need to wait for a bloom yadda yadda. You get your grind size right, pour in water off a boil, stir and wait 3.5 minutes, and it drains into your choice of drinking vessel. I used it today, and I love it. Definitely need to dial in the drink size but besides that very low maintenance. You could also get the clever, but I think this has a better shelf life since it's porcelain vs plastic.
People see this as a good medium between chemex and french press in terms of the body you get out of your coffee.
We have this Cusinart one - I really like that it's programable, it filters your tap water for you (with charcoal filters), and you can decide how long the burner stays hot. And it's Cuisinart! We've had it for over a year now and it works great.
If you like Cuisinart and your family just wants a simple mechanism, I'd go with this. It's way below your budget, but it's really good for a simple cup of coffee. My parents are similar to you, and they've had this machine for years. Just make sure you clean it after every use! People don't seem to clean their coffee machines...
​
It also has a timer that you can adjust to brew automatically, which I found useful when I had work at 6am.
The thing is that "cheap" machines don't get the water hot enough to make "good coffee."
If you have a library card, you can check out the Consumer's Reports website (log in via your library) and they rate a number of under $100 coffee makers. The ones on this website are the ones certified by the SCAA to get hot enough consistently.
For what it's worth, I had one of these and it was fine, and has an acceptable 4-cup setting. I sold it to a friend who still uses it. It doesn't get the water quite hot enough, but it's not terrible.
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-1308-16-Columbia-Stainless-Steel-Thermal/dp/B00005YY9X/ref=zg_bs_914434_3
Don't get a glass one, they break easily and lose heat way too quickly. Bodum and Frieling both make insulated (double wall) stainless steel presses. I've only used the Frieling but it is of much higher quality than the glass Bodum I used to own, cannot be broken, and makes better coffee due to the prolonged higher brewing temperature.
Frieling
Bodum
I recall only paying about $60 for my 32oz Frieling. Maybe they are available for cheaper elsewhere.
Bodum makes a 12-ounce French press, which doesn't require you to remove the beaker. Alternatively, you could check out a Frieling French press, which are made of stainless steel.
I use a Filtron and I love it. $38 on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Filtron-Water-Coffee-Concentrate-Brewer/dp/B0001GSSIO/
I just use it for regular coffee. Use a Filtron to make a carafe of concentrate, then all you have to do is pour a little and add hot water from an electric tea kettle. You can also use the concentrate to make passable lattes by heating milk in the microwave and shaking it up to get it foamy.
I'd use one of these
http://www.amazon.com/Filtron-Water-Coffee-Concentrate-Brewer/dp/B0001GSSIO
I really like my Yama stovetop siphon, which runs about $35. The mechanics are the same, but you use your stove for the heat source. The 22oz model makes two American-sized cups of sweet, delicious coffee.
Almost every major coffee house that makes New Orleans style cold brew uses the Commercial Toddy Maker, including CC's Community Coffee, PJ's Coffee, and even Starbucks. This is a larger variant of the Toddy Cold Brew System which many of us use at home.
If you want traditional, smooth New Orleans style cold brew, you'll want to use a Viennese blend or something close to it. No, not Vietnamese; Viennese, as in Vienna. Some people like to do Ethiopian (Starbucks even used it when they were first trialing their cold brew in your area, but they ultimately switched to something much closer to Viennese-style), but as long as you stay away from bright flavors (particularly citrus), you should be fine. Most places will also add a dash of Mexican Vanilla as well.
The original Toddy system is designed to reduce the amount of oils extracted from the coffee grounds. The absence of heat already does this to an extent, but you also have to make an effort to layer in the water in a controlled fashion. Disturb the coffee grounds too much, and the filter disc will clog. It looks like they're now offering paper filters (similar to what the commercial system uses) to address this issue.
IIRC nine cups of water yields six cups of concentrate. You'll want to cut that 1:1 with water at serving time.
----
The other popular variant, Kyoto style cold brew, is made using a setup that resembles lab equipment.
EDIT: Formatting, how does it work?
Google Kyoto drip tower, I have the one below:
http://www.amazon.com/Yama-Glass-Maker-Curved-Brown/dp/B002RL9DW6
It makes good cold brew or you can make your own with a good chem lab supply catalog.
Here's what I have at work:
Bodum French Press
Hario Mini Mill Grinder
Aero Press
It's hard to go wrong with this setup.
For a french press, might I recommend this: Bodum french press?
As for a grinder, you want to grind coarse for french press. Blade grinders are extremely inconsistent with grind size. Like others have mentioned, burr grinders are better because they grind more consistently and will not heat up the beans as much during the grinding process. The issue with the Hario Skerton that you posted is that is known to be pretty inconsistent at coarse grinds (unless you make some modifications to it). The Hario Slim Mill may actually be better because there is a spring loaded that helps prevent the burr from wobbling.
Your total here would be around $40 which is pretty decent for a beginner setup.
I have the Bodum Brazil 34 oz french press and I really like it. I'm not sure if there's much of a benefit to getting a better brand/model as it's a pretty simple concept. Someone else would be better to weigh in on that. The one I have is less than $20 on Amazon.
https://amzn.com/B005ADS5FO
I don't think you can get a good espresso machine at that price.
Does she like drip coffee? Because you can actually do pretty well for that much. The Bonavita is supposed to be really good.
For sheer price and ease of brew consistency, the plastic v60 comes in three forms: dripper only ($7-8), the V60 Decanter ($24), or the V60 Starter Kit ($20).
Depending on gift budget, you may also want to consider a gooseneck kettle if your boyfriend doesn't already have one.
I like coffee gear for aesthetics in addition to their function, though, so I have a couple of special Hario v60 drippers - a sky blue ceramic, and a Mandarin orange ceramic one. Obviously way more breakable than the plastic/metal ones, but I liked the looks of them way more.
There are a million (good content) owner reviews (in addition to questions and answers) on Amazon for the ROK unit. Your question is worded much more broadly, however: Many espresso machines can be modded to run on propane (to heat the boiler) as opposed to electricity. (The Astoria Gloria is one example where you can buy it from the factory in a propane configuration, or get a propane conversion kit to allow you to run it either way.) This can be very useful if you are running a mobile coffee cart and don't have AC electrical service available. In those cases you can use a 12V deep cycle battery and an inverter to run your electric grinder all day long. There are also RV refrigerators that can run on propane or 110V if you need cooling "off the grid".
The problem with recommending a machine is that you have to have an espresso capable grinder first for most machines. Fresh roasted whole beans > Grinder > Machine. I recommend the Flair because the deeper, narrower basket means you don't have to grind as fine as something with (or near) a standard 58mm portafilter, therefore you might be able to get away with something as inexpensive as a refurbished Encore (when they're in stock). If you have an espresso capable stepless manual grinder (Lido, Commandante, Aergrind, etc.) or stepless electric grinder (Refurbished Sette 270 and above) you could also go with a ROK or Robot manual machines, but personally I still think the Flair is better as it's easier to heat up. For a pump machine, there's really only one under $500 I'd recommend, that I know of, and that's the Gaggia Classic, due to the fact that it can do standard commercial shots as well as pressurized portafilter shots. If you're handy, you could also trawl your used marketplaces for a machine, I've seen people get amazing deals on r/espresso that just needed some cleaning or an inexpensive part.
You can have a real espresso with no electricity needed, I'm going to make a try to this one : https://www.amazon.com/ROK-Presso-Manual-Espresso-Maker/dp/B00AV1E0GI
College student here!
I personally use a French press in my room with a hot water kettle (I live in a dorm). For my grinder I use a Khaw-Fee HG1B Manual Coffee Grinder with a Blue Horse upgrade kit. As far as beans go, I recommend going around to local rosters and try one bag at a time; the only way to find out what you like is to try as much as you can.
When I have a little extra time I use my Rok Espresso press, which I have found to work great in the dorm. It's easy to use and clean, pulls a decent shot, and is nearly indestructible.
Grinder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01A6CP1HI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517663256&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=khawfee+grinder&dpPl=1&dpID=41-m2sv1nxL&ref=plSrch
Blue Horse Upgrade Kit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B012HDKKQ6/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Rok Espresso Press: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AV1E0GI/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1517663717&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=rok+espresso&dpPl=1&dpID=41J1GlEZmpL&ref=plSrch
(Sorry for like/lack of hyperlinks, I'm on mobile)
Been using one of these for 3 years, daily. Work AWESOME, and never an issue. Several sizes available. I HIGHLY recommend one!!! https://www.amazon.com/Secura-Stainless-French-Coffee-Screen/dp/B00JE36GLQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1523724465&sr=8-3&keywords=stainless+french+press&dpID=41rGx%252Bn2aYL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
Secura French Press Coffee Maker, 304 Grade Stainless Steel Insulated Coffee Press with 2 Extra Screens, 34oz (1 Litre), Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JE36GLQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_B8g0DbDM9PQ67
This is the one I got. It's metal so it won't break like the glass ones and it's double walled so coffee stays hot
I have the OXO Cold Brew system. I really like it. I used to use a mason jar and it's functional, but more messy. I am super happy I got it. I bought mine at Marshals for $30 but I think they are $50 on amazon. Found it
It comes with a steel mesh filter and a few paper filters. I have been re-using the paper filters so they last longer. So far they have held up quite well.
