Reddit mentions: The best coffee machines

Well this is gonna get kinda long and will only scratch the surface but I'll break down the pros and cons of some of the most popular entry-level gear in as un-confusing of a way as I can. First up, let's look at grinders.

First off, you want a burr grinder, particularly a conical burr grinder because those blender-y blade grinders they sell at wal-mart for $5 don't get any kind of a consistent grind. Varying sizes in a grind means varying levels of extraction in the cup and that means off flavors. Because burr grinders are more expensive, hand crank conical burr grinders are commonly recommended to beginners because of their lower price point compared to similar quality electrics. They're cheap and work well but do have some drawbacks beyond the extra effort involved in grinding. First, most of them don't have actual grind settings and you adjust the grind size by twisting a wheel until it looks as fine/coarse as you want it to. If you use different brew methods and switch grind size a lot, this can be a bit of a pain. Second, most hand grinders aren't ideal for french press because of the way the burrs are stabilized; they'll give fantastic fine/medium grinds but the coarse grind is a tad inconsistent. That said, I use a hand grinder for french press all the time and am relatively happy with the results. A few common ones are:

The Hario Skerton. I personally have one and love it. As I said, not perfect for french press but it's a durable daily driver that never lets me down and can do an espresso grind damn near as well as a $300 baratza

The hario mini is essentially the same grinder in a different, smaller package. Perfect for travel

The porlex JP-30 is a tad more expensive but has grind settings that, while unmarked, do "click" into place making adjusting grind coarseness a bit easier


If you wanted to go the electric route, I've seen refurbished Baratza encore grinders for around $100. This will give you a mediocre espresso grind but a perfect and much easier drip and french press grind


Next up: preparation methods

French presses use a metal mesh filter, which gives you all of the oils in the cup and lets a tiny bit of really fine coffee solids through, which gives the cup a rich, full-bodied, velvety character They're also very easy to use as there's pretty much one accepted way to brew in them. And here's Philly's own Todd Carmichael demonstrating it. As far as which one to buy, they're all pretty much the same: a glass tube with a stick in it and some mesh on the end of the stick. I like my sterlingpro a lot but the bodum chambord is hugely popular and looks just as nice. Even a cheapo will do the job just as well, though, even if it doesn't look as nice.

pourovers do essentially the same thing as a drip coffee machine just with a lot more input from you, which is good because all but the most ludicrously expensive drip machines are very inconsistent and don't work as well as just doing it your own damn self. With a pourover, you're going to use a kettle or measuring cup with a spout to pour the water over the grounds in a set amount of time (3-4 minutes depending on the grind size) and usually in a very specific manner. Because these use a paper filter, there are no oils or insoluble solids in the cup so the coffee is clearer, tastes cleaner and usually a bit brighter than french press coffee. Popular models include the Hario v60 which is one of the more finicky models. If you decide on one of these, be sure to use a gooseneck kettle like Mr. Carmichael was using in the french press video above. Slightly more forgiving are the kalita wave and the melitta both of which would work fine with a normal kettle so long as it has some type of pour spout. If you want something with very thick filters, so as to produce a very clear cup, and also looks very nice, the chemex is a beautiful thing that produces great coffee, has a built-in carafe, and can make more than one cup at a time. Really more of a replacement for a large-volume drip machine than most pourovers.

The Aeropress is an absurdly popular, extremely versatile, and very well priced coffee brewer which is essentially a huge syringe with a paper filter instead of a needle. There's a thousand recipes online with different ways to use it, all of which produce a different cup.



Also worth noting is that you may want a kettle with temperature control, coffee should be brewed at 195-205F, so knowing what temp your water is helps reduce a lot of the headaches of cooling off boiled water for a vague amount of time. This bonavita is a little on the pricey side but has temp control and a gooseneck, which is always useful

There are some very affordable burr grinders out there, and it's worth the investment. You'll use it pretty much everyday. Hand grinders can be very cheap, and work great. Hario Skerton is a popular choice (I've seen it around for cheaper, but this is at least what's on amazon). Plenty of options, all varying in price. There's a pretty decent burr grinder from Kona I've used before, which I got for like $20.

But manual grinding can take some time. And if you're like me, and you want some quick coffee in the morning, then it's worth investing in an electric. There are some pretty decent electric burr grinders out there. You really don't have to pay a fortune. Here are a few cheap options:

Capresso Infinity

Bodum Bistro

Baratza Encore

But you can get far snobbier than just grind...

What kind of water are you using? Hopefully filtered, not tap. And definitely not distilled, since you want some of those minerals for flavor. Now, if you want to get even fancier, try using these mineral packets. I think each packet mixes in with 1 gallon of distilled water. I haven't tried it myself (I just use a brita) but I've heard good things. The quality of water makes a huge difference. This was the first "eureka" moment for me, when I moved from tap to filtered.

Next, how are you making your coffee? There are some great, cheap equipment out there. In this sub, here are some pretty cheap and popular choices:

Aeropress

Chemex

Pour-over

French press

We're getting pretty deep in the rabbit hole, right? Not yet! How about measuring the weight of the coffee? Consistency is important. You need the same, proper coffee-to-water ratio for the best cup. You can find people debating over the best scales, some costing hundreds. I'd just get a cheap one if I were you. You can find some decent cheap ones from like $10 to $30. If you want the best bang for your buck, look into American Weigh Scales.

I guess I can mention temperature of water as well. You can get thermometers or even electric kettles with built-in thermometers (like this). I think temperature matters so much more for tea than coffee, but it's something you need to keep in mind for coffee as well.

Here's probably the most important thing, in my opinion: where are you getting your coffee? What is the roast date? Unless you're buying your coffee directly from the roaster, you're probably not buying freshly roasted beans. It makes a world of difference. Try finding a local roaster and getting your beans from them, freshly roasted.

I'm sure there's plenty of other ways you can splurge money on coffee, but I'll let you figure it out!

(edited to fix the links)

The method the MC is using here is the coffee drip/pour over method. The glass heating containers on the left are the siphon coffee makers.

When you're picking up coffee as a hobby, remember that you're going to go through a lot of batches of coffee that aren't good until you master your technique. You're also going to go through a lot of beans which just don't have the taste you're looking for (these make great gifts for other people).

For online subscriptions, I recommend https://one.mistobox.com/

For good coffee equipment, I recommend checking here.

If you want to do it like in Leblanc, then go with pour over coffee equipment.

You'll want to get a gooseneck electric kettle such as the bonavita model shown here.

Why a gooseneck like the one in the screenshot above? The gooseneck shape is very useful for limiting the amount of water coming out of your kettle while also allowing you to be far more accurate with how you pour your water than over a standard kettle. This is very important in the pour over method as how you pour does determine the taste of your final product. I also recommend electric kettles because having precise temperature controls is very important with trying to figure out the exact temperature at which to make your coffee.

If you want the pour over coffee method, you'll need one of the drippers/filters here.

Pour over method requires precise aim to ensure a good cup of coffee. Here you go!

If you want to do it through the siphon coffee method, I recommend this.

People love a good cup of coffee and becoming a master of such a skill will make you well loved by your SO. Its also a great topic and skill to teach others.

Proper coffee is drank black without milk, sugar, or cream (though depending on your culture you may add milk and cream). The reason for this is that these extra ingredients are typically used to cover up the taste of bad coffee. If you get good coffee beans and treat them right, you will be fine. Make sure you're using filtered water as well as bad tap water will heavily alter your taste with extra "flavors" you aren't looking for.

Head over to /coffee subreddit and they'll get you hooked!

Coffee making, like tea, is a relatively cheap and easy hobby to pick up while also being useful and a great topic of conversation. Its a useful skill as well and an easy way to impress a date or friends, though if you really want to impress people, learn to cook. Learning to cook is NEVER a bad idea.

Also make sure to buy a good UV-coated and airtight container to store your beans.

Some extra guides if you want to be super serious about coffee. 1, 2, 3.

My favorite thing about coffee as a "hobby" is that, like some have said, it's a hobby that isn't just a waste of money. Fresh beans are a huge 1st step, they really just have tons of flavors that change almost as you work through the bag, and sometimes I feel like the first sip of a french press is different than the middle, etc. For me the different methods I use just work better for different beans, I'm still figuring that out myself. I prefer to french press african beans, pour over on more typically "harsh" beans, and I'm still dialing in aeropress, but I feel like it takes a lot out of the coffee so it seems to work best if I'm like "hmm I'm not sure I like this bean", aeropress... oh nevermind it's great.

You could buy:

Good grinder ~$140

Scale $15

Kettle $25

And three interesting and different types of brewers:

Aeropress ~$30

V60 ~$20

French Press ~$20

That's all the gear for now, you're SET until you become a crazy coffee nut, but for me 90% of the coffee I make is in one of those 3 methods. I have a moka pot, and they're cool too. But that's $250 for gear, and you could probably save a bit with different grinder options but plan to drop the biggest amount of that.

Add in $20 for some high quality beans (S&W is great and their reddit discount is on this page somewhere) and you're around $270 to be brewing great coffee a few different ways. Now you have 4+ different coffees, 3 ways to make it, and the equipment to make sure you're doing it "right".

Okay that's a lot and I hate this "if you buy a cup of coffee a day" crap, but let's just say you drink work swill most of the time, but get a cup of coffee out 3x a week. At $3/cup maybe you tip a quarter each time, you pay off this stuff in 6 months and these things pretty much last forever.

The point is, yes, some of the costs of entry (specifically the grinder) can be a little daunting, and sometimes we get carried away, but overall, the cost of making great coffee at home is significantly less than going out. You're actually getting BETTER coffee too, trying different ways to make it, and enjoying yourself. Wow, okay rambling there. Good luck!

I think to best answer this request, we'll need a bit more info. Are you ok with a manual grinder, or do you prefer an electric grinder? Do you want a drip brewer or a pour over set up? Are you looking to get into espresso? And, what is your actual budget in your local currency?

And now for a guess at what might work for you...

A [Melitta Plastic Pour Over Dripper](https://www.amazon.com/Melitta-Ready-Single-Coffee-Brewer/dp/B0014CVEH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527536804&sr=8-1&keywords=mellita) $5 to $6 (a lot of grocery stores carry these in stock)

A box of #2 Cone filters at your local grocery store $2

If you want an automatic drip brewer, and you are making smaller amounts for just you, the [Bonavita 5 cup](https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1500TS-Carafe-Coffee-Stainless/dp/B00SK5IXPQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537674&sr=8-4&keywords=bonavita+brewer) is wroth a look. it runs about $66. I have the 8 cup for the wife and I and we love it.

Filters can be purchased, again, at your local grocery store for about $2.

[Brewista SmartPour Kettle w. Thermometer](https://www.amazon.com/Brewista-Variable-Temperature-Kettle-BKV12S02NA/dp/B01CFBBUVY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537033&sr=8-1&keywords=brewista%2Bsmart%2Bpour&th=1) $40. There are cheaper ones, but I personally have this one and have loved it.

[Scale](https://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ-4000-Compact-Digital-Adapter/dp/B004C3CAB8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537139&sr=8-1&keywords=Jennings+CJ4000) This is a must. $30

[Bratza Encore](https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B007F183LK/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1527537371&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=baratza+encore&psc=1&smid=A302OQK4GZWXCC) Grinder is the default recommendation around here, and for good reason. It's high quality, and easily serviceable. New they run $139, but you can save $40 and pick up a [refurb](https://www.baratza.com/product/encore-refurb/) (still with the 1 year warrantee) for $99 direct from Baratza.

If you want a cheaper option, and don't mind a manual hand grinder, there are a few options, but the [Hario Skerton Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Skerton-Ceramic-Grinder-MMCS-2B/dp/B01MXJI90S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527537536&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+skerton+pro) is about the lowest cost / still decent quality grinders, grinder that most would recommend. It runs about $60, and personally, I'd spend the extra $30 on an Encore refurb.

Happy Mug Beans are a pretty great option. I really enjoy the Big Foot Espresso blend (despite it's name) as a pour over, and even like it in my drip brewer. The Inspirational Artist Blend is a great option too. But really just try them out and see what you like. Their bags (for 1lbs of whole beans) run $11 - $13

Hope that helps.

Do you go to cafes together? I would suggest that you figure out her preference between coffee and espresso and then put your money into one or the other. I love both espresso and coffee but I would much rather have a good coffee machine in my house than an good espresso machine. I like trying different specialty coffee roasters and different single origin coffees. Try Intelligentsia, Stumptown, George Howell's Terroir or the roaster I work for Mocha Joe's. We all purchase high-end green coffee and have very talented coffee roasters.

A "really good coffee maker" isn't really an espresso machine. Coffee and Espresso definitely taste different, are "brewed" with very different techniques and espresso is usually a blend of several beans. Its not a great analogy but I guess you could think of coffee as milk chocolate and espresso as dark chocolate. They both come from cocoa beans but they taste very different.

I know it sounds like you really want a plumbed in machine but I'd highly suggest rethinking that and taking a look at the Technivorm. Its the only non-commerical coffee machine I know of that meets SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) standards. Most plumbed in machines are considered commercial and you have to be pretty careful about your water set-up and flow rate. Also if you don't have a good water filtration system on it, you are likely to get scale buildup inside the machine. Repairs are very expensive (I am a repair guy). Some commercial machines are also 220v and you would have to get a dedicated outlet put in to power them.

As for espresso machines, the Rancilio Silvia is pretty popular among coffee geeks. They are pretty well built and affordable. They are also fairly easy to mod if your wife is into that sort of thing. Good luck with everything, I hope you found some of this useful!

I started getting into coffee nearly a year and a half ago, and here is what I did to start:

I bought

• A Hario V60 02 Pour-Over Dripper ~$20, with filters, ~$30
  
  
• A Hario Buono Gooseneck Kettle ~$50
  
  
• A Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder ~$150
  
  
• A scale ~$25
  
  
• Freshly, locally roasted whole beans ~$10/lb. Dark roasts tend to be less acidic, sweeter, and have less caffeine (when brewed correctly); light roasts are the opposite: acidic, fruity, and more caffeine.
  
  Now, bear in mind that I knew that I loved coffee before I invested all this money into it; you should obviously really consider your situation and really get into "good" coffee before splurging on all of this equipment. I now have a French press, a moka pot, and am going to invest in an Aeropress soon, but I still prefer the pour-over method to any other coffee that I've had, thus why I recommend you go that route. It can take some definite getting used to and has a bit of a learning curve, but it is easily worth the effort (tutorial videos will help immensely.
  
