[Bump] Let's talk about coffee machines

[SHOGUN]

French press is all you need... **** spending 200 dollars on coffee machines that don't even match the flavors of a press.

[Wormius]

I agree with the portable / manual coffee makers. I only drinkal a cup a day, so my little Aeropress and Haro Mini Mill grinder work wonderfully. Also can pack them along when travelling.

Just wondering if anybody has experience with a Nespresso machine or are the Keurigs and Tassimos the only ones to consider?

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by IGGYRULES

Just use vinegar. Much cheaper and should do the same job.

How do you do this?

[IGGYRULES]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

How do you do this?

Keurig Descaling Instructions

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I agree with the portable / manual coffee makers. I only drinkal a cup a day, so my little Aeropress and Haro Mini Mill grinder work wonderfully. Also can pack them along when travelling

I agree; I have a french press and a Mypressi Twist for espresso. Anything more "automatic" than those and you start to lose control over key variables.

Originally Posted by IGGYRULES

Get yourself some good beans. Costco has Starbucks French Roast which I find is a great dark roast. I've heard good things about the Kirkland beans (which are roasted by Starbucks for Kirkland) if you like a house blend.

This I don't get. You describe the need to get a decent conical burr grinder (a must) but then go on to say the above. "Good beans" and "Costco" and/or "Starbucks" and/or "Kirkland" do not belong in the same sentence. The amount of time those beans sit in the bag after roasting is borderline ridiculous. Suppose it is one step above pre-ground coffees......

Get some freshly roasted coffee (locally or at least in Canada), stick to something roasted within the last 2 weeks, and freeze what you can't use in the upcoming week.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Just wondering if anybody has experience with a Nespresso machine or are the Keurigs and Tassimos the only ones to consider?

My brother-in-law has a Nespresso. It's not really the same thing, since it does espresso, not coffee. If you like espresso it's pretty good with a lot of different varieties available, but if you just want a cup of coffee this isn't the way to go.

[-TC-]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

How good are those reusuable K-Cup filters? I like to grind my own coffee.

I bought a Keurig at Christmas, with the K-Cup and it works brilliantly

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Get some freshly roasted coffee (locally or at least in Canada), stick to something roasted within the last 2 weeks, and freeze what you can't use in the upcoming week.

Yes, definitely check out Fratello down in the SE, down near Frank Sissons, or whatever it is called now. They let you sample it and try out the equipment. Actually gave a demo of the Aeropress, though I still haven't quite perfected it. The coffee tastes so much different than what you get from a drip or a coffee shop that it is hard to judge if you've brewed it correctly.

[Morozee]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

I'm having a small issue with my Keurig. It seems that if I don't use the machine for a couple of days or something, and then make a cup of coffee, it occasionally won't make a full cup. If I run just a water cycle through with no K Cup it solves the problem, but I really shouldn't have to do that. Is there a way to fix this?

Do you use any other K-Cups other than coffee ones? I find sometimes if my wife makes a hot chocolate or chai latte K-Cup (the ones that are just powder, unfiltered), some residual liquid likes to dry and plug off the spout.