If we want to turn this into an /r/frugal thread about the absolute cheapest way to make coffee - you can get a cold brew setup at home for less than $50 (Toddy is "the original"; OXO makes a similar system). Cold brew tends to be more forgiving of low-quality beans than hot brewed, and the resulting concentrate can be kept in the fridge for at least a week before it goes bad.
You get more flavor out of the drip ones too. I saw that the cold version of the drip coffee is pretty convenient since you can make a batch that you can use for a week. It's acidity is lower, you get more flavor since it's a slower brew(overnight), and it's great for people who like iced coffee over hot.
I don't think there's another name for the Clever dripper, per se. There are other "single cup immersion drippers" like this one from Bonavita, but the Clever is probably the best known.
There ARE 2 versions and 2 sizes of the Clever, though. Good comparison of the versions can be found here.
I'm not the best to answer on material - so hopefully someone else chimes in, but... I'd point primarily to the affect on heat. Ceramic is going to hold heat a little better than plastic or metal... but I wouldn't let that alter your decision if you're looking to buy a single cup brewer. u/SirGeekaLot 's run down of filters and taste would be where I would focus while trying to choose one.
Good luck!
I think the Behmor Brazen Plus would fit the bill. The water is heated in the holding reservoir, which is metal. But the thing that holds the filter and grounds is plastic.
I have it, and I love it.
I already have a reputation as a bit of a coffee fiend. If I bought that thing and put it next to my bed than I wonder if the people in my life might start to become a little concerned...
This machine looks really cool and it is kind of a novelty, but it is a bit impractical. I would probably use it pretty consistently for a while and then use it less and less until it is just another thing cluttering up the place.
At any rate, I already have a Cuisinart pot with a timer in the kitchen that I use almost every day. I set it to start making coffee 15 minutes before my alarm goes off and the smell of fresh coffee coming up from the kitchen usually wakes me up before the alarm. I also love my Cuisinart coffee pot. It makes a great cup of coffee and I have had the thing forever.
We've had this one (or the slightly older version of it, I suppose) for 8 years.
Trader Joe's costa rican is amazing as well, but about double the price I believe.
My suggestion:
https://www.amazon.com/Capresso-560-01-Infinity-Grinder-Black/dp/B0000AR7SY/
Along with
https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-Central-DCC-1200-Programmable-Cofeemaker/dp/B00005IBX9/
Or a french press. You'll have awesome coffee to take with you in a thermos every day.
At one point I had this coffeemaker that I bought new from Amazon. Lost it in a move. I've now replaced it after seeing it at Goodwill multiple times for like $5.
But I've also found that Goodwill's prices vary. One store near my work is usually twice as expensive for everything as the one near my house. So that's worth keeping in mind as well -- the pricing is pretty arbitrary.
In the market for a new drip machine. I have this one and hate the shit out of it and it's starting to flake out on me. I don't have $100+ to spend on the only sub-$200 machine I could find on the wiki. This one at $80 was already a lot for what I can afford, and was a disappointment almost the entire time I had it. Need recommendations!
First, the grinder. You want a burr grinder, not a blade grinder. Burr grinders cost more, but are well worth it. They make a very even grind, where a blade grinder just chops up the beans and getting the right grind is impossible. A burr grinder lets you set it for what you're using (course grind for French Press, medium grind for drip maker, fine grind for espresso maker, etc). I have this one.
You can get a nice drip coffee maker if you want to make a pot. You can combine the two like I'm about to do and get a drip coffee maker with a built in burr grinder. I have this one.
If you're looking to make single cups at a time, there are other options like pour over's, Chemex, etc. The key is to grind your beans right before you brew the coffee. Good beans may be the most key ingredient. Companies like Tonx ship fresh roasted beans regularly on a plan, you can go that route. For example they can ship a 12oz bag every two weeks. You get beans that are only a few days roasted. Fresh roasted beans produce the best tasting coffee imaginable.
Check goodwill. I know, I know. It sounds dumb and gross. But I found a Cuisinart DCC-1200 at my local goodwill yesterday for $8.98. I cleaned it with the vinegar method mentioned in the other comment, and it works like a champ.
I just broke my french press and have been looking at getting a vacuum coffee maker as a replacement. Can anyone tell me about how well it works? eg. how long it takes to brew?
EDIT: now in gif form
is there a particular reason there isn't much love for vacuum makers in this subreddit? i've been using the bodum vacuum maker for a while now and love it; however, i have no experience using a chemex or aeropress, so i can't make a comparison. i don't have any intention of switching over anytime soon, but if i'm missing out on something even more wonderful, it'd be awesome to know.
i'm relatively new, so it's possible that i just haven't seen anyone else talking about it much.
edit: i'm using this one
Nm I found it. lol I would have never guessed Vacuum Brew would work.
Bodum Santos Stovetop Glass Vacuum 34-Ounce Coffee Maker
I asked for a Bodum Columbia 8-Cup and I'll probably get a Bodum Chambord 3-cup from my girlfriend's mother. Every time I ask for something I get a lesser version of it. That's why I usually buy my own stuff so I'm never disappointed.
Bodum 1308-16 Columbia 8-Cup Stainless-Steel Thermal Press Pot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005YY9X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_z2WVrAn4iJiLh
I’ve had this one for years now and really happy with it. After breaking two glass French press’ I went looking like you did. Would never go back or give up my Bodum. It also keeps coffee hot
Only issue you might run into is there being enough volume of water to allow for a good steep of the beans. If you have a very large press this could be problematic. If you have a 17 or 34 oz size you'll likely be ok. You can also get very small ones that are only 12 oz that would suit your needs perfectly.
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-French-Press-Coffee/dp/B00008WU9F/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1415024897&sr=1-3&keywords=8+oz+french+press
(all the sizes are specific to Bodum presses - other companies might have slightly different sizes. I don't really know)
Drip
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00005MF9C/ref=psdcmw_602608_t1_B00006IUVD
Provide your own hot water:
Press
https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-French-Press-Coffee/dp/B00008WU9F/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=Bodum+1543-01US+Brazil+French+Press&qid=1572469254&sr=8-2
Pour Over
https://www.amazon.com/Melitta-Coffee-Single-Pour-Over-Brewer/dp/B0014CVEH6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=single+cup+drip+coffee+maker&qid=1572468382&sr=8-1
Frieling Polished 18/10 Stainless Steel French Press, 36 Ounce https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00009ADDS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kyTwCbY9STJJF
I bought this french press by Frieling. I'm sure some of the smaller models would be of the same construction. Let me tell you I don't think this thing is going anywhere. Entirely made of stainless steel, the walls are very well insulated, so coffee stays hot for about 3-4 hours if you want to make more than one cup at a time. It's very easy to clean.
As far as Buy It For life is concerned, you can tell that it is of quality construction. No glass or plastic to break anywhere. There is no give in any of the parts.
Also, this question has been asked a few times before, but I guess not in BIFL with the only request being a French Press. Search for French Press in Goodvalue and Buyitforlife and you'll get some more opinions.
I got my eyes on this beaut.
Frieling Polished Stainless French Press
Cold brew at home is pretty easy to tackle.
There are a number of cold brew contraptions you can buy to ease and simplify the transition between steeping and drinking.
Alternatively, if you own a french press, then the results from that are just as good. Throw the grounds in, add water, plunge after X hours.
General steps:
---------
Resources:
See the comment from /u/dreamer6 - on how to create the vanilla cream and syrup
Blue Bottle - guide and recipe
Stumptown - guide and recipe
NYTimes - blurb article and recipe
If you're buying a present for your husband, just get him a filtron. It's very easy to use and not too expensive. For beans, I like to use a blend. Lately, I've been using Verve's StreetLevel. It's $15 and free shipping. If you don't have a grinder, you can also order it coarsely ground. While its not ideal to order preground, they ship it really quickly and I don't think it makes much of a difference in cold brew.
https://www.amazon.com/Filtron-Water-Coffee-Concentrate-Brewer/dp/B0001GSSIO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473863512&sr=8-1&keywords=filtron+cold+brew+system
https://vervecoffee.com/collections/blends/products/streetlevel-1
Filtron is good as well.
I use the Filtron. 24 hours on course ground medium dark coffee with two quarts of water. Drain then 24 hours on 1qt of water, for a seconds batch.
Here is a thermometer similar to the one I use for siphon brewing for $17. It won't work for home roasting. If you think you might get into that, you will need one that has a higher max temp (500 F+). I haven't bought one yet because I am considering a roast profiling setup which would port to my pc. This is a good grinder at $45. This is the kitchen scale I like for $50 but you might be able to get one for less. The scale only measures down to grams which works fine for this siphon at 40 oz. ($36) but for a smaller siphon you might need a scale that measures down to .1 grams. To summarize, you could get a decent set up for ~$120 or for a roast compatible thermometer ~$145. You will also want a wooden spoon for stirring the coffee in the siphon.
Just so you know, you can find Siphon's in the 50-70 range on amazon. Take the Yama 8 cup for example.
Here you go.
http://www.amazon.com/Northwest-Glass-Stovetop-Vacuum-Coffee/dp/B002CVTKW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377282582&sr=8-1&keywords=coffee+siphon
How about 8 cup Yama Siphon Brewer? Amazon link ;)
Drip cold brew is a different method, and will taste different. This is an expensive version of this
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Drip-Coffee-Maker-8-Cup/dp/B002RL9DW6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_2
heres a cheaper one, smaller.