  Keep in mind, you needn't buy exactly what I did. Shop around, see what you like and what is in your price range. I will say this, however: if you do go the pour-over method, go for the V60 or the Chemex, they are both easily the best on the market, and the same goes for the Buono kettle, though if necessary you can purchase a different kettle, just so long as it is a gooseneck (which is required to finely control the flow of water).
  
  Many other people will tell you to go with a French press. This is good advice as it has a very slight learning curve in comparison to pretty much every other method (besides maybe the Aeropress, depending on who you talk to): it is literally grinding the coffee coarsely and letting it sit in water for X-amount of time. It also does not take filters, is easy to clean, and is a relatively cheap initial investment (~$20). I like the Brazil model that Bodum makes.
  
  No matter which method you choose to brew with, there are three things that you should not underestimate the importance of (and thus should not skimp on):
  
  
• Freshly ground and roasted beans are a must. The fresher, the better.
  
• A blade grinder will always do a worse job of grinding than a burr grinder. It is worth it to spend the extra cash for a burr grinder right off the bat, as, if you get at all serious about coffee, you will eventually purchase one anyway, rendering your blade grinder useless and a waste of money in hindsight. Blade grinders make it nigh impossible to control how fine or coarse the grind is, which is one of the biggest variables in coffee brewing. There are absolutely cheaper models out there than the one that I linked to, especially if you get a manual one rather than the electric one that I own.
  
  
• A scale is essential. Coffee brewing is very much an exact science. Making sure the ratio of water to coffee is exact and being able to fine tune down to the gram/milliliter can create some of the biggest deviances between batches next to grind size. This cannot be overstated.
  
  Best of luck. There's a lot of good knowledge on this sub, on this sub's How to Coffee: A Primer, and on the Internet in general. Check it all out, pick your path, and enjoy the ride!

Honestly, the easiest way to start is probably an Aeropress and a decent kettle. Get a gooseneck early, then you won't have to buy a second kettle later if you decide to start playing with pour-overs. If you want to make boiling water a little more passive, get an electric one. I have this one and it works like a charm.

Another cheap starter option for brewing is the V60 and its various clones. The original is plastic, but this one is ceramic and only $20. It takes some practice to get pour-overs just right, but it's worth it. And for $20, it's not a bad way to give it a shot or just to have in your collection.

Grinders are a whole discussion. I have a Baratza Encore that I really like. It's easy to maintain and Baratza's support was pretty good to me when I needed them. If you want to go a little cheaper, you might consider a Skerton or Mini Mill.

For beans, have fun. There are a ton of places to get decent beans, and part of the fun is finding new places. There are a number of redditors that roast and will probably sell beans to you if you like. (Including me!) I would suggest some, but I actually skipped this part and went straight to roasting.

EDIT: Oh, and good luck. You're opening a door to a rabbit hole, now.

You are absolutely correct that coffee shouldn't be bitter. Generally, he shouldn't buy French roast, but anything in the light or even medium roast range should not be noticeably bitter. If it's too strong, he should just change the water to coffee ratio until it works for him. A good cup of coffee should be mellow and somewhat sweet even without cream and sugar.

Obviously everything tastes better if you add fat and a sweetener of some sort, though. I like heavy cream and ez-sweets, but before Keto I just drank it straight and was perfectly happy.

Cold brew is delicious, but expensive to brew in sufficient quantities to replace a 2-3 cup a day coffee habit, since you have to use something like 1:3 water/coffee. If you drink 24oz of coffee a day, that's a 12oz bag of beans every day and a half.

A lot of people like Aeropress, I find it cumbersome. Same with Chemex. I would ignore these, unless you want to deep dive into coffee purism.

Last year I switched from a french press to a Hario dripper and I'm very happy with it. I would say the quality is slightly preferable to me, though they're in the same ballpark. The process is slightly easier, and the cleanup is trivial (since you have a paper filter). A Hario is like $9, 100 filters are like $5.

<--- Barista here! I second the Moka suggestion. Unless you have thousands to shell out on a shop quality espresso machine, this is the next best thing. A good grinder is key, and burr grinders are best. This is mine. Also, steaming wands on cheaper machines never work very well and are horrible to clean. All you really need to get that nice foam easily is one of these nifty milk frothers.




Most retail coffee "machines" aren't built to last and make mediocre drinks. Low-tech almost always produces a superior tasting beverage. I have a Chemex(for normal coffee), a french press(for stronger coffee), a Toddy(for iced coffee) and a Moka(for espresso).


Also, if you can, seek out a roaster that is local to your mother. They will direct you to their best beans for espresso, and it will most likely be very fresh. All the roasters I have worked with are always happy to help customers troubleshoot and tweak to their tastes as well. It's a really worthwhile relationship for a coffee enthusiast.


So, Moka, burr grinder, frother wand, a pound of beans, and you're set. She'll love it. If you have some extra cash, and she likes normal coffee, throw in that Chemex. 10 times better than an auto-drip, and uses less beans as well. :)

The answer to your question is really dependent on budget. A quick perusal through the sub will show you that the Aeropress is a popular option because it is one of the least expensive ways to get a solid cup of coffee.

If you have some cash to part with, it might be worth looking at setting yourself up with a pourover setup - I'd probably suggest the v60. You would need the v60, the hario buono, and you'd probably want a scale to weigh coffee (there are a LOT of options, many cheaper than what I've linked). You would also need to get a reasonably good grinder - check out the sidebar for a list of grinders. Yes, it's a lot of capital to get started, but the coffee is fantastic and the equipment is very durable. This equipment, properly cared for, could potentially outlast you in many cases.

There's also the standard drip coffee maker, but from my experience if you go that route you ought to just invest in the cheapest one. The quality coffee from most drip machines is pretty similar. A better question is what grinder to get - that will improve your brew quality across all methods. Again, sidebar has great advice, but a really popular grinder here is the[ Baratza Encore] (http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B00LW8122Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459250167&sr=8-1&keywords=baratza+encore+coffee+grinder) which you can sometimes find on their refurb page for discounted prices.

No matter what you choose - good luck and happy caffienation

Cool, so now we have a better idea what we're working with. I can run through some options/limitations and you can take it from there.

• An espresso machine with a built-in grinder (superauto) is going to be way over your budget, so you can scratch that off the list.
  
  
• I don't know of a drip coffee machine with a built in grinder that will actually do a good job brewing.
  
  
• There is no machine that can make even halfway decent espresso and drip. You're going to have to choose here. She can dilute an espresso with hot water to make an Americano, which she can then treat like regular coffee but won't be exactly the same (though probably won't be vastly different once she adds her creamer and sugar).
  
  
• Making an espresso with a machine like the Mr. Coffee you mentioned or one of the De'Longhis is going to be a bit of a faff. She'll have to grind, dose, tamp, brew, and clean. With a bit of practice she'll get this down, but it'll be hard not to get some coffee grind spillage no matter how quick/good she gets at doing it. If she's going to want a latte, the Mr. Coffee will froth the milk for you (but I don't know how well), but if it's a machine with the wand, she'll have to steam her own milk which is another skill to learn (and involves another layer of process/cleanup). Again, this should become second nature fairly quickly, but you'd know better if she'll go through the effort until it gets to that point.
  
  
• My advice, if you don't think she'll go through the hassle of making the espresso/latte, would be to go with this machine which is SCAA certified (long story short: coffee-snob approved) and this or this grinder. I linked BB&B because the Americans on here frequently talk about being able to get coupons fairly easily that knock the price down to $80. So either way you'll get her a very respectable coffee-brewing setup for right around your target budget. Get her some good beans and she'll be leaving home to go back to her dorm and make coffee.
  
  
• If you are going to go the espresso route, I'd definitely go for the Capresso over the Bodum grinder.
  
  Based on the way you've described her tastes, I think she'd probably do ok with 15-bar pump espresso maker, but avoid 'steam' espresso makers at all costs. In the first instance you're making something that doesn't have all the glory of a truly great espresso, in the second case you're making something that shouldn't really be called espresso at all.
  
  Anyway, I hope this is somewhat helpful.

It sounds like you're busy, but willing to spend a little bit of time and money to feed your new addiction. This is a good place to start!

To consistently brew good strong coffee, follow these steps:

1. Buy fresh coffee. Good roasters will put the roast date on the bag. Look for bags roasted within 1-2 weeks.
   
2. If possible, purchase an electric burr grinder like the Baratza Encore or Bodum Bistro because fresh ground coffee is always going to taste better. If not, just ask the coffee shop to grind it for you.
   
3. Buy a coffee maker certified by the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) like the Bonavita or Wilfa. These machines make sure you'll get a consistent brew.
   
4. To make strong coffee, simply use more coffee per pot. The SCAA Golden Ratio is 55g of coffee (just over 3.5 tablespoons) for every liter of water. I would start with this ratio and adjust to your liking.
   
5. That's it! Enjoy

I'm not super informed about super automatics but from what I know generally about automatics is they are expensive and repairs could get costly. My friend has a Jura and he swears by it. Personally doesn't seem to me like he proper cleans it so the shots tasted too nasty. Well I guess that and he uses Starbucks beans from Costco. I have had an espresso from a Saeco and that was pretty good, smooth, fruity. I'll assume better beans (since they weren't burnt to hell) and it was a new machine (at the time). I had it months later and same beans but seems like people at the office didn't care to clean it.

Range. I would not expect an automatic to do drip coffee well. But why would you need to? Just make yourself an Americano. What does everyone actually drink at the office? If it is more towards drip then you could just get a better drip maker like the Hario or BonaVita

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009JWH5YE/ref=mp_s_a_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1506320219&sr=8-19&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=hario+machine&dpPl=1&dpID=51mJZKoZUbL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00O9FO1HK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1506320609&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=bonavita+coffee+maker&dpPl=1&dpID=41CK31RprXL&ref=plSrch

Super autos ... yeah I don't have any exact model suggestion minus someone should make sure to descale and make sure the machine is clean on a weekly basis. For beans, I would just go to a local coffee shop. Range usually $13-20 but not sure what your budget would be like. Plus, you haven't given us current info on the coffee situation at the office now ie. any general preferences (like for milky drinks), how many cups per day, etc.

V60: Very popular, lots of video help, very good availability of filters, produces outstanding coffee with practice. Can't go wrong.

Kalita, I'd avoid until it's easier and cheaper to get filters.

Chemex, as you say, expensive filters.

Clever, not a pourover at all. But worth considering.

Walkure, a beautiful piece of work that is capable of producing outstanding coffee. I've got one and love it, though I do not use it as an every day method, more for weekends or special occasions. Put this one on your wish list!

Beehive, just a glorified Melitta. Meh.

Personally, I'd recommend a ceramic V60, look for Tanors, they make a $9 Hario knockoff, identical to the original, get a bunch of filters and you're good to go. You will eventually own all the others anyway, so don't sweat this decision too much. ;)

$150 is a good amount really, much more generous than other people who are like "I have $30, how do I make cafe-grade espresso at home???"

My list for you:

• Baratza Encore grinder - this is a very capable grinder that will suit brew methods from French Press to Aeropress and Pourover. It won't work for Espresso however, although you're probably not going to be venturing that far just now. You'll want to grind your beans fresh for best results - if you buy your beans from Starbucks and have them ground there, they'll be very stale by the next day.
  
• Aeropress - honestly it's a weird contraption, but in the views of most people here, the best bit of kit for brewing coffee at home. It's a cross between a French Press and a paper filter machine, in that you immerse the coffee in water, and then plunge it through a paper filter to separate the grounds and the liquid. I think the reason people recommend the Aeropress to many is that it's basically fool-proof. As long as you're using good coffee, you can't really make a bad cup.
  
• Hario V60 - another brew device, this is a pourover, so very similar to drip coffee but you have far more control. You'll get best results using a gooseneck kettle, although if you have a normal kettle with a fine spout you might just about manage.
  
  I won't explain WHY these are really good kits for getting started with, you can just search on this sub and there will be hundreds of articles on that.
  
  And I should stress again, good beans are important. As a Starbucks Barista I am 100% coughing up to the fact that most of our coffee's are charcoal. Use them if you like them, but if you can get something better then you should really be doing so.

Coffee has a lot of interesting natural flavors, and you can easily and inexpensively step up your coffee game for even better coffee that has it's own nutty or caramel notes, that will be even tastier than Starbucks or Duncan Donuts. :)

• Brewing: There are a couple easy, inexpensive brewing options. I think the most universally favored for beginners and pro's alike is a weird device called an Aeropress. Another option is a pour-over coffee cone, like this Hario V6. Or what I use: a French Press. What I like about the French Press is that you can almost always find one at a thrift store or yard sale for like $2.
  
  
• Grinding: Coffee starts to get stale once it's ground. Ideally you can grind it before you make it. A quality inexpensive grinder is the Hario Skerton But here's what I do: I get my coffee ground in the store and put it in an air-tight container. I put 1 weeks worth in a separate bag.
  
  
• Grind size is important too, if you use a French Press you want "course" grind. Which you can get in pre-ground coffee.
  
  
• Water: use filtered water.
  
  
• The coffee itself: Starbucks heavily roasts their coffee, but would still be better quality than Dunkin Donuts. Entry-level good coffee can be had at Costco or Trader Joes. Even better coffee comes from 3rd wave coffee shops, or ordering online. Those are higher priced but you get what you pay for.
  
  Honestly though the great thing is you can pick ONE of these things and have better coffee, and each thing you do will improve your cup. And then you can go to /r/coffee and go down the rabbit hole of "the perfect cup". I'm kind of a coffee-snob poser: I get my beans from Trader Joe's and don't own a grinder. But what I get from my French Press is miles ahead of what I used to drink, it allowed me to cut out sugar or sweeteners.

From America's Test Kitchen Season 14: Oatmeal Muffins and Granola

NOTE: I originally posted a slightly less detailed review of these coffee makers in March or April 2013 but they have been re-tested so I am posting this more detailed review, the old post has been deleted. The youtube video review is not the same as the (updated) one on the ATK website, but the Winning and Best Buy models are the same. ~OP

• Youtube Video Review
  
  
• Very Detailed Testing Notes with updated video review
  **
  
  WINNER
  Rated as HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
  
  Technivorm Moccamaster 10-Cup Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe - $229.00
  
  > Certified by the SCAA, the updated version of our old favorite (the KBT 741, now also $299) meets time and temperature guidelines with utter consistency. As a result, it produces a “smooth,” “velvety” brew. It’s also intuitive to use. The carafe lost some heat after 2 hours but still kept the coffee above 150 degrees.
  
