AskReddit: I'm looking for a good coffee maker, which are apparently as rare as unicorns.

moyly

french press. so good. I have a coffee maker but I've never plugged it in. boiling water + four minutes = a very, very good cup of coffee.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_press

CautionaryTale

My wife got me one of those Keurig coffee makers about two years ago. It uses the single-serve K-cups instead of ground coffee. I love it. Newman's Own Organics Extra Bold is my favorite coffee.

Also, there's an adapter for regular ground coffee if you're not into the K-cups.

jeremyfirth

Aerobie Aeropress is easily the best coffee maker around. I have made coffee and espresso for some of my pickiest coffee nerd friends, and they love it and always ask me how I made it. Great Christmas gift for your coffee-loving friends.

poetryglot

The Rancilio Silvia is a great coffee maker

Having had one for years

I confirm it's no faker

If you want the best coffee

Be prepared to spend cash

Otherwise you get bad coffee

Which can give you a rash

AngMoKio

French press. My family has owned several coffee shops and a roasting business. Nothing is better then the french press.

purplecow

Doesn't your local department store sell Moccamasters? They last forever and ever, and are popular enough you can buy replacement pots if you manage to break one. As a bonus they maintain the correct water temperature thorough the brewing process and consequently make a damn fine cup of coffee. There seem to be something available from cooking.com

Just don't get the very basic model since it doesn't have a little holder for the cone filter thing and it's going to drive you insane at some point. Having to use two hands to pour yourself a cup of coffee. The model one step up has a holder for the part.

I personally have a Moccamaster CD, and I expect to carry it to the grave. It retails for 159€, but you can get the same machine without silly fingerprint magnet finish for 30€ less.

Dog-E-Style

Buy a #4 black plastic cone coffee thing and some #4 cone filters. You now control all aspects and can no longer blame the coffee maker.

French press

hansonatemyballs

A moka pot beats the pants off any french press or mr. coffee machine IMHO.

ut2k4king

Chemex is good, but it requires a bit more attention and preparation. You have to prep the filters and slowly pour the water over the grounds; I think it's worth it though. It's a cleaner cup than French Press and it's just as cheap ($35 for the maker and the filters are relatively inexpensive for the quantity).

http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/

avicho

stovetop espresso, nuf said

crusoe

I've got a Tassimo Which is a single cup coffee maker that uses discs and can make anything from coffee to hot chocolate and even cappucino and lattes. Best purchase I've made in a long time.

saurellia

i used to work for a retailer of kitchen appliances, and i think you've just had bad luck. there are tons of great coffeemakers out there. I'd avoid krups; cuisinart makes several really good ones, or just get a french press. it's totally old school, but i really liked the coffee that came out of an electric percolator we had in the office.

JonLatane

I’ve had a $40 Mr. Coffee coffee maker that has yet to fail me. It has the issue you mentioned with the Hamilton Beach one where if you don’t seat the filter basket right it will overflow, but all you have to do to prevent this from happening is seat the filter basket right. I can’t consider improperly using the device to be a fault of the device, really.

Although I also agree with moyly, if you want something that only an idiot could screw up (aside from pouring boiling water everywhere) a French press will do the job nicely. I just don’t like boiling water every time I want a serving of coffee.

pluis

I'm very fond of my percolator. It takes a while, but I love the texture of the coffee (and, of course, I get to choose and grind my own beans).

sekritkoad

Suggestion: buy a cheap, sturdy coffee maker. Turn it into a timed coffee maker with a wall-unit timer.

I think a lot of times introducing timers into the coffee pot itself just needlessly complicates the machine. The Whizz-Bang Principle. Drives the price up without any real corresponding increase in quality.

huracan

The Black&Decker smartbrew does NOT use paper filters! There is nothing worst than finding you've run out of filters, when you're in desperate need of your morning coffee.

aintitashame

I have a $10-$20 nascar branded coffee maker that has so far always worked great, it has 4 cups of perfect tasting coffee ready for me just as I'm walking back into the house from my morning cig. It'll probably burn my house down someday but until then I'll continue to enjoy it. I used to use a french press but my caffeine intake skyrocketed so I thought it best to quit. No, I'm not a fan of nascar and it doesn't have a signature on it.

