Best Coffee Machines
1 Cuisinart DCC-3200 14-Cup Glass Carafe with Stainless Steel Handle Programmable Coffeemaker, Silver
Brew strength control allows you to select regular or bold coffee flavor.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"(In the attached comparison photos, the 1200 is on the left and the 3200 is on the right): Taste: Coffee in the 3200 is more flavorful. They seem to get the extra capacity by making the 3200 a little deeper from front to back. (I read some complaints about the lid on an intervening model with a spring opening, but if so, they fixed that by going back to the 1200 style). Still the 3200 is easier to fill, and I suspect that the restriction on the tilt may help preserve the integrity of the hot water tube. Taking out the carafe to sneak a cup during brewing worked great on the 1200 with little dripping, and still does on the 3200. The basket on the 3200 is very similar to the 1200, but a slightly different shape to accommodate more grounds for 14 cups. The extra stainless steel looks good on the 3200 but probably shows smudges more and might benefit from special cleaner fluids. The larger basket (with possibly a bigger drip opening), the deeper reservoir and longer case, and the more stable, non-tilting lid may help with this, but we will see how it works over time. I do notice that they made the bottom panel easier to remove, with regular screws instead of Torx, if it ever comes to that. In all, the 3200 is an excellent replacement for the 1200, and worth the extra money if you are choosing between the two models new."
"After doing a LOT of research, I decided to order this coffee maker. Taking into account the negative reviews, my personal experience is a mix but mostly on the positive side. When you go to fill the water reservoir, the lid doesn't open far enough to use the coffee pot. Not really, it's just a minor annoyance and the primary reason I didn't feel this coffee maker was 5 star worthy. Towards the end of the cycle, the unit will start this series of clicking and chunking sounds, like it can't siphon the water. The maker will make its series of beeps like it's done but there will be "4 cups" worth of water left in the reservoir. It seem to be boiling off a LOT of the water and as a result there is a large amount steam coming off the machine. UPDATE #2: As it turns out, it appears that the maker just needed a good cleaning."
"I eliminated a lot of brands from numerous website reviews and looking at the quality of them in the stores. The 2650 offered a few more features but the lid still leaks water off the back end when you raise it and the on/off switch looks like it could give me problems sooner rather than later. After using it I would say that the engineers at Cuisinart finally put their heads together and worked to resolve the nit picky issues buyers had been complaining about with prior models."
On/off indicator light lets you know when your coffeemaker is on or off.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"And so when my trusty old Mr. Coffee began to show signs of burnout (I think I bought it back in the last century)I never hesitated to replace it . Anyway, two mugs worth is what you're going to get when you fill the machine to the. mythical four cups. Removable filter basket lifts out for fast and easy filling and cleaning. Indeed it does. Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging. Nothing is enclosed in bulletproof plastic. I should tell you, too, that the temperature of the brew is just right, for my tongue (but I add cream, so . Grains from the brew process do not seem to find their way into the carafe. And, it shuts off by itself after an hour, like all good electronic devices should do when they're not needed. Well, while the machine itself seems to have been designed by Dilbert or Alice, the pointy-headed guy must have got in the way and had Wally do the lid. Buy 'em in bulk, so you only have to charge customers a couple of bucks more."
"I must start by mentioning that in my early college years, I drank copious amounts of this tasty beverage. So much, in fact, that I became completely dependent, and resolved to quit consumption of all caffeine, a resolution that I maintained for roughly 8 years. I know that many of you are partial to espresso mixed drinks, but for me it's a cup of drip made with high quality dark roast beans, served black. I tried different temperatures, grinds, brewing times, everything I could to try and obtain the flavors I desired in my cup. Its plastic parts are cheap and flimsy, and though the reviews say it'll last a long time, I would be surprised. I finally decided to use it today, and made my first brew of drip with it using the same beans I'd been experimenting with."
"My mug is from Blue Eagle Pottery, just google it, pricey, but it's the perfect mug."
"I noticed a lot of bad reviews stating the lid doesn't close right."
Exclusive drip-free carafe with a proprietary lid and spout design that arcs the pour of the coffee into the cup and wicks the coffee dribbles back into the carafe preventing a mess on cup or counter. Large flat bottom filter and funnel allows greater interaction between hot water and coffee grounds for superior flavor extraction.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But if you're planning on buying it, here's a couple of important things to be aware of: 1. First of all, the stock machine wastes coffee and requires the taller Bunn filters. The coffee comes out really fast, but it pushes a lot of the grounds up against the wall of the filter, making for weaker coffee and requiring taller filters - which isn't necessarily bad but they're not as readily available as regular filters. But if you really want to get the full flavor out of your coffee, like we do, then changing out the spray head takes care of that. That works nicely, but it takes some getting used to when you're pouring the water in the brewer. Where you pour the water: This model has a door that lifts, while the other model slides open sideways. Just be aware that (a) it has to be plugged in and "on" all the time to keep the water reservoir hot (that's how you get the coffee so fast) and (b) if you like really flavorful coffee you'll have to call in for the free spray head."