  
• Amazon link
  
  **
  
  BEST BUY
  Rated as HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
  
  Bonavita 8-Cup Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe - $149.00
  
  > Simple to use and SCAA-certified, this brewer spends most of the cycle in the ideal temperature range. Its coffee had “bright,” “full” flavor that was a bit more “acidic” than the Technivorm’s. The widemouthed carafe is easy to clean, but there’s no brew-through lid; you must remove the brew basket and screw on a separate lid to keep coffee hot.
  
  
• Amazon link
  
  **
  
  Rated as RECOMMENDED:
  
  Bunn HT Phase Brew 8-Cup Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker - $139.99
  
  > This SCAA-certified pot heats the water completely before releasing it over the grounds. That explained its impressive temperature accuracy, though the coffee was somewhat “acidic.” (Note: Early versions of this model shorted out when home voltage fluctuated; Bunn states that it has solved this problem, and our machine worked fine.)
  
  
• Amazon link
  
  **
  
  Five others were NOT RECOMMENDED:
  
  
• Capresso MT600 PLUS 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe
  
• Bodum Bistro b. over Coffee Machine
  
• Breville YouBrew Drip Coffee Maker with Built-In Grinder
  
• Cuisinart Perfec Temp 12-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker
  
  --
  
  
• Mr. Coffee Optimal Brew Thermal Coffeemaker, 10 Cup
  
  > By prescribing far less than the SCAA-recommended amount of grounds, this machine brewed “dishwater.” Adding the right amount of coffee for a full pot caused the grounds to overflow the filter and gunk up the brew basket. Other design flaws: The basket’s side drawer must be pulled out completely to fill—annoying if your counter is crowded—and its reservoir acquired a musty smell we couldn’t eradicate.
  

Not only that but, despite this incredibly long and detailed explanation, making your coffee better is really easy. Any one of these changes will make an improvement. Do all of them and you might never bother going out for coffee again.

1. Use whole bean coffee and grind it yourself. A good grinder doesn't have to be expensive.
   
2. Get a good drip maker. Cheap ones don't always hit the right temperature. I've had this one for years, and it gives me a great pot of coffee even from grocery store beans.
   
3. Make sure you're using the correct amount of coffee. A coffee scoop is 2 tablespoons. Use one scoop per cup. If you like your coffee bold (like I do), use one slightly rounded scoop per cup, and if you're making more than 6 cups, toss in one more.
   
4. If your tap water tastes funky, so will the coffee you make with it. Run it through a brita filter or something first.
   
5. This sounds snobby but bear with me - buy your coffee from a local roaster. It's really not much more expensive. Dunkin Donuts wants $9/lb, my local roaster has some varieties for $10-11/lb. It will be fresher and taste better.
   
   For 1 and 2, I'll admit that buying $110 in equipment just for your coffee is a lot, but both the drip maker and the grinder will last you for years and years and will give you better coffee the whole time. If it saves you from buying just one cup of coffee per week, it pays itself off in a year.
   
   The others cost very little, and will make an improvement immediately.

Were you thinking of buying a filter coffee machine or an espresso machine?

If your GF is as knowledgable as you think, she will know that there isn't a viable option for espresso machines in that price range.

Good news, coffee machines (certified by the SCAA) are well within that price range!

My friend recently bought this guy:

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1800TH-Coffee-Thermal-Carafe/dp/B005YQZNO8/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1380671500&sr=1-1&keywords=bonavita+coffee+maker

It's pretty nice and simple. Also, it is a thermal carafe so there is no heating plate destroying your coffee. If you want to go that route, that machine will be fantastic.

Other options: $200 could get you a pretty serious coffee subscription to some damn good roasters!

Check out: Intelligentsia
Counter Culture Coffee
Verve Coffee Roasters
SightGlass Coffee Roasters
Heart Coffee Roasters
Madcap Coffee Roasters
Handsome Coffee Roasters

All are very well known and produce consistently delicious coffee. ( I should say roast consistently high quality coffee). But really, if my SO got me a subscription to one of those roasters....lets just say I'd be a pretty happy fellow!

Hope that helps!!

hmmm.... he COULD upgrade his grinder, a baratza virtuoso is a step up from his capresso infinity (that's what i think that is), especially when it comes to espresso making.

there are things like custom tamps that you can get and get their name on it? I'm not familiar with the breville machine so not sure if the tamps you get actually work on the breville one, sometimes they are smaller.

other cool things include a siphon coffee machine, you would want to get a butane burner for it, i'm not from america so I don't really know what people recommend of amazon lol but i'll link something for reference:

https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Technica-5-Cup-Syphon-Coffee/dp/B000IKLQZK/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=siphon+coffee+hario&qid=1569350492&s=gateway&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Tabletop-Outdoor-Butane-Burner/dp/B07WFDPMNJ/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=siphon+coffee+butane+burner&qid=1569350580&s=gateway&sr=8-15

or a kyoto style drip tower, which is for making iced drip coffee which is great and this is also somethign I would NEVER get myself (price and all) but would be awesome to have but be aware of the practicality of size and where to put it lol, note: it takes 5-6 hours to drip a few cups haha:

https://www.amazon.com/Yama-Glass-YAMCDM8SBK-Coffee-Technology/dp/B004EBUZ1A/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=kyoto+drip+tower&qid=1569350410&s=gateway&sr=8-15

https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Water-Dripper-780ml/dp/B001807LZS/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=drip+tower&qid=1569350457&s=gateway&sr=8-10

btw, you are a great friend.

Unless you've been regularly cleaning your drip maker for the past 15 years I'd scrap it and pick up a new drip maker.

I can't recommend the Mr. Coffee enough http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-BVMC-SJX33GT-Programmable-Coffeemaker/dp/B0047Y0UQO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393806339&sr=8-1&keywords=coffee+maker

For whatever reason /r/Coffee hates drip makers, but honestly, if you know how to use them they make a pretty great cup of joe.

1. Get a new coffee maker
   
2. Measure out the water, 6oz to 2 tablespoons of grounds
   
3. Pour the water in, grind your beans, and put the grounds into your filter
   
4. Remove the coffee pot from under the coffee maker
   
5. Close the lid and let the water drip onto the beans until the filter is about half way full with water
   
6. Mix the water around, make sure all the grounds get soaked, this allows for the best extraction
   
7. Fill the bottom of the coffee pot with water, just enough so that when the coffee hits the pot it's hitting water and not the actual glass (This prevents the "burnt" taste that's always associated with drip makers)
   
8. Put the pot under the filter and let that sweet coffee flow through
   
9. Let all the water run through the machine
   
10. At this point you can either drink the coffee fairly soon, or put it into a thermos. Leaving it on the hot plate tends to leave the coffee tasting burnt after a while, and nothing is worse than burnt coffee.
    
    It should go without saying that you NEED to be using fresh beans, can't get any? You can find an air popper for around 5 bucks at your local thrift shop, green beans from multiple sources online, and you can roast a batch of beans in about 20 minutes. You also need to be grinding your beans directly before putting them into the filter. Not to mention it's a good call to use filtered water, and to clean your machine at least once a week.
    
    If you prefer the taste of a French Roast you should look into getting a mesh filter and using that rather than a paper filter. Mesh filters filter out less oil than paper ones and will give a different flavor.

I am using a Bodum Vacuum Coffee Maker, and I've got it locked in pretty nicely.

A few things to consider:

• Get a stirrer. I think the one on Amazon when I bought that maker was like 6 bucks, and it helps make sure all your grounds are soaking.
  
  
• Give it time. I prefer to set my stovetop to 4 (out of 7), and let it slowly come to a boil. When I went to 5, 6, and 7, it gave the coffee a bit of a burnt taste. At 4, or even 3, it took a little while to fill the upper chamber, but the result was a very clean tasting coffee.
  
  
• Be prepared to have some sediment. I had to play with the grind a bit, and I am the largest grind while still being small enough to extract, and I get a good bit of left over. My brew is usually pretty good in flavor so I can't complain too much.
  
  It's a neat contraption, and it produces a lighter coffee overall. I had a few friends try it, and they preferred it black over anything else. Kinda cool!

First, the grinder. You want a burr grinder, not a blade grinder. Burr grinders cost more, but are well worth it. They make a very even grind, where a blade grinder just chops up the beans and getting the right grind is impossible. A burr grinder lets you set it for what you're using (course grind for French Press, medium grind for drip maker, fine grind for espresso maker, etc). I have this one.

You can get a nice drip coffee maker if you want to make a pot. You can combine the two like I'm about to do and get a drip coffee maker with a built in burr grinder. I have this one.

If you're looking to make single cups at a time, there are other options like pour over's, Chemex, etc. The key is to grind your beans right before you brew the coffee. Good beans may be the most key ingredient. Companies like Tonx ship fresh roasted beans regularly on a plan, you can go that route. For example they can ship a 12oz bag every two weeks. You get beans that are only a few days roasted. Fresh roasted beans produce the best tasting coffee imaginable.

Not at the grocery store, and not at Charfucks. Ya gotta order it, ya herd? I gets mine from PT's Coffee in Topeka, but that's because it's close to me. Also because they won Best Coffee in 2009. If you're really interested, this is a great place to start. Any of these coffees will be good and fresh. Also, you need a burr grinder and a decent brewing method. The simplest one, which I use, is a conical-shaped glass or ceramic thing that you set right on top of your cup, made by Hario. You just put the coffee grounds in the filter and then pour boiling water over the grounds, and it drips right into your cup. Here it is in Amazon. Have fun!

The cheapest reasonable set up for roommates who all drink lots of coffee would be something like this:

​

• An SCAA-certified machine (which mostly just means it gets the water hot enough), like this Bonavita 8-Cup machine ($100). That's about as cheap as you'll get for a larger SCAA-certified machine.
  
• A burr grinder. If you want good coffee, you have to grind your beans fresh; there's no way around that. The most popular recommendation, with good reason, is the Baratza Encore, but this OXO grinder ($80) should be fine for your needs and is about $50 less.
  
  ​
  
  That puts you at 180 for your grinder and machine, which isn't bad.
  
  ​
  
  For beans, Happy Mug is as cheap as you'll get for super freshly-roasted. Based on what you're saying you'd probably be just fine with a blend. Order two or three different ones and figure out what you like! $9 per 12 oz bag. The beans are nearly always roasted the same day they ship.
  
  ​
  
  It sounds like you aren't interested in taking on coffee as a "hobby" and instead just are looking for a better cup. Something like I recommended would be the cheapest and least "enthusiast" route to drinking much, MUCH better coffee than you are now.

This is not a straightforward answer. Sorry.
It really depends on what you want to get out of the cup:

• Do you want a full body? Kalita wave is more temperature stable than other brewers because the wavy filter keeps the coffee away from the brewer. The flat base allows more even extraction.
  
  
• Do you want a really clean cup where you can taste all of the subtle notes? The Hario V60 is a Classic, brews a clean balanced cup. It has a thinner filter and is great for fruity floral coffees.
  
  
• Do you want a clean cup for more people? Chemex has a thicker filter and brews a really clean cup. It also makes it easy to brew for multiple people at once.
  
  
• Do you want the ability to do immersion and pour over? The Clever is really easy to use and is more forgiving than the other methods. You don't necessarily need a gooseneck kettle.
  
  I personally use a V60. The others are all fantastic, you really can't go wrong.

I love that your first cup of coffee linked you strongly-enough to the coffee community that you're already saying "we". :-)

Welcome to the cult club!

I became a coffee snob accidentally, since with each improvement I'd make to my coffee, I could no longer even stomach what I'd enjoyed before. So beware of that . . . That said, my advice would be:

1. An order of magnitude more important than ANYTHING else (buying good coffee, brewing it "right", etc.) is fresh-ground coffee. Grinding stale grocery-store beans minutes before brewing and throwing them in an old Mr. Coffee won't be "good", per se, but it'll be better than fancy third-wave beans ground the day before and brewed with TLC in a fancy third-wave pourover.
   
   1b. A blade grinder will have been be a waste of $15 when you finally replace it (and you will). Go for a Hario Slim for your first grinder, because even when you upgrade, you'll still use it for travel, work, etc.
   
   
2. Espresso is expensive. Don't even try until you want to invest significant (>$500) money into it. For the cost of an espresso setup at home that you won't outgrow simply as your tastes and skills evolve, you can have a prime setup for every other mainstream and traditional brewing method. When starting out, save espresso for your favourite coffee shops. There's time enough to decide if you want to invest in that whole sub-cult[ure].
   
   
3. Manual > automatic, even when it's not. This is because almost any manual brewing method will grow with you as you improve your skills and explore your tastes, but even a Technivorm will never make different coffee than it does right now, regardless of how your tastes change. Save even a good automatic brewer for later, if you end up needing/wanting one.
   
   My recommended starter kit:
   
   

• Melitta Ready Set Joe dripper
  
• bleached filters
  
• Hario Slim grinder
  
  For under $40 shipped, you'll have a setup with minimal sunk cost if you decide manual coffee isn't for you, will make coffee every bit as good (imho) as more beautiful systems, and won't be obsolete if and when you upgrade (since it'll still give you wonderful coffee at work or on the road).
  
  PS. See my essay on my descent into coffee-snobbery I contributed to an online writing community I used to participate in regularly.
  
  PPS. If you meet the Coffee Buddha in the cafe, kill him.
  

Nobody will think a pour over is sacrilege. Provided you're not using a blade grinder. . . :) Brew methods are a matter of taste. A french press isn't better or worse than a Chemex; it's just different. If you're going pour over, these are way better than these, because they're a true cone, so the water has to go through all the grounds.

You can buy beans online, but if possible it's best to buy locally roasted coffee to ensure freshness. Coffee is at its best around a week after roasting, and gradually loses flavor over time. Chances are you've got a decent roaster in your area. If not, look around online, and make sure you buy from a place that will tell you when yours was roasted.

And feel free to keep asking questions. I'm happy to tell you what I know.

>I thought about a pour over, but I don't really know what I'm getting myself into

Honestly, not that much. It's pretty straight forward. A Chemex produces a fantastic cup, and would only really require you get a gooseneck kettle. Ditto if you go the v60 route. Bonavita has a couple, either temperature controlled or not. Other wise Hario kettle would also work.

Regardless, take a look here at Brew Methods. It has summaries on a variety of brew methods, from chemex to other. May give you some ideas.

>I don't want to spend a ton of money,

Depends on what "a ton of money" is to you, but:

• you may want to consider a new grinder, it will allow for expanding what you can do with the coffee. Potentially too much money, but a refurb Baratza might be worth saving for. Especially the Maestro/Virtuoso if you aren't doing espresso.
  
