help me choose a new coffee maker.

[strat81]

Originally Posted By: dareo
Drip brew coffee can never match up to a press in anything other than convenience.


I do not understand this statement, or perhaps I disagree with it.

Drip and press both require you to pour water into a reservoir.

Drip and press both require you to add coffee grinds.

Drip and press take roughly the same amount of time.

The slight edge to a drip machine in terms of convenience is that it is automatic. That is, on a french press, I have to push the plunger down myself after the coffee is done brewing.

OTOH, the french press is far easier to clean. While the basket and carafe of a drip machine are easy to clean, the machine itself is not. Some require significant disassembly, others cannot be disassembled at all which means scale, mold, mildew, and general crud will build up. Of course, you can always run chemicals through your coffee machine to clean it.

Ever see the inside of one of those commercial Bunn machines? *barf*

I think the most convenient is a hard-plumbed K-cup machine, but this yields the least desirable product at the highest cost.

 

[dareo]

^I guess you are right. I haven't drip brewed for years and forgot all those little details. I am lazy and don't like cleaning out the press pot, but i guess it is comparable to other methods.

 

[strat81]

Originally Posted By: dareo
I haven't drip brewed for years


Then you're doing it right. A man of fine tastes, you are.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: bigt61
My Mr Coffee 4 cup is 18 years old. Simple on-off and makes great coffee. Simple is better IMO for longevity, but some makers just don't make good coffee. That would be the bottom line for me, good coffee. Read the customer reviews on Amazon.


Those have excellent reviews from Consumer Reports. A modest price compared to the other ones with similar rankings. A local store has them on sale for $10, regular price $17.

 

[UncleS2]

I'm on my 2nd Mr. Coffee 4(or 5) cup coffeemaker. The first was a gift from my Mom, it went 11 or 12 years & then finally even several good cleanings didn't help it. I liked so well that I immediately went out & bought its descendant. That currently used one is at least one generation behind the ones they sell now, certainly over 5 yrs old. Plain old on/off, small basket filters, & IMO works very well & makes good coffee. I'm sure the Coffee Snobs will disagree, though. Next one I may spring for the fancier, 45-minute shutoff model.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: UncleS2
I'm on my 2nd Mr. Coffee 4(or 5) cup coffeemaker. The first was a gift from my Mom, it went 11 or 12 years & then finally even several good cleanings didn't help it. I liked so well that I immediately went out & bought its descendant. That currently used one is at least one generation behind the ones they sell now, certainly over 5 yrs old. Plain old on/off, small basket filters, & IMO works very well & makes good coffee. I'm sure the Coffee Snobs will disagree, though. Next one I may spring for the fancier, 45-minute shutoff model.


I have the same coffeemaker. It makes a solid cup of coffee. Even the MIL, who knows her way around a cup of coffee, agrees. For the $13 or so I spent on it, I'm quite happy. I've probably spent more on filters than I have on the coffeemaker itself!