"You have to order the special sprayhead in order to brew finer ground coffee or else you'll have coffee spilled all over your counter...This really should have been included with the unit since it's a no-brainer add-on as not all coffee is coarsely ground...."
"This one has a newer type decanter that makes things virtually drip proof."
"This is the best coffee pot I’ve had, hands down."
"Another reviewer stated that you should get the alternate brewing spout, which we have on order."
"Coffee tastes good."
"Love my Bunn."
"Operated poorly (erupted coffee on the counter several times) but thought it was 'operator' trouble - used bottled water and cleaned it per manufacturer instructions."
Best Coffee Presses
Its classic method effectively extracts any coffee bean's essential oils, delivering bold unique flavor directly to your cup, that is otherwise lost in paper filters. Also, a poor frame design with a brittle glass teapot will likely lead to accidental cracks with typical everyday use. We have taken extra care by thoughtfully wrapping the large pot with our protective design to minimize breakage but not at the expense of its looks. COMFORTABLE HANDLE ~ is durable & sturdy, clever design for free flowing & effortless pouring to your mug which also features a BPS / BPA FREE lid were no plastic comes in contact with your hot or iced cold brewed tea while steeping. EASY TO CLEAN Dishwasher Machine Safe & detachable stainless steel filter screen system with a quick and easy press, rubber plunger knob.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"KORA - carafe cannot be separated from its plastic frame. Bodum - carafe can be separated from metal frame. Lid: KORA uses a very thin plastic that can be easily squeezed from the edges. Entire lid rotates when positioning to pour. Bodum uses metal for the outer lid which feels heavier and more premium with an isolated plastic piece that rotates independently when positioning to pour. Spiral plate (the plate with holes and spring): KONA uses 2 rows of holes in their plate which go from small to large. KONA uses a 3-hole cutout pattern. Bodum uses a 4-hole cutout pattern. All of this said, I feel the higher price tag for the Bodum Chambord is justified. What this KONA did for me however, was replace my broken carafe and gave me a spare set of plates and a light duty filter for less than a replacement Bodum carafe. My humble recommendations: First french press pot - buy the Bodum. Replacement carafe for broken Bodum - buy the Kona and reuse your Bodum parts (assuming you don't mind not using your Bodum frame)."
"==UPDATED 12/26/14==. I'ved tried a couple French Presses, including the $20.00 Bodum French Press & the SterlingPro coffee press, and this is my favorite one so far. Since all of the french presses essentially work the same, there's not much variation in the quality of the coffee (they all taste delicious!). You take some coarse ground coffee (which you can get from stores or a manual grinder), put it in the french press, and then pour in hot water. Another advantage of a french press is the flexibility-you can adjust the temperature of the water as well as the concentration of the coffee (by adjusting the amount of coffee grounds), so you can brew the coffee the way you want. This press is also designed so that no plastic touches the hot water when you're brewing the coffee, so that's always a plus."
"I read an article about best coffee types and found out that many people prefer the French press method to brew their beans. The press is made well and the screen looks like it could strain sand."
Best Coffee Percolators
Percolators have come back to home kitchens, and the Presto 12-cup stainless steel coffee maker is a prime example. This coffee maker brews up to twelve cups of coffee at a cup-a-minute rate, which it then keeps at a constant, piping-hot serving temperature. Before cleaning the coffee maker, unplug the unit and allow it to cool completely. The coffee maker measures 10 by 5 by 13 inches (including handle, lid, and spout). Made of durable stainless steel including the filter basket and perk tube; Signal light indicates when coffee is ready to serve.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This pot has consistently delivered the best tasting coffee - better than all restaurants we frequent, better than friends and family's coffee... just awesomely, amazingly good. Using the metal basket without a paper filter allows the flavor oils that naturally exist in the coffee bean to STAY in the coffee and contribute to its amazing and full flavor. If you use a paper filter, you'll lose the oils and get an "over-extracted" flavor that's more bitter than bold... so don't use a paper filter, follow the instructions, and you're GOLDEN - perfect coffee every time. The key place for build up is the receiving "hole" at the bottom of the pot for the metal tube. I prefer the wire brush route and just tap the bottom of the basket, which instantly clears the holes and allows you to keep the years of perfect seasoning intact. When assembling the pot in order to brew coffee, if you don't get the metal tube lined up with the receiving hole in the bottom of the pot, you'll get a misfire where you'll get a weak pot of coffee (at best), if not a mere pot of hot water. Don't overfill the basket with coffee - the closer you are to the top of the tube, the more likely to get grains in the bottom of the pot. It's OK to let the coffee sit plugged in and ready to go for a long time as a FULL pot. If you're going to be leaving less than half a pot for more than an hour, UNPLUG IT, the coffee can burn if it sits long enough, just like ANY coffee pot. Obviously, the fresher the better - just don't let it sit plugged in with very little coffee left, or your coffee will be understandably less delicious than you were expecting. Finally, stop reading reviews, buy this pot, and enjoy your awesome coffee!!"