• a scale to weight coffee and water to nail down variables
  
• a gooseneck kettle for pourovers
  
  > would a chemex be a better investment?
  
  Yes, imho. Buy a cheap gram scale, a gooseneck kettle, and a chemex/v60. You'll be very pleased with the results.

I don't think there's another name for the Clever dripper, per se. There are other "single cup immersion drippers" like this one from Bonavita, but the Clever is probably the best known.

There ARE 2 versions and 2 sizes of the Clever, though. Good comparison of the versions can be found here.

I'm not the best to answer on material - so hopefully someone else chimes in, but... I'd point primarily to the affect on heat. Ceramic is going to hold heat a little better than plastic or metal... but I wouldn't let that alter your decision if you're looking to buy a single cup brewer. u/SirGeekaLot 's run down of filters and taste would be where I would focus while trying to choose one.

Good luck!

I've got a pretty high quality dorm setup that is approved. Here are your options:

Option 1:

Hario ETL Certified Kettle

Hario V60

Filters

Hario Skim Grinder

Total: $119

Option 2:

Aeropress

Proctor-Silex Water Kettle

Hario Skim Grinder

Total: $66


Currently, I'm using the first setup. The v60 is a great pourover method. You'll be having the best coffee on campus. However, since it requires the gooseneck kettle it runs a greater price. Last year, I had option. The aeropress is a kick-ass coffee maker, and you can get by with the way cheaper water heater since pour method has no factor on the brew. Either way, you'd have the small hand grinder which is cheap, easy to clean, and does a fantastic job.

Either of these will make a solid cup, better than anything you'll find in a keurig.

I have been a huge fan or and supporter of the Behmor Brazen Plus. Some people feel that its too big, but I love how it looks and I really love how the boiling chamber is above the grounds. This means it doesn't have to pump the hot water up to the shower head (the pump area can get hard water build up that's hard to clean). The water merely gets to temp and then drops down through the shower head onto the grounds.

I have had mine for around 3 years and other than the occasional descaling it still works like the day I bought it. Behmor has great customer support and the build quality is amazing compared to the cuisinart's I had in the past.

​

Just make sure to NOT buy the Behmor Connected. Most bad reviews are for that "smart" coffee maker.

Any kettle will do. Most people go for stuff with more steel because they don't want hot water sitting with plastic, but that's up to you.

Most french presses are very similar well. In fact, I find most immersion techniques (where you steep the coffee in the water) come out very similar. I personally prefer this porcelain brewer from Bonavita. You steep the coffee for ~3 mins, then open the valve on the bottom and let it drip into a cup. Cleanup is just tossing the filter and rinsing, which I think you'll find much less of a hassle than french press.

No matter what you get, one of the most important pieces is a scale. This one from Jennings is great. The french press can be a great way to let you make different batch sizes, but only if you keep your ratios consistent. That is one of the best advantages of french press, because a lot of pourovers only work well for a certain batch size.

Honestly that looks great. The capresso infinity grinder is great and that looks like what is used in the grinder. You'd be very happy with that setup. My recommendation for having them separate is Baratza has WONDERFUL customer support for repairs or small parts orders. Also, if you ever decided to brew a different method you can. From extremely coarse to near fine for espresso. The grinder on that all in one only looks like it has a few different variables and the grind for a pour over and for a drip is not the same. Its a pretty significant change in taste just by grind size or even brew temperature. I fully nerd out and use a thermometer for my water. Brewing at near boiling versus 200F makes a massive difference.

(LONG POST) I also recently transitioned to hardcore coffee drinking, and I found that it is only a modest investment to get some seriously good cups. Perhaps you should try pour-over brewing, which I switched to from French Pressing - imo you get a lot higher flavor clarity. The industry standard was the Hario V60, which is kind of tricky to use, but I as with many have switched to the Kalita Wave, which is especially forgiving for novices. Keep in mind that the Wave I linked is a smaller size, so it can be a bit finicky for a good pour method, but it is a major score compared to other Kalitas I found across the web. Filters are a bit pricey with the Kalita though, so the V60 is better moneywise but again tricky to achieve consistency. A good scale can be found for about $15-20, which is essential to getting the correct ratios. As others have said, a Mini Mill is possibly the most important investment, but I HIGHLY recommend modding it to get high consistency (I used a rubber band for this.... it will all make sense with the link). For pourovers, some will tell you a specialized kettle is a must for pour control, but I fare just fine with a ceramic tea kettle https://imgur.com/uIWppVj . Anyways, cheers to entering coffee! :D

I don't know anything about that grinder, but it is a burr grinder, so it's should be half-decent.

I'd say upgrade his brewing machine and buy him some really good beans. A $50 Mr. Coffee very likely doesn't even get the water up to a proper brewing temperature. This Bonavita would be a great step up.

Then there's tons of great coffee you could buy, whether a few single bags or a subscription. Blue Bottle is extremely well known and respected, but a little searching on this board will get you many other good recommendations also.

Drinking lapsang souchong from Red Blossom Tea; it's starting to grow on me more although I'll admit I definitely prefer later brews to the first brew.

No tea-specific gifts this year, which I'm OK with because I'm very picky. Someone who knows me well would usually just ask what I like/want (clearly I've had more than a handful of bad surprises, hah).

My favorite gift by far is a homemade version of this drip tower. I'll upload if I get around to taking pictures! I'm not really sure if I could use this for tea (this is for cold brew coffee, my favorite style), but I am SO happy witih it. Handmade thoughtful gifts are the best. :)

I do, and it’s SUPER easy. I bought a [Toddy Cold Brew System] (www.amazon.com/dp/B0006H0JVW/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_fxKkDbMPE83QH) from Amazon and use that. It has instructions and everything. But basically, I grind 6oz (half a bag) and add it to the brewer with 3.5 cups of water. I let it set (steep or brew, if you will) for about 24hrs. Then drain it, add it to my storage bottle and pop it into the fridge. It lasts 7-10 days, having a 16oz coffee every morning. It’s a concentrate, so you then pour some to your cup, add water and ice. I dont have an exact measurement, as I eyeball the pour. But it’s probably around a 1/4 cup of concentrate? It’s up
To your tastes and how strong you prefer it.

In a pinch, I’ve done it in a mason jar and then Strained through cheese cloth and then a coffee filter. But it’s messier and I don’t like it as much. I love my Toddy system!

Another important factor is finding a coffee bean that you like. I personally find I prefer a medium-dark Roast. I tried various roasts and “flavors” until I found a blend I liked best!

$130 used. This is a technivorm, which gives you all of the ease of use of a drip coffee maker but without all of the issues present in a drip coffee maker. Basically the best you can go for here without completely wrecking your budget and everything it loves.

That said, you could convince her to use an easier method of coffee procurement like The Coffee Fool. It's not awfully expensive, they'll send it to you pre-ground if you're into it, and it's a shit-load better than you'll get at a supermarket unless your mother happens to live in Portland.

The bonavita gooseneck variable.... again (sorry :) )

I woudl say either use your basic kettle and a thermometer (cheap one like this Weber instant read) for minimal money or get the gooseneck variable.

The variability will be great for your aeropress and pourover is super cheap and fun to try (the plastic hario v60 02 is under $8) for which the gooseneck is key. No point spending $50 on the variable normal then spending another $100 later on the gooseneck. Likewise gooseneck metal kettles are also $50. The $100 one really is the best upgrade, better to save longer for it than buy an interim and end up spending more.

The Bonavita is also on massdrop a lot (bookmark this) as while it ended for now it comes up all the time.

I use an aeropress at work, but there's really only two fresh coffee drinkers at my office and the other gent uses a french press.

When I make coffee for friends or family in larger quantities at home, I have a Bonavita 1900ts It's extremely consistent and has a bloom feature as well. If the 5 of you are cool splitting the cost, that's a great option.

The 1800ts is a little less expensive, doesn't have a bloom feature or a thermal carafe. Still a great option.


Just my .2c.

Getting a burr grinder, a decent brewer, and freshly roasted (within two weeks) coffee is a great place to start.

This is a quality brewer. There are cheaper brewers, but if you want a solid investment in a brewer I recommend this. They also offer an 8 cup model. Bonavita 5 Cup brewer

Capresso makes great grinders. Most of their “infinity” models are very efficient and won’t completely break your bank.

Messenger Coffee from Kansas City offers a wide variety of coffees from many origin countries. This coffee is expertly roasted to bring out the best in each coffee. If you want to try a variety of different ones, they have a subscription plan where the roaster selects a different coffee every week. You also get 10% for subscribing. Messenger Coffee Roaster Choice Subscription

If you're buying expensive coffee and really enjoy the taste of good coffee, I'd suggest either making pour-over coffee or french press coffee at home. There are even very good automatic pour over coffee makers. The relatively new Oxo automatic pour-over has unseated the Bonavita in many minds: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YEYKK8U/ref=psdc_289745_t3_B00O9FO1HK

From the listed features:

• Microprocessor-controlled brew cycle replicates the pour-over method to produce 2-9 cups of SCAA-certified perfect coffee
  
  
• Water is heated and held at the perfect temperature for coffee (197.6-204.8 Degrees F)
  
  
• Rainmaker shower head evenly disperses water over coffee grounds for uniform saturation and full flavor extraction
  
  
• Intuitive LED interface features a backlit screen that displays the Coffee Maker status and freshness indicator
  
  
• A single dial allows you to program the number of cups and the 24-hour start timer
  
  It even first soaks the grounds, waits, and then pours the water over them. Pair this with a grinder and some good recently-roasted beans and the coffee you make at home will taste even better than what you'd buy at the coffee place and cost a fraction of what they charge.
  
  Personally, I'm generally fine with an older Cuisinart single-cup brewer with one of the better store-bought grounds (Chock Full o Nuts or similar).

A cheap gooseneck kettle and a plastic Hario V60. You will need filters too.

If you want to spend a little more this set has it all.

Keep in mind that a scale is extremely helpful too. If you don’t want to spend the money on a grinder, which everyone is going to recommend, just get pre-ground, quality coffee. I recommend HappyMug online. Happy Mug makes great coffee and will grind it for you before shipping. They also have an awesome little timer for $5 that is helpful at first If you’re using your phone for recipes and stuff.

Hario pour over filters and Ceramic Funnel. A grinder. A sauce pan to heat your water in. I've never bothered with buying the gooseneck kettle. A steady hand when pouring out of the sauce pan works fine for me, just remember to barely soak the grounds and then let them sit for a minute before pouring more water through. It's a very cheap set up that makes the best coffee I've ever had. Yes, it would be great to have a bur grinder, but I was given a $30 "blender" grinder from Target for Christmas and it works great. All you have to do is learn to slowly pour your water in. Probably around a $60 investment that you will not regret. If you want to learn more, just go to a local coffee house and ask them for a pour over cup of coffee and watch them. It never has a scorched taste, and it never turns out too strong like a press sometimes does for me. It's so damned simple that I've kicked myself for not learning it earlier.

Funnel can be found here.

Grinder

>Capresso Infinity - $89
>
>or
>
>Hario Mini Mill Slim - $30 - If you don't mind hand-grinding your beans


Coffee Maker

>Aeropress - $23 - Balanced flavour, easy cleanup
>
>or
>
>Hario v60 - $19 - If you enjoy the process of preparing your coffee, and enjoy a brighter (more acidity) cup of coffee.
>
>or
>
>A french press - $20 and up - If you want to make more coffee at a time than the Aeropress, don't mind a "thicker" (more coffee particulate and oils in the cup) coffee, and are not opposed to having a little bit more clean-up.

You'll need a kettle for any of these brew methods; a programmable/temperature controlled kettle like this one ($95) is ideal for manual brew methods, but any kettle (and a thermometer if you'd like to get fussy) will do just fine.

Personally I would get the Capresso and the Aeropress if I were you. It's a very balanced and forgiving brew method that can make coffee a few different ways (eg. paper filter for a "brighter" cup, metal for a thicker one). Set aside the rest of your budget and find a good coffee roaster near you!

The thing is, french press makes a totally different cup than say, a drip machine. It will have much more body from the oils in the beans and also it will inevitably have some grit. The best way to avoid grit is to invest in a really good grinder that is consistent. Or you can just let it settle to the bottom of the cup and not drink that portion.

So really to make the best french press possible you need to invest a lot of money. Fresh press is great but I wouldn't call it the gold standard, it is just one of the many ways to make coffee. Drip machines can make great coffee if you spend a lot of money, like a Technivorm.

If you are satisfied with the coffee you make in a french press without investing in an expensive grinder, go for it. In my opinion, the Aeropress makes a damn decent cup of coffee without the expensive grinder - it is much more forgiving when it comes to grind inconsistency.

I've done both. From a process standpoint, not a huge difference.

Coarse grind, leave it for a bazillion hours, filter, enjoy.

Toddy is great because it's significantly more capacity. My French press will produce about half to 65% of the concentrate as the Toddy. I get about a literish of concentrate when all is said and done (you add like 7 cups of water, so 1.6 liters). Compared with my 1L French Press which gets me just over a half a liter.


It's also super easy to use and clean. Let it brew, pull the plug into the decanter that's fit for the top.

looks like it's $28 on amazon which is the lowest I've ever seen it. If you're gonna jump, do it now!

http://www.amazon.com/Toddy-T2N-Cold-Brew-System/dp/B0006H0JVW

Replying to confirm that I make the best coffee I've ever had with a skerton and v60. Here's my entire set up. These aren't necessarily the best in their class, but they do me well.

-Digital scale (or anything that measures in grams)
-Gooseneck kettle (they make ones that are electric, as well)
-Flow restrictor for kettle (not required, it's just what I have)
-Hario skerton burr grinder
-OE mod for skerton (not required. again, it's just what I have)
-Hario v60 02 (I have the clear plastic one)
-Gerber Pure water (available at Walmart, any "spring water" is what I recommend. My tap water smells of chlorine, so even Britta water is gonna be a bit better than my tap water. You want water that's not too hard, nor too soft. So don't use distilled or RO water or "mineral" water.)
-Digital timer (not required, but I like to time things)
-Hario filters (there's a couple different kinds, try any you want. Mine are the white without the "tabs")
-I'm not linking my mugs/servers. But whatever one(s) you use, I recommend preheating them.

(Edit to add: I have other methods of making coffee. This is just my personal overall favorite.)

