Coffee Maker Recommendations

[albionmoonlight]

Our Mr. Coffee crapped out. We will buy a new one soon. I'm planning to just go the Mr. C route again, but it occurred to me that coffee technology has probably progressed quite a bit while I wasn't paying attention.

In general, we make about 6 cups, with the occasional party where a 12 cup capacity would be nice. We tend to get good beans and grind them fresh.

We are willing to pay modestly for quality, but I am not going to take out a second mortgage for some Gale Boetticher contraption.

So, with that info having been dumped, is Mr. Coffee still my best bet, or is there somewhere else I should be looking?

[jeff061]

Unless you want to pay a few hundred for something like a moccamaster, I think they are all more or less the same. I do prefer ones with a heating element up top that brews into a thermos. No heat plate and glass carafe combo to burn the coffee.

[weegeebored]

Are you looking for another automatic drip type or would you try some other method? I miss the convenience of a drip coffeemaker, but I have been using this (http://www.sowdenathome.com/coffee/) for the last couple of years and really like it. (I have the 61 oz. Oskar model.) Because of the filter, you can use any grind so you can find what tastes best. It's made out of porcelain so it's easy to clean. After a time, the filter basket in a drip always seemed to keep the coffee residue even when I did my best to keep it clean. Can't wash out the water tank either; was never that thrilled with the vinegar run-through method.

You could also try an Aeropress (http://www.aerobie.com/product/aeropress/) although it won't brew the quantity you need without an additional step (see the site FAQ).

[Ironhead]

I use an old fashioned percolator. I would hate to go back to drip coffee at this point because the percolated coffee tastes so much better. It does, however, lack a lot of convenience which is why it went out of style when auto-drip coffee makers came around.


Pros:
- coffee tastes much better than drip
- hot, hot coffee. I never realized how tepid the temperature is of most coffee until I had it on the stovetop when we lost power for a few days.

Cons:
- takes about 20 minutes to make from start to finish
- I usually need to make at least 8 cups of coffee or it won't percolate
- needs special filters that fit the grounds basket
- will take you several pots of coffee until you figure out the right balance of water, grounds, heat and percolating time

Amazon.com : Coleman 12 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator : Camping Coffee And Tea Pots : Sports & Outdoors (http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Cup-Stainless-Steel-Percolator/dp/B0009PUQSM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451483906&sr=8-1&keywords=coleman+percolator)

[Coffee Warlord]

I recommend the same thing every time this comes up.

Amazon.com: Conair Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200 12 Cup Programmable Cofeemaker (Black/Silver): Drip Coffeemakers: Kitchen & Dining (http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-Central-DCC-1200-Programmable-Cofeemaker/dp/B00005IBX9)

You can abuse the living hell out of this thing and it'll keep kicking.

[flere-imsaho]

+1 to Coffee Warlord. We've had that model since, er, 2002? Still works like a champ and puts out good coffee, especially if you replace the filters with a decent enough frequency.

[ColtCrazy]

I use a french press, and I won't ever go back. I feel the flavor is much richer this way. In terms of time, it adds very little. I can make coffee on the go in the morning just as simply as a lazy Sunday. There's presses out there to fill that 6 cup need, but maybe not the 12.

[B & B]

I feel this is one of the very few things on FOFC that I can make an expert opinion on.


Why?

well, I drink more coffee than most anyone (95% of folks)
I can count on my fingers how many times I been to staryucks.


No fancy.
No frills.

I buy whole beans and grind my own pot. Then , have no prob downing the "12 cup" pot myself, so yeah. theres that.

Anyways.

My Mr.coffee shit the bed a few years ago, so I had to replace.

Shockingly, went with a Black & Decker model and its fit the bill perfectly.

It does have a clock on it, but that wasn't avoidable and is as fancy as I go. Something like 20 bucks, would recommend.

[Logan]

Moving to grinding our own beans was one of the best decisions ever. It's probably an extra 20-30 seconds of work for a tremendous benefit.

[flere-imsaho]

We grind our own beans and use the aforementioned Cusinart.

[DanGarion]

My wife really likes this one we got.

Grinds the coffee and then brews it. You just need to make sure you clean it frequently and it's great!

Amazon.com: BLACK+DECKER CM5000R 12-Cup Mill and Brew Coffee Maker, Red: Kitchen & Dining (http://amzn.to/1R0LvrY)

[frnk55]

I use an old fashioned percolator. I would hate to go back to drip coffee at this point because the percolated coffee tastes so much better. It does, however, lack a lot of convenience which is why it went out of style when auto-drip coffee makers came around.


Pros:
- coffee tastes much better than drip
- hot, hot coffee. I never realized how tepid the temperature is of most coffee until I had it on the stovetop when we lost power for a few days.

Cons:
- takes about 20 minutes to make from start to finish
- I usually need to make at least 8 cups of coffee or it won't percolate
- needs special filters that fit the grounds basket
- will take you several pots of coffee until you figure out the right balance of water, grounds, heat and percolating time

Amazon.com : Coleman 12 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator : Camping Coffee And Tea Pots : Sports & Outdoors (http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Cup-Stainless-Steel-Percolator/dp/B0009PUQSM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451483906&sr=8-1&keywords=coleman+percolator)
Holy shit I thought my grandma was the only person left on earth that uses a percolator.

[Coffee Warlord]

well, I drink more coffee than most anyone (95% of folks)
I can count on my fingers how many times I been to staryucks.


I am the 5%!

[Coffee Warlord]

And I don't get people who drink more than a cup a day and don't grind their own beans. The difference in taste is massive.

[Marc Vaughan]

This is the one my work have - DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine its a work of art ...

Amazon link (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N2YKQ0?colid=22M4XTBPZJFEH&coliid=I3RPG0Z1NX1EI2&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl)

[albionmoonlight]

Thanks for all the advice. We went with this to try and shake things up a bit:

Eight Cup Glass Handle CHEMEX® (http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/eight-cup-glass-handle-series-coffeemaker.html)

If we hate it, we can always craigslist it and go back to drip. But I'm interesting in trying something a little different, so this will be fun.

[cartman]

This is the one my work have - DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine its a work of art ...

Amazon link (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N2YKQ0?colid=22M4XTBPZJFEH&coliid=I3RPG0Z1NX1EI2&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl)

That's the one I have at home. :) Italy ruined me with regards to espresso. I've had the machine for 11 years now, and it is still running strong.

[jeff061]

I right now am enjoying an espresso made with

Amazon.com: Breville BES840XL the Infuser Espresso Machine: Semi Automatic Pump Espresso Machines: Kitchen & Dining (http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BES840XL-Infuser-Espresso-Machine/dp/B0089SSOR6/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1452009699&sr=1-2&keywords=breville+espresso)

Was also a great purchase.