Your Favorite Method for Making Daily Coffee

[professorchaos]

Long ago I gave up making coffee at home for buying it on the run. No matter the method I used, eventually I'd end up with coffee that tasted of rancid oils. In some cases, that can be attributed to my dish washing skills, not the coffee maker.

I'd like to start making coffee at home again. (My dish washing skills haven't improved, but I have a dish washer.) I'll be making it in the morning before work so it should be simple and/or quick but not at the expense of taste. So I would like the opinion of B&B's coffee experts - what is your favorite way to make coffee every day?

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

In our home, we use our "Mr. Coffee" Automatic Drip Coffee Machine. :lol1:

Waking up to a cup of Yauco Selecto Gourmet Ground Coffee from Puerto Rico (4 Tbsp of coffee per 12 cups of water), is primo. http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww206/mrcrackee/Boxden%20Smileys%20and%20gifs/coffeeandpapergif.gif

Christopher http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx352/LuvH8/Coffee/JC_coffee2.gif "I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon". President Ronald Reagan

[Memorex88]

I chose other since I make espresso for me and caffe latte for my wife.

[Mink]

You just can't beat a French Press for home coffee. I'm sure there are some very expensive coffee machines that are the bee's knees, but it would be very hard to improve on the FP. There are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, only use very coarse grind, freshly roasted coffee beans. Second, it's a 2 step brewing process. The coffee grinds float on the hot water and make a cake-like top that needs to be broken up. So, only fill the carafe about 2/3-3/4 full with hot water, let it brew for about 1:30, stir it up to completely to get all the coffee exposed to the water, top it off with more hot water, and let it brew another ~2:30 (depending on your preference). Press and pour it all off into another carafe or thermos (my fave). You can add more water to it if it's too strong.

[Greyfox]

I have a restaurant BUNN with a 1400 KW heater.

[Luc]

Moka pot everyday. I have a small 2 espresso cups moka pot.

[_JP_]

If quick is what your after, then a drip machine with a timer is what you need. That way the coffee will be there when get up.

For good and quick, a French press is the best bet, especially with fresh ground beans. And it doesn't have to be an expensive Bodum, other brands work just as well An Aeropress is a little faster and some think superior to other methods.

[superbleu]

Moka Pot>clever coffee dripper>aeropress

French press would fit in somewhere if I could find it.

[professorchaos]

I think I'll be trying out a French Press this weekend. My previous experiences with it weren't great but I wasn't using a two step brewing method either. Thanks guys!

[ldphillips]

Cold brew made weekly (toddy) so all I have to do is pour some in the mug and add additional hot water. Or if I run out before making the next batch I pull out the aeropress.

Lewis

[Sullybob]

I voted for a Chemex but if I drank only one or two cups I would probably go with an Aeropress. I find the Aeropress to be much easier to clean up then a French Press.

[aca98]

My favorite is the aeropress. It's quick, easy and in my opinion makes terrific coffee.

[professorchaos]

I have an Aeropress. It is kind of a pain to use. Or am I just being lazy?

[Sullybob]

I have an Aeropress. It is kind of a pain to use. Or am I just being lazy?

I don't think so. It's more work then an automatic drip and you did say you wanted quick and easy.

[JPDyson]

Other: Pour-Over, followed by Vac Pot.

[BigFoot]

Long ago I gave up making coffee at home for buying it on the run. No matter the method I used, eventually I'd end up with coffee that tasted of rancid oils. In some cases, that can be attributed to my dish washing skills, not the coffee maker.

I'd like to start making coffee at home again. (My dish washing skills haven't improved, but I have a dish washer.) I'll be making it in the morning before work so it should be simple and/or quick but not at the expense of taste. So I would like the opinion of B&B's coffee experts - what is your favorite way to make coffee every day?

I am with you Henry, I go to Starbucks, I love their Iced Coffee.

