Need coffee machine advice

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Cabages

Platinum Member
Jan 1, 2006
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Ive never owned a coffee machine. Ive usually just bought some cheap stuff from gas stations, and its done me pretty well.

Ive been looking to get one recently, but my circumstances are kind of different than most peoples. My family hates coffee. It would be a major thing if they found out I was drinking it.

Do most machines emanate a strong smell of coffee when they are brewing? Or is it just the coffee that is brewed that has the smell?

I want a single serve type machine, mostly because I will probably just drink a cup every morning. Ive been looking at this one on amazon. It seems to have good reviews. It seems like a good place for me to start off, being it so cheap, and it will give me a feel for what I like.

Im not too concerned with quality so much. I usually had french vanilla stuff from a local gas station last year, but ive moved and need to get my coffee from somewhere else.

Any suggestions?
 
0roo0roo

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
any cheap coffee maker will do. single serving its best to get a single serving maker though, bigger models even if cheaper might not get the water hot enough fast enough for small amount going through. really nice big ones sometimes have a single serving mode though. that being said, you need to get a window fan(one of those rectangular twin 20"~ fans) of some sort and set it to exhaust because coffee... it smells pretty strong no matter what you do with it.

simple one that dumps coffee into a cup or a mug and uses a simple #2 cone filter is good enough. ~15-30 bucks should do. quality of coffee is the more important factor. and quality of grind, either buy pre ground or use a burr grinder. spinning blade grinders do a hackjob and make for uneven grounds=uneven over/under extraction for ickiness. self grinding can be a chore though, so buying preground is fine for most. most n00bs do use too little grounds though, be generous or it'll taste watered down.
 
LordNoob

LordNoob

Senior member
Nov 16, 2003
998
8
81
Buy an eleventy billion dollar espresso machine and convert your family to the dark side.
 
0roo0roo

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
Originally posted by: Howard
An electric kettle is pretty convenient. You can also get them cheap.
Click to expand...

yup

melitta perfect brew single cup
is about as simple as it gets. thats a lazy link for a 12pack:p, at places like bed bath and beyond it costs 3-4bucks for a single brewer. i have one and it works pretty well, you can vary the strength by how much water you put in and how fast. it can make quite strong coffee
 
A

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
2
71
Coffee machines are ridiculous, redundant, undesirable contraptions.

All that is required are ground beans (bulk self-serve is good) and water at a 2:1 ratio, "cold-brewed" in a sealed glass container for 12 hours. Filter to produce a low-acid concentrate to be used at a ratio of 3:1 with hot water or milk. With this method there is minimal claptrap, effort or expense and even cheap beans produce smooth coffee.

I recommend filtered water and non-bleached cone filters. Any big ol' glass jar or pitcher will do for brewing and likewise for filtering into. A Melita No.4 or equivalent funnel makes filtering simple. The concentrate can last for weeks refrigerated or longer frozen (in cubes for ease of use).
 
RallyMaster

RallyMaster

Diamond Member
Dec 28, 2004
5,581
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I do believe the best way is to get more exercise instead of intaking so much caffeine. But who am I to say? I inject Monster Khaos into my system on a weekly basis.
 
0roo0roo

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
Originally posted by: Auric
Coffee machines are ridiculous, redundant, undesirable contraptions.

All that is required are ground beans (bulk self-serve is good) and water at a 2:1 ratio, "cold-brewed" in a sealed glass container for 12 hours. Filter to produce a low-acid concentrate to be used at a ratio of 3:1 with hot water or milk. With this method there is minimal claptrap, effort or expense and even cheap beans produce smooth coffee.

I recommend filtered water and non-bleached cone filters. Any big ol' glass jar or pitcher will do for brewing and likewise for filtering into. A Melita No.4 or equivalent funnel makes filtering simple. The concentrate can last for weeks refrigerated or longer frozen (in cubes for ease of use).
Click to expand...

true true, i forgot about cold brewing. also works with my suggested melitta filter cup cone thingy:)
 
Z

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
I have a Senseo that I got for free. In the beginning I hated the coffee that it brewed as it did not have the strong coffee taste. I didn't realize it but I was using inferior coffee pods until I came across some websites stating this fact. I ordered the large pods and I'm in heaven now.
 
IGBT

IGBT

Lifer
Jul 16, 2001
17,967
140
106
..Cuisinart drip machine. Industrial quality. About 60.00 at costco.
 
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Dunbar

Platinum Member
Feb 19, 2001
2,041
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0
I would just go with a single serving maker like you posted. It won't brew great coffee but it doesn't sound like that is what you are expecting. Why would it be a "major thing" if your family "found out" you were drinking coffee?
 
K

KillerCharlie

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2005
3,691
68
91
Originally posted by: Dunbar
I would just go with a single serving maker like you posted. It won't brew great coffee but it doesn't sound like that is what you are expecting. Why would it be a "major thing" if your family "found out" you were drinking coffee?
Click to expand...

It looks like the OP lives in Utah. My guess is that Mormon family members are against drinking coffee.
 
B

biggestmuff

Diamond Member
Mar 20, 2001
8,201
2
0
Originally posted by: Cabages
Ive never owned a coffee machine. Ive usually just bought some cheap stuff from gas stations, and its done me pretty well.

Ive been looking to get one recently, but my circumstances are kind of different than most peoples. My family hates coffee. It would be a major thing if they found out I was drinking it.
Click to expand...

Okay. We need the background on this. Now!
 
Q

quikah

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2003
4,178
729
126
Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Originally posted by: Cabages
Ive never owned a coffee machine. Ive usually just bought some cheap stuff from gas stations, and its done me pretty well.

Ive been looking to get one recently, but my circumstances are kind of different than most peoples. My family hates coffee. It would be a major thing if they found out I was drinking it.
Click to expand...

Okay. We need the background on this. Now!
Click to expand...

his profile says he is in Utah, most likely his family is Mormon, so no caffeine. I am guessing his family is very devout, while he is not.
 
C

Cabages

Platinum Member
Jan 1, 2006
2,918
0
0
Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
Originally posted by: Dunbar
I would just go with a single serving maker like you posted. It won't brew great coffee but it doesn't sound like that is what you are expecting. Why would it be a "major thing" if your family "found out" you were drinking coffee?
Click to expand...

It looks like the OP lives in Utah. My guess is that Mormon family members are against drinking coffee.
Click to expand...

Wow, good guess. Completely right.

Ya. Im living with my grandparents while going to college, and I would rather not test the waters just yet. Im already stressing it as it is, as I havent been to church at all since I moved up here. I should probably break out of this rutt though. For christs sake im in college and im scared to brew a cup of coffee, and that they might enforce a curfew if I stay out late:confused:

I tried doing the free senseo thing. Seemed like a great way to get a single serving machine for cheap, and to really find out what I liked and disliked about all of it. Its been about 2 weeks since I applied for it though, and I thought I would start looking at my options.

Ill see if I can find a keurig for a cheaper price, and possibly consider that. Thanks also for the link to the coffee review place. Ill also try and see if there is a way I can get hot water.

I'll just keep my head up and consider possibilities. Guy I work with said he got a $20 one at wal-mart that I might go check out.
 
A

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
2
71
I assumed Mormon too... without checking profile.

What's that? Don't mind if I do :cookie: ;)
 
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