The aesthetics look really awesome. I've seen many dutch coffee devices being used in South Korea. Like this one from Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Yama-Glass-Maker-Straight-Black/dp/B004EBUZ1A/ref=pd_sim_79_6?ie=UTF8&dpID=41tRrVDoWJL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=D620MKJ5734WVNBTRF3Q

Most of them are big (which may be good for displays in coffee shops), and like you said, the openings allow dust and air to enter. I think that's why these dutch coffee tasted so acidic from being oxidized. Have you guys tested if your coffee is less acidic than regular dutch coffee since there's less oxidation?

1. How often do you have to replace filters? And will they be expensive to purchase? (With SS filter, do you never have to buy a new one?)
   
2. Does the unit have any thermo-resistance? Sometimes ice melts too fast in the chamber, or the coffee at the bottom warms up too fast and becomes oxidized (especially in summer). It would be cool if there's some thermal resistance so ice melts slow and the coffee at the bottom stays cool. How do you maintain that "constant temperature" that you mention on the website?
   
3. Will the brewing rate become slower as the filter gets clogged up?
   
   As a Korean, I think one of the biggest up-sell is that it prevents "dust" from entering. Korea is currently suffering "micro dust" problem and they are obsessed with preventing dust in any possible way. The fact that this prevents dust and purifies water, it could be a huge up-sell there.
   
   In the future, do you guys plan on making larger version for commercial use? Like at coffee shops? Will you guys ever export to Korea?
   
   EDIT: Haha, I just realized this was being made in Korea after reading Amazon product page.
   
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=71&v=4czF1u4tixo
   

If you'd rather have more automated things but still good quality, you could get:

Baratza Virtuoso ($259)

Bonavita 1900ts ($135)

And then you'd have ~$100 to spend on beans, filters, descaling powder (future maintenance), etc.

Some roasters:

• Novel (Dallas, free shipping)
  
  
• Cat & Cloud (Santa Cruz)
  
  
• Heart (Portland, OR)
  
  
• Coava (Portland, OR)
  
  
• Counter Culture (Durham, NC)
  
  And plenty more. There are even some roasters here on /r/coffee that you'll see promote their products in the weekly threads.
  
  As /u/ttls- said, espresso is a different beast. You could almost get started, but might want to double up on that budget if you don't want to buy used and have to hand grind.

V60 Personally I'd get the glass or ceramic one, but they are a bit more.
Filters
Gooseneck kettle with thermometer Warning, I don't have this personally, but it does have good reviews. There are a number of gooseneck kettles on amazon to choose from.
There's a Hario Skerton for $15 used in excellent condition right now

Total=$55.38 Slightly more if you miss out on the Skerton. Beans extra of course. You could make do with whatever kettle you currently have but the gooseneck makes things exponentially easier. Something you could always save for though.

IDK what you're looking for taste wise for beans, but I like Red Bird for reasonably priced coffees that are extremely tasty.

What electric kettle do you have? Does it have variable temperature controls and/or a gooseneck spout?

The main ways to improve your setup are a better grinder, better coffee beans, and possibly a better kettle (I'd say, in that order). The other thing to think about is trying out some other brew methods, at least so you can learn about the differences and find out what your preferences are.

If I had your setup and up to $200 available to improve it, I think I'd look for a refurbished Baratza Encore ($99), a $10 - $15 electric scale accurate to within 0.1g, a clear plastic Hario V60 for $6 (along with filters for another $6). That's around $125, leaving extra to try out some nicer coffee beans. For example, Happy Mug has good quality coffee for $11 - $13 per pound plus $3 shipping.

About a year and half ago I went from 0-60 with this setup:

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-VKB-120HSV-Buono-Drip-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Dripper-V60-Clear/dp/B001RBTSMM/ref=pd_sim_k_6

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-White-Filters-Brewer/dp/B001U7EOYA/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1349906139&sr=1-1&keywords=hario+v60+filters

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-MSS-1B-Mini-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B001804CLY/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1349906080&sr=1-2&keywords=hario+hand+grinder

http://www.amazon.com/Ozeri-Digital-Multifunction-Kitchen-Elegant/dp/B004164SRA/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1349906101&sr=1-5&keywords=kitchen+scale

Here is a video I found about how it all works:
http://vimeo.com/34182806

The big thing is to use FRESH roasted beans (we're talking ~3 weeks old or less). If you are buying beans that don't have a date on em, try again. Hopefully there is a coffee shop around you that will sell their own roast (usually comes in a 12oz package). If not you can try the grocery store or order online (http://ceremonycoffee.com/ is a good start), it really depends on the city you live in.

I had always liked the aroma and taste of coffee in other things (ice cream specifically) but it wasn't until I got into beer that I really started to appreciate it. Hopefully this finds you well, feel free to send a message my way if you have any specific questions!

posted this earlier.

I bought a Toddy last weekend. I know you can do basically the same thing with mason jars and whatever, but this just seemed quick and idiot proof.

I really enjoyed it. I liked that it was able to make a lot at a time, (lasted me pretty much all week) and could just keep a jug of it in the fridge. (the waiting was the most frustrating part of the process)

I just put it over a ton of ice and then added milk or almond milk.

Since I was just doing it for the first time I used some french dark roast beans from trader joes. Not sure what the best to use are.

I've only done it one time, so I'm obviously not very experienced. But yeah, that's my experience. I'd say it was easily worth it, I thought about going the more thrifty/crafty way, but the convenience seemed worth it to me.

i love coffee, but don't drink it quite as often as i used to, probably bc i work at bucks and am kind of bored with it :D i am actually a big tea drinker now. i black teas like earl grey and irish breakfast. my favorite coffee drink would have to be just a simple iced coffee with lots of cream and some sort of sweetener. i love the gingerbread syrup bucks gets in the winter. my favorite way to make coffee is via my coffee press. it's so simple and really tastes the best. i've always wanted to try the glass vacuum coffee makers--one of my friend's aunts had one and i was amazed--but they're too pricey for my light coffee habit.

Since you're 17 years old and likely don't have access to a few hundred dollars to really get started, I would save up and get a Hario Skerton grinder and V60 single cup pour over here: http://www.amazon.com/Hario-VDC-02W-Dripper-Ceramic-Funnel/dp/B000P4D5HG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372182859&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+v60

then I would save up for a bag of intelligentsia, just buy whatever single source sounds good to you. watch youtube videos on how to do proper pourover technique. learn how to use a kettle (there's no need for a gooseneck one just yet), figure out how to pour slowly with a standard kettle. maybe buy a cheap thermometer so you can get the water temperature right. start pouring yourself coffee, but remember to drink coffee right after it's been roasted, not months later.

if you're rich, do the same thing, but buy the bonavita temperature controlled gooseneck kettle in addition to the v60. and a baratza virtuoso.

actually do whatever you want, there's no good answer. just about any advice you take from this subreddit will be significantly better than what you're currently doing.

posting this topic is the equivalent of 17 year old with a casio keyboard asking a concert pianist for advice in becoming a musician.

I was curious about this, so I did a little research in looking for the best drip brewer.

Eventually, I found my to this site, which seems to list brewers that pass a certain standard of coffee volume, brew time, brew temperature, etc.

In addition, I found this video, which I also found interesting, as their top 3 machines were also on the SCAA list.

Those three are:

• Bunn Phase Brew 8 Cup currently at $103.96.
  
  
• Bonavita BV1800 currently at $149.99. The video rated this as the "best value".
  
  
• And the top rated is the Technivorm Mochamaster, the most expensive and consistent with different models and prices. I think the video was referring to the KBT-741 model which retails at $299.
  
  I hope this helps.

I have a bonvita immersion dripper which is twice the price of a normal clever dripper, but is also made out of ceramic instead of plastic (which I like...especially if I'm going to be pouring boiling water into the thing. To be fair however, the clever dripper is made out of medical grade plastic). Its my favorite way to brew, but can only make two cups max at a time. It also uses commonly found melitta #4 filters so that's a plus. I use a pretty coarse grind and it works very well.

The Bonavita drip brewer ($140) is one of the very few SCAA certified home brewers out there. It will make excellent coffee.

A good cheap burr grinder is the Hario Mini Mill ($20). It's a hand grinder and that entails a bunch of extra effort and time, but it's a fraction of the cost of comparable electric burr grinders. If you want a decent electric grinder, a good place to start would be a refurbished Baratza Encore ($99).

The Encore + Bonavita combination will make really good coffee and won't really be much more work than a combo grinder/brewer. However these things are obviously expensive, probably more than anyone who isn't looking to get seriously into coffee should consider. Find what works best for you.

Oh wow! Thanks - seems like that it would be worth getting that one.

Amazon wants $35 and 4.4 out of 5 stars with 461 customer reviews is pretty good :)

the V60 is perfectly fine, some may suggest the Chemex, others Kalita, just pick one and stick to it. i personally recommend a V60 clear plastic server for several reasons:

1. it's cheaper
   
2. it won't break when you drop it (to some extent)
   
3. it retains less heat
   
4. the clearness helps you see if you have grounds stuck to the sides
   some other things to pick up are a scale and a kettle (gooseneck if you're slightly more serious about the game). picking the right grinder will depend on your budget and whether or not you'd like to work out those arms of yours (auto or manual). i'd recommend watching this to get a good idea on the whole brewing process
   
   good luck!

$750 is alot of money to spend if they only drink coffee out of tradition than for taste. For that kind of reasoning i wouldnt spend all the budget!

I agree with the comments about buying baratza encore grinder. Those are reliable and well in the budget. For the coffee machine i would recommend the [bonavita dripper]
(https://www.amazon.ca/Bonavita-BV1500TS-Carafe-Coffee-Stainless/dp/B00SK5IXPQ/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=bonavita&qid=1559008848&s=gateway&sr=8-4) easy to use, realiable, beautiful chrome. Not bad,not the best,but better than the average coffe brewers. See it in action And buy some good coffee with the rest of the money.

Is your goal French press specifically (as in, the coarse grind and long brew time that results in that characteristic slightly-grainy taste) - or is it more generally non-shitty coffee from an automatic machine?

The mechanics of French press make it hard to automate, so I'm not terribly surprised there's not a lot of robotic presses out there. If your goal is just good coffee without a long manual process, the best option I'm aware of are the automatic "pour-over" machines:

https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KCM0802OB-Coffee-Brewer-Black/dp/B00OQJ7X8S/

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1902DW-Coffee-Brewer-Silver/dp/B0752CKQHW/

https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Barista-Brain-Coffee-Maker/dp/B00YEYKK8U/

There's also "fully automated" espresso machines. A lot of them even include a grinder, so in theory you can press 1 button and get a latte or americano or whatever a few minutes later. They tend to be $$$ and use up a lot of counter space, though.

My personal setup is fairly manual - an electric kettle and an Aeropress. The electric kettle is way easier than a kettle on the stove - the one I linked has variable temp controls, so you can set it to heat up to 80 C and hold there. Doesn't need constant monitoring the way a teakettle on a burner does, and you'll get much better results with not-quite-boiling water. And the Aeropress makes fucking great coffee, without the PITA of cleaning a French press.

The cheapest you could do to make "good" coffee would be to get a Bonavita BV1800. They are about 150 or so online and then get a Baratza encore refurbished for about 100.

that is the PC answer on this sub.

In my opinion if you want a good (not great) coffee. Get the Bonavita but then grind your beans fresh (even if that is a blade grinder). Burr grinders are really essential if you want a great cup of coffee but it seems that it isn't too essential to you.

ps. i think mcd's coffee is the best non-third wave coffee out there

Edit: http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1800TH-Coffee-Thermal-Carafe/dp/B005YQZNO8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415508290&sr=8-1&keywords=bonavita
it's actually 130!

This is just my humble opinion especially based on your criteria...

This automatic drip coffee maker was the Consumer Reports Best Buy last year for under $40 (might can find it cheaper now) & it is a best seller on Amazon. The reason I like it is that it has the ability to reach 195° to 205° F for five or six minutes, the industry standard for optimal brewing.

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-BVMC-SJX33GT-Programmable-Coffeemaker/dp/B0047Y0UQO

Considering bang for buck, ease of use & amount of coffee produced, I'd probably go with Wired Magazine's 7 out of 10 recommendation.

http://www.amazon.com/Capresso-560-01-Infinity-Grinder-Black/dp/B0000AR7SY

Both will be about the same, neither will be any good. the first steps to a good cup require three main things:

• Good beans (find a local roaster. Expect to pay $10-15 a pound. I know this is steep, but it makes ALL the difference)
  
  
• grinding your coffee fresh when you brew it (pre-ground coffee loses much of its flavor in a few hours, forget the months that many people spend on a ground bag). You can find excellent cheap hand-operated burr grinders for about $35. Stay away from blade grinders; they'll make your beans a choppy, uneven mess.
  
  
• a better brewing method. They're not hard to learn at all, and the equipment is cheap. Here's a plastic pour-over cone for 6 bucks. A pack of filters for it costs another $5. A lot of people like the $25 aeropress also, because it's very straightforward and versatile (the pourover only makes regular coffee). there are other options as well; browse /r/coffee to learn more.
  
  tl;dr the things you should do to up your coffee game the first level (in the order you should do them) are: 1. Find a new brewing method 2. Buy better beans 3. Get a grinder

Moka pots are fun, but I can't make it a daily thing.

I say shore up your pour over gear. A gooseneck kettle ($38) and a scale ($17) are musts.

You could replace the plastic cone with something prettier like a v60 ($11), but you can use the scale and kettle with the plastic pour over cone just fine.

[edit] the pour over cone I linked isn't a v60, but I'm sure you can find it :)

>The same goddamn drip brew I do at home?

​

just like craft beers, and microbreweries, there are equally enthusiastic coffee drinkers.

"drip brew" does not exist in that world. (yes, sounds assholish, but the coffee is really fucking good)

its like top shelf vs bottom shelf. drink to get drunk, drink to enjoy the flavor.

​

I won't drink it any other way now. I used to use a french press.

​

how to pour-over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aWH9UgmuCM

​

when you go to starbucks/Peets, they fill your cup from a tank.

​

when you go to a pourover coffee place, they make it one cup at a time. every cup is hand poured, beans are ground immediately before use. and they use beam heaters because, believe it or not.. temperature really matters. coffee made from 200 degree water tastes different than coffee made from 212 water.

https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Beam-Heater-Coffee-Syphon/dp/B00R6YPTYA

​

​

for home..

optional - but helps make hot water, but not too hot - note the narrow spout to control where the water goes.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/

​

one of these and the filters to go with.

https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Plastic-Coffee-Dripper-Size/dp/B006IKMUIG/

​

​

​

>I guess my expectations are high because of the tight bond this community shows.

Yeah, I totally get that! I find cigar people, even IRL, are friendlier than most.