Snorple

I liked this Cuisinart coffee maker so much, I bought another one for my office. It's easy to use, easy to clean, and makes a great cup of coffee.

PhillyNetminder

I have a grind and brew that is great...but I also favor the french press. If I could afford it, I'd get one of the vacuum ones where it pulls the water through the grounds (not one of the goofy glass bong lookin ones, an actual machine)

mjsolaro

We've used our Cuisinart coffee maker religiously every morning for about six years now without a single incident. Still using all the original carafes, filters, and everything.

My only minor complaint is that the hole that you pour water in is a little small and awkwardly placed. But after two weeks pouring, you'll have a technique mastered that makes it so you never spill. I haven't spilled in over four years.

InspectorJavert

Get yourself a Moka pot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_%28coffee_pot%29

Once you can make espresso at will, you'll never look back.

ten_sixty_six

Basic Melitta coffee maker - Easy, cheap, and doesn't affect your cholesterol like coffee made in a french press.

Loggie

Good Coffee is a myth. It all tastes like shit until you've got more cream and sugar in there than coffee.

tomparker

I'm currently using a Keurig with K-Cups but we bought a Krups Aroma Control 229 --the one with a stainless steel thermos-- for our office six years ago. This was an alternative to the scalded black Maxwell House that was turning to tar in our office lounge. The entire office used the Aroma Control for four years and it performed flawlessly. The thermos keeps brewed coffee drinkable for hours. When we switched to a Keurig at the office, I brought the coffee maker home and used it daily for another year and still bring it out when we have company. Great product. Hope they haven't changed it.

jt32470

if you ever go to costa rica this, another picture here is what you need for a real good cup of coffee

that is what the people in the country use, and there is NO better way to get a good cup of coffe. It is also washable so you don't have to deal with paper filters. Anything else is just throwing your money away. It lets all the oils through like the french press, BUT you can make just a cup, or make multiple. I've got espresso machines, coffee makers etc. I just use this. Best part it is only a few bucks.

In costa rica it is called cafe chorreado http://i.imgur.com/MvgAx.jpg

earnestrapture

I prefer the simple stovetop espresso makers, I saw people in Italy using them. Bialetti is a good brand. They are easier to clean than the French Press (which you have to disassemble the three filter sheets and the grinds get all over the sink etc.)... with the stovetop espresso maker the grinds compress into the filter cup as one unit which you can tap into the trash.

Also, you know it's done once you hear it start gurgling for about 20 seconds... basically there is an audible clue for done-ness which I prefer over the FP as I don't wear a watch and don't want to check the clock obsessively for three minutes.

Plus, they are really pretty. Another option I've considered is the electric percolator, which is pretty old-school I think but also pretty.

http://www.bialettishop.com/EspressoMakerMainPage.htm

I was going to use the 'formatting help' on this link but I don't understand how it works.... testing please forgive:

coollink!

pwsegal

I've been using a caffetiere (aka moka pot) for years now, and it produces a decent cup of coffee, assuming your coffee is fresh and ground appropriately. I also have and use french presses (again OK cups but depends on coffee quality and how its ground, having it ground for a caffetiere and using it in a french press will produce a crap cup, and vice versa). If your worried about the fragility of the glass bodies of the french presses, then you can get something like this http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-34-Ounce-Insulated-Stainless-Steel-Gourmet/dp/B00004S1DB

It also has the benefit of keeping the coffee warm for longer. As for all coffee making, it can take a while to nail down the technique (including grind) that make a good cup, so experiment, you will make some truly hideous cups, but once you find the correct technique, it will be worth it.