[yakster]

In the morning during the week I'll either pull some double espresso shots on a lever espresso machine (and make the Wife an Americano for her commute) or I'll make a Chemex using a metal Coava Coffee Kone filter which is similar to French Press in terms of body and oils but with less sediment and easier clean-up.

On the weekends, I like to make a siphon (vac pot) using a glass filter rod (Pyrex lock in) for a nice, clean cup but don't have time for this luxury during the week.

[xillion]

My three methods of choice are Syphon, Aeropress, and V60 (pour-over).

[Blue Raccoon]

weekdays equals using the drip machine
weekends equal french press

[tchudson]

French press is the way to go, IMHO.

[avsmusic1]

Is it me or are the percentages a bit off... shouldn't they total 100%?

[eastomjac]

folgers in your cup will put lead in your pencil.12 cup MR COFFEE,every day:}

[Skidoo161]

Aeropress is great IMO. I don't drink coffee every single day so I is no big deal to me if it takes a little longer or there are more steps involved. I would guess it takes me about 7 minutes to have a cup of coffee in my Nissan tea tumbler (greatest container ever!!). I work on grinding the coffee and setting up the aeropress while the microwave is heating my water. Obviously it will take a while to develop a rhythm, but once you have used the press for a while you can brew pretty fast. I like dark roast coffee and I feel the aeropress does a magnificent job of brewing very smooth well rounded dark roast coffees.
One thing I think every one should at least try once is brewing a flavored coffee in the aeropress. I have drip/percolated/french pressed flavored coffees before, but they only seemed to have a good smell and the taste was pretty normal coffee taste. With the aeropress this is not so, caramel coffees taste quite good in my opinion.
I see many people here are in favor of the french press, I am not totally experienced using a french press. Having brewed with one probably 3 time by myself. I have drank a fair amount of french press coffee that my friend would make and we would drink together. I never was super thrilled about the coffee that he made. Maybe I should give the french press a fair shot on my own (using the two step method)

[echotron]

I'm a simple grind Colombian beans then drip guy. Also, my water is pure deep well water and that makes a big difference!

[doug1066]

I use Cafe La Lleve or Cafe Bustelo in a drip or French press.

[PozzSka]

Pour over for me, cold brew in the big bodum French press a couple times a week.

[breadstick]

After reading about the Aeropress I had to try it out. It's been about three weeks and I donated my coffee pot to charity and mothballed the french press. This thing is just simply amazing. I will order the metal disk filter and try inverted Aeropress brewing soon because I have read so many great things about it.

Bottom line, the Aeropress makes the best cup of coffee I've ever had, including those from very expensive coffee makers at home.

[jumper]

In the morning the Techivorm gets a nod to make 1 litre. That gives us each two cups of great coffee. Coffee break or midday I grind something and use my Hario Siphon for a nice clean cup of coffee. Then I turn on my Rancilio to pulls shots for espresso, lattes or cappuccinos as required/desired.

[Erik]

Okay, I'm curious...
There are many 'Other' responses. What falls into this category?

[xillion]

Just a few could be Syphon (Vac Pot), Pour-Over, Cezve (Ibrik), or Percolator.


Okay, I'm curious...
There are many 'Other' responses. What falls into this category?

[professorchaos]

Is it me or are the percentages a bit off... shouldn't they total 100%?

Not necessarily since you can vote for more than one.

[SiBurning]

I voted for a Chemex but if I drank only one or two cups I would probably go with an Aeropress. I find the Aeropress to be much easier to clean up then a French Press.
+1

The key is every day. I usually prefer the coffee from my moka, vacuum pot, or press, but they're all more work and some aren't as consistent. If my drain could stand the grounds, I'd use the press more often, but it can't even stand the fines, so I can't even strain it over the sink through a mesh strainer.

[cybrok]

Espresso machine. Either a double or an americano.