 

By "drip method" are you talking about an auto-drip machine? Because if so, I highly recommend exploring a manual pourover set-up. I prefer the Hario V60, but many others like Chemex or something like the Clever Dripper (a combination pour-over and immersion brewer) instead. The cheapest option for trying your hand at a pourover is the plastic Melitta brewer, often available at your local grocery store for $2-$3, some standard #2 filters, and an electric (or stovetop) water boiler with a decent spout for slow, steady pouring. It's funny that you mention a (french) press pot and moka pots don't give you a full enough flavour, though, because those are typically two of the more full-flavoured methods. I suspect your water:coffee ratio or grind size/consistency might be causing a weak (under-extracted) brew.

In my opinion, though, whilst brew method makes a difference in your cup, I'd say bean freshness and grind make more of a difference than anything. I'd much rather have fresh beans recently ground at a proper size and consistency brewed in a $10 Mr. Coffee than stale pre-ground or poorly ground beans in a professionally-poured manual brewer.

In the end, if you find a manual brewer is too much hassle, the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) does test and maintain a list of certified auto-brewers that meet the temp/brew time requirements.

*Ninja-Edit: Here's a good starter on grind size and how to adjust for flavour.

I have a Cuisinart Brew Central. I have had it for probably 6 years, it was given to me by my brother second hand and he had had it for a few years before that. It is the best coffee maker I have ever had. We love it so much that recently when my husband was cleaning the pot and it cracked we just got a new replacement pot, because there no way we are replacing this workhorse.

Edit to add: I have extremely hard water, I have never run anything through this thing to clean it, though I do change the filter in the water tank about once a month, they are like $10 for something like 36 of them on amazon.

There are some great auto drips that make great coffee easily, if you are willing to pay $100-$200 for the privilege. This one http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00472MMS0 is quite well regarded; and this one http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YQZNO8 is seen as about as good as you can get below a $$$ Technivorm

I'm more of a novice than most of the users on this sub, but here is what I can recommend in terms of good ratio of quality to price (and keeping it below $100).

Grinder: Hario Mini Mill

Brew method: Hario V60

That's $50 right there, and it'll put you well past the quality of the Keurig once you do even a decent pour. You'll also need to blow ~20 bucks on a kettle, ~5 bucks on a pack of filters, and then you have to do your own research on finding beans that work for you.

Small edit: Definitely need to recommend getting kitchen scale so you can be measuring your grounds to water ratio more accurately.

I used the Toddy system, but that's just because it was given to me by a friend. It worked out pretty well, but you can easily re-create the setup with a large mason jar, just pour through a pour over cone at the end.

Another tip which may seem obvious but I didn't think about at the time: don't be afraid to do some test brews before committing to a batch of coffee. I had never brewed coffee this way before and it came out a tad over-extracted, which came through in my stout.

I've already got a Zojirushi on the way! The one with a lid that doubles as a cup because I've heard the normal one keeps the coffee too warm to drink directly from the spout! That way I can pour it out, wait to cool for a bit and sip on it. Also better to pace my coffee drinking for the day.

I'm pretty resigned to ordering this coffee maker for now as I'm no expert. I've read that it's got the proper certifications to make a good cup and I honestly don't want to spend the time each day to make a cup of coffee by hand, especially if I want a big thermos full!

Get one of these Toddy Cold Brew things. Starbucks brews their cold brew in a larger one of these and it is awesome at home. Makes a cold brew concentrate, so you cut it with water when you are wanting a glass of it, so you can adjust how strong you want it. It is worth every penny and makes it a simple process. I let it brew anywhere from 16-24 hours and it is always great. Can buy cheaper beans for it too, which is nice.

Get this and these filters for doing pourover.

You might also want this grinder, unless you want to have your local shop grind for you as well, which they will. Tell them you're grinding for pourover so they'll know how coarse.

If you decide to also get the presspot, you'll need to grind differently for that, which is why I recommend buying the grinder also. Not to mention, it's super helpful to be able to grind your own, so you can dial in your brews. Additionally, whole beans stay fresh longer than ground coffee. You'll definitely notice a difference between fresh ground and the very end of a bag of ground coffee.

All you need other than that is a way to heat water, and some beans. Do you have a kettle of some sort? Stovetop or electric will work. You want to avoid using your keurig to make hot water, as it doesn't get hot enough.

I already have a reputation as a bit of a coffee fiend. If I bought that thing and put it next to my bed than I wonder if the people in my life might start to become a little concerned...

This machine looks really cool and it is kind of a novelty, but it is a bit impractical. I would probably use it pretty consistently for a while and then use it less and less until it is just another thing cluttering up the place.

At any rate, I already have a Cuisinart pot with a timer in the kitchen that I use almost every day. I set it to start making coffee 15 minutes before my alarm goes off and the smell of fresh coffee coming up from the kitchen usually wakes me up before the alarm. I also love my Cuisinart coffee pot. It makes a great cup of coffee and I have had the thing forever.

If you like Cuisinart and your family just wants a simple mechanism, I'd go with this. It's way below your budget, but it's really good for a simple cup of coffee. My parents are similar to you, and they've had this machine for years. Just make sure you clean it after every use! People don't seem to clean their coffee machines...

​

It also has a timer that you can adjust to brew automatically, which I found useful when I had work at 6am.

/u/phawtnawsty:

To me, the important parts of pourover with manual grinding is more in the experience for the user compared to the exactness of everything.

Get whatever products you feel good about getting, and be sure they fit budget--ya gotta be able to buy coffee to make coffee.

I saw that the hario VKB 1.2 liter was on sale through amazon link

A higher end model is the Bonavita, but that is really just because it comes with an electric, less than exact, heating base. link to amazon

In reality, you can find fanboys of both, and there are benefits to "dialing in" your temperature; however, using a manual grinder, and doing stove top until the water boils is all that is really necessary, and electric heating pads are almost never very accurate.

Eventually, ie 2 years, you'll need to replace the 6 USD v60. I recommend using the 20 USD ceramic amazon.

Similarly, I have heard very few complaints about the Hario Skerton Mills amazon and you can get an official upgrade kit that stabilizes lower burr to produce a more consistent coarse grind amazon link.

A price breakdown would lend itself to the following for this setup:

Type|Item|Price

----|:----|:----
Grinder | Hario Skerton | $39.37 @ Amazon
Kettle | Hario VKB-120HSVV60 Buono Pouring Kettle, 1.2 litre | $33.89 @Amazon Saving 49%
Coffee Dripper | Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper (size 02, white) | $19.46 @ Amazon
Grinder Upgrade | Blue Horse Products Hario Skerton Upgrade Kit | $10.99 @ Amazon
| Total | $103.71


You'd have about a hundred dollars left in budget, so you could buy an encore refurb from Baratza.


I hope my table worked :D
edit: fixed my table

I wish I wasn't so late to this conversation, so I'm sure I'm just a repeat comment, but my boyfriend and I have the same problem except (when) I make cold brew in the Toddy he refuses to cut the concentrate with water. Our pitcher will last two days. I don't like Starbucks coffee unless the Kati Kati blend is in season. Freshly ground on the courser side. Mhm.

Anyway, maybe you could entice him with the Toddy and a cool reusable cup? Spend a little up front and commit to a 15 minute weekly prep should help with over all savings.

Side note: I've also seen the infuser bottles (The ones for fruits and tea) work just as well, nightly prep but pretty easy and convenient.

https://www.amazon.com/Toddy-THM-Cold-Brew-System/dp/B0006H0JVW/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=toddy+cold+brew&qid=1566996393&s=gateway&sr=8-4

Get yourself a Toddy cold coffee maker and then hit a local grocery store and grind up a pound of their darkest/greasiest beans on the absolute coarsest grind then let that steep in your fridge for a at least 24 hours. Cold brew coffee is bright and the dark beans are the least bitter. The resulting concentrate should last you for a good week. Treat it like a strong liquor and mix a shot or two with some cold milk, ice and maybe some sugar or flavored syrup.

https://smile.amazon.com/Toddy-T2N-Cold-Brew-System/dp/B0006H0JVW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1499652642&sr=8-4&keywords=toddy

You could probably get both if you get the BV1900TS . I just ordered that and the Baratza Encore for about $300 total, shipped!

After extensive research and posting, it came down to the Behmor Brazen Plus or the BV. The BV, seems to have a slight edge. Its probably the best home auto-drip coffee maker out there, right now, and its on the cheaper side of the SCA Certified Home Brewers

Take a look at this review listed under the Brazen, but its a comparison of both


On a side-note, this is probably the best review of anything I have ever seen, hands-down, ever. Also, if you live up in the moutains where boiling water is an issue, the Brazen is probably better.

My Moka Master is the only thing I can recommend because it's all I've used, when brewing pot coffee, for the past 6 years. For $300, the machine is a tank and hasn't had a hiccup once, also allows you to control the speed of the drip. At the time of purchase it was the only machine I could find that heated water to proper brewing temperature.

Moccamaster KBT 10-Cup Coffee Brewer with Thermal Carafe, Polished Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002S4DI2S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zATpzb00GT80E

If you want the best bang for your buck I wouldn't drop more than 20-30. Go with a simple V60 pour over, French press, or stovetop espresso maker. They're all cheap and and give you a good cup of coffee consistently, given you brew each method properly

Method of brew is important and all, but grinder and uniform grounds is as crucial, if not more so, and this is where I would put my money. Burr grinders are known to be the best. I use a capresso $100 burr grinder and has been a powerhouse these past few years (I'll link it below). I recommend paying the premium as well, they offer a $45 burr grinder, however, you get what you pay for. The motor is much weaker and much less consistent grinds.
Also know what ground size is necessary for each method. Coarse for French press, fine for espresso etc.

Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AR7SY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ZITpzbHK420TD

Hmu if you got questions, I'm always down to talk coffee.

If your husband likes coffee with milk and/or sugar, you just need a good coffee maker that doesn't make really bitter coffee. I've seen people recommend this Bonavita coffee maker.

Otherwise, good beans go a long way. You can get those from most coffee shops, so if there's one you like chances are they will sell you the same beans. They can grind it for you or if you want to step it up, you can get your own basic grinder for ~50$.

I could hunt down the video, but some test kitchen show tried out basically all of the serious automatic coffee makers and that was literally the only one that they could recommend because the others don't get the temperature or water dispersion right. They may have updated it with a second, cheaper alternative later on though...Okay I'll check.

Yeah, this BonaVita was their "best buy". Definitely not as good, but more affordable.

Do you think he'd like anatomy and physiology prints? My brother is in the medical field an found similar prints for his office that he loves.

If he's a big coffee drinker, a Toddy cold brew system might be up his alley. It makes even subpar coffee taste great, and it's less acidic that other brew methods.

A badge reel related to his field would be a nice daily use item. I'm partial to these.

IMO I think you can get better bang for your bucks, all possible with a cheaper price tag -- I've assembled a list assuming a pour over kit. Obviously you would want to get a dripper. Now, there are a lot of different kinds out there (even within the same product line e.g. plastic vs ceramic construction), amongst which the popular ones would be the Hario V60 and the Melitta, the Beehouse included. For the kettle, you can get the Bonavita Variable GooseNeck for $60 now at Amazon (it's a steal!), or the Stovetop version for $20 less. The Bonavita allows the user to manipulate the temperature much more precisely, and thus ensures more consistent consecutive cups of coffee. To be even more precise, get a scale. I have owned the Hario Slim Mill for some time now, and with some simple modification, it can grind some pretty darn consistent grinds! I think altogether this will sum total to at most the same price. And above all, make sure you buy him freshly roasted beans!

If you are looking for an automatic coffee maker this one seems to get recommended often. I have never used one myself though.

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1500TS-Carafe-Coffee-Stainless/dp/B00SK5IXPQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1517883812&sr=1-6&keywords=bonavita+coffee+maker

For a grinder this one is recommended often as a basic electric model. If you want to save some money and don't mind a little effort than a hand grinder like the Hario might be a good option.

https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B007F183LK/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1517884047&sr=1-4&keywords=baratza+encore+grinder

https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Skerton-Ceramic-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B01LXZACFB/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1517884146&sr=1-3&keywords=hario+skerton+pro

and cleaning. ugh grounds. i switched back to a Drip but I use the behmor item-- it heats the entire volume of water to the ideal brewing temperature and only then brings it in contact with the grounds. A wonderfully customizable unit that produces coffee as good as my french press but without the sediment.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PKEYY8U/

Heck yes he is- and visa versa, of course. Last time I saw him live, he was wearing a Yelich shirsey, gotta love that.
I really like the new album- I was a huge fan of his last record, and this seems to continue to evolve his sound in some exciting ways.
I make my own cold brew in a toddy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006H0JVW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qkjtDbHZAK9A3. It’s great, but the access to unlimited caffeine has definitely lead to some sweaty palms before.

I'm not familiar with that machine but it looks like just a regular drip coffee maker?

If you are making multiple cups of coffee I would recommend one of the popular drip machines. I like the Bonavita models, e.g. the Bonavita BV1900TS. (They also make a smaller model but I don't have any experience with it.)

I think the two most important questions are: what are some coffees that you've had and like? What sort of work are you willing to put into it?

My personal recommendation would be to get a Baratza Encore grinder, a digital scale, a gooseneck kettle of some sort, a Chemex, and a French Press. All that should easily fit within your budget. And of all the accessories I have, on 90% of the days I don't use anything other than those. Well, and some coffee beans.

But that will take some work -- measuring, grinding, pouring, waiting, more pouring. It will make much better coffee than any automated machine, but maybe you don't care that much and it sounds like too much work. In that case, the Technivorm Moccamaster and Bonvavita 1900 TS are good options for automatic drip machines.

EDTIT: Sorry, I missed "automatic" in the text. I still don't think that will give you the best coffee, but if you're set on it, ignore everything I said except the Technivorm and Bonavita.

Stumptown, Coava, and Water Avenue are all award winning roasters out of Portland. A good burr grinder will run you about $120. For my brewer I have been using this powerhouse for the past 5 years. Excellent brewer.

Yes, ditch it. You'll get better coffee for less money with less environmental waste from any of the methods suggested here.

I'll put in my vote for what got me into pour-overs, and which never seems to get much love on this sub: a good old fashioned Melitta drip cone, which makes a more than decent cup of coffee with easily obainable (and cheap) filters with a minimum of fuss. You can pick up a small one that's perfect for one or two cups for under ten bucks, and a set with a larger cone which also includes a glass carafe (perfect for making multiple cups at once) for not much more than that.

https://www.amazon.com/Melitta-Coffee-Single-Pour-Over-Brewer/dp/B0014CVEH6

https://www.amazon.com/Melitta-640446-Pour-Over-Coffee-Brewer/dp/B0000CFLCT

You could individually brew two cups, but that sounds like a pain to do.