Careful. You might wind up like me & buy one of these before you realize you've gone too far.
Amazon:
Yama Northwest Glass 32-Ounce Cold Brew Drip Coffee and Tea Maker, Black, $268.00, 3 reviews 4.7 out of 5.0
Cold Drip Coffee and Tea Maker, 8-Cup, $240.57, 4 reviews 5.0 out of 5.0
I don't think you understand what is happening here. This is a cold extraction. They are not doing this because they lost a part or a part broke. They are trying to replacate something similar to this. They are using the aeropress because it holds a filter easily and fits on a mug.
Cold Brewed Coffee done right.
I started getting into coffee nearly a year and a half ago, and here is what I did to start:
I bought
Now, bear in mind that I knew that I loved coffee before I invested all this money into it; you should obviously really consider your situation and really get into "good" coffee before splurging on all of this equipment. I now have a French press, a moka pot, and am going to invest in an Aeropress soon, but I still prefer the pour-over method to any other coffee that I've had, thus why I recommend you go that route. It can take some definite getting used to and has a bit of a learning curve, but it is easily worth the effort (tutorial videos will help immensely.
Keep in mind, you needn't buy exactly what I did. Shop around, see what you like and what is in your price range. I will say this, however: if you do go the pour-over method, go for the V60 or the Chemex, they are both easily the best on the market, and the same goes for the Buono kettle, though if necessary you can purchase a different kettle, just so long as it is a gooseneck (which is required to finely control the flow of water).
Many other people will tell you to go with a French press. This is good advice as it has a very slight learning curve in comparison to pretty much every other method (besides maybe the Aeropress, depending on who you talk to): it is literally grinding the coffee coarsely and letting it sit in water for X-amount of time. It also does not take filters, is easy to clean, and is a relatively cheap initial investment (~$20). I like the Brazil model that Bodum makes.
No matter which method you choose to brew with, there are three things that you should not underestimate the importance of (and thus should not skimp on):
Best of luck. There's a lot of good knowledge on this sub, on this sub's How to Coffee: A Primer, and on the Internet in general. Check it all out, pick your path, and enjoy the ride!
I got this press at Target on black friday for like $15 last year. It's great. I think they make smaller models which run a tad cheaper.
This is the press I have, it's a Bodum.
http://store.starbucks.com/recycled-coffee-press-by-bodum-8-cup/011024657,default,pd.html?start=5&navid=coffee-presses
I got it at Starbucks back when I was just starting to get into coffee. It's awesome, I have had it for over 4.5 years with no problems, it cost $20. It's sold in a lot of places. I also own this Bodum...(and just warning this is going to sound really ridiculously picky)...
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-1-Liter-34-Ounce-Coffeemaker/dp/B004NBYADU
The latter is not my favorite because I can't take apart the filter portion of it like I can in that first one I linked to. I like being able to take the whole thing apart, clean it out nice and get all the grounds out of the filter. Second thing that drives me absolutely crazy is that you can't just nicely line up the filter and cap and plunge down. Because of the way the handle and cap are designed to fit together (http://i.imgur.com/0d1umrj.jpg?1), you have to angle the filter and then line up the nook and THEN plunge down. I don't like having to angle the filters to get it in the body like that. Lastly, I feel like the flat top of the plunger that you have on the first Bodum there gives you greater control over the smoothness of the plunging. This ball on the red on...well...fine, I just don't like how it looks and I'm anti-ball but it just feels like it's not as smooth going down. Anyhow, that's my French Press rant. I would look for a simple design and easy cleaning.
tl/dr get this one... http://store.starbucks.com/recycled-coffee-press-by-bodum-8-cup/011024657,default,pd.html?start=5&navid=coffee-presses
I have a dirt cheap electric hot pot that I've had FOREVER from target:
http://www.amazon.com/Rival-4071-WN-32-Ounce-Express-White/dp/B00006IUXU/ref=sr_1_32?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1369171972&sr=1-32
That, plus a quality french press is all you really need:
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-1-Liter-34-Ounce-Coffeemaker/dp/B004NBYADU/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1369172037&sr=1-2&keywords=bodum+french+press
I have a set up that i love that was only like 50 dollars and makes great coffee.
I have this french press
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-French-Coffee-34-Ounce/dp/B005ADS5FO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1450216508&sr=8-5&keywords=french+press
and this grinder
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Ceramic-Skerton-Storage-Capacity/dp/B001802PIQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450216551&sr=8-1&keywords=coffee+grinder+hario
It is sorta labor intensive but makes way better coffee than most machines that are way more pricey.
Also the key is to have good, fresh beans.
I also have a hario v60 for when i want to make coffee quick.
This one has been great for me for a few years. It is easy to remove the screen for cleaning, and can be found most anywhere for $20-ish.
To answer your question, the strength of your coffee is mostly influenced by how much coffee you're using versus how much water. For a strong cup with your Keurig, go with the setting with the smallest amount of water. The Keurig is by no means the "best" method to make coffee, but it will make coffee. If you decide to get a manual brewer (French press, Aeropress, Kalita Wave, etc.) the brew time has some leeway, but I'd recommend just using more coffee than trying to push the recommended brew time too far. Coffee can/should be strong without being bitter, and keeping the water and coffee together too long will create bitterness.
What follows is everything you need to know about making great coffee. Warning, this may be overwhelming:
and 2) Those are your best bet. Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, you can get an automatic blade grinder if you might have an issue with manual grinding/don't want to drop a lot of money. I will mention that darker roasts are easier to grind manually so there's less worry for your wrist. The problem with blade grinders is you get a bunch of differently sized bits, which makes it more difficult to get consistency and figure out a grind size/brew time you like.I would recommend a French press (1 2 3 4) or Aeropress for someone just getting into coffee. They're much more forgiving than pour-over methods, meaning you're less likely to make a bitter cup. They each have their own drawbacks, too. An Aeropress is easier to clean up, but can only make one cup at a time. A French press takes more time to clean, but can make about 3 cups at a time. (By cups I mean a standard 12-ounce mug.) Definitely get a grinder, too (see above). A scale (1 and 2) is optional but recommended. For beans, seek out a local roaster/coffee shop, but there are tons of online options available, too.
Welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes crazy) world of coffee!
Keurig and Keurig-like brewers are not what I'd consider fast for serving 30. And the cost of those cups add up quick. For what you'd spend on a Keurig you could get an 8-cup french press and a thermal carafe and probably a pound or two of coffee.
If you're dead-set on a Keurig brewer, I'd say craigslist is a good place to start. I've found a few on there for around $60 - 80.
I recently began this journey as well and will tell you that a French Press is a must. It is very affordable and really brings out the difference in coffee.
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-French-Press-Coffee/dp/B005ADS5FO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335823164&sr=8-1
Is the one I have and can also be found at most Targets.
I got a Bodum Brazil. It holds 34 fl. oz and insulates incredibly well. I've had it since May and no problems have come to. I've also had no problems with the ground beans getting through the filter. It's only $20. It may feel a little cheap though cause the handle and base is made of plastic, but the beaker is made of Bodums weird glass stuff that is made to keep things hot/cold, so don't get deceived by the plastic. It is anything but cheap.
Why do you care if the press is mainstream? If it works, it works, and being mainstream only proves its reputation. My families been using Bodum forever and we've never had any problems.
Not 100% sure this belongs here - sorry in advance if it doesn't.
The SCAA-certified Bonavita BV1800 is currently $95.43 on Amazon. I've seen the 5-cup model hit that price range, but AFAIK it's as low as it ever got for the 8-cup variant.
This is the one I have. https://www.amazon.ca/Bonavita-BV1800-8-Cup-Coffee-Carafe/dp/B005YQZT92/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1488238735&sr=8-3&keywords=bonavita
I've been using it for nearly three years and it's been great.
Here's a summary of the good automatic drip machines.
If you can lower the "easy" threshold just a bit and give up the programmable timer feature, you can get very good coffee for under $250. Pick up a $70-$90 burr grinder and the well-reviewed (from the first link) Bonavita machine for $130.
If you want a replacement auto-drip these are SCAA certified. There are also more expensive ones $300-400 range if you are interested.
Bonavita 8 Cup Exceptional Brew Coffee Maker - $125-150
Bunn HG Home Brewer - $90-100
The Bunn has a timer but I'm not sure if the Bonavita does.
Cool, so now we have a better idea what we're working with. I can run through some options/limitations and you can take it from there.
Based on the way you've described her tastes, I think she'd probably do ok with 15-bar pump espresso maker, but avoid 'steam' espresso makers at all costs. In the first instance you're making something that doesn't have all the glory of a truly great espresso, in the second case you're making something that shouldn't really be called espresso at all.
Anyway, I hope this is somewhat helpful.
Interesting. How would you compare it to http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1800-8-Cup-Coffee-Carafe/dp/B005YQZT92
I didn't want to do chemex or French press. Did a lot of research on /r/coffee and found the Bonavita to be the only "drip" that equally disperses water like a shower head and heats up to the correct temperature.
I think there really is limited options here.
From experience, after about 7-8 days, the quality drops off a bit. By 10-12 days, I think there's a noticeable loss of flavor.
