opinions: best under-$200 coffee maker...

[Chadtuba]

http://www.gevalia.com/Gevalia%C2%AE-Pr ... tml?start= I've been using this coffee maker for the last 10+ years and have absolutely no complaints. I did take a one year break from it when I received a Keuring but I'm back to the trusted drip maker.

[bort]

I'm not sure how important the brands are...

But I have a cuisinart something-or-another which works just fine. The trick is to buy a vacuum insulated ("Thermos-style") carafe, and move the coffee into that after it's finished brewing. Then you will have hot coffee all day long, without the gross gas-station-like "this coffee has been kept warm all day" flavor.

[bort]

I'll admit, that's what I do, too. My wife, however, drinks her coffee much more slowly...

Here's the machine we use:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/p ... 1044238100" target="_blank

All the dials and switches look fancy, but it's just a plain ol' coffee maker. We've had it 5+ years, and not a single issue.

One other thought, though it's not important to everybody... If you've got a few extra dollars to spend on coffee gear, I'd suggest getting a burr grinder and using whole beans. It's a small extra step, but I think it makes a lot of difference in the quality. Even Eight O'Clock coffee tastes better this way.

That said, although I really like really good coffee, I'll drink just about anything in the morning!

[bort]

Comes with a metal cone filter similar to this. Like the coffee pot, just wash and reuse ad infinitum.

[michael_glenn]

Use a French press. Get yourself a grinder too. Grind the beans yourself, and use a French press. Using the metal mesh of the French press, you retain the natural oils of the coffee, and it will taste less bitter. When you use a paper filter, it soaks up all the natural oils, and it removes a lot of good flavor. I once upon a time worked at Starbucks. For the BEST results, do it this way.

[tofu]

Use a French press. Get yourself a grinder too. Grind the beans yourself, and use a French press. Using the metal mesh of the French press, you retain the natural oils of the coffee, and it will taste less bitter. When you use a paper filter, it soaks up all the natural oils, and it removes a lot of good flavor. I once upon a time worked at Starbucks. For the BEST results, do it this way.

Which one would you recommend? Prices seem to be all over the place.

[Guest User]

Here you are, Mr. Bloke.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/top-rated/home-garden/289749

[Dan Schultz]

I drink quite a bit of coffee. So do the folks who visit my home. I buy whatever is on sale... Mr. Coffee, Norelco, etc. After all... the only real requirement is a basket to hold ground coffee beans and a device to run boiling water through the grounds. Turn the machine off as soon as the water is through the grounds, dump the grounds, and turn the machine off. Sure... the coffee will get cold but that's wee hat the microwave is for! Iced coffee during Summer is good, too.

[sousaphone68]

I too would recommend a french press jug.
We currently own and don't use a tassimo coffee machine a high pressure barrista machine and a drip filter machine but keep returning to the stainless steel double walled french press jug.

[iiipopes]

The Black & Decker $18 12-cup pot at Wal-Mart. Reliable, cheap, gets the water hot enough to make good coffee.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/16456530?wmls ... 12&veh=sem" target="_blank

[bisontuba]

You can't go wrong with Krups......
Mark

[bort]

You can't go wrong with Krups......
Mark

A perfect Krup every time!

[Rick Denney]

http://www.amazon.com/Melitta-Ready-Sin ... B0014CVEH6

This ought to be cheap enough for Bloke.

And it makes actually excellent coffee, even with those paper filters. Just pour boiling water over it, and let gravity do the rest. You'll need to fill it twice for those big mugs, though.

I use Illy espresso-grind medium or dark roast, which makes coffee with a lot of body but without the Starbucks over-roasted flavor.

http://www.illy.com/wps/wcm/connect/en/ ... r-espresso

Rick "thinking this owns the 'best under $10 coffee maker' category" Denney

[Donn]

gets the water hot enough to make good coffee.

As unlikely as it might seem, I think I've read that this is not the case with many "coffee makers", and you have to do the research rather than assume that just because some large corporation makes a device to heat water for coffee, they'll surely manage to get this simple task right.

Ideally, user should be able to set temperature, according to taste and according to the coffee, since ideal brewing temperature depends on the coffee.

[iiipopes]

gets the water hot enough to make good coffee.

As unlikely as it might seem, I think I've read that this is not the case with many "coffee makers", and you have to do the research rather than assume that just because some large corporation makes a device to heat water for coffee, they'll surely manage to get this simple task right.

Ideally, user should be able to set temperature, according to taste and according to the coffee, since ideal brewing temperature depends on the coffee.

Yes, indeed. For each coffee, there is a narrow temperature window for brewing good coffee below which is tepid and above which is bitter, usually @190-195*F.

[Three Valves]

$200 coffee makers??

I'm in the wrong business!!

[PMeuph]

I own one of those Melitta cone filters, like Rick posted, and I enjoy it. It's my main coffee source(1-2 cups every day)

I also use a bodum like this:

A Bodum: http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-1-Li ... ords=bodum" target="_blank

http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-2-Li ... CGQJ3MZZCW" target="_blank

The second one might be a better size for your needs. The only secret with a bodum is to make sure you stir your coffee before pressing down the pump.

Last I own one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Primula-Aluminum- ... W68SF29H4W" target="_blank

It's great if you like espresso, but probably not sizeable enough for an everyday solution.

[Donn]

Last I own one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Primula-Aluminum- ... W68SF29H4W" target="_blank" target="_blank

It's great if you like espresso, but probably not sizeable enough for an everyday solution.

I used one a lot years ago, and if I were starting over from scratch I'd seriously consider it instead of the rather more expensive real espresso machines. It's what Italians use at home, I hear. It isn't a whole lot like real espresso, but it's pretty intense. I got tired of replacing gaskets. They come in a wide range of sizes, and it makes sense to have a couple sizes to accommodate different numbers of coffee drinkers. The most common make is Bialetti. I'd take the money I saved on these simple devices and spend it on a good grinder.

[bort]

Bodum looks nice... but if (er, when!) the glass breaks, it's just as expensive to buy a new piece of glass as it is to buy a whole new french press.

This is what Mrs. Bort bought long ago... it's not cheap, after breaking one Bodum, and knowing more would follow later... this seemed to be the more economical route. Built to LAST! http://www.amazon.com/Frieling-Polishe ... et="_blank

[Rick Denney]

' something like a French press...??

Um, no. More like a $5 piece of molded plastic. But it works.

Rick "who uses a two-tablespoon scoop per cup, but who likes his coffee...robust" Denney