If you're interested, you could venture in to another pour over brewer like a Hario V60 or Kalita Wave which will make it easier to brew two cups at a time. You'd also have to purchase the corresponding filters.

EDIT:
Also, the info here suggests that the yield of the larger clever dripper is 16oz. How much coffee are you putting in when you brew for two people?

does it have to be drip? i would recommend an espresso machine... its pretty quick, and makes amazing fresh coffee. if i had to recommend a drip, it would be this due to the control you have over the brew

https://www.amazon.com/Behmor-Brazen-Temperature-Control-Coffee/dp/B00PKEYY8U

You won't be able to get all of the alkaloids out of the leaf when making tea. The tea will have have a different effect vs whole leaf. To make tea you need to add something to the water to acidify it slightly, I use citric acid powder, but lemon juice works well too. You need to simmer the water and kratom for around 30 minutes, then strain. This is what I use to strain, along with natural brown filters. You can sweeten with honey, sugar or stevia if you'd like. Enjoy!

I don't think you can get a good espresso machine at that price.

Does she like drip coffee? Because you can actually do pretty well for that much. The Bonavita is supposed to be really good.

I have one of these personally, although there are ways to make your own cold press system as well.
Basically you use coarse ground coffee, brew it in water for at least 12 hours, and then filter it out. Often what you get is a bit concentrated, so you can enjoy it super strong or add water/milk/whatever.

I bought my mom a Toddy cold brew machine for Christmas last year. She can make her own super delicious cold-brew coffee concentrate, and it makes a great iced coffee when combined with water, almond milk, or what have you.

Oh cool, I see where you are coming from. One thing thats great about pour overs is there are a ton of different types to explore if you end up liking it, but you can get what you need for really cheap, you might want to look at something like this since its easy to use, you just need kettle or something to heat up/pour your water and thats it. Just throwing that out there.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000CFLCT/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1417998216&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

I've heard the Technivorms are among the best, but also some of the most expensive. I've got a Bonavita on the way (birthday gift next weekend!) which is sort of the cheaper version of the technivorm. I asked this exact question on Metafilter a few months ago, here is that thread. In it someone linked to a video breakdown of drip coffeepots from America's Test Kitchen, and one of the most important factors they brought up was a 1400W power supply to heat the water to the correct temperature. Basically, most home pots don't get the water hot enough, nor do they maintain the temperature with any kind of steadiness, which results in crummy coffee. The one that DOES that, was the Technivorm (or, like I said, the cheaper Bonavita), both of them have 1400W heating elements to get the water at the right temp. I'll let you know how the Bonavita works out for me.

Thank you. I started experimenting a couple years ago before school started, thinking I’d be all about the hands-on method because I’m a tea snob and am picky about proper looseleaf tea quality, brewing methods, and temperature. However, I didn’t realize that (for me, at least) making good coffee is way more complicated than making good tea. Now, with the demands of school, I need caffeine more than ever, but have no time to figure it out.

I live in the US, and my max budget is probably $500ish. I already have a Baratza Encore. I would also be interested in automatic regular coffee makers if you have a recommendation (budget $75ish), because a $500 espresso machine would be a Christmas present for me and I’d love to start making coffee again sooner than that. I think I’ve seen this one recommended on here, and might get it if it seems okay: Bonavita 5-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker Featuring Thermal Carafe, BV1500TS https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SK5IXPQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RVoMDb5R0G098

Aeropress is great, and can be coaxed into making a very rough approximation of espresso (think strong, concentrated coffee) if you really want it. You can't make real espresso without investing $500 minimum on an espresso machine and grinder.

I'd recommend grabbing an Aeropress and a Hario Skerton grinder for like $50 total, unless you already have a decent burr grinder. Hang onto the rest of your budget for buying awesome coffee beans.

If you want real coffeehouse-type drinks without a significant investment, I'd recommend sticking to a coffeehouse.

Edit: If you want something more automatic, these are supposed to be great, but you'll still need a separate grinder: http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1900TS-Carafe-Coffee-Stainless/dp/B00O9FO1HK/

The only grind and brew I'd ever think about even giving a half recommendation would be the breville grind control, and that's only because it's okay on paper. In real life grind and brew machines are a pain an require a ton more upkeep than having a separate grinder and coffee maker. If you don't clean them very often (almost daily) they will break, not maybe, will. Not to mention for cheaper you could get a much better grinder and a much better brewer. At $50 you're better off buying pre ground and a cheap machine. If you want the best results an encore plus a bonavita would be you best bet but that's easily four times your price limit.

I was using a Keurig before, and just recently got a Clever Dripper, and I really do enjoy it. I am now in the process of looking for better beans, and a grinder to use with the Clever. The Clever I think is a good gateway into this coffee addiction, and it is not very expensive. I even got a new variable water boiler (which cost more than the Clever haha).

If you are not about the plastic coffee dripper life Bonavita also makes a product that is similar to the Clever dripper.
I am also looking at getting the Hario grinder, but the Skerton.

That's a shame. Would you like to try it again with the V60? We wouldn't be able to give it away for free as part of this offer if you've already signed up on another offer but if you'd like to have another go (perhaps with a coffee you haven't tried yet) we can send you the kit for £5 with your next order, which is what we're currently offering all our members.

If you're at all curious, try it, it's a good deal! Email ahoy@pactcoffee.com and the customer service peeps will be able to sort it out for you.

You're in luck, as recently as three years ago no electric drip coffee maker for under $300 existed that could make a legitimately good cup of coffee. None of them could achieve the proper temperature needed for brewing.

However, in recent years Bonavita stepped up their game and produces several good models for under $200, all of which are certified by the SCAA (which is genuinely a big deal and pretty rare). I would specifically recommend the Bonavita BV1900TS which you can get on Amazon for $138.99. The only negative to it is that the carafe isn't particularly good so if you need the coffee to stay piping hot for hours this isn't a great option. If you're willing to pay a bit more but still under $200 another good option is the one of few other SCAA certified makers - the Behmor Brazen Plus which I personally am hoping to get from Santa.

It's pretty sturdy glass, but regardless, it's glass and it's relatively tall. I'd wager that unless you guys are playing catch with it, you'll be fine, but if there's many rowdy nights, I'd steer clear of it and get something like a plastic V60 instead.

I recently purchased the Hario 5 cup siphon and use it on my gas stove top all the time. I was going to purchase a portable butane burner but figured I would give the stove top a try before hand. Someone had posted a review on amazon about using a gas stove and it working for him. I was worried about the base over heating but that has not been an issue at all. I simply use one of the smaller burners on the stove top, if you have that option, and use a medium/low heat turning it to low after the top chamber fills. Hope this helps!

I think you get the best home results with a pour over, which is just a cone that holds a filter over your cup while you pour water in slowly. You can get the whole setup for about $100. $45-55 for a hand grinder (Porlex or Hario), $20 for the cone (V60), plus V60 filters from Amazon and a kitchen scale that measures in grams. You'll need a kettle with a fine spout too but you don't truly need the special goose neck kettles they sell.

You can find youtube videos of how to do the brewing but basically you use a lot of beans per cup (25g), pre-wet them, then add water slowly in phases up to a full cup (360g).

As for beans, Stumptown is a good bet for premium beans if you're mail ordering.

Making espresso at home is much harder and takes expensive equipment to get right so stick with the shops for awhile.

All of my kratom is sold STRICTLY not for human consumption but this is what I use to make my super potent Kava tea.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IKLQZK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can thank me later ;)

"Blend into submission" is just another way to say "blend the shit out of it" or "blend until smooth." Nothing fancy there.

I use this to make cold brewed coffee. You could just use regular coffee that has been cooled; it will work perfectly well. I prefer cold brewed because it's much less acidic so it doesn't irritate my stomach.

is there a particular reason there isn't much love for vacuum makers in this subreddit? i've been using the bodum vacuum maker for a while now and love it; however, i have no experience using a chemex or aeropress, so i can't make a comparison. i don't have any intention of switching over anytime soon, but if i'm missing out on something even more wonderful, it'd be awesome to know.

i'm relatively new, so it's possible that i just haven't seen anyone else talking about it much.

edit: i'm using this one

You can take an aeropress hiking or backpacking during said nuclear holocaust! It's a little more work than "pour water, turn on button" but not by much, and wayyy tastier!

OR, I'd just cold brew it. way more caffeine, less work, smoother taste. Amazon sells kits but you can also just do it in any jar at home! Caffeine is good for you :)

oh yeah. for sure. if you've got time https://smile.amazon.com/Toddy-T2N-Cold-Brew-System/dp/B0006H0JVW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1467824016&sr=8-3&keywords=iced+coffee+brewer

get this. throw some french press coarse ground coffee in it. let it sit in the fridge for 4 days and that will be the strongest coffee youll ever drink. highly recommended. changed my life.

[your entire fridge will smell like coffee though, which is either an amazing plus, or a terrible con, depending on if you ask me or my wife]

Don't really think it matters whether you choose plastic or porcelain.

V60 - http://www.amazon.com/Hario-VDC-02W-Dripper-Ceramic-Funnel/dp/B000P4D5HG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367811837&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+v60

Chemex - http://www.amazon.com/Chemex-Drip-Coffee-Carafe-Cup/dp/B0000YWF5E/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1367811983&sr=1-1&keywords=chemex

Clever - http://www.amazon.com/ABID-CO-LTD-C-70888-Dripper/dp/B0047W70GY/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1367812013&sr=1-1&keywords=clever+coffee+dripper

I feel like these are your best options.

For making single serve coffee that's not crap in that price range, I'd consider one of the following grinders (Ordered according to my preference... the first is my favorite):

• Refurb Maestro Plus ($95)
  
• Capresso Infinity ($89)
  
• Bodum Bistro ($79.45)
  
• Hario Slim ($39.07)
  
  Combined with one of the following brewers (not really ordered... I could argue for any of these):
  
  
• Melitta 1-cup ($1.99)
  
• Bodum "3-cup" press ($17.95)
  
• Hario V60 ($9.95)
  
• Clever Dripper ($15.98)
  
• Beehouse ($12.63)
  
  They're easy, cheap, and high quality. Any combination of these will get you a low-fuss cup in the morning, and if your friend uses good, freshly roasted beans, it'll be better than most shops can do.

-Pyrex dishes/bowls with plastic lids are really convenient for meal preps.

-[A butter dish ] (https://www.amazon.com/Miles-Kimball-Green-Depression-Butter/dp/B00G2G40S4%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-ffab-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00G2G40S4) is always a good idea! Keeps butter spreadable and handy, right on the kitchen counter. Best to use salted butter, which keeps longer at room temp.

-A [Microplane ] (https://www.amazon.com/Microplane-40020-Classic-Zester-Grater/dp/B00004S7V8%3Fpsc%3D1%26SubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-ffab-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00004S7V8) is a good tool for finely shredding parmesan and other hard cheeses, zesting citrus fruits and any other fine grating. Not the most practical gift for everyone but I've gotten a lot of use out of one.

-Order some coconut oil for her, or any other keto-approved oil so she starts off on the right track, with the right fats.


-I really like reusing bacon grease, which she can put through a coffee filter in a [ pour-over coffee maker, ] (https://www.amazon.com/Tanors-700443183734-Ceramic-Coffee-Dripper/dp/B00JNZ7VNW%3Fpsc%3D1%26SubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-ffab-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00JNZ7VNW0 or rest a coffee filter in the mouth of a mason jar

Pros: Beautiful. Heats water hot enough to significantly extract quality coffee.

Cons: Not programable. Water dispersion is really uneven. Heating pad keeps coffee too hot, tastes baked after ~20 minutes. Water disperses too quickly (if I coarsen my grind to match the water flow brew ends up underextracted).

I recommend against the Ottomatic. It doesn't really solve an issue (having to hold your kettle and manually pour). I would recommend the Bonavita Brewer which has more features, an insulated carafe, and I would say brews better coffee (level brew bed versus the Chemex's cone shaped brew bed).

The OXO On is a great coffee maker which I think would probably make coffee that both you and your wife would enjoy. It regulates the temperature of the water so you don't burn the coffee and it's very easy to use.

Its really not that hard. Making coffee is still in the realm of cooking. The difference between a Keurig system and a enthusiast setup is the same as someone with a George Foreman grill and a pit master, albeit much cheaper.

Essentials:

Pour Over System of your choice+Filters

[Goose Neck Kettle] (https://www.amazon.com/TOP-MAX-Narrow-Spout-Coffee-350ML/dp/B0757HDNDR/ref=sr_1_7?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1536618810&sr=1-7&keywords=gooseneck+kettle)

Not Essential but somewhat important:

Kitchen Scale for the proper beans to water ratio.

Burr Grinder for the best grind at home.

Cold brew at home is pretty easy to tackle.

There are a number of cold brew contraptions you can buy to ease and simplify the transition between steeping and drinking.

• Filtron
  
• Toddy
  
  Alternatively, if you own a french press, then the results from that are just as good. Throw the grounds in, add water, plunge after X hours.
  
  General steps:
  
  

1. Medium coarse grind of beans - a middle of the road coffee is fine (even a few weeks out), here you don't need your most expensive or freshest free-range cage-free single origin.
   
2. Ratio of water:coffee - experiment here as you do your batches, but 4:1 (by weight) is a decent starting point for a coffee concentrate that you can then dilute with water/milk and syrups as desired.
   
3. Pour measured out water over grounds.
   
4. Stir the mixture a bit to even out the coverage.
   
5. Let the container sit for 12 hours at room temperature. (24 hours if done in the fridge)
   
6. Strain, dilute to taste and serve.
   
   
   
   ---------
   
   Resources:
   
   See the comment from /u/dreamer6 - on how to create the vanilla cream and syrup
   
   Blue Bottle - guide and recipe
   
   Stumptown - guide and recipe
   
   NYTimes - blurb article and recipe

Buy a Bonavita. They're expensive, sure, but they look like a standard coffee maker and they'll make pour-over standard cups. They're excellent, and they won't intimidate the unitinitaed among you.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1800TH-Coffee-Thermal-Carafe/dp/B005YQZNO8/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1408090393&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Bonavita

Unless they have expressed a desire to do something different, I don't really think so. They're probably just fine with what they have.

If you're dead set on getting them a nicer brewer, then that probably wouldn't be a bad idea - but it sounds like they like their coffee the way it is?

