K Harris
Member
The Black & Decker machines are highly thought of among the coffee snobs, because they brew at the proper temperature. We have one. Got it for $19.99 on sale 5 years ago. Works perfectly. Easier to clean than a Mr. Coffee.
I made the same suggestion seriously earlier in regard to visiting Goodwill. I have often seen some very high end coffee makers sitting there priced at $5-10. Wife and I quit drinking coffee many years ago, so we have no use at present for a coffee maker. But I think we do have an old Mr. Coffee packed away somewhere if the need to make some arises. My parents always made their coffee with a vacuum pot when I was a kid. Does anyone remember those? They were fun to watch. I imagine they are still made, but I have not looked.Go to a thrift store and see what you can get for $10.00. Though I do think we are past peak coffee maker. Home appliances become fashionable, desirable, millions are sold, and then, they start appearing at thrift store. Eager buyers find the fun of the new, huge, appliance, fizzles out, then they don't have the shelf space for some dust collecting kitchen gadget, and turn them into the thrift store. I remember lots of bread makers on the shelves of thrift stores. Owners cooked up a bakery, got fat, then lazy, finally the bread maker went to the thrift store. That period is over. I purchased a number of Instant Pots for $13.00, took them on travel, used them in an Extended Stay, and gave them back to a local thrift store. Now I notice it is a long time between used Instant Pots on the shelf. We are past peak Instant Pot.
Mr Coffee makers and similar brands also are thinning out at the thrift store, being replaced with K cup coffee makers. I picked Cuisinart coffee makers because of the four hour timer and the coffee was hot. Do understand, jokers give defective goods to thrift stores, had a couple of Cuisinart's where the computer board failed after brewing for a while. So I lost about $10 each. That is a risk.
Just toured a Best Buy, there were $1300 expresso/coffee makers! Huge chunks of metal that somebody will buy, and eventually show up at a thrift store for $50.00.
Two choices. Buy one or marry one. Buying is cheaper.
I prefer the Perk pot. I'm old fashionedTitle says it. I have a Braun maker now, am happy with it. But it's not keeping or getting the coffee hot enough when on the hot plate. So.................. Time for a new one.
I don't do single cups but usually drink out of my 40oz travel mug. Figure 35oz in the mug, so a 5-12 cup maker seems about right.
Need to stay under $100, I don't do fancy cold pours nor expresso. Just plain black coffee but I want it to taste good.
Cuisinart has one for about $70 on Wal-Mart. Seems to be decent but I haven't bought that brand in years, no clue how their quality is these days.
I already have a good grinder, so no need for a combo unit.
So fire away with your favs!
Those are pretty nice. I had one back when you could only get the capsules from Nestle. For making what I call foo-foo coffee, I prefer a Superautomatic machine. You put whole beans and water in it and when you hit the button it grinds the correct amount of beans, brews the coffee and ejects the grounds into a removable bin. Spendy, which is why I don't have one, but if you drink that style of coffee regularly, it can be worth it. Starbucks prices can add up quick.Just last Sunday we were at a friend's BBQ. After a delicious steak dinner they asked "who wants coffee"? We answered yes and about 3 minutes later they handed us our coffee. In fact it was not regular coffee, it was Cappuccino. It was outstanding to say the least! My wife also got cappuccino however she asked for decaf which they gave gave her. Her's was excellent although I'd say just slightly not as good as the regular (pretty much like that with all decaf's). When I asked them how they made it so fast and so good, they showed me the machine. It was a Nexpresso machine - I had not heard of it before. I was truly impressed with the cappuccino and might consider getting one just for that purpose.
It does not have the neat feature that the Mr. Coffee had which is it beeped when the coffee was finished brewing and it beeped when it automatically turned off – TWO really nice features!