I'm getting better with my non-pressurized portafilter:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/302230_10150289918589065_634229064_7719587_2001633 _n.jpg

[life2short1971]

Other-Vacpot Its 12minutes start to finish. About the same as my GE automatic coffee maker but 10x better. I also roast my own coffee in small quantities but Maxwell House tastes much better through a vacpot than coffeemaker.

[David in Boston]

Voted for "Other".

Other as in "Yes I would like a Italian Roast Grande made on the Clover Machine".

Then I hand the person behind the counter my Starbuck card.

[professorchaos]

Voted for "Other".

Other as in "Yes I would like a Italian Roast Grande made on the Clover Machine".

Then I hand the person behind the counter my Starbuck card.

That Clover Machine coffee is something else. I was bouncing around the room after a cup.

[professorchaos]

+1

The key is every day. I usually prefer the coffee from my moka, vacuum pot, or press, but they're all more work and some aren't as consistent. If my drain could stand the grounds, I'd use the press more often, but it can't even stand the fines, so I can't even strain it over the sink through a mesh strainer.

And I thought coffee grinds helped clear drains...

[5 over]

I live in Florida and spend a lot of time in the summer in western North Carolina. In Florida the summer coffee is iced, just made with Taster's choice (iced coffee with cream just about wipes out all taste nuances for me). In FL in the other months or at all times in NC the real coffee comes out. I usually drink a couple of cappuccinos in the morning and a couple of double espressos in the evening. I've got a LaSpaziale Mini Vivaldi in FL and a Rancilio Sylvia in NC. I grind my own, currently leaning toward Velton's Bonsai Blend out of the Seattle area. If I want American style coffee, I'll either brew up an Americano or use a French Press and some 8 O'Clock - I use French Roast, Italian Roast or Columbian for that. If the espresso machine's out of order I'm perfectly happy with presspot coffee.

[RazoRock]

most days it's an espresso or shakerato in the Saeco machine.

[Sullybob]

And I thought coffee grinds helped clear drains...

Only when mixed with bacon grease and egg shells.

[professorchaos]

Yes, bacon fat to help abate friction.

[joshmpdx]

I feel like I was in your exact position. I worked lots of hours, and have literally 7 coffee shops that I'd pass on my 7 min drive to work. I took pride in my coffee shop of the day.

I have all of the above coffee makers, and would use each of them occasionally, but never on a work day. It wasn't until i broke down and bought a drip coffee maker, which i'd refused to try in the past, that i started making coffee at home everyday.

[global_dev]

Other: Pour-Over, followed by Vac Pot.

i totally agree with these!

[global_dev]

most days it's an espresso or shakerato in the Saeco machine.

i had no idea what a skakerato was until i looked it up. sounds great. do you make your own simple syrup to use?

[professorchaos]

I feel like I was in your exact position. I worked lots of hours, and have literally 7 coffee shops that I'd pass on my 7 min drive to work. I took pride in my coffee shop of the day.

I have all of the above coffee makers, and would use each of them occasionally, but never on a work day. It wasn't until i broke down and bought a drip coffee maker, which i'd refused to try in the past, that i started making coffee at home everyday.

The drip works well? It was the worst rancid oil offender back when I was making coffee.

[JPDyson]

The drip works well? It was the worst rancid oil offender back when I was making coffee.

Sorry, man - anything you use for brewing - ANYTHING - will need regular cleaning.

[Jcof3474]

Other: Pour Over, at the office and at home; just makes a great cup of coffee!

J.

[PozzSka]

I just made a cup of Jasonian's Rwandan Buf Cafe...pour over, at the office.

Everyone is jealous.

[life2short1971]

If its a Vacpot the oil is up top. If its drip its everywhere. The vacpot requires more daily maintenance than a drip maker but routine weekly or monthly maintenance is nil and that being said the brew times are about the same but vacpot is makes the best of the worst bean unlike drip which takes the best bean and makes the worst of it. But of of course thats only my opinion.