Getting them a [technivorm moccamaster] (https://www.amazon.com/Moccamaster-10-Cup-Coffee-Thermal-Polished/dp/B002S4DI2S) would be a saintly thing ; but are you sure you don't just want one for yourself?

It doesn't have a timer but the bonavita 1900ts is about as cheap as its ever been on amazon right now.. It's pretty consistently rated as the best tasting auto drip out there by a number of reviews. It's still over your budget but, just something to think about.

edit: one of the independent sellers in ny has it for $109. The lowest I've seen it go was that 10% off sears promo in december for $108...:/

Want to make the best iced coffee?
Get this. Literally the best iced coffee i've made or had. A few places around here that aren't starbucks makes it this way.

You don't have to spend that much for good coffee.

You can get a pour over dripper for $12 on Amazon

100 filters for $6

Electric kettle for $12

Manual coffee grinder for $10

Digital scale for $10

That's $50 for gear, (you can probably pick up some of that even cheaper if you look around) and then you can spend what you want on beans. I'm really into Stumptown coffee right now, which is $18 for 12oz. but you can definitely go a little cheaper or a lot more expensive depending on your tastes.

You can spend as much as you want making coffee, but I haven't noticed a discernible difference between coffee from that setup and coffee from a $500ish setup. A large part of what makes a cup of pour over good is the skill level of the person pouring it, and there's no reason to spend more than $75-$100 on gear until you reach a point where you know for sure your bottleneck is your equipment. I've been making my own coffee this way (as well as french press and espresso) for a few years and I still don't feel like I need to upgrade.

EDIT: Ignore the scale I linked, refer to /u/throwswithfats comment below instead.

Get a used Bonavita through Amazon Warehouse. Great deal, great coffee.
https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1900TS-Carafe-Coffee-Stainless/dp/B00O9FO1HK/ref=sr_1_1?m=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&s=warehouse-deals&ie=UTF8&qid=1499318371&sr=8-1&keywords=bonavita+coffee+maker

There is meditation effect you get when you make your own coffee. Its also the way to ensure you get the best coffee. After its been brewed you have about 20 minutes before most of the flavor is gone. Here's what I do.

1. Buy a good quality bag of whole beans. Medium roast. I usually go for the indie type brands. Avoid pre grinded stuff.
   
2. Grind up two scoops of beans in a grinder. You can get them for cheap.
   
3. Use a machine or use a simple device like this to make two cups of coffee. Two cups will fit in 1 decently sized coffee cup. You may need a coffee filter.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Ceramic-Coffee-Dripper-White/dp/B000P4D5HG/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=pour.+over+coffee+makers&qid=1566559834&s=gateway&sr=8-8
   
   Try it black first, try to just enjoy the flavor. Then if you must try putting in some milk if you want. Id strongly recommend against sugar but to each their own

Here is what I would get

• Porlex JP-30 grinder $40
  
• Hario V60 $12.50 + $7 for filters
  
• Chromatic coffee really good coffee with free shipping. Pick something good. ~$17.
  
  That comes to ~$75 for your everything including your first 1.5 weeks of beans.
  
  

Iced coffee is really easy, albeit a long process >12 hrs, to make, but the concentrate is good for a couple weeks, so you don't have to do it very often. All you need is coffee beans, a grinder, a jar/container, and a fine strainer or something like this if you want the simplicity.

Trader Joe's costa rican is amazing as well, but about double the price I believe.

My suggestion:

https://www.amazon.com/Capresso-560-01-Infinity-Grinder-Black/dp/B0000AR7SY/

Along with

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-Central-DCC-1200-Programmable-Cofeemaker/dp/B00005IBX9/

Or a french press. You'll have awesome coffee to take with you in a thermos every day.

I make my own.


Toddy Cold Brew System
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006H0JVW/


I’m not a coffee purist, was just looking to save myself money because I was tired of shelling out $3 at the coffee shop every time I wanted some. You could probably go down a deep hole with this coffee stuff.

1. Go to a Sprouts or Whole Foods
   
2. Pick out the beans you like, and fill up a bag to weigh .75 lbs
   
3. Put the beans into the grinder and set it to coarse grounds.
   
4. Follow Toddy instructions (super easy, pour grounds and measured water
   
5. ???????
   
6. Profit

A pour over set up can be had for quite cheap.

Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper, Size 02, Clear https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RBTSMM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WcZ5AbRMPN9JG

Bonavita 1.0L Electric Kettle BV3825B https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0GDA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TeZ5AbY1C3CZG

Hario V60 Paper Coffee Filters, Size 02, 100 Count, Natural https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O0R46I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yfZ5Ab8GY8NBT

$5.67 + $6.21 + $29.34 = $41.16

I realize you’re using euros so it will be slightly different. And honestly if you got a different kettle you could cut out 10 or more dollars to get you into the ~30 USD range which from what I can tell would be saving you money. Just make sure it’s a gooseneck and keep in mind the fewer times you have to rebuy something the likely less cost efficient it is.

Just buy a plastic cone, a grinder, and #4 filters. Buy beans in bulk and make coffee at the cheapest and best rate.

It is the cheapest and best quality/taste/speed/temperature/bother ratio

Just FYI - that link/site recommends the OXO 12 cup coffee brewer. I purchased that brewer about a year ago and it was AWFUL! It was an awesome design, and made great coffee; but the electronics within the machine sucked. After about a half dozen brews it wouldn't brew properly. And this didn't just happen with one machine. OXO replaced this brewer THREE TIMES - and each machine ended up doing the same thing. DO NOT BUY THIS MACHINE!. I have a Bonavita coffee maker now (also recommended by the SCAA) and it works great.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O9FO1HK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have a ninja coffee bar and it makes very tasty coffee, though not a lot at a time. I have found that filling to the max fill line for a full pot leaves some water in the reservoir. I now fill the carafe to the bottom of the plastic and fill the reservoir form there instead of relying on the markings (unless I'm not doing a full pot). I also don't really care for the way it pours. It tends to spill around the sides of travel mugs and my Stanley thermos if I dont pour slow and carefully. I look past this because of the great tasting coffee is produces. It's only 10 cups or so as well, and you said they drink A LOT, so a 12 cup model would be more their style. This Mr. Coffee makes some decent drip coffee for a cheapo coffee maker. I'm pretty sure it's cheaper at your local walmart.

There is no "one device immersion / filter" device like the Clever in glass/ metal or ceramic. I am not sure that the design of the mechanism would be possible in those materials at a price that people would be willing to pay. There is the Bonavita BV4000ID. It does use a silicone gasket incase you have any concerns about that material.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MFJX7P4/ref=dp_cerb_3

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV4000ID-Porcelain-Immersion-Dripper/dp/B00C0NZWT4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

While not as compact or easy, if you like the immersion brewing taste combined with a paper filter removing oils and sediments (ie no French press), then you will need to go two step. For example go is use a glass carafe (I would actually use a French press...) that you immerse the grounds into the hot water for the desired time, then pour through whatever filter with a glass/metal/ceramic filter holder, like the porcelain Melitta you that mynameisjonas posted, or a Beehouse Ceramic, Kalita, Zero, Hario glass/metal/ceramic, Chemix, etc.

I would spend $100 and get the 8 cup. It will make great coffee, I love mine. https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00O9FO1HK/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Would you mind linking which one you have? Or are they all safe bets? I was looking at these two mainly:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SK5IXPQ/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_11?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O9FO1HK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_12?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER


Are they like significantly better than other drip coffe machines? Or about the same?

Been using the Yama one for over 5 years now. Great cold brew plus a great conversation piece.

I subscribe to simpler is better on coffee makers. I use the Bonavita BV1900TS, it just has an on/off switch, it can be used with chemex pour overs, has a bloom option, it brews at the right temperature, and has a thermal carafe that keeps it hot for hours. It gets a lot of use and it tastes good every time, couldn’t be happier.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O9FO1HK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HpJCCb1EDG9X8

There is and it is awesome:

http://www.amazon.com/Toddy-T2N-Cold-Brew-System/dp/B0006H0JVW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341951225&sr=8-1&keywords=toddy

(I know it is not exactly the same, but it is very cheap and does a great job)

Agreed. What do you brew with at home? I recently semi-retired my french press in favor of one of these drip machines: http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1800TH-Coffee-Thermal-Carafe/dp/B005YQZNO8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398877808&sr=8-1&keywords=bonavita

I LOVE it and I never thought I could love drip coffee again.

For sheer price and ease of brew consistency, the plastic v60 comes in three forms: dripper only ($7-8), the V60 Decanter ($24), or the V60 Starter Kit ($20).

Depending on gift budget, you may also want to consider a gooseneck kettle if your boyfriend doesn't already have one.

I like coffee gear for aesthetics in addition to their function, though, so I have a couple of special Hario v60 drippers - a sky blue ceramic, and a Mandarin orange ceramic one. Obviously way more breakable than the plastic/metal ones, but I liked the looks of them way more.

Someone recommended the baratza encore and a bonavita brewer. This is a spectacular recommendation, however, it sounds like you don’t want to weigh your beans. For this reason I would recommend the baratza virtuoso, which has a timer on it. This would require a small amount of work to figure out how many seconds of grinding equals the amount of beans you want, but once you know the time, you can set it and it’ll be consistent within 1-2 grams every time. It’s slightly more expensive, but if you get it refurbished you’ll definitely stay under your $300 budget.

Here’s some links:

baratza virtuoso

bonavita w/glass carafe per request

reusable filter that fits the bonavita

Edit:formatting

Glad this thread kept going. They're selling the Bonavita 5 cup on amazon for $74. Looks like a good price for a quality machine.


https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1500TS-Carafe-Coffee-Stainless/dp/B00SK5IXPQ/ref=sr_1_7?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1518553268&sr=1-7&keywords=bonavita+8+cup+brewer

so I spend A LOT of time researching stuff before I buy...I am fortunate to be able to do this at work and consider it a hobby. I started roasting my own coffee and realized my Cuisinart grind and brew was just not cutting it. Bought a decent burr grinder and started researching coffee makers (after pitching the Cuisinart and switching to french press)
I lusted after the Technivorm but wifey-pooh said no way. so we settled on the Bonavita http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1800TH-Coffee-Thermal-Carafe/dp/B005YQZNO8
I have never had an easier coffee maker and it simply makes coffee great and makes great coffee.
6 minutes total brew time. no gadgets, no clocks, just add water, and press on.
We use Melita #4 bamboo filters.
check out the reviews on the Bonavita. If you have the money and space for the technivorm - get it, but at $150 you can't beat the Bonavita. Make sure you get the stainless steel model

EDIT TL/DR: get the Bonavita

When you say you both have 4-5 mugs a morning, is that together or each? And are you having what coffee makers call a cup of coffee (5-6 oz), or are you having something like a 12-20 oz mug?

I have this coffee maker but if you're both drinking 60 oz of coffee, it's not going to make enough. It's not programmable, but there's only 1 button. It takes about 5-6 minutes to make a full pot, which is 40 oz. I like the coffee from this considerably more than from standard drip machines.

On the weekend, I'll make french press or use an aeropress, but this is much easier and faster for during the week.

Here is the Wirecutter's list of "best" coffee makers.

The typical recommended r/coffee starter kit is an aeropress ($33) and a grinder like this one ($29). I think that the grinder and something to brew it in are the two most important components. Get those before a kettle. If you want to get something a little cheaper, maybe start with a french press (could be had for around $20) or a pourover ($22). You won't be able to do a precise pourover without a kettle, though. And if you absolutely need to stay under $15, this exists for $12. In theory, you could boil water then pour it into a measuring cup or something like that and then do your pourover. I used one of those before I knew anything about coffee. I haven't touched it since I got an aeropress and I just bought a chemex for pourover. So, it's not going to be the best option, and you may be looking to replace it later. That said, if you're on a strict budget now and you don't see that changing in the future... it exists. But if you think it's a hobby you'll stick with, get something nice now so you don't end up spending more later and throwing away your first item. Anything less than a v60/french press won't be "good", but will produce coffee.

Here's the list of SCAA approved brewers.

I'd go for those if you can.

Edit: I don't own any of these, but I've heard good things about the bonavita models. The BV1900ts is only $150 on Amazon, and I've seen it recommended a couple of times. Plus, it won't break the bank and is about the price of a Keurig.

The Bonavita is pretty popular, next choise would probably be the Technivorm Moccamaster.

I live in Finland, nearly everyone has a Technivorm in here, yet everyone drinks pre-ground coffee, it's kinda funny :).

Also link for Coffeegeeks drip machine consumer reviews, for more choises.

V60 (amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Plastic-Coffee-Dripper-Clear/dp/B001RBTSMM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541449217&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+v60+plastic

Grinder (amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Hario-MSS-1DTB-Ceramic-Coffee-Mini-Slim/dp/B01GPMH590/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1541449268&sr=8-7&keywords=hario+skerton

With a v60, one of these kettles would help a lot too (something similar is perfectly okay too, but pay attention to the skinny spout: https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541449338&sr=8-3&keywords=bonavita+variable+kettle

And coffee all depends on local roasters in your area, but they put the regions on the bags, so just find some ones from africa, or focus on tasting notes they list.

Hope this helps!

It really makes good coffee. My parents had a classic Danish Bodum Santos since the Eighties, and I have had one for fifteen years now or so.

Making coffee with it really doesn't have to be as … elaborate as shown in the video. Due to its design, the water seems to hit the coffee at a very good temperature and it produces a very nice and mellow flavor. Just make sure you have a rather rough grind, and the rest is almost fire and forget.

I'd honestly go for this instead of a French press after a grinder upgrade. Bonavita BV1900TS 8-Cup Carafe Coffee Brewer, Stainless Steel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O9FO1HK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2yHlyb5ENRWVV

It's a suped up me coffee and honestly probably just as good as a pour over set up.

I recommend this instead of the glass one:

https://www.amazon.ca/Hario-VD-02T-Coffee-Dripper-Clear/dp/B001RBTSMM/

You'll save some cash and it works just as well.

The stand isn't necessary; you can just place the V60 on top of the server and brew directly into it. You will need a scale, tho!

Hario v60 has a plastic model that's my go to brew method. Very similar flavor profile to a chemex, since it's a pour over that uses paper filters, but you can play around with techniques, times, and temperatures a little more than with a Chemex. They're pretty cheap on Amazon, especially with Prime, and they don't break when you drop them.

Another option would be a Clever Coffee Dripper, which is somewhere between a pour over and a french press. It has a lot of the flavors you'd get out of a pour over, with more body, like you'd expect from a french press. Also plastic, also hard to break.