Good Coffee & Good Inexpensive Machines?

[BigEd]

For your drip maker I highly recommend Capresso. Currently have the CoffeeTeam GS. I’ve probably had a Capresso for nearly 30 years. I think I’m on my 3 rd one because they have excellent customer service. If it dies they will fix it but also for a few dollars more they just send you a new one. Makes great freshly ground coffee.

Capresso

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[pinem]

This has gotten all over the place - you bought this stuff and a "Moka" pot? And this is all for your wife to learn? And she isn't much of a coffee drinker?

The 10 cup is overkill, most Chemex recipes you'll want to reference are 8 cup, some 6 cup, and yes, you can do all the math, but you'll just have coffee getting cold in general and getting colder faster in a 10 cup and it will be wasted. The Moka pot also a bit specialized, IMO, for someone as you've described.

As said, the Chemex will take a fair amount of time and experimentation to get consistent results and can't really comment on the Moka pot, but it's a bit afield of where you said you wanted to go.

If she is or really wants to be a coffee nerd I suppose she'll love it, otherwise you should just get her a new car so she can go get herself coffee at a drive through in style.

Sigh. It really is a rabbit hole. I was in the same position as the OP about 3 years ago, and here I am with a Technivorm (with tweaks), Fellow Ode grinder, Timemore scale, and the coffee is only marginally better than when I had a Mr. Coffee and a blade grinder. Oh, and now things are too complex for my wife to make coffee. Sigh.

Unfortunately the biggest problem with most all reasonably priced drip machines is that they are all planned obsolescence chinesium junk in the end. As far as I know, only the overpriced Technivorm machines are repairable, but they are all flawed with poorly designed shower heads that don't evenly wet the grinds. So you are then either babysitting the machine with a spoon to mix the grinds or buying other dohickies to rectify the issue.

A base unit Mr. Coffee with preground Gevalia isn't that bad, if you are okay with a bit of stale coffee taste. It's simple, and it works good enough. FYI, the consistency of a Gevalia grind can only be achieved with industrial ball mills (or something like that). You cannot fit one of those in your house, I don't think, and nothing on the commercial market can match them for grind consistency. It's why Illy and Lavazza coffee is so good also for coming preground.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

I'm in the southeast and enjoy buying from my area, or close it - as much as I can. Luckily I have a friend who is a local roaster and supplies me.
For specialty, some of my favorites are: B&W, Methodical, BrandyWine, Prodigal, Onyx, Sey, Jaunt,.. there's so many, but these are some of my favorites (and some of the more popular).
As far as open bags, I keep a funky anaerobic open and a more straightforward roast At all times. Light roast only, one of each. Perfect balance for the week.

 

[BigEd]

I know a lot of people who swear by Black Rifle Coffee Co. I think it’s owned and run by Vets?

Black Rifle is a great company. They support a lot of the things that are important to me. I wish I liked their coffee. I’ve really tried to. I’ve been drinking Community Coffee for years. Even before it was widely available. I still order it from the company and get a shipment but if I run out I can get it at the grocery store too. Only coffee I’ve ever found that tastes as good as it smells.

https://www.communitycoffee.com

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Sigh. It really is a rabbit hole. I was in the same position as the OP about 3 years ago, and here I am with a Technivorm (with tweaks), Fellow Ode grinder, Timemore scale, and the coffee is only marginally better than when I had a Mr. Coffee and a blade grinder. Oh, and now things are too complex for my wife to make coffee. Sigh.

Unfortunately the biggest problem with most all reasonably priced drip machines is that they are all planned obsolescence chinesium junk in the end. As far as I know, only the overpriced Technivorm machines are repairable, but they are all flawed with poorly designed shower heads that don't evenly wet the grinds. So you are then either babysitting the machine with a spoon to mix the grinds or buying other dohickies to rectify the issue.

A base unit Mr. Coffee with preground Gevalia isn't that bad, if you are okay with a bit of stale coffee taste. It's simple, and it works good enough. FYI, the consistency of a Gevalia grind can only be achieved with industrial ball mills (or something like that). You cannot fit one of those in your house, I don't think, and nothing on the commercial market can match them for grind consistency. It's why Illy and Lavazza coffee is so good also for coming preground.