At the risk of sending you down a dangerous rabbit hole, this dripper is what I use with the OEM filters. When I'm on travel/vacation, I grind with the Hario mini which produces a nice, consistent grind (as inexpensive grinders go). AT 10-11 clicks out from the finest setting it will take about 2 minutes to grind 15-17 grams (enough for 350-400ml of water, and faster than said water will boil in a typical microwave).
If you batch your beans into zip-lok baggies (~1 weeks worth each) you can freeze them and they will easily hold for a month.
Other roasters of note in the area include Red Rooster (in Floyd) and ones who's name I can't remember in Draper - Sugar Magnolia on main sells the latter. Both are more expensive (those two ~$16-18/12oz) than Mill Mountain ($13-15/16 oz) and I've not found them "better". Then again, I'm not a big fan of modern, fruity/acidic coffee.
V60 Personally I'd get the glass or ceramic one, but they are a bit more.
Filters
Gooseneck kettle with thermometer Warning, I don't have this personally, but it does have good reviews. There are a number of gooseneck kettles on amazon to choose from.
There's a Hario Skerton for $15 used in excellent condition right now
Total=$55.38 Slightly more if you miss out on the Skerton. Beans extra of course. You could make do with whatever kettle you currently have but the gooseneck makes things exponentially easier. Something you could always save for though.
IDK what you're looking for taste wise for beans, but I like Red Bird for reasonably priced coffees that are extremely tasty.
Here is what I would get
That comes to ~$75 for your everything including your first 1.5 weeks of beans.
Both will be about the same, neither will be any good. the first steps to a good cup require three main things:
tl;dr the things you should do to up your coffee game the first level (in the order you should do them) are: 1. Find a new brewing method 2. Buy better beans 3. Get a grinder
Aeropress or V60(Need to buy filters for both but they aren't expensive) and a Hario Mini Mill . Cheapest methods but make extremely high quality coffee.
This one :)
Hario V60 500ml
I personally like V60 + their 600ml carafe - its very versatile ( v60 on single glass, aero press on that carafe etc).
There is also all in one option, kind of like chemex: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Drip-Coffee-Decanter-700ml/dp/B00755F9Z4
Fellow stag has a nice pour over kit (single glass?): https://www.amazon.com/Pour-Over-Brewing-Dripper-Tasting-filters/dp/B0764XLSLS
I use my Hario pourover to make Japanese iced coffee.
54g of coffee, 283g (10 oz.) of ice in the bottom, pour 566g of water (20 oz.) over it. The coffee will be perfect concentration at just slightly cool. You can add a couple more cubes of ice and drink right away or toss it in the fridge and let it cool some more.
You can get the plastic V60 from a regular source for close to the same price if you look around, so I wouldn't buy one from aliexpress. For a similar price, you could actually get the V60 Drip Decanter (http://amzn.com/B00755F9Z4) for ~$20 and it's a complete V60 and decanter set. It's what I use and I love it.
Does anyone have thoughts on how this compares to the Hario VDD-02B Drip Decanter (http://amzn.com/B00755F9Z4)?
Just going to plug this here: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009PLQ5H2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Got it to replace my original keurig and it's very nice. Support pods
& loose grounds. Only complaint is that with short glasses it has a bit of spray at the end of the stream.
Like this?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AV1E0GI
or this?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004S9G8
I'd recommend a used Gaggia Classic.
Or, since it's at the office and you probably aren't looking for expensive quality, the ROK might work for what you are looking for.
I can't speak to the quality but the Rok Presso is basically a cheaper hand pump machine. Although it lacks the heat source and a steam wand supposedly it can pull an actual shot.
Manual lever espresso machines have been around for a very long time.
Some newer iterations you add the water manually (1), (2).
There are a plethora (3) of machines that have the boiler and sometimes a steam-wand built in. There are even new 5-figure versions still being introduced (4).
However, if you want to make your own, that would be an exciting challenge. I have seen a few cross-sections of machines that should get your brain off to the races (5), (6).
I received this stainless steel press from Amazon a few years ago as a gift and it’s held up great.
I like stainless vs glass as it stays hot much longer.
Lots to discuss here.
Knives: those knives look nice, but I recommend you go to a kitchen store and actually try knives before you decide. Handles are really important, and what works for one person might not work for another. You can go to WS or SLT and try knives to your heart's content.
Don't know anything about that particular cookware, but I notice there's no skillet in the set: perhaps you want to buy a skillet separately? Which is a smart move, IMO. The skillet will likely get the most use and the hardest use, so spend some money on a good one. Cuisinart MC Pro and Tramontina are almost as good as All-Clad for less money, or if you want to go top of the line get a Demeyere Proline skillet. You won't regret the investment if you want the good stuff, I promise!
Nonstick: love Vollrath, but hate the silocone handle on that skillet. A T-fal is going to last just as long for a little less money, or you can get a set of 2 All Clad cast aluminum pans for less than $60 (a great deal!).
sous vide: I have the Anova but if I had to do it over I would get the Joule all the way. Head and shoulders a better product! All the accessories? Eh. I use a big stockpot and it's worked for pretty much everything. Not sure you need a dedicated sous vide tub, and think of the storage space you'll need for it.
Coffee: my coffee maker broke 15 years ago and I've been making French press ever since. It's way better, and no coffee maker out on the counter. I have this guy after breaking a few glass ones. It's lasted for about 5 years now and going strong. Almost as good as espresso at a fraction of the work!
Immersion blender: You have to be really careful here. The cheaper ones have plastic gears and won't last. Even some of the higher-priced ones are questionable (Breville? All-Clad?). I recently bought a Bamix, the original immersion blender, Swiss made, built like a tank. Read the reviews, you'll see what I mean.
Also would get a good blender: I have a Blendtec, never regretted it.
Electric pressure cooker: TBH I would get a stovetop. They're better quality (Kuhn Rikon or Fissler all they way) and so much more pleasurable to use.
I love that you want the good quality stuff! Good tools make all the difference in the kitchen. You don't have to go top of the line on everything but what I've mentioned here I've found have made my life so much easier. Have you considered a vacuum sealer? It's the dark horse kitchen appliance that I never would have thought I needed, but I got it when I got the sous vide and it has saved hundreds if not thousands in less wasted food.
Have fun stocking your new kitchen!
I had a similar problem at one point. You might not be so eager to fix this problem that you buy a new French press but a few months ago I got a stainless steel one (insulated) and it made all the difference.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JE36GLQ/ref=sxts1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488200987&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65
It's sometimes still too hot to drink after 4 minutes of steeping and blending. Added benefit of not being so fragile. I've broken my last 3 that were made of glass. This thing is super sturdy.
My sis got me the OXO one for my birthday last year. It works pretty great actually. It's just pretty tall and I guess my little guy didn't like the look of it.
I just got an oxo cold brew and its really easy and less mess. I was using a nut bag but still ended up filtering it afterwards. Here is the link to it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVSVM36/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UBCzxbXVZN5J9
I have [this] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVSVM36/ref=psdc_289745_t1_B004EBUZ1A) one and its a rather good cold brew. Doesn't break the bank either.
How do you like the cold brewer? I use this one
Also, go Clippers.
Immersion brewing with paper filters is my preferred way to make coffee. You get the longer extraction of immersion methods with the cleanness of a paper filtered method. You can also make a lot more coffee than you can with an Aeropress.
Here are two good devices for this:
https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Wide-Porcelain-Immersion-Dripper/dp/B00MFJX7P4/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=bonavita+dripper&qid=1549779370&s=gateway&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/Clever-Coffee-Dripper-CoastLine-Large/dp/B014JVOWB8/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=bonavita+dripper&qid=1549779395&s=gateway&sr=8-6
There is no "one device immersion / filter" device like the Clever in glass/ metal or ceramic. I am not sure that the design of the mechanism would be possible in those materials at a price that people would be willing to pay. There is the Bonavita BV4000ID. It does use a silicone gasket incase you have any concerns about that material.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MFJX7P4/ref=dp_cerb_3
https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV4000ID-Porcelain-Immersion-Dripper/dp/B00C0NZWT4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
While not as compact or easy, if you like the immersion brewing taste combined with a paper filter removing oils and sediments (ie no French press), then you will need to go two step. For example go is use a glass carafe (I would actually use a French press...) that you immerse the grounds into the hot water for the desired time, then pour through whatever filter with a glass/metal/ceramic filter holder, like the porcelain Melitta you that mynameisjonas posted, or a Beehouse Ceramic, Kalita, Zero, Hario glass/metal/ceramic, Chemix, etc.
I was using a Keurig before, and just recently got a Clever Dripper, and I really do enjoy it. I am now in the process of looking for better beans, and a grinder to use with the Clever. The Clever I think is a good gateway into this coffee addiction, and it is not very expensive. I even got a new variable water boiler (which cost more than the Clever haha).
If you are not about the plastic coffee dripper life Bonavita also makes a product that is similar to the Clever dripper.
I am also looking at getting the Hario grinder, but the Skerton.
So, I am going to be the dissenting opinion, and suggest you get the Behmor Brazen Plus.
See here:
https://www.thecoffeeconcierge.net/behmor-brazen-plus-coffee-maker-review/
https://www.thecoffeeconcierge.net/coffee-maker-showdown-004-behmor-brazen-plus-vs-bonavita-bv1900ts/
The OXO On is a great coffee maker which I think would probably make coffee that both you and your wife would enjoy. It regulates the temperature of the water so you don't burn the coffee and it's very easy to use.
