# Coffee maker recommendation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [December 23, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-maker-recommendation/741142 "2015-12-23T01:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-maker-recommendation/741142/21 "2015-12-24T15:04:16Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > We have a Hamilton Beach unit, apparently [this model](https://www.hamiltonbeach.com/drip-coffee-makers-two-way-brewer-49980z.html). It’s versatile and easily programmable. I think my wife runs a vinegar solution through it occasionally, but I’ve never actually discussed the cleaning with her. She doesn’t complain about cleaning it. > > We’ve had it for years and it still works great. For us the convenience of choosing a potful or a single serving is handy. For the carafe/pot it uses standard paper filters. For the single serving it has an easily cleanable (just rinse it) reusable mesh filter. > > I find it interesting that Hamilton Beach shows a list price of $89.99, and that [Walmart sells it for $89.99 but claims a list/former price of $109.99](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hamilton-Beach-2-Way-Brewer-Coffeemaker-Black-Stainless-Steel/16503575), for a $20 saving [over their made-up exaggerated list price]. > > I don’t drink coffee, but my wife sure does and she’s been very happy with this coffee maker. I almost pulled the trigger on a similar Hamilton Beach. But I noticed there were some negative reviews on Amazon (and also on Wal-Mart). When I sorted them by date, almost ALL of the reviews in the last two months were negative. Three major complaints: 1. coffee tastes like plastic 2. coffee maker starts to leak water from the bottom all over your kitchen 3. Hamiton-Beach customer service is terrible. I wonder if they changed where/how they manufactured the last big batch of these, but when you compare the reviews from one purchased a few years ago, it is not even close. If I have time, I will get the model number I am referring to. What I can remember is that it looked almost exactly like your model, except the single serving was on the other side, and the cost was $79, both on Amazon and Wal-mart. Based on what I have read, I will not be buying a Hamilton Beach coffee maker. Maybe in a few years when the next one goes belly up, but right now, they seem to be having some production problems. > [@Chefguy](#): > > I bought this [Zojirushi](http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-EC-YSC100-Thermal-Carafe-Stainless/dp/B00X9K1EDK/ref=sr_1_2?s=appliances&ie=UTF8&qid=1450886970&sr=1-2&keywords=zojirushi+coffee+maker) not long ago and really like it. Thermal carafe that actually keeps the coffee hot (no reheat burner). Water comes out the proper temp for proper brewing. Easy to clean. Uses paper filters or an inexpensive gold filter (which I highly recommend). The water reservoir detaches and is filled at the sink, not by carting water in the carafe and then spilling it all over your counter when you try to pour it into the pot. > > Cons: it’s fairly wide. I have never had a good cup of coffee with the permanent gold filters. I have tried them a number of times, and the coffee always tastes metallic. So I have gone to the paper filters exclusively. Does the metallic taste go away over time, or in your experience, it never tasted metallic? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-maker-recommendation/741142/22 "2015-12-24T16:15:25Z")
> [@crypto](#): > > I have never had a good cup of coffee with the permanent gold filters. I have tried them a number of times, and the coffee always tastes metallic. So I have gone to the paper filters exclusively. > > Does the metallic taste go away over time, or in your experience, it never tasted metallic? It doesn’t to me, but perhaps you have a sensitivity to it. I don’t like cast iron for the same reason. The pot accepts paper filters without problem; I just find the permanent filter to be more convenient. The best features, as I mentioned, are the temperature of the water (the coffee is actually too hot to drink at first), and the the construction of the carafe, which has a serious stopper/sealer on it to keep the heat in. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-maker-recommendation/741142/23 "2015-12-27T21:37:15Z")
I have been a coffee maker for over 50 years (but you can’t buy me). I use a Mellitta cone with a paper filter and (gasp) pour the water by hand into the ground coffee, which I gring fresh every morning. True it doesn’t hold the coffee hot, but the microwave still does a good job of reheating. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-maker-recommendation/741142/24 "2015-12-27T23:26:29Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > How do you French Press folks keep the coffee hot? That’s one of my beefs with French Press. I want to make a pot of coffee big enough for two people and keep it hot for an hour and a half or so; I can do that with the drip maker that goes right into the thermos. > > Even if I could find a giant french press that made 4 biggish cups of coffee, brewing it then pouring it into a thermos never keeps it hot enough. > > Plus… French Press coffee. Meh. I know tons of people love it, it’s a bit too… chalky or something for my taste. I use a stainless steel press with a double wall, similar to this [http://www.crateandbarrel.com/bodum-columbia-34-ounce-stainless-steel-double-wall-thermal-french-press/s252565?b=1&a=1552&campaignid=206595536&adgroupid=13838804576&targetid=pla-75562822736&adpos=1o1&creative=44897460056&device=t&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CLn57NiY\_ckCFdEXHwodH9MM9A](http://www.crateandbarrel.com/bodum-columbia-34-ounce-stainless-steel-double-wall-thermal-french-press/s252565?b=1&a=1552&campaignid=206595536&adgroupid=13838804576&targetid=pla-75562822736&adpos=1o1&creative=44897460056&device=t&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CLn57NiY_ckCFdEXHwodH9MM9A) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-maker-recommendation/741142.md?page=1)