Bonavita came out with a drip machine that was the last one I owned and it was pretty good - looks like they still have something along the same lines and updated, I assume a few times, that gives good temp and the one I had was good at saturating, but I tried a Chemex and learned how to use it and haven't really looked back, although again, Kalita and Melitta I have for single use and enjoy as well.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Black Rifle is a great company. They support a lot of the things that are important to me. I wish I liked their coffee. I’ve really tried to. I’ve been drinking Community Coffee for years. Even before it was widely available. I still order it from the company and get a shipment but if I run out I can get it at the grocery store too. Only coffee I’ve ever found that tastes as good as it smells.

Same - great company and now readily available around here at the farm supply store and one convenience store, but . . . the coffee for me wasn't as good as what I get elsewhere and never all that fresh.

Forgot to mention Iron Bean that I was introduced to courtesy of @Streeper541 - fun bunch and good coffee!

 

[telescopes]

I drink my coffee black and from a percolator. I am not adverse to roasting my own beans and grinding them but I am just as happy getting the ground stuff out of a Folgers can. I drink it daily and I don’t care if I roasted the beans myself or not. For me, coffee is medicine.

 

[Sigmund]

It took some work to find decent coffee in France. I was from the Pacific NW so coffee was a big deal. French coffee is good for espresso but to make normal coffee its all pretty bad. You have to make in a caffine bomb to have any backbone. Finally I epxerimented with Italian blends and settled on a Lavazza blend. Its nice coffee. I buy it preground. For cold brew coffee in the summer I grind my own. Cold brew is tasty. Im looking forward to it with some HU Makhuwa this summer.

 

[cshubhra]

I probably still drink coffee more for the caffeine and less for the taste. Having said that, I have developed a taste for it.

I have never enjoyed coffee from the fancy machines. I have a Keurig at home, and find Jura, Keurig, Nespresso, and many others which I don’t know the name to produce a sub-par coffee. I find these in hotel rooms, offices, etc…

For a machine I like the simplicity and convenience of a drip which produces an extremely flavorful coffee. I have never tried a French Press or a Bialetti type espresso. Probably I will like them.

In general a shot of espresso is kind of comparable to a cheap tequila shot. Very useful when you are trying to consume a lot of caffeine in a very short time. When I was younger I would order more espresso ️

I like a good bean. Interestingly our local Costco carries a lot of interesting beans. Some well known (Like Peet’s Major D blend), and others like Mayorga, single origin Columbia, single origin Peru, etc… I maintain a rotation of different types of beans Costco sells.

Also, I keep a bag of pre-ground Sello Roso Colombian handy if I am in a hurry. I also keep some K-Cups for emergencies.

Finally … I use Nestle purified waster (The ones come in 5 gallon jars) for all my coffee, tea, cooking and drinking needs.

 

[jpmcwjr]

<< Snipped bits out >> I like french press but the oils it leaves gives me indigestion. French press coffee also raises bad cholesterol.

Can you please give more information re: cholesterol? A cite or two? Please.

 

[fireground_piper]

Can you please give more information re: cholesterol? A cite or two? Please.

Yeah, from much of my research there isn't really a clear connection. I'm now 40, physically active and of healthy weight but I have high cholesterol (thank you genetics). I've discussed my coffee consumption with my doctor a few years ago and while coffee was not a concern of his, the immediate question he asked me was "what do you put in your coffee" which at the time I responded with sugar and half and half. It was kind of like a rhetorical question he presented me........it's not the coffee, but the stuff I put in the coffee. As a result, I did reduce my sugar and went to 1% or 2% milk since then as part of a few food/drink choice changes in my life in an attempt to stay off medication for as long as possible.

That's my anecdotal feedback anyway.

 

[Sigmund]

Just google this (French press and colestrol) and there are many articles. Granted it doesnt raise it a lot and it takes like 5 cups to matter. My reason to stop was increased indigestion using a French press. im not too concerned about a few points ldl

 

[Briar Lee]

In the middle nineties a friend of mine and our wives had a coffee contest.

Not expresso, a coffee contest.

A Chemex pot won, using 8 o’clock coffee.

We liked it so much we used my Bunn Coffee Maker to brew up a lot of it.