Here is the desktop version of your link
After much searching and reading and reviewing, I chose this one. We've had it for 2 years, and loved it every day.
We got this coffee maker about a year ago...
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-DCC-1200-Central-Coffeemaker-Stainless/dp/B00005IBX9
It's easy to program and has a water filter (like a Brita) built into it. It's a nice machine. It's not the most expensive, but was expensive to us. (limited budget)
It's a lot cheaper than our trips to the coffee shop though. Now we just buy about 2 pounds a week on Tuesday, the day our local roaster roasts.
I also invested in a really nice thermos.
The coffee they make here at work is AWFUL.
I'm currently a fan of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's French Roast. I picked up a small bag at the grocery store, enjoyed it, then stumbled across the much larger bag at Costco.
It seems to be a hit with others, as well, as it's the only coffee I've made for people that they asked about what it was.
I've made it in both drip and french press. I'm still getting the hang of my french press, so the drip is more consistent, but both are good.
Price History
There are a ton of great ways to brew coffee, but sadly a drip machine is probably not among them unless you're willing to fork over the dough for a Bunn or similarly well-designed machine. If you find that your coffee is bitter it's probably because you're brewing too long or your water is way too hot.
A french press is my go-to methond, but my favorite sexy way to brew coffee is with one of these. It's science so you know it has to be good.
And because it can never be said enough: 1. Do not freeze/refrigerate your beans. Ever. 2. Do not use flavored coffee beans in anything that will ever be used for unflavored coffee again. The flavor oils get everywhere, and they will get rank over time.
I only watched parts... But don't see how this is all that different from a method that has been used for decades: Bodum Pebo Vacuum Coffee Maker, 8 cup, 1.0 l, 34 oz., Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005NCX5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_f4ksxbTJW4P34
It really makes good coffee. My parents had a classic Danish Bodum Santos since the Eighties, and I have had one for fifteen years now or so.
Making coffee with it really doesn't have to be as … elaborate as shown in the video. Due to its design, the water seems to hit the coffee at a very good temperature and it produces a very nice and mellow flavor. Just make sure you have a rather rough grind, and the rest is almost fire and forget.
This is the one my wife got me. Just has two cups this morning (Illy)...best coffee ever.
Vacuum Coffee Maker
Anyone ever use The Santos?
I was looking at this just now https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Vacuum-Coffee-Maker-Black/dp/B00005NCX5 looks pretty tasty
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Santos-Stovetop-Vacuum-34-Ounce/dp/B00005NCX5
I still want one of these
i would imagine it might pull with less acid and if the filter is good less sediment than french so ima go smoother less gritty less acidic cup compared to french i mean it should be close to a Moka pot which to me is a similar method using Bernoulli's principle of fluid dynamics using heat to produce a pressure change and then taking away said heat but ya know coffee is about consistency if your timing is the same and temp the same on your french press you can just get different beans to change your cup but learning all the ways is good too if you wanna try it at home https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Vacuum-Coffee-Maker-Black/dp/B00005NCX5
i love coffee, but don't drink it quite as often as i used to, probably bc i work at bucks and am kind of bored with it :D i am actually a big tea drinker now. i black teas like earl grey and irish breakfast. my favorite coffee drink would have to be just a simple iced coffee with lots of cream and some sort of sweetener. i love the gingerbread syrup bucks gets in the winter. my favorite way to make coffee is via my coffee press. it's so simple and really tastes the best. i've always wanted to try the glass vacuum coffee makers--one of my friend's aunts had one and i was amazed--but they're too pricey for my light coffee habit.
I've had a this Bodum for about 18 years, still going.
First they came for the Percolators, and I did not speak out because I used a French Press.
Seriously though, get one of these. So awesome.
We use a stainless steel Bodum for travel and even for camping. It's very heavy-duty and very easy to clean. :)
I’ve had this Bodum stainless steel one for 8 years, and my sister has had hers for 15 or so: https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Columbia-Thermal-French-Stainless/dp/B00005YY9X
I can’t see the body itself breaking. The seal might need to be replaced eventually, but you can just twist it off. Phenomenal and sturdy.
Oh, I can answer this one beautifully!
We used to use pour over coffee, one cup at a time. It took forever and was awful.
Do they have an inverter capable of up to 2000 watts? If so, read on!! If not, ignore my idea.....
So if they have an inverter, get them two things. First, this guy:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003KYSLNQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This thing is beautiful. Gets water to the perfect temp in just a few minutes, and saves tons of propane vs conventional heating. If they cruise in the tropics they will appreciate the savings on heating the cabin.
Second, get em this dude:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005YY9X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=305DG4O1W7U4L&coliid=IYQ052FWO4QF9&psc=1
It is insulated, keeps coffee hot for a crazy long time, and its rugged stainless construction keeps them from having to have filters on hand!!!
All this results in coffee made effectively and efficiently at the cheap price of like 15 aH. give or take, depending on their battery bank.
I got this about a year ago and have had no problems:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QAGS9EW
The paper filters do pretty much eliminate sediment, but it's still pretty minimal with the stainless filter. Both make excellent coffee, but I think the paper filters do take some of the natural oils out. I prefer either filter over using my French press (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00005YY9X/)
This 8 Cup Bodum Columbia is the Americas Test Kitchen pick.
There is a great Bodum 12 oz French press that I use to make single cups of coffee (about 10 oz water, 2 or 2 1/2 tbsp of coffee)
https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-BRAZIL-Coffee-Maker-French/dp/B00008WU9F
this little bad boy -
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-French-Press-Coffee/dp/B00008WU9F/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1408103043&sr=8-14&keywords=bodum+small+french+press
Cómprate una prensa francesa, fácil de usar y de limpiar.
Bodum has a nifty 3-cup (12oz) French Press. Good enough for a healthy sized mug.
Chambord version
Brazil version
Regarding the Chemex, I've never had a chance to use the metal filters unfortunately, but I've heard good things about the Able Kone, pricey as it is.
It's a small 3-cup Bodum french press. Perfect for storing in my desk at work.
I've had success with a Tea Stick while travelling. You can also use a 12oz French Press for tea in a pinch. The hardest part is TSA flagging your tea when they check your bags. Gunpowder green tea makes them freak.
This All-in-one Travel Tea Mug looks promising.
Basic technique including my favorite beans:
beans
grinder
french press
boil 3.5 cups water.
fill grinder even with top and grind. just a few seconds. Don't powder it. pour in french press.
pour water over ground beans, stir, put the lid on but don't plunge.
After four minutes, plunge.
Heaven.
Seconding the French press idea. You can get French presses of different sizes and use it to make different amounts.
I have this one and would recommend it.
What's your budget? Are you looking for a drip coffee maker?
I took the plunge recently and got a bodum French press (3cup) for $17 at the local box store, but you can get it on amazon for http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-French-Press-Coffee/dp/B00008WU9F
I must say the French press is a enjoyable way to make coffee. And done right the coffee is superb!
Here is one.
http://www.amazon.com/Frieling-Ultimo-Stainless-Steel-French-35-ounce/dp/B00009ADDS/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1315422480&sr=1-1
I've had this one ( http://www.amazon.com/Frieling-Polished-Stainless-French-42-Ounce/dp/B00009ADDS ) for about 6 years and it's been wonderful. I also have a glass Bodum that I haven't broken in 4 years.
YES to French presses. There's something so relaxing taking 5 minutes every morning to make sure the water is at the perfect temperature and then pressing that plunger down slowly.
But do get a good metal press pot! I went through 3 bodum glass French presses before I bit the bullet and got this one: http://www.amazon.com/Frieling-Polished-Stainless-Steel-French/dp/B00009ADDS/ . After 8 years and 4 continents, my French press is still going strong. I take the plunger apart every day to scrub out the mesh screen and none of the wires have broken or come loose.
I think my French press will outlive me.
I use a Filtron Brewer
I would strongly recommend investing in a cold brewer if it's your favorite method. There are a few available but I use a Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001GSSIO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_P7Eqzb5CJZ9VN.
Best cold brew I ever had by a wide margin. One benefit is because it's a concentrate you can mix yours with less water if you like it stronger and your SO can mix with more water.
The below is the page that sold me on it.
https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/brew-guides/filtron
I love my filtron. It's worth a look. https://www.amazon.com/Filtron-Water-Coffee-Concentrate-Brewer/dp/B0001GSSIO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1483010878&sr=8-3&keywords=filtron
I'd like to add a siphon brewer into the mix. To me, this is the best of both worlds. While I do enjoy a good cup of french press once in a while, it is typically a lot thicker than your standard drip coffee. On the other hand, drip makers offer little in the way of control, and you tend to end up with something weak and thin. With a siphon brewer, you get both the control and a cup of coffee that really has a full body. You have to play around a bit to get the feel for how to do it just right, but you need to do that with a french press as well.
Others might say Chemex is another option for a good compromise, but I've never used one, so I don't know. When I want to make coffee for my wife and I on the weekend, I always go to the siphon pot. Well, until I broke it the other day, but the replacement is coming soon.
PROTIP - don't keep the stove on high after the water has moved to the top part of the device. Turn it to low or off. I kept it on high, smelled burning glass, then removed it quickly only to lose the entire bottom portion of the pot. This can happen on a drip machine as well if you keep it on for too long with nothing in the pot.
