# Can you recommend a good coffee maker? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [February 8, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600 "2011-02-08T01:00:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/1 "2011-02-08T01:00:09Z")
Yes, drip, I suppose, although if I MUST consider a different kind, I’m open. Requirements: 1. No heater plate. I would like thermal carafes only. 2. At least 12 cups. 14 would be awesomerer. er. 3. Programmable, yadda yadda yadda, the usual bells and whistles. Anybody got one they love? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/2 "2011-02-08T01:17:45Z")
We have a Cuisinart, 10-cup thermal. Works great. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/3 "2011-02-08T01:21:52Z")
Maybe I’m a dumbshit, but I’ve never had a coffee maker that was less than just fine. Joe ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/4 "2011-02-08T02:01:27Z")
Not what you wanted to know, but I bought another cheapie Mr. Coffee for $15 after the previous one conked out after 7 years of faithful service. Uncomplicated, ultra cheap; we’re simple folk. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/5 "2011-02-08T02:17:09Z")
You must. Everyone who enjoys good coffee should have a french press. Bodum makes a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/6 "2011-02-08T02:59:46Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > You must. Everyone who enjoys good coffee should have a french press. Bodum makes a good one. I enjoy good coffee, I have a french press. Nevertheless, I prefer my [Capresso](http://www.amazon.com/Capresso-440-05-Electronic-Coffeemaker-Thermal/dp/B000063XHI/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1297133910&sr=8-15) drip coffee maker. They have several different models, and from what I hear, they’re all good. Highly recommended. One of the tricks to making good coffee is getting the water hot enough, and Capresso is one of the few brands that do it well. French press coffee is too gritty for me. I occasionally like a cup of it in the afternoon, but for my daily dose in the mornings, it’s always the Capresso. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/7 "2011-02-08T03:52:51Z")
French press or the cheapest auto drip one that suits your size needs. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/8 "2011-02-08T04:23:54Z")
We have this one: [http://www.cuisinart.com/products/coffee\_bar/dgb-550bk.html](http://www.cuisinart.com/products/coffee_bar/dgb-550bk.html) (I’m not sure if the one in the picture is a thermal one, but ours is and that’s about what we paid for it). If you use the program feature, I think a built-in grinder kind makes noticeably better coffee than grinding the night before. The ones like this where you have to put the beans in each time work much better than the ones that have a hopper IMO-- we had one of those earlier and the grounds chute gets clogged every other pot with oily coffee and it’s kind a pain to clean out. With ones like this, you just pop everything in the dishwasher. It’s a pretty good deal for not too much more than you might pay for a nicer autodrip machine. I don’t necessarily disagree that a cheapo autodrip machine makes drinkable coffee, but the costlier ones do make somewhat better coffee. The nicer ones tend to control the temperature and flow better, which is really where the cheap ones start to suffer as they get older. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/9 "2011-02-08T04:44:41Z")
I came in to second the French Press. I’ve got about four different ways to make coffee in my house but the regular old coffee maker isn’t one of them. I dumped it when I realized that French Press coffee tastes better, is easier to clean, and works well 99% of the mornings I want coffee. The one “downside” is the additional supplies you’ll need. You’ll need a grinder and a water heater. I use a burr grinder and an electric kettle. I say “downside” because they’re really not. The Burr grinder is infinitely superior to a whirling blade grinder you’ll find on many brewers and the electric kettle I can use for all sorts of things beyond coffee. It’s on at least twice a day in our household. Put in about 44 grams of coffee and 32 ounces of water for 4 minutes. Press down and you’ve got two full mugs of coffee ready to go. It’s awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/10 "2011-02-08T06:47:34Z")
I just use a single-cup pourover thingie, but if you’re looking for an honest-to-god drip brewer, I’m told that the Technivorm models are the way to go. [http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/coffee-brewers/technivorm-brewers.html](http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/coffee-brewers/technivorm-brewers.html) ETA: If you’re looking for a cheap solution, the new hotness is the Aeropress. It’s sort of like a french press, only more nerdy. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/11 "2011-02-08T06:54:36Z")
Sure, here you go: [![](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41OjI%2BKFIVL.jpg) ](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41OjI%2BKFIVL.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/12 "2011-02-08T13:39:53Z")
> [@Hunter\_Hawk](#): > > ETA: If you’re looking for a cheap solution, the new hotness is the Aeropress. It’s sort of like a french press, only more nerdy. Hee. According to my local coffee nerd shop, the Aeropress is already old news. The new new hotness is the [Chemex.](http://www.amazon.com/Chemex-1-3-Cup-Coffee-Maker/dp/B000EEXA9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297172292&sr=8-1) For the record, they made me a cup out of the Aerorpress and the Chemex, and I liked the Chemex better. But not so much better that I’m giving up my precious, precious Capresso. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/13 "2011-02-08T13:44:02Z")
> [@Hunter\_Hawk](#): > > I just use a single-cup pourover thingie, but if you’re looking for an honest-to-god drip brewer, I’m told that the Technivorm models are the way to go.. Technivorm owner here. I’ll never go back. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/14 "2011-02-08T13:49:52Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > Technivorm owner here. I’ll never go back. Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/15 "2011-02-08T14:10:09Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![Daerlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Daerlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daerlyn)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/16 "2011-02-08T14:37:19Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > We have this one: [http://www.cuisinart.com/products/coffee\_bar/dgb-550bk.html](http://www.cuisinart.com/products/coffee_bar/dgb-550bk.html) (I’m not sure if the one in the picture is a thermal one, but ours is and that’s about what we paid for it). Another vote for this one. I picked mine up for a hundred bucks at a boxing day sale a few years ago and I adore the thing. The grinder makes a fantastic alarm clock: wake up to loud noise, drift off again, wake up to smell of fresh coffee ten minutes later. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/17 "2011-02-08T15:35:46Z")
Another vote for Cuisinart. We’ve been using ours at least three times a day for the last five years. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/18 "2011-02-08T15:59:34Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > No. Well, I sure am fucking glad you posted, then! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AshenLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@AshenLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AshenLady)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/19 "2011-02-08T16:43:47Z")
I like the Black and Decker thermal carafe. I get the cheapest kind, because they all burn up fairly quickly. The Cuiseinart grind and brew is a behemoth that only comes out for the holidays. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600/20 "2011-02-08T16:48:03Z")
Thanks for the recommendations, everyone! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-good-coffee-maker/570600.md?page=2)