Fantasysage

If you are dead set on a drip pot, get this one: Link.

My family makes 2-3 pots a day and this lasted a good 4 years, we just bought a second one because the element died. I have been using a piece of shit Black and Decker for my dorm and it does the job, and has been doing it for the past 5 years.

pomegranati

a vietnamese manual pot and strainer.

thebassethound

I love my stove espresso maker. Cheap and delicious.

augie1969

Well, America's Test Kitchen did an extensive review of them, and they surely know their stuff.

Check here, a little down the page: http://www.americastestkitchentv.com/ratedcookware.asp

To read the review you will need to register, but it is free. Basically they picked this one for many reasons, including brew length, temperature and flavor. It is a bit pricey, but quite impressive:

http://www.technivorm.com/products/kbt741.html

ten_sixty_six

Basic Melitta coffee maker - Easy, cheap, and doesn't affect your cholesterol like coffee made in a french press.

sharklegs

Chemex coffee makers. You don't know what it is, you will look it up, you will upvote me in euphoric realization.

I love the Keurig K cup machines. I know it doesn't count as a real coffee maker but you can engineer a k-cup to brew your own coffee so it really isn't too costly, and you can reuse the k cups.

If you don't mind shelling out an extra $80 over the sale price at a store, I'd look for the industrial one's on ebay. I think the model number was b200 or something. The in store ones are like $100-$120 and the industrial one is like $200. They last a long time and the coffee store nearest to me only uses K cups to serve coffee.

murgee

[deleted]

fireduck

I am becoming somewhat of a coffee snob. My setup is a Kitchen Aid burr grinder and a cheap as hell $20 Mr. Coffee automatic drip. It is great. It has no fancy electronics. It has a single on/off switch. It doesn't try to be a clock. It doesn't make decisions about when it should turn off. It is easy to clean.

The pot is graduated so is the back water hold is also graduated. This means I can pour water straight from the britta into the back without measuring it first.

The pot and filter basket can be easily disassembled and put in the dish washer.

corinstoneseeker

Some people forget that in that equation of coffee maker is the human element, namely you. You + coffee making device + coffee bean = coffee. you should be careful with your process and procedure, don't be too hasty, be methodical and think of the delicious delicious coffee you and a friend/partner will be havin. it's fun making coffee for yourself but also for another person.

GET GOOD COFFEE, whole bean is great and just grind it with a krups, if you got a burr grinder awesome, but a krups blade grinder works fine.

I like the french press as mentioned (pro tip: if you have a tea strainer handy, pour the coffee through said strainer to get rid of stray grains) also a melitta works great (where you put the paper in and pour the hot water directly over grounds)

so yeah, make sure you have your hot water boiling, pour some into both the french press and the mug(s) after it's boiling (empty out before pouring coffee). grind the beans if you have whole beans rightaway, then pour hot water slowly to wet the ground coffee and stir. wait a bit, pour in more water. stir slowly and pour slowly, the grounds get a chance to get wet and settle to regulate the brew speed.

brew time for a french press should be 3-5 minutes depending on how strong you like your coffee.

grind french press = coarse, melitta = medium to medium fine depending.

hope this helps:

brands of french press = bodom, aeropress, etc. most will do the job fine.

happy drinking!

Mindplay

The Clover Coffee Maker

http://www.blogiversity.org/blogs/alexgreene/archive/2009/06/10/the-clover-coffee-maker.aspx

BlackJacquesLeblanc

Can't comment on the drip style coffee makers. However for Espresso coffee at home I highly recommend the AreoPress http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AeroPress

Costs about $40 and makes an excellent cup of Espresso with minimal fuss.

(edit) The burr style of coffee grinder is a given, not just for Espresso but for all your coffee grinding needs.

narstufian

I inherited one of these.

The refills are expensive and, being Nestle, it makes my complicit in the murder of African babies. But, hey, it makes good coffee and is very quick and easy in the morning.

