coffee drinkers

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
3,266
0
71
I have tried couple of these 15-20 bucks coffee makers and no matter what coffee i get, it doesnt seen to create that taste like what the professional places serve.

I am looking for a good coffee maker. price doesnt matter (which means up till 100 is ok).

Any experts out there who have tried a bunch of these and can recommend some?

Update:
Used Filtered water, def. tasted the difference with Maxwell House coffee. Will try my other brand from a coffee store tomm morning.

Right now, im debating between the Cuisinart ($70), Bunn (139 for thermal, 100 for heat plate), DeLonghi (100) and maybe Krups.

I think the key feature thats making me lean towards Bunn is the built in thermostat that heats the water at ideal temp for brewing. Cuisinart is good and cheaper, has a built in water filter.
 

Kyle

Diamond Member
Oct 14, 1999
4,145
11
91
BUNN

I've been through a few and this one hands down has been the best.
Check the user reviews from amazon as well, I'm not the only one who thinks so.
However- it is somewhat ugly compared to some other ones, but the coffee is great
 

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
3,266
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Originally posted by: everman
Technivorm

Bunn is good too.

You don't want a heating plate, that cooks the coffee (bad). Get something with an insulated container.

never heard of Technivorm, all those seem like mocha machines or overly fancy coffee makers. Any other reviews for them?
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,765
5,928
146
water is the first ingredient on the label. If you have crap water, you can have a gold plated 10K coffee maker, and it will make crap coffee.
If you don't do it already, filter your water in a brita pitcher or something.
 

brxndxn

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2001
8,475
0
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How about you grind your own beans?

Get a $20 Mr Coffee coffee grinderand then buy whole bean. They'll taste a LOT more fresh.

Also, I'd use a $50 drip cofee maker with a glass decanter. I think stainless steel sometimes adds its own flavor to coffee.

And, use better beans? Coffee, when you make it yourself, is one of the cheapest drinks per cup possible. So, buy yourself some $12/lb beans instead of grocery store crap. If I don't have time to go to Sweetwater Coffee Co (local organic coffee producer), I just get Columbia beans from Starbucks. They're pretty good.

Professional places like Starbucks and Barnies produce their coffee under pressure. That usually means you need a coffee maker that would cost a few hundred dollars. But, imo, drip coffee can taste just as good - and almost always tastes better than french press coffee, despite what the pretentious coffee drinkers might say.

IMO, a $20 drip coffee maker will produce fine coffee as long as you keep it clean, use good beans, and grind your own beans.
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

Moderator<br>Distributed Computing
Moderator
May 13, 2003
13,704
7
81
Krups AromaControl. Best coffee maker I've ever had. No heat plate, to burn the coffee. I went through several before this one, and then would end up spilling or messing up somehow, and it was so annoying. I've had this one for about 3 years now, and haven't had a single problem.
 

fitzov

Platinum Member
Jan 3, 2004
2,477
0
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Originally posted by: skyking
water is the first ingredient on the label. If you have crap water, you can have a gold plated 10K coffee maker, and it will make crap coffee.
If you don't do it already, filter your water in a brita pitcher or something.

qft

If you can't drink the water by itself you shouldn't make coffee with it.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
fresh beans matter more than the coffee maker.
fresh beans are not those found at supermarket bins. the damned things don't last long at all before oxidation/rancid oil etc. get from small specialty shop or vacumn sealed package. the ones with little round one way valve with two holes at top, thats to release c02 the beans put out for a while after roasting. grind right before making coffee, it turns bad even sooner if you grind it. use enough or it'll over extract and be ick. if making single cup get a coffee maker with single serving mode, or get one made for single serving, some cheaper ones don't get hot fast enough for single serving size. use burr grinder,its not that spinning blade that the cheaper grinders have. spinning blade=uneven grind=uneven extraction= over/underextractoin=bad taste.

and finally make sure to always clean the basket and such parts. coffee has oil, it turns rancid and will taint your future brews
 

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
3,266
0
71
i drink tap water at home, and also filter water sometimes. but ive always used tap water for coffee.
I will def. try filter water now.
also, grinding coffee seems a pain every morning when i just wanna press a button to get coffee. Maybe those auto grind and drip coffee makers work well. but im gonna try the filter water first.

What coffee do you guys use?
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
auto grind makers tend to be spining blade cheapo grinders.

just use enough folgers or whatever and see how it works out. people tend to underscoop their servings.
 

everman

Lifer
Nov 5, 2002
11,288
1
0
The technivorm has been mentioned around coffeegeek.com, supposedly good temp control. Bunn would probably be a better choice, less expensive and awsome performance.

What you're looking for is good saturation of the coffee grounds, brew time in about 3-4mins, and a thermal carafe. And of course using fresh high quality beans is key (not Starbucks).

You can also try a french press, or vac pot. Both are cheap and can make high quality coffee.
 

SVT Cobra

Lifer
Mar 29, 2005
13,264
2
0
I like Cuisinart models, they make a good brew (all though its all in the beans), and they look wonderful on the counter.
 

everman

Lifer
Nov 5, 2002
11,288
1
0
Buy This

Insulated (no cooking the coffee making it bitter), fast brew time (water is pre-heated), great saturation of grounds, should be around $100.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,275
14,693
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I'm a "professional coffee drinker", and I've had Bunn Coffeemakers for about 15 years, and wouldn't have anything else...HOWEVER, a coffeemaker is only as good as the person making the coffee...and the sum of the ingredients. Bad water will make bad coffee. Bad coffee (beans or grounds) will make bad coffee, and a dirty pot will make bad coffee...Get a decent maker, and start with quality coffee, and filtered water (if your tap water smells or tastes bad)
 

thirdlegstump

Banned
Feb 12, 2001
8,713
0
0
This is how I do it..

Grind fresh gourmet beans of your choice

Put it in a coffee press

Pour in HOT spring water

Press

Serve black with no sugar.
 

everman

Lifer
Nov 5, 2002
11,288
1
0
Originally posted by: quackagator
Originally posted by: LookingGlass
Anyone know the shelf life for unground coffee beans?

Keep them in the freezer. They will last looong time

Not really. Roasted beans are at their peak for about 7 days. Past that they really degrade. Anything past 2 weeks is quite stale.

I can't really comment on freezing roasted beans, it's not a common practice among enthusiasts like myself. I prefer beans I just roasted.
 

djheater

Lifer
Mar 19, 2001
14,637
2
0
1) Coffeegeek.com

2) If price REALLY doesn't matter the best drip maker out there is the Technivorm as stated

3) If you're willing to take a chance and hope you don't get a smelly unit NOTHING beats the Presto It's the only machine in this price range that heats the water to the right temperature for maximum extraction.
 

SVT Cobra

Lifer
Mar 29, 2005
13,264
2
0
Originally posted by: quackagator
Originally posted by: LookingGlass
Anyone know the shelf life for unground coffee beans?

Keep them in the freezer. They will last looong time

oh god no!!! that dries out the oils in them and they lose flavor, just keep them in an air tight container.