Bunn coffee makers....any good?

[Scarpozzi]

My wife got me a Bunn coffee maker for Valentine's day...it was like $100.

I've made 2 pots of coffee tonight using the usual amount of coffee I use in my B&D coffee maker and both pots have come out really weak. Anyone got any advice on how to slow down the flow of water so it actually gets a chance to brew the coffee?

I use 8 o'clock columbian ground coffee...

 

[Vic Vega]

Thicker filter?

 

[lxskllr]

I'm not a big fan tbh. I have one, but haven't used it in years. Try using more coffee, or grinding it finer. AFAIK, there's no way to slow it down. That's it's big sell point; a quick brew. That, and wasting energy in the summer time :^D

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Bunn commercial brewers are some of the best. Try grinding your coffee finer.

 

[Ketchup]

Bunns use their own coffee filters. Were you using them? My wife got us a Bunn and it makes the best coffee I have ever tasted. What strength are you making the coffee?

Our unit is rather unique, as it is a more traditional design. You only add the water when you are making a pot.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Thicker filter?

I hadn't thought of that. I read some reviewers crammed toothpicks in the sprayer head to reduce the flow to fewer holes... The other trick was to use more coffee. ...maybe I'll double or triple up on the filters. I just know coffee itself is more expensive than the maker over the life of the coffee maker....30% more coffee to get the same strength seems like an expensive waste to me. What kills me...for $100, I expect it to beat the $30 coffee maker we already have.

I have to say...the hotter water does seem to bring out the flavor...even in the weaker pot!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Grocery stores usually sell your8 o'clock columbian ground coffee right next to the whole bean and the coffee grinder. Get your bag, open it, dump in grinder and grind it finer. Got it?

 

[ultimatebob]

Bunn coffee machines are built like tanks. If you buy an industrial model, if will probably outlive you.

 

[lxskllr]

Bunn coffee machines are built like tanks. If you buy an industrial model, if will probably outlive you.

Yea, no complaints about the quality, at least as of 20 years ago when I got mine. Even the consumer models are built well.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Grocery stores usually sell your8 o'clock columbian ground coffee right next to the whole bean and the coffee grinder. Get your bag, open it, dump in grinder and grind it finer. Got it?

I own a coffee grinder. I just buy 8 o'clock because it's a consistant product where my grinding skills typically aren't.

Good idea though...I'm going to try using the bunn filters (some came with the coffee maker) in the morning...and use more coffee if that doesn't work... I'll also try calling customer service and see if they have any ideas to better tune the batch.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I own a coffee grinder. I just buy 8 o'clock because it's a consistant product where my grinding skills typically aren't.

Good idea though...I'm going to try using the bunn filters (some came with the coffee maker) in the morning...and use more coffee if that doesn't work... I'll also try calling customer service and see if they have any ideas to better tune the batch.

That's why I suggested the store grinder. The coarseness of the grind can easily be adjusted and doesn't depend on how long you grind for.

 

[lxskllr]

FWIW, I used a plastic mesh filter and 100cc of ground coffee for a pot. The pot was smallish, and I'd guesstimate it was a light 10 cups. Somewhere between 8 and 10.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I found this review...

http://journal.drfaulken.com/bunn-nhbx-b-electric-drip-coffee-maker-review/

I'm going to try the filters and go from there...

 

[Ketchup]

Thought I would throw in an update. My wife bought me one of these a little less than 2 years ago:

http://www.amazon.com/HG-Phase-8-Cup...n+coffee+maker

It stopped working last week (I think the heating element went out) and she called Bunn. We had a new one in 2 business days, no cost.

The new one has a one-year warranty. Not too shabby, as long as the new one doesn't do the same thing.

 

[Iron Woode]

go old-school and get a percolator.

 

[lxskllr]

go old-school and get a percolator.

That's what I use. I love it for making large amounts. I have an electric perc. It's been running about 15 years now, and I got it used.

 

[BoomerD]

We've used Bunn coffee makers for more than 20 years.

Yes, they cost more to buy...and they cost more to operate. (remember, that instant hot water has to be kept hot all the time)

BUT, I LIKE having a cup of coffee in 3 minutes...I HATE waiting 15-20 minutes for a pot of coffee to brew in normal coffee makers.

You DEFINITELY need the Bunn filters. They're larger and stronger than the cheap filters sold in the stores. I get the Bunn filters at Wally-World. They recently jacked the price from just under $1/100 to about $1.75/100. Still not a deal breaker for me.

 

[manimal]

I rebuilt an old cwtf35aps and have restaurant coffee at home! Love my bunn!

Bring me an airpot to work it lasts me all day

 

[Markbnj]

We love our Bunn coffee maker. Had it about five years and it works like new. Prior to getting it we'd been through probably a dozen cheap plastic drip coffee makers since we got married.

The best thing about the Bunn (aside from the build) is the speed. If you're getting weak coffee try getting a finer grind, as others have mentioned. We use standard store-bought filters, and I typically use two heaping scoops of fine-ground columbian.