Smched

If you want to make real coffee, get a proper espresso machine. I had a good rant about it the other day. Still, as much as I know about the actual making of coffee, I don't know a lot about what brands of machine are best. I use a stock-standard Sunbeam Cafe Crema. I wouldn't mind a steam wand with a bit more oomph, though.

Wish I could help you more :3

80hd

I've had lots of success with this

http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/cu/cuisinart-coffee-maker.jpg

I live for coffee.

If you want a real nice traveling mug look at this.

http://www.gocontigo.com/autoseal-stainless-steel-travel-mug.html

It looks nice, never loses a drop and keep coffee blazing hot for 2 hours. I have to add an ice cube otherwise it's not drinkable within a decent amount of time.

HaveYouSeenThemCakes

So many questions - so many different types of coffee - what are you after? If you like the cafetiere (or French Press) - which after all is a jug and a plunger - then the only real difference is the coffee - get a good grinder (eg Mazza Mini) and fresh beans. If Espresso is more your thing - try coffeegeek.com - lots of reviews and guidance, Mine is the Espresso Coffee Milan (ECM) Giotto. Never looked back.

sonofarex

A few years ago me and my brother bought my mom a Nespresso coffee maker for Christmas and it has been amazing for her ever since.

They are expensive to buy and the 'pods' you use to make the coffee probably get pretty pricey too, but if you're a big fan of coffee then its worth it

MpVpRb

I have an Isomac Tea

It's a big, heavy espresso maker, made in Italy.

Makes great coffee.

Bit of a pain at times, but built like a tank.

Fairly easy to fix when stuff goes wrong.

jebucha

Can't believe I'm not seeing more mentions of Bunn coffeemakers. Keeping the water heated uses a tad more electricity, but not enough to really notice. Brews the coffee faster so as to make a less bitter tasting cup. I love being able to pour in a carafe of water (no coffee/filter) and have a a full carafe of hot water in 3min for making tea, soups, etc.

Shy of that, I have to agree that either a decent french press, or an Aeropress.

kingsleygershon

The water has to come out extremely hot! Return any POS that fails. I've given up on everything except this one:

I'm enthusiastic about Melitta Gevalia 4 cup Coffee Maker which are only available on eBay and in thrift stores. Gevalia has the magazine ads with coffee subscriptions and they give you a coffee maker. This model is from the 1990's and they don't offer it any more.

I'm on my 2nd one over 23 years, and I have a spare. Search Melitta Gevalia on eBay. The sellers know how good it is and all that...

GPechorin

Krupps Moka, as an alternative to french press. It's better than the stove top moka pots. I've had the same one for 6 years using it almost daily.

maypopp

It is less about the maker than having a good burr grinder and a good bean. If espresso is your cup then I recommend finding some Danesi beans. Pure heaven.

tomyownrhythm

I have this one http://www.mrcoffee.com/Product.aspx?pid=105 and love it. It's nice because the metal coffee pot won't break, and because it's so well insulated, it keeps coffee hot for 2 hours WITHOUT a burner, so you can set the pot on any surface. The only possible downside is that you can't just turn the pot back on to re-heat coffee, but that's not really a problem for me, as I do not own a microwave. Also, re-heating with the burner tends to make coffee more bitter, in my experience.

anjod

I've had this coffee maker for almost six years, and I've been perfectly happy with it.

dave_L

What about Oster's 'TFX26' model that's good for 12cups? They also got the 4cups capacity.

Ref uri, here: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=oster+coffee+maker&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=11098691135401417621&ei=iNJuS8nFDNGTkAWNwfzTBw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBEQ8wIwAw#ps-sellers

kempo666

If you find one, let me know...

Teatoly

Yeah it seems impossible to shop for one, when you want a good one. I have a Krups drip coffeemaker and i hate it. I def need a better one and through my research found not much in my price range that i can trust.

seasmucker

I use this: http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm

Makes good coffee, easy clean up, and no electronics to worry about.

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