Core77

[super-panda]

What mind boggling contraptions!

I have yet, with the exception of Nespresso (which are wasteful IMO), to come across an intuitive coffee machine. They're noisey, with a shitload of buttons and very difficult to keep clean. I don't care about the professional grade stuff, but even basic consumer coffee makers are very hard to understand in their immense complexity.
I would happily pay $1000 for one with two rotary knobs, one for flavor intensity, another for quantity and a big red button with "Fucking Coffee Please" written on it even if it made shit coffee, just to make a statement.
I've never cared for fancy stuff, but I do appreciate quality of whatever I put down my throat. I recently got a used DeLonghi from a family member. It was free and makes a great cup. But Holy Jesus the stuff and thingamajigs and featuers it has. Makes no sense. And the shitty UI doesn't help. It took me, literally 30 mins to get the thing to make my first cup of coffee and it was enough tribulation for a lifetime. Yesterday I took on the task of cleaning it properly for the first time, and there were compartments within compartments behind lids behind covers. It's like a whole other dimension in there! And this goes for, not only this, but every other coffee machine out there.

I know it's a terrible 1st world problem to whine about, but I do find the subpar design of these things very baffling.

Apologies and thanks!

[ralphzoontjens]

How about a simple drip coffee maker?

Coffee = Water + coffee + heat

Water - add water to the tank
Coffee - add coffee to the filter
Heat - add electricity with a button

Dieter Rams understands this, your best coffee maker would be the Braun Type 4085 / KF 400 10-Cup Coffee Maker


Even simpler are these cold brew coffee makers that have become popular:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bod- ... e-system#/

I also don't like the pad machines. I prefer either something extremely simple or a lab-like installation allowing me to adjust every possible setting, not much in between.

[bepster]

I am actually much more of a brewed coffee over espresso kind of guy.
Unless it's to finish off a meal.

I have always loved the classic Moccamaster!
Great coffee at the right temperature and a beautiful machine to boot.

[iab]

Nespresso (which are wasteful IMO)

How so?

If you are truly concerned about the 2 swimming pools of waste they create annually, it really doesn't take much effort open the foil top, compost the grounds and throw the remaining aluminum into your recycle bin.

[super-panda]

This is kind of another topic, but here's my .02.
You're right, it's probably not the end of the world. Neither are disposable cups or plastic bags. But I think fundamentally the idea of separate capsules, while convenient, is wasteful and doesn't inspire much of a recycling attitude. People buy these machines because they are indolent and desire convenience. I agree it's not a big deal to recycle them as you describe, but most will find it too much of an inconvenience and they will not bother.

From a convenience point of view, Nespresso machines are way superior than traditional machines. But regardless of my reasoning, until they figure out a way to make the whole thing biodegradable, it's still pretty great I can choose not to buy one.

[ottomismo]

A Mr. Coffee from the 80's is what I use. It only has 1 switch. It makes great coffee. Always grind right before you brew, and make sure you get a model that doesn't brew too fast otherwise you are just wasting your coffee. Agreed that most of the coffee machines on the market now are shit.

[Generatewhatsnext]

Senseo, use your favorite ground coffee packed tightly into a reusable pod - compost the grounds and you have no waste. A frothy cup of great coffee.

[iab]

This is kind of another topic, but here's my .02.
You're right, it's probably not the end of the world. Neither are disposable cups or plastic bags. But I think fundamentally the idea of separate capsules, while convenient, is wasteful and doesn't inspire much of a recycling attitude. People buy these machines because they are indolent and desire convenience. I agree it's not a big deal to recycle them as you describe, but most will find it too much of an inconvenience and they will not bother.

From a convenience point of view, Nespresso machines are way superior than traditional machines. But regardless of my reasoning, until they figure out a way to make the whole thing biodegradable, it's still pretty great I can choose not to buy one.

You are right, I veered us off topic.

But as long as we are there, can't we use your argument to eliminate coffee drinking in its entirety? What about the waste to make a coffee machine that has a limited lifetime of 5-20 years? What about the waste of shipping a commodity across the globe? What about the waste of land to grow a luxury?

Where should a line be drawn?

[Jboogie941]

I have a Keurig 2.0 at home and use a re-usable filter. Not sure it gets any easier than filling the water chamber, filter and hitting the button...

[SophieHortonJones]

This is still my favourite coffee maker... and possibly one of my favourite things in our kitchen. It's super easy to use, simple to clean, easy to replace seals every 6 months or so, never fails, doesn't confuse. I love it! (not quite a coffee machine... but hey!)

61s2pDunk9L._SL1500_.jpg (106.17 KiB) Viewed 3667 times

We use it every morning, although I did just learn that ours is a 6 cup coffee maker, so I've been starting the day with a triple shot... which would explain why Starbucks never seems to live up to freshly ground Stumptown beans!

We just replaced our Bodum Coffee Bean Grinder with a Kitchen Aid one... I wouldn't recommend it, would have stuck with the Bodum if we hadn't moved from the UK to the US meaning it wouldn't work with the new voltage!

61Ovei-hlVL._SL1500_.jpg (122.27 KiB) Viewed 3667 times

[IDiot]

I'm sure you're referring to the KitchenAid Blade Grinder, their (KitchenAid's) Burr Grinder is solid!

[SophieHortonJones]

I'm sure you're referring to the KitchenAid Blade Grinder, their (KitchenAid's) Burr Grinder is solid!

Oh wow, now that is on a completely different level!! I now have new coffee grinder goals!

[slippyfish]

GDmmit.
Get a Moccamaster, and you will never have to complain about coffee ever again. It won't even cost $1000, you will have $600 left over to spend on a burr grinder and gourmet roasted beans.
As for the Moka makers...there are certain points of view that suggest having aluminum directly in contact with heat, and then consuming those products, can lead to dementia. There's no conclusive science on this however.

[gmay3able]

Here's my setup! Fantastic coffee for about $100 of equipment. It's really simple process and doesn't take up too much counter space.

Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder
4 controls:
Grind size dial (twist clear hopper)
Grind duration dial
Start grind button
On/off switch to stop grinding whenever you want


Bodum Brazil French Press
The carafe is glass and the handle/base part is plastic so you can put in water and put it in the microwave or heat the water how ever you want.


Once you get the water and coffee amounts dialed in to your preference, it's a two button press process and is easy to clean!

[Rodrigo]

This is kind of another topic, but here's my .02.
You're right, it's probably not the end of the world. Neither are disposable cups or plastic bags. But I think fundamentally the idea of separate capsules, while convenient, is wasteful and doesn't inspire much of a recycling attitude. People buy these machines because they are indolent and desire convenience. I agree it's not a big deal to recycle them as you describe, but most will find it too much of an inconvenience and they will not bother.

From a convenience point of view, Nespresso machines are way superior than traditional machines. But regardless of my reasoning, until they figure out a way to make the whole thing biodegradable, it's still pretty great I can choose not to buy one.

You are right, I veered us off topic.

But as long as we are there, can't we use your argument to eliminate coffee drinking in its entirety? What about the waste to make a coffee machine that has a limited lifetime of 5-20 years? What about the waste of shipping a commodity across the globe? What about the waste of land to grow a luxury?

Where should a line be drawn?

Damn, that escalated quickly..