I killed my coffee pot.

[pinto]

Actually the heating element burned out. So I'll plead to second degree or negligent coffeecide. Any ideas for replacement?

I've seen some blurbs about vacuum coffee makers and French press models. 2 - 3 cups works for me. What do you coffee drinkers use?

[grasswire]

1. french press, please

My favorite.

Although the current trend in specialty coffee is toward "pour-over" -- better known as "drip" -- cone.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

15. I'm also a fan of the French Press

It gives me one cup of coffee, brewed exactly the way I want it, in just a few minutes.

[elleng]

2. Melitta drip, and grind it every day.

[northoftheborder]

12. same here.

[spinbaby]

25. That's what we use

Makes great coffee and takes no counter space.

[Major Nikon]

3. I covered some brewing devices in a previous post

You can find it here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018270787

I'm sure I haven't made coffee in every way known to man, but there aren't too many I've missed. If you have any questions about a specific device I can help.

If you were happy with the coffee produced with your drip coffee maker, one thing you might want to consider is a temperature controlled hot water kettle and a clever coffee dripper. If you already have a hot water kettle, you can either turn it off before it gets to the boil, or just wait until it cools off for a bit before you start brewing.

The clever coffee dripper will brew about 10-15oz of coffee at a time.

I also like the Aeropress a lot, which can brew about one 10oz mug of coffee at a time. The Aeropress also requires a separate source to heat the water.

[pinto]

4. I think it was the Aeropress that I was looking at. Affordable and just enough.

Thanks for the mention.

[Major Nikon]

5. Lots of stuff on the youtubes about the aeropress

If you just follow the directions that come with it, you'll be fine although I like to use a hotter water temperature than what the directions call for (195-205F).

As far as single serve brewers go, it's a really great way to brew and the cleanup is quite easy. It comes with enough paper filters to last you a very long time and there's also 3rd party metal filters available.

[hlthe2b]

6. Turn it off before it gets to the boil, or just wait until it cools-->>>>> or live at altitude

The hottest I can get water is 200 degrees F...

[Major Nikon]

7. That's just about the perfect temperature for most coffee

Many (if not most) drip coffee makers like the $10 Mr. Coffee will only heat water to about 180-185F which is not hot enough.

[Warpy]

9. Also for tea

Water boils at 200 at my altitude, too.

It makes dyeing wool a little more challenging. I got a commercial induction hob for my dyepots and set it at 190. So far, it seems to be doing the job beautifully.

[northoftheborder]

13. Interesting

[hlthe2b]

8. I have had the least expensive Nespresso (expresso single serve) machine for about 6 years now...

I love it--as I dearly love my lattes, but you do have to order the coffee cups from nespresso...

I also drink drip coffee and am very happy using a pour over system as my drip maker is on its last legs. I have a really good multiple temperature water kettle and the pitcher that came with the pour-over filter can go right into the refrig, if I want to keep remaining coffee for an iced brew later on... Handy and cuts waste!

[sir pball]

20. You can buy refillable capsules on Amazon.

They aren't airtight, so you don't want to store them filled, but if I owned a pod machine I'd be using them:

http://www.amazon.com/Refillable-Capsule-for-Nespresso-5-Pack/dp/B007SJEGVK

[hlthe2b]

21. Unfornutately, I've heard from friends, that some of these can fail (leak)

and that some don't allow the pressure to release reliably, thereby causing a "mini" and very messy explosion in the machine....

Given I don't want to risk having to replace my machine, I'm afraid to take a chance.

[Galileo126]

10. A sad day...

I had a Proctor-Silex coffee maker for 13 yrs, and the heating element went out. So, I bought a Cuisinart coffee maker, and after 2 yrs, the heating element went out. Fearing the worst (planned obsolesce, so that we'd all buy new shit), I bought another Cuisinart coffee maker. Anyways, it's been 5 yrs, with no issues. I think the original Cuisinart was a factory lemon. Just plain bad luck.

However, having a French press waiting in the wings saved my morning immensely! Boil water, pour over fresh grinds, steep, press, serve!

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. we moved to French Press 15 years ago and haven't looked back!

combine that with roasting your own beans...and coffee simply can't get better!

[intheflow]

14. It's too bad you don't live closer to me.

We have five or six spare coffee makers: one I brought when I moved in with my SO, and the rest have been given to him by his sister whose office buys a new coffee maker every year for some unknown reason. Since she can't bear to throw them away, she gives them to us.

I loved my pre-relationship coffee maker. It held as much coffee in it's belly as a regular 12-cup coffee carafe, but it dispensed it a cup at a time. I miss it. But concessions must be made in every relationship and I'd pick my battles.

[wildeyed]

16. I used French press for years until I found out that it raises cholesterol.

So I stopped. Aeropress is great, but you will use more coffee with that method, so it is not particularly cost effective in the long term. I made actual espresso for a few years, but it got too labor intensive. Currently I use a cheap Brew Station. It makes two cups of coffee, very hot, and the second cup does not taste burned, even if I wait a few hours between cups. So it is convenient and cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Z4RKYU/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[sinkingfeeling]

17. I'm on my second Cuisinart 12-cup Brew Central. Had the first one, used twice

a day, every day, for more than 10 years. When it's element burned out, I replaced it with a clone.

[Kali]

18. I have no taste when it comes to coffee (I am like a coors drinker to beer aficionados)

(I can drink instant and my usual brand is Folgers or even Safeway store swill when the price is several dollars lower than Folgers) but even I LOVE the coffee from a French press. Try one!

[sir pball]

19. French Press. If you're made of money though, the Nespresso Pro lines are amazing.

Not the regular Nespresso machines with the plastic-cup pods; the Pro line is a completely different beast - it's much more robust, faster, and higher pressure, and it uses these great little vacuum-sealed foil pods that look like UFOs. It's rapidly replacing even $15K espresso machines at high-end restaurants and coffeeshops, but the base machine is still a bit pricey. But if you can afford it, I'd recommend it over anything else.

[cbayer]

22. Well, you know my DH, a true coffee connoisseur likes this contraption.

If you like your coffee strong, that's the way to go, imo.

And if you like cappuccino, you also have to get one of these:

[pinto]

24. Yeah, he makes a good cup. Looked at some of those.

[pinto]

23. Thanks for the ideas / suggestions all.

I've found some inexpensive options on line, both French press and home espresso makers. Often wondered why I had a huge 12 cup coffee maker - I'm single and most of my friends and family don't drink caffeinated coffee.

[The empressof all]

26. Normally we use the Capresso Grind and Brew

It's a fabulous machine...

However since I've been without my kitchen I confess to enjoying a Keurig. It's been great for the instant hot water for tea plus I get to enjoy a cup of brewed decaf anytime I want without a great deal of fuss. Costco carries San Fran keurig pods at a reasonable price and they taste fine. If I really have to have the good stuff I run down to Cafe Ladro.

[Kablooie]

27. Two great coffee maker choices here:

Conair - Cuisine Grind & Brew 10-Cup Coffeemaker
It grinds beans and brews great coffee in one step and is easy to clean.
On sale for $35 at Best Buy
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/cuisine-grind-brew-10-cup-coffeemaker/1794299.p?id=1219064721240&skuId=1794299&st=conair%20coffee&cp=1&lp=1

Also the Aerobie Aeropress
Amazing coffee and only $25 on Amazon
http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm

[shireen]

28. question for French Press people

what kind of grinder do you use?

I've read that the best grinder for that technique is a burr grinder, which are quite expensive.

Do you use blade or burr?