You can get a vacuum brewer cheaper than many automatic coffee machines http://www.amazon.com/Yama-Glass-Stovetop-Coffee-Siphon/dp/B002CVTKW4
$46
anybody know where to get that actual vacuum/siphon coffee maker? because they sell them for a lot less than OP posted: link but none of them ever look the same
look at a coffee syphon. They make some bad ass coffee and with experience you can tweak the strength, mix and temperature with this baby. makes EXCELLENT coffee. makes a french press seem like a mere coffee maker.
http://www.amazon.com/Glass-Stovetop-Coffee-Siphon-Syphon/dp/B002CVTKW4/ref=pd_bxgy_k_img_z
I forgot. You can make siphon coffee on a stove top. I didn't think of this because I have an induction cook top and can't use this unless I have an induction plate to cook with non metal materials. Plus, an open flame looks better =)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002CVTKW4/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
It's very finicky and I suggest you do alot of research, use good coffee, use the right grind, timing and patience to get it right. The coffee also changes flavor as it cools. It's great.
Let me know what you end up doing. Keep me posted =)
I like cold drip personally. Give something like this a try if you're looking to use higher end coffees for something with a cleaner sweeter more delicate flavor. Toddy extractions can make great coffee taste brackish, malty and plain. I have something like this and love it.
Thank you for pointing that out. I didn't catch that earlier. I have a hario hand grinder and bonavita gooseneck kettle.
Is this what you're talking about? www.amazon.com/Cold-Drip-Coffee-Maker-8-Cup/dp/B002RL9DW6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370400757&sr=8-2&keywords=yama+drip
You could DIY a Kyoto drip iced coffee machine to be XTra tall.
So take the glass from an existing drip coffee device ( https://www.amazon.com/Yama-Glass-Maker-Curved-Brown/dp/B002RL9DW6 )
But then redo the structure to be 7 feet tall. Stand on a ladder, to make a cup of coffee that is sitting on the floor.
A custom/handmade version of the Japanese cold drip towers. Cold brew is one of my favorite brewing methods for coffee, and cold drip is a whole other level! Not sure if I could use it for tea, but I am so happy to receive this (the drip tower had a permanent spot in my cart, but I knew I could never justify buying it). I really love homemade gifts.
I gifted myself a pour-over coffee maker; I think it's better suited for tea since the metal filter is small enough for tea. The metal filter is too large on its own for coffee, and with a paper filter, still wasn't ideal. The 8-cup is on sale for $20 and the 6-cup is on sale for $15. Not too bad for that price for a pretty carafe and a metal filter that works both in-carafe and in-mug.
I've got a french press, but I really want to pick up one of these someday. It looks so damn cool. Like what a mad scientist would use.
A coffee shop near work has the Kyoto
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002RL9DW6/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
The cold brew that comes out of there is nice and smooth, and super powerful. When I have more kitchen space I'd also like to build one.
Granted the press isn't all that special, but it works just like any other and that's what matters if you're on a tight budget. However, if you're lucky enough to still have cash to spend after the grinder, French Presses by Bodum are typically the best way to go.
Plus generally, and you'll hear this a lot on this sub, but grinders (and grind quality) are as important if not more important than the brew method.
I posted the wrong press, my bad, right one is this
Yes! I'm in college and have no cash. I used to use a Capresso electric grinder but that broke so I'm grabbing a Hario Mini Mill soon, only like $30-$40 - link
I also use a French Press, $20 or so - link
And I have an electric kettle with built-in thermometer, about $20 - link
Eight O'Clock beans are like, $4 from Target. If you have a Trader Joes nearby, they're also a good source of cheap beans.
All in all, I've spent maybe $80 on coffee equipment to make a pretty damn good cup on a college budget, while maintaining some portability.
These are popular
It's also worth looking into the aeropress, I prefer mine over a french press.
Here's a 34-oz Bodum Brazil for $17.79 on Amazon right now.
Perhaps a set of stemless wine glasses or a French Press for her new place.
She might also like a fitness tracker!
I have this one from Bodum.
It's cheap, sturdy, and the retaining vessel is made of glass (I like this better than the more durable stainless steel). Over about two years of use, the integrity of the filter has not diminished at all, and I get no grounds finding their way into the cup.
Can't really go wrong imho.
Well this is gonna get kinda long and will only scratch the surface but I'll break down the pros and cons of some of the most popular entry-level gear in as un-confusing of a way as I can. First up, let's look at grinders.
First off, you want a burr grinder, particularly a conical burr grinder because those blender-y blade grinders they sell at wal-mart for $5 don't get any kind of a consistent grind. Varying sizes in a grind means varying levels of extraction in the cup and that means off flavors. Because burr grinders are more expensive, hand crank conical burr grinders are commonly recommended to beginners because of their lower price point compared to similar quality electrics. They're cheap and work well but do have some drawbacks beyond the extra effort involved in grinding. First, most of them don't have actual grind settings and you adjust the grind size by twisting a wheel until it looks as fine/coarse as you want it to. If you use different brew methods and switch grind size a lot, this can be a bit of a pain. Second, most hand grinders aren't ideal for french press because of the way the burrs are stabilized; they'll give fantastic fine/medium grinds but the coarse grind is a tad inconsistent. That said, I use a hand grinder for french press all the time and am relatively happy with the results. A few common ones are:
The Hario Skerton. I personally have one and love it. As I said, not perfect for french press but it's a durable daily driver that never lets me down and can do an espresso grind damn near as well as a $300 baratza
The hario mini is essentially the same grinder in a different, smaller package. Perfect for travel
The porlex JP-30 is a tad more expensive but has grind settings that, while unmarked, do "click" into place making adjusting grind coarseness a bit easier
If you wanted to go the electric route, I've seen refurbished Baratza encore grinders for around $100. This will give you a mediocre espresso grind but a perfect and much easier drip and french press grind
Next up: preparation methods
French presses use a metal mesh filter, which gives you all of the oils in the cup and lets a tiny bit of really fine coffee solids through, which gives the cup a rich, full-bodied, velvety character They're also very easy to use as there's pretty much one accepted way to brew in them. And here's Philly's own Todd Carmichael demonstrating it. As far as which one to buy, they're all pretty much the same: a glass tube with a stick in it and some mesh on the end of the stick. I like my sterlingpro a lot but the bodum chambord is hugely popular and looks just as nice. Even a cheapo will do the job just as well, though, even if it doesn't look as nice.
pourovers do essentially the same thing as a drip coffee machine just with a lot more input from you, which is good because all but the most ludicrously expensive drip machines are very inconsistent and don't work as well as just doing it your own damn self. With a pourover, you're going to use a kettle or measuring cup with a spout to pour the water over the grounds in a set amount of time (3-4 minutes depending on the grind size) and usually in a very specific manner. Because these use a paper filter, there are no oils or insoluble solids in the cup so the coffee is clearer, tastes cleaner and usually a bit brighter than french press coffee. Popular models include the Hario v60 which is one of the more finicky models. If you decide on one of these, be sure to use a gooseneck kettle like Mr. Carmichael was using in the french press video above. Slightly more forgiving are the kalita wave and the melitta both of which would work fine with a normal kettle so long as it has some type of pour spout. If you want something with very thick filters, so as to produce a very clear cup, and also looks very nice, the chemex is a beautiful thing that produces great coffee, has a built-in carafe, and can make more than one cup at a time. Really more of a replacement for a large-volume drip machine than most pourovers.
The Aeropress is an absurdly popular, extremely versatile, and very well priced coffee brewer which is essentially a huge syringe with a paper filter instead of a needle. There's a thousand recipes online with different ways to use it, all of which produce a different cup.
Also worth noting is that you may want a kettle with temperature control, coffee should be brewed at 195-205F, so knowing what temp your water is helps reduce a lot of the headaches of cooling off boiled water for a vague amount of time. This bonavita is a little on the pricey side but has temp control and a gooseneck, which is always useful
so does anyone have one of these or have any insight? considering pulling the trigger at $129.
edit: glass carafe version is only $149 on amazon so this isn't an insane deal
They also make a glass carafe version of that, but it looks like in this video they're only considering the insulated ones. I prefer a glass carafe with heater because I despise coffee that's less than hot and I sometimes drink it over a long period of time.
http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1800-8-Cup-Coffee-Carafe/dp/B005YQZT92
yeah, but as a certifiable coffee snob I feel obligated to point out that the most common kind of coffee maker is not very good at its job in the price range most people expect to pay. Here's mine.
Coffee is awesome. I need more.
I've heard the Technivorms are among the best, but also some of the most expensive. I've got a Bonavita on the way (birthday gift next weekend!) which is sort of the cheaper version of the technivorm. I asked this exact question on Metafilter a few months ago, here is that thread. In it someone linked to a video breakdown of drip coffeepots from America's Test Kitchen, and one of the most important factors they brought up was a 1400W power supply to heat the water to the correct temperature. Basically, most home pots don't get the water hot enough, nor do they maintain the temperature with any kind of steadiness, which results in crummy coffee. The one that DOES that, was the Technivorm (or, like I said, the cheaper Bonavita), both of them have 1400W heating elements to get the water at the right temp. I'll let you know how the Bonavita works out for me.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005YQZT92?pc_redir=1408028574&robot_redir=1
Check that out.