"2) Coffee must taste good. 3) NO plastic - at least where the nearly boiling hot water comes into contact with it. 4) Ease of use - KISS rule applies here, as we're operating on very little sleep these days. How it performed. 1) This pot knocks this out of the park. It is HOT and it stays hot for a long time (actually, it will stay hot as long as you have the machine plugged into the outlet, which is a really nice feature when we're home on the weekends). A couple of our other machines actually took longer to brew coffee as we encountered filter problems and other issues. 2) The taste of coffee will be affected by many factors, not the least of which is the quality of your selected beans, the roast, how freshly ground it is, and using COLD water to begin, however even with the best coffees our previous coffee makers left something to be desired. This machine consistently makes delicious coffee. As we increased the amount of coffee we drink, we realized that pretty much all other machines involve plastic parts somewhere in the brew process, despite having metal baskets and the like. Sometimes we grind the coffee the night before to save time, but plenty of mornings we have grind it just before making the coffee. I think this has to do with how hot this machine gets the water prior to brewing. I've been raving about how hot it makes coffee, and that it's made of metal. Plus, my husband is so sweet about getting up first and making the coffee, so not much has changed for me in this way ;-). Well, this is the longest review I have ever written, but I know how people are about their coffee...because I am one of those people. We've had this machine for 6 months, it's going strong, it looks cool on the counter, it's easy to use and it makes one darn good cup of coffee."
"I loved hearing that percolator and to my delight was a piping hot cup of coffee that I longed for that was brewed to perfection. I found using the 1-4 cup coffee filter fits perfectly into the basket which is a must to absorb the 2 types of diterpenes found in coffee."
"When I first used the percolator I hadn't got the knack of keeping the tube that I assume percolates the coffee into its place in a hole at the bottom of the percolator."
Best Single-Serve Brewers
Discover hundreds of K-Cup pod varieties from all of the brands you love, including Green Mountain Coffee, Starbucks, and Lipton, and enjoy coffee, tea, hot cocoa and more. Dispense hot water only by opening and closing the brewer handle (without a pod), and selecting your desired brew size. Auto-off: An auto-off feature is easily programmed to turn off your brewer after it has been idle for two hours, helping to save energy.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We already had a standard coffee maker but I didn't want to brew a whole pot of coffee at once and single-serve coffee makers seem to be very popular so I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a try. I had seen several different Keurigs from the basic ones to very fancy ones but wanted to purchase one that both fulfilled my needs to brew a single cup of coffee and wasn't too expensive so I opted to buy the Keurig K55 Coffee Maker in black. Brewing: To brew a cup of coffee is very simple. When the three cup sizes illuminate in blue, you know it's time to brew your coffee. If someone else wants to brew a cup of coffee right after yours is done, all they have to do is remove your K-cup pod since they are single-use pods, add theirs and repeat the process. Water Reservoir: The reservoir holds 48 ounces of water so you don't have to fill it up every time you want to brew a new cup of coffee, which is one of the reasons I selected this model. ): The Keurig K55 Coffee Maker uses the K-cup pods, which you can purchase nearly everywhere and there are many brands and flavors to choose from. For instance, my mom and I have brewed cups of coffee one right after the other (different flavors) and neither of us have noticed the other flavor in our respective cups. I've only brewed one cup of apple cider with this and haven't noticed the previous coffee flavor in the apple cider or the apple cider in my next cup of coffee. It's not too loud when it's brewing the cup of coffee. It's a great model that is nice on your wallet and will brew a great cup of coffee as often as you'd like! I typically brew four cups of coffee a day now to keep up with my kids and I've had no trouble with using this Keurig."
"This is what made me a fan of coffee."
"However, we feel that the Keurig K55 coffee maker has proved superior to any of our previous coffee brewers. I like strong coffee, or sometimes I like to have flavored coffee, and my sister-in-law likes the same coffee that I do. Aside from the 5 press buttons to regulate the Keurig coffee maker, there are 3 other LED light indicators. Add Water – a Blue LED will light up. If there is not enough water, the coffee maker will not work, therefore I consider this indicator as a safety feature, as well as a resolution to a possible ‘user error’. WATER RESERVOIR: Included with the Keurig K55 is a Charcoal Water filter Cartridge Kit with 2 charcoal filters. This will eliminate the unwanted chemical taste that is in some water systems, and good tasting water is essential for a delicious cup of coffee. In addition, this coffee maker will accommodate my 7 ¼” coffee thermos by sliding the drip tray out from bottom base, and I can have my thermos filled when placed on the bottom flat tray base. THE KEURIG K55 ACCOMMODATES REUSABLE COFFEE FILTERS: My favorite coffee is from fresh beans that I grind myself, and therefore it’s important to me that a coffee maker will accommodate a reusable filter. The reusable coffer pod filter that I use is the Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter (Single) – and this is compatible with the Keurig K55 model. This machine comes with a ‘Charcoal Water Filter Cartridge Kit and 2 charcoal pod filters, which guarantees excellent coffee, even though we have ‘hard water’ (which tastes awful) in our water system."
"The first one lasted many years and finally died (after very hard daily use)."