[professorchaos]

If I keep visiting this forum, I envision a Vac pot and possibly a Technivorm in my future.

[eastomjac]

french press seems pretty popular,i may have to try some

[eastomjac]

has anyone ever tried river bank coffee?you take a pot of river water out of the river your camped by,then put it over the cook fire and when it boils put in your favorite coffee grind and let it boil till its done then to settle the grounds you put in a handfull of egg shells,talk about goood on a cold fall morning

[BurkDarkpatches]

If I keep visiting this forum, I envision a Vac pot and possibly a Technivorm in my future.

A Technivorm, no doubt a wonderful product, is just an auto drip coffee maker which does many things right (brewing temp, but convenience and carafe handling are average according to Consumer Reports). Check out the latest review at Consumer Reports for a listing of coffee makers that hit the magic 195 degree g spot and score better in other areas for substantially less. One factor that might sway me one way or the other would be longevity. But you can buy 6 of the top rated Mr. Coffee's compared to the mid-rated Technivorm. My oldest Mr. Coffee is running strong at 6 years old and gets close but doesn't hit 195F.

I use two auto-drips, two manual drips and a moka pot. You're asking which coffee maker will make a good, quick cup of coffee. I haven't found the maker to be the lowest common denominator. Fresh roasted made all of the makers make great coffee. Mediocre coffee wasn't significantly better in any of them (probable nod to the manual drip, thank you Jasonian).

For three months I made manual drip coffee each morning. The process took about 10 minutes. Auto drip is much faster. Moka pot is fast too... expect that I don't leave the kitchen while it's heating up, but I can do other stuff.

Good luck on your quest.

Steve

[bhorsoft]

French press, with coarse grind in my burr grinder.

[geets]

Depends on my mood!

[chuckr9]

I usually purchase coffee on way to work, but when I make it at home I grind the beans just before using and use french press - soooo much better than purchased cups.

[professorchaos]

A Technivorm, no doubt a wonderful product, is just an auto drip coffee maker which does many things right (brewing temp, but convenience and carafe handling are average according to Consumer Reports). Check out the latest review at Consumer Reports for a listing of coffee makers that hit the magic 195 degree g spot and score better in other areas for substantially less. One factor that might sway me one way or the other would be longevity. But you can buy 6 of the top rated Mr. Coffee's compared to the mid-rated Technivorm. My oldest Mr. Coffee is running strong at 6 years old and gets close but doesn't hit 195F.

I use two auto-drips, two manual drips and a moka pot. You're asking which coffee maker will make a good, quick cup of coffee. I haven't found the maker to be the lowest common denominator. Fresh roasted made all of the makers make great coffee. Mediocre coffee wasn't significantly better in any of them (probable nod to the manual drip, thank you Jasonian).

For three months I made manual drip coffee each morning. The process took about 10 minutes. Auto drip is much faster. Moka pot is fast too... expect that I don't leave the kitchen while it's heating up, but I can do other stuff.

Good luck on your quest.

Steve

I'll be honest, the Technivorm's strongest selling point is that it looks great.

I've been enjoying the French Press this week although the stronger flavor does require some acclimation. I think my next item will be a vacuum pot. They seem to get universal praise.

[Sullybob]

If I keep visiting this forum, I envision a Vac pot and possibly a Technivorm in my future.

I see one of those in my future as well.

[Blade Man]

I use a Bunn coffee maker,filtered water,8 o'clock coffee and a brown paper filter.

[BRRV]

I gave up buying electric coffee pots. I have this theory, given the number of pots that I've bought over the last five years, that it's all a communist plot to drive us crazy by producing coffee pots that all stop working within a year, and have leaking carafe lips/lids, etc. And they are all made in the same dismal factory somewhere in an obscure province in the PRC. Now, I use a gen-u-ine made in France french press - a Bodum Chambord (and you can get spare parts for it). And it requires no electricity, save for a stove to boil water. Or, in the event of a natural disaster, a campfire. It's so simple that I can't screw it up, which is perfect. Simple wins every time.