I doubt I would have agreed with this comment so much a year ago. But, then I bought the Bonavita (basically this with a glass carafe). And, I use the scoop from my Aeropress - 1 scoop of finely ground coffee for each cup I'm making.
I finally have strong coffee at home that is easy to make.
It's made all the difference!
Have you tried one of these? This thing
Just buy a plastic cone, a grinder, and #4 filters. Buy beans in bulk and make coffee at the cheapest and best rate.
It is the cheapest and best quality/taste/speed/temperature/bother ratio
I would suggest a plastic v60 for $8 would be a better next choice.
Hario Decanter
Able Kone filter
You're comparing something that uses cloth filters (Drip pot) and paper filters(Chemex). What is better is entirely up to you, but cloth filters typically allow more oils through than paper filters.
Other person already confirmed, the V60 and Chemex are more easy to compare. I know you said you don't like the look of it aesthetically, but maybe the decanter would be more up your alley.
If you're looking for other options, Hario offers a V60 dripper / decanter for a bit less. That's what I use and I like it. You'll have to get some Hario number 2 filters as well.
I saw that too. Heads up, it's a lightning deal today for $19.99
Hario V60 decanter!
https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Decanter-Coffee-Maker-700ml/dp/B00755F9Z4
I have shattered one into a pile of shards at the bottom of the kitchen sink. At least yours is still recognizable.
Get the least expensive V60 and give it a go. You can always go back to the Chemex if you do not like the way the V60 works. I have both and they are a bit different in the way the coffee tastes. Thicker filters on the Chemex might be the cause. Chemex makes more coffee if your sharing a cup.
I have this V60. Not sure it is available in the UK.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00755F9Z4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks. Leaning towards this V60-02 setup. Seems like a good cheap option.
Having never done pourover, is it tough to do two cups at once? It seems I still need to maintain the same brewing time if doing multiple cups from what I've read.
I don't keep up with coffee maker news but I think it was just the keurig 2.0 that had DRM. We have an older model without any drm crap.
If this one ever dies I'm going to get this one:
https://www.amazon.com/BUNN-MCU-Single-Multi-Use-Coffee/dp/B009PLQ5H2
I don't buy kcups anyway. I prefer my coffee fresh and we have a huge variety of locally roasted coffee.
Where in the article does it say that?
Nowhere, it doesn't even imply that. Even the two articles this article references don't say that.
Here's an official Keurig self-refill cup (http://www.amazon.ca/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393870244&sr=8-1&keywords=keurig+cup)
All this means is that the Keurig machines will no longer brew unlicensed single-serve cups.
It would be absolutely stupid of them to remove the self-refill option when every single one of their competitors has it.
Nothing stops them, Bunn is already doing it. http://www.amazon.com/MCU-Single-Multi-Use-Coffee-Brewer/dp/B009PLQ5H2
I'm sure a 2.0 version is in the works.
We got my daughter a Bunn MCU for her dorm room a couple years ago. She really likes it. It has a stainless steel water tank that heats the water before making your coffee, tea, or hot water (soup cups anyone?). It has 4 Interchangeable Drawers: Cup Drawer, Ground Coffee Drawer, Pod Drawer, Hot Water Drawer. so it's pretty flexible.
http://www.amazon.com/MCU-Single-Multi-Use-Coffee-Brewer/dp/B009PLQ5H2/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1419082503&sr=1-3&keywords=bunn+coffee+maker
It's more money than the Hamilton Beach's you were looking at though.
Such as the Nescafe Dolce Gusto or Bosch Tassimo. Or this versatile Bunn that takes several different single serve pods.
If you want a little more versatility I have a Bunn MCU I purchased for my morning rush out of the door coffee.
It uses "drawers" and allows single brewing for Kcups, pods, tea and ground coffee. I gave away my Keurig after purchasing it because it is super fast since it keeps a reservoir of water preheated. Clean up can be a little bit more involved that Keurig if you use ground coffee but it allows for a lot more selection and taste better. Really, it isn't much more than rinsing out the brew drawer but that is more clean up than Keurig. Here is a link to it on Amazon.
*edited to remove Keurig. It made no sense to recommend it and then go on about what I replaced it with :)
I don't know your budget, but I would look into a Bunn MCU. I'd stay away from espresso machines unless your mother is already grinding her own beans with a high dollar grinder. https://www.amazon.com/MCU-Single-Multi-Use-Coffee-Brewer/dp/B009PLQ5H2
The great thing about the MCU is it comes with a lot of accessories that allows for brewing grinds, k-cups, and pods. The negative is it's single server, but the quality of coffee is generally better if you make it one cup at a time.
Having used multiple K-Cup compatible brewers, I feel very confident in this recommendation.
Go with the Bunn MyCafe MCU. It's cheaper than other single-serve brewers that make K-Cup coffee, and it also has interchangeable brewheads, also allowing you to brew a single cup from fresh grounds, a pod, or a tea bag. Very rugged, high-quality build from a trusted brand, and you can get it for $128 on Amazon.
I love the Bunn Mcu. If you only need one cup at a time, that would be my recommendation. I use one at the office and you can get a good cup of coffee in ~5mins including loading the ground coffee drawer. If you find yourself in a real rush, you also have the option of pods.
I have not bought this yet because my old keurig is still going strong, but it's what I will buy in the future. Fuck Keurig for even making that decision in the first place.
I have used several hand operated espresso devices and none of them have been worth the time you invest in both brewing coffee with it, or the clean up afterward. To get anything of quality you really need to spend a bit of cash, even if the device you are using is completely manual. I haven't used it yet, but when I get the funds I plan on purchasing the Rok espresso maker.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AV1E0GI
For your grinder, I recommend getting a hand grinder if you don't want to spend $100+ on an adjustable coffee grinder. I have been using something like what I linked below, which can go fine enough of a grind to even do turkish coffee.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D44AX1O
Honestly, I'd skip it unless you need something really light/portable. I much prefer a French press, and I have both.
I use the aero rarely, really only when I want a small cup.
I got this for my birthday, I love it for espresso.
http://www.amazon.com/ROK-Presso-Manual-Espresso-Maker/dp/B00AV1E0GI
http://www.amazon.com/GSI-Outdoors-JavaMill/dp/B00KZ88O6Y
Just heat, not boil, the water.
> Comes with 10-year warranty certificate
> No Electricity Needed to Brew
Sales page
Le design est pas degueu par contre faudra investir dans un moulin aussi
I’ve just got to put this here. I love my Secura French press.
https://www.amazon.ca/Secura-Stainless-French-Coffee-Screen/dp/B00JE36GLQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=secura+french+press&qid=1569171997&s=gateway&sprefix=secura+fre&sr=8-3
I use this aluminum one for durability after I accidentally broke a glass one. Super durable and works well.
Two small touches of luxury I own and appreciate are my French Press and Coffee Grinder. Being able to buy a bag of whole coffee beans from a local roaster and give them a proper grind and brew is a great way to star my mornings.
I use a Baratza Encore Grinder - a often recommended grinder from /r/Coffee and they can be found refurbished from the manufacturer themselves occasionally if the price is a tad much.
As far as the French Press itself - I use this one. Doesn't look too fancy, but its insulated well enough that I don't have to rush drinking my coffee before it gets too cold.
hi I am completely new to this, spent a while researching yesterday and found that for my price point, french press would be the best start for me. I am looking at all my options on amazon, and i am looking at the ones around the 20-30 dollar range. will there be a big difference in quality from press to press? And also, I am looking at coffee grinders at around the same price range, and was wondering what would be the best and if manual is fine for what I need, since those are cheaper.
example combo of what i am considering:
[press](
https://www.amazon.com/Secura-Stainless-French-Coffee-Screen/dp/B00JE36GLQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1496434282&sr=8-4&keywords=french+press)
grinder
please make any adjustments to these 2, as long as it totals to not more than ~50 usd
I guess if you had a hammer and some time you could break this one. Best French Press I’ve ever owned.
Secura Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker 18/10 Bonus Stainless Steel Screen (1000ML) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JE36GLQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mTRTAb84THSMS
I got this one. Many sellers seem to be offering the model under their own brand names (white label). https://www.amazon.com/Secura-Stainless-French-Coffee-Screen/dp/B00JE36GLQ
There are some very affordable burr grinders out there, and it's worth the investment. You'll use it pretty much everyday. Hand grinders can be very cheap, and work great. Hario Skerton is a popular choice (I've seen it around for cheaper, but this is at least what's on amazon). Plenty of options, all varying in price. There's a pretty decent burr grinder from Kona I've used before, which I got for like $20.
But manual grinding can take some time. And if you're like me, and you want some quick coffee in the morning, then it's worth investing in an electric. There are some pretty decent electric burr grinders out there. You really don't have to pay a fortune. Here are a few cheap options:
Capresso Infinity
Bodum Bistro
Baratza Encore
But you can get far snobbier than just grind...
What kind of water are you using? Hopefully filtered, not tap. And definitely not distilled, since you want some of those minerals for flavor. Now, if you want to get even fancier, try using these mineral packets. I think each packet mixes in with 1 gallon of distilled water. I haven't tried it myself (I just use a brita) but I've heard good things. The quality of water makes a huge difference. This was the first "eureka" moment for me, when I moved from tap to filtered.
