A question for the coffee drinkers: What’s your favorite coffee maker?

Have you tried useing filtered water or letting the water age over night to remove the chemicals that are usually found in most city water systems?

I use a Bunn. Home model is around a hundred dollars I think. I have well water right now but used to have softened water–didn’t seem to make a difference. I think the real difference is in the type of coffee and how much you use. My DH and I routinely drink either Folgers or Maxwell house half-caffeine but when I want to treat myself, I buy 100% Colombian. My favorite brand is a whole bean that I grind myself–unfortunately I can’t remember the name and I don’t have any right now. BTW a coffee grinder is only about ten bucks. The fresh grind really makes a difference. I make my coffee pretty strong.

Well, my father in law raves about my coffee and every time he visits I try to teach my MIL how I make it..lol…I get sort of tickled by it all. I think a cone shaped filter basket is important. The water hits more coffee grounds that way so you get more flavor. It’s hard to find a small (4-5) serving cone shaped coffee maker so I ordered one off the internet….Melita brand….not expensive (around $15), just hard to find. A big one should be easy to find, though. Also, I think most people just don’t use enough coffee grounds. I use 2 tablespoons (heaping) per 6 oz serving, but it can be to taste. I think my in-laws probably just aren’t using enough coffee. I also use plain old Maxwell House (half-caf) and love it, but always buy the smallest container because it tastes best freshly opened. Wow…I like talking about coffee.

Anyone that works/tee hee! Just use a basic drip one during the week but have a French Press I use as a treat on weekends!

The beans are much more important than the pot to the quality of the coffee. If you buy good quality whole beans & grind as needed you should be able to get good coffee out of even a cheap maker. Coffee beans should be stored in a cabinet, not the fridge or freezer (too much moisture).

Kilroy is right about storing the beans. Best in an airtight container in a cabinet. The fridge/freezer zaps the moisture and flavor from the beans.

So what have you decided, Dee?

I use only filtered water and freshly ground beans from my local coffee shop. At home I have a Braun coffee maker, a krupps espresso machine and a french press. I use them all and like them all. Since you don’t drink mass quantities here is my recommendation. Either an inexpensive espresso maker or a french press. Both are great for making a cup or two of coffee. With the french press, heat up the carafe with some hot water and then dump it out. Add your freshly ground coffee and boiling filtered water (3 mins in the microwave will do it) let sit for 7 to 10 minutes, press and enjoy. Start out by buying your beans 1/4 or 1/2 pounds at a time. Better to buy more often and have fresher beans. I really like Costa Rican Terrazo, Ethiopian Yrgicheff, Sumatran, and Peruvian Peaberry beans, but the best way to find out what you will like is to go to a coffee shop and smell the different varieties of beans. Whatever smells best to you, get it!

I’ve never tried it, but I would expect that a regular grind would clog up an espresso machine, which is designed specifically for the finer grind.

Mr. K & I do the opposite & used an espresso grind for the coffee we make in a regular drip machine, which allows the water to flow over more of the coffee’s surface & provides more flavor, but like I said, I think a regular grind would overwhelm an espresso machine’s inner workings.