[JPDyson]

+1 Vac pot

Just order the size you need and no bigger. They work best at full volume, and it's better to have to brew more than to leave coffee sitting. Also, for me, it comes out screaming hot - so give it a minute before you start drinking. Finally, at least while you are dialing in your technique, a thermometer is essential in knowing when your upper-bowl water temp is right. I use one every time.

[Straight Arrow]

Moka pot. Quick, foolproof, delicious.

[stm378]

Easiest, Keurig...no doubt, and definitely one of the ways that I save enough time to be able to take longer shaving.
Tastiest, french press, Well made french press bold coffee in a glass mug can't be beat.

[BeeSeeDub]

While not the most refined, K-Cups get my vote.

[Mirzath]

Do not use soap (or very little) when washing out coffee making equipment. If you must use soap rinse, rinse and rinse again. I use a drip machine with a thermal carafe.
Also make sure you make your coffee strong! You can always add hot water if it is really to strong.

[eastomjac]

Do not use soap (or very little) when washing out coffee making equipment. If you must use soap rinse, rinse and rinse again. I use a drip machine with a thermal carafe.
Also make sure you make your coffee strong! You can always add hot water if it is really to strong.

coffee can be too strong?old and bitter mabey but never too strong.

[Jasonian]

coffee can be too strong?old and bitter mabey but never too strong.
Everybody's different. My dad and step mom say they can chew my coffee. They can't, but you get the gist.

[legrandfromage]

If I have the time, I use freshly ground coffee and a french presse. I also have an Aeropress and some Melitta pourover stuff, but am used to the presse, so I use that. If in a hurry and/or lazy, I use a Keurig machine with one of the better K cup brands that I've found. Also use the Keurig for decafe.

[emmetgilgunn]

will i be shunned if i admit to using a nespresso machiene? other times particuarly if i am having a large brekfast/brunch ill go for my french press

[professorchaos]

will i be shunned if i admit to using a nespresso machiene? other times particuarly if i am having a large brekfast/brunch ill go for my french press

If it works for you, who are we to shun you?

[DogHair]

It's interesting to see the French press in the lead. Everyone I know uses an electric drip. They all claim the press or vac is too slow.

[avsmusic1]

It's interesting to see the French press in the lead. Everyone I know uses an electric drip. They all claim the press or vac is too slow.


I have anumber fo friends who use electric drip as their primary method but their favorite is still FP.... more of a weekend thing perhaps

[JayM]

I use a super automatic machine by Jurra the Cappresso line...
This puppy has a burr grinder, with proper dosage based on which button I sellect.
Presses the dosage, and 18 bar power pump – always high pressure brewed coffee with crema

These systems are not as good as a nice manually drawn shot, but for push button daily quickness, the coffee beats the hell out of Starbucks.

[Vic2009]

+1

And a good stainless steel one helps (I use a Frieling). I broke three glass ones and haven't had to replace the Frieling since.

With a French press, it's easy to get a strong cup of coffee, not possible with automatic drip machines.


French press is the way to go, IMHO.

[BRRV]

The advantage of an electric drip is convenience - assuming you can get one to work for more than a year or doesn't drip every time you pour coffee (WHY, given the fact that we can now understand the universe, are coffee pots/carafes still dripping on the counter when you pour them???). What this means to at least two people I know is that you can fill up the pot the night before with coffee and water and it will make coffee at 445 am or whenever, just in time for you to come downstairs. I don't consider this to be good coffee - the grounds are stale after even a few hours exposed to the air, and the water is neither cold nor fresh. I just prefer the manual action of making really fresh coffee in the morning, as I'm feeding the dogs.

[DogHair]

I just prefer the manual action of making really fresh coffee in the morning, as I'm feeding the dogs.

Same here. I just make the dogs wait. We have an understanding...