If you keep a Bunn clean it lasts for decades. That’s why all the true, the waitress keeps your cup full truck stops use nothing else.

Dave Dudley didn’t ever use, a French press.

 

[El Capitán]

I drink Gaviña espresso and use a stove top percolator. Cheap machine, good espresso to make cafecitos.

 

[jpmcwjr]

<< Snipped bits out >>.....it's not the coffee, but the stuff I put in the coffee. As a result, I did reduce my sugar and went to 1% or 2% milk since then as part of a few food/drink choice changes in my life in an attempt to stay off medication for as long as possible.

That's my anecdotal feedback anyway.

Makes total sense. One thing I love about the steam wand is that it converts the milk to be sweeter; thus, no sugar. So I feel ok using whole (4%) milk instead of skim.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Just google this (French press and colestrol) and there are many articles. Granted it doesnt raise it a lot and it takes like 5 cups to matter. My reason to stop was increased indigestion using a French press. im not too concerned about a few points ldl

It's "not done" to reply "google it" when asked to back up one's statement.

I simply don't believe that a press pot pulls out more bad cholesterol than drip, pour over, etc.

It's up to you to back up your statement.

 

[kcghost]

You can get decent coffee out of a Mr. Coffee (or similar product). You'll gave to either buy pre-ground beans or get a grinder. You don't have to spend all of your children's inheritance.

 

[lraisch]

Ten million truck stops and greasy spoon cafes can’t all be wrong!

Buy a Bunn!

View attachment 271461

Yes, they can!

 

[lraisch]

@woodsroad & @lraisch like Chemex style?

Coffee Brewing Methods: The Best Ways To Brew Coffee At Home

From pour over to cold brew, there’s a coffee brewing method for everyone's unique tastes and preferences. But, with so many ways to brew coffee at home, it can be hard to know which method is right for you. In this post, we'll review the coffee brewing methods that we believe produce the best...

luckygoatcoffee.com

Chemex is not something I considered before.

Equipment

Lucky Goat Coffee Company is a coffee roaster, wholesaler, distributor, online retailer, and café serving high-quality beverages.

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As I mentioned I do already own a French Press, trying Chemex certainly looks inexpensive, the glass pots and filters. I will certainly look into trying this.

BUT, for now, I need to figure out a good quality Drip Machine for the Mrs., hopefully there’s a consensus on good ones.

Thanks

I've never used a Chemex. I like making the coffee directly into the cup using a filter cone. I do have a pot and a larger cone for when company comes.

My son-in-law got interested in the idea of a "pour over" method and was surprised to find that was what I had been doing for 50 years.

My sister used a French press until she tried the filter cones and switched.

It may take a little practice to get consistent results, but I like the option to tailor the brew strength to my mood.

Anyone who can load, light and tamp a pipe to get a good smoke will have no problem!

 

[PipeIT]

Oh no, I thought I had all the arsenal! LOL

I need to get a Goose Neck Kettle...

Oooh found a nice Pour Over video, a little tech/geeky, but some really good info.

@Sigmund I saw some filter methods using a French Press, my understanding making it healthier.

@HawkeyeLinus Sorry for the confusion, I’m looking at being the coffee geek, my wife not so.

@BigEd For now, I decided to not go with a Drip Machine, I’m just going to study French Press and Pour Over for now. But thanks, I’ll look at the Capresso for possibly down the road.

@pinem French Press I’ve done in the past I liked better than Drip.

@kcghost I’m not spending that much, the Baratza Encore is the only expensive piece, and I already own a Bodum French Press. I’m definitely not going over the top, but it’s like the varied pipe smokers we have here, smoking pipes, blends and lighters at various costs for various reasons.

I also believe to start out anything, like pipe smoking, at lower cost, with something that will deliver some quality. Good bang for your buck as they say. No point in starting out on a $500 pipe when you’ve never smoked before, you have nothing to gauge it against.

I always start out everything lower price and work my way up, that why you can appreciate and tell the difference, and if there really is one, and if it’s all worth the extra costs too.

It took me almost 3 years before I started smoking more expensive pipes, especially to make sure, I really knew how to smoke them good and take care of them, and get the most out of them.

I guess the last thing that can be said. if you have money to burn, then you can always start at the top, but then, you may never be able to fully appreciate the differences.