Next, how are you making your coffee? There are some great, cheap equipment out there. In this sub, here are some pretty cheap and popular choices:
Aeropress
Chemex
Pour-over
French press
We're getting pretty deep in the rabbit hole, right? Not yet! How about measuring the weight of the coffee? Consistency is important. You need the same, proper coffee-to-water ratio for the best cup. You can find people debating over the best scales, some costing hundreds. I'd just get a cheap one if I were you. You can find some decent cheap ones from like $10 to $30. If you want the best bang for your buck, look into American Weigh Scales.
I guess I can mention temperature of water as well. You can get thermometers or even electric kettles with built-in thermometers (like this). I think temperature matters so much more for tea than coffee, but it's something you need to keep in mind for coffee as well.
Here's probably the most important thing, in my opinion: where are you getting your coffee? What is the roast date? Unless you're buying your coffee directly from the roaster, you're probably not buying freshly roasted beans. It makes a world of difference. Try finding a local roaster and getting your beans from them, freshly roasted.
I'm sure there's plenty of other ways you can splurge money on coffee, but I'll let you figure it out!
(edited to fix the links)
I'm pretty sure this is the one he has. He doesn't seem to love it. We have this one and we love it.
I make it because the taste is smoother and I can make one batch over the weekend for iced coffees for the whole week. It's also stronger so the ice melting in it isn't such a big deal.
I use this coffee maker, but $50 is a bit steep for it.
I use this and love it. Makes delicious coffee and I had never done cold brew before I got it so I appreciated the fact this system walked me through the process :
OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVSVM36/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_5lQ3xbQ6SMN8W
Sorry, I thought I was clear enough :( This is the guy http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-Coffee-Maker-Clear/dp/B00JVSVM36
OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVSVM36/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ClZqyb5JW6Z5K
Bought this one. Works fine. Just buy the extra filters.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JVSVM36/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Nope that's a duo, this is what I was talking about https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Wide-Porcelain-Immersion-Dripper/dp/B00MFJX7P4
Bonavita Immersion Dripper. Although I've not made such a large batch. It should be able to hold that much and brew fine in pour over mode.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MFJX7P4
I got my Zoji here on my desk. It's 1.75". The inner inset diameter of the bottom of the Bonavita was just large enough to not sit evenly with my thermos requiring me to buy a stand. Perhaps you have a different Bonavita model? What does the bottom of yours look like?
This is the bonavita I got: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MFJX7P4/ref=sxr_rr_xsim_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3008523062&pd_rd_wg=HlA0g&pf_rd_r=Y1V7BVQT6NK4CK82G97B&pf_rd_s=desktop-rhs-carousels&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00MFJX7P4&pd_rd_w=TaBwS&pf_rd_i=bonavita+brewer&pd_rd_r=FB72JJBNV1TNA8WA3YS1&ie=UTF8&qid=1496160730&sr=1
I have a bonvita immersion dripper which is twice the price of a normal clever dripper, but is also made out of ceramic instead of plastic (which I like...especially if I'm going to be pouring boiling water into the thing. To be fair however, the clever dripper is made out of medical grade plastic). Its my favorite way to brew, but can only make two cups max at a time. It also uses commonly found melitta #4 filters so that's a plus. I use a pretty coarse grind and it works very well.
Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!
Here are your smile-ified links:
porcelain brewer
This one from Jennings
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^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot
You could probably get both if you get the BV1900TS . I just ordered that and the Baratza Encore for about $300 total, shipped!
After extensive research and posting, it came down to the Behmor Brazen Plus or the BV. The BV, seems to have a slight edge. Its probably the best home auto-drip coffee maker out there, right now, and its on the cheaper side of the SCA Certified Home Brewers
Take a look at this review listed under the Brazen, but its a comparison of both
On a side-note, this is probably the best review of anything I have ever seen, hands-down, ever. Also, if you live up in the moutains where boiling water is an issue, the Brazen is probably better.
I have been a huge fan or and supporter of the Behmor Brazen Plus. Some people feel that its too big, but I love how it looks and I really love how the boiling chamber is above the grounds. This means it doesn't have to pump the hot water up to the shower head (the pump area can get hard water build up that's hard to clean). The water merely gets to temp and then drops down through the shower head onto the grounds.
I have had mine for around 3 years and other than the occasional descaling it still works like the day I bought it. Behmor has great customer support and the build quality is amazing compared to the cuisinart's I had in the past.
​
Just make sure to NOT buy the Behmor Connected. Most bad reviews are for that "smart" coffee maker.
You're in luck, as recently as three years ago no electric drip coffee maker for under $300 existed that could make a legitimately good cup of coffee. None of them could achieve the proper temperature needed for brewing.
However, in recent years Bonavita stepped up their game and produces several good models for under $200, all of which are certified by the SCAA (which is genuinely a big deal and pretty rare). I would specifically recommend the Bonavita BV1900TS which you can get on Amazon for $138.99. The only negative to it is that the carafe isn't particularly good so if you need the coffee to stay piping hot for hours this isn't a great option. If you're willing to pay a bit more but still under $200 another good option is the one of few other SCAA certified makers - the Behmor Brazen Plus which I personally am hoping to get from Santa.
I love my behmor brazen plus.
http://www.amazon.com/Behmor-Brazen-Temperature-Control-Coffee/dp/B00PKEYY8U
If you're buying expensive coffee and really enjoy the taste of good coffee, I'd suggest either making pour-over coffee or french press coffee at home. There are even very good automatic pour over coffee makers. The relatively new Oxo automatic pour-over has unseated the Bonavita in many minds: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YEYKK8U/ref=psdc_289745_t3_B00O9FO1HK
From the listed features:
It even first soaks the grounds, waits, and then pours the water over them. Pair this with a grinder and some good recently-roasted beans and the coffee you make at home will taste even better than what you'd buy at the coffee place and cost a fraction of what they charge.
Personally, I'm generally fine with an older Cuisinart single-cup brewer with one of the better store-bought grounds (Chock Full o Nuts or similar).
I don't really drink it for leisure or to slowly enjoy the taste. I do want a great tasting coffee but I also don't want to NOT like my coffee some day because I'm trying a bunch of types. I'm not big on surprises.
I just want to have good coffee and not worry. There's many more things to worry about.
I currently use this:
https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Barista-Brain-Coffee-Maker/dp/B00YEYKK8U
OXO Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker - $100
Turns out that we prefer burned coffee made in a cheap coffee maker. This was way too high end for us.
​
SportDOG SDF-100A Invisible Fence System - $100
This is super easy to install yourself. 500 feet of wire and 75 flags are unused in the box. Lowe's & Home Depot sell wire and additional flags for cheap, should you need it. I installed this thing, tested it, and ended up rebuilding my fence before I bothered putting it on my dog to teach him how it works. If needed, you can pay me to install it or help you install it.
​
I could use a Men's XL hybrid bike, so let me know if you think you might have something to trade.
The OXO brewers are both on sale right now.
Both are SCAA approved.
The Bodum Stainless is my go-to and my recommendation. I am on my third one in 10 years, only because people liked mine so much I gave the first two away.
Bodum Stainless 1L/34oz
Do it yourself at home with this or this.
Get the Bonavita Coffee Maker - http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005YQZT92?pc_redir=1408028574&robot_redir=1
>The same goddamn drip brew I do at home?
​
just like craft beers, and microbreweries, there are equally enthusiastic coffee drinkers.
"drip brew" does not exist in that world. (yes, sounds assholish, but the coffee is really fucking good)
its like top shelf vs bottom shelf. drink to get drunk, drink to enjoy the flavor.
​
I won't drink it any other way now. I used to use a french press.
​
how to pour-over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aWH9UgmuCM
​
when you go to starbucks/Peets, they fill your cup from a tank.
​
when you go to a pourover coffee place, they make it one cup at a time. every cup is hand poured, beans are ground immediately before use. and they use beam heaters because, believe it or not.. temperature really matters. coffee made from 200 degree water tastes different than coffee made from 212 water.
https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Beam-Heater-Coffee-Syphon/dp/B00R6YPTYA
​
​
for home..
optional - but helps make hot water, but not too hot - note the narrow spout to control where the water goes.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/
​
one of these and the filters to go with.
https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Plastic-Coffee-Dripper-Size/dp/B006IKMUIG/
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​
​
Why? Are the hand presses like a ROK not espresso? What is the procedural differences between something like that and putting the same amount of pressure on an aeropress? If I can make a puck of the same grind of coffee and apply the same amount of pressure to it, why isn't that espresso? Is it the paper filter? Is there some mechanism of a real espresso maker that I'm not aware of? I honestly don't understand the difference.
If you look at places like Kijiji you might find some used Breville machine...
Unless you are looking at manual espresso maker like Rok:
https://www.amazon.com/ROK-Presso-Manual-Espresso-Maker/dp/B00AV1E0GI
bro im not a ROK user but im replying to this post because of 2 reasons.. first reason is that i have heard only good things about this product.. and secondly and main reason of my reply was 130$ for a used ROK Espresso maker??
bro why dont you buy a new ROK Espresso Maker directly from ROK for $150
does it have to be drip? i would recommend an espresso machine... its pretty quick, and makes amazing fresh coffee. if i had to recommend a drip, it would be this due to the control you have over the brew
https://www.amazon.com/Behmor-Brazen-Temperature-Control-Coffee/dp/B00PKEYY8U