Thought I'd share this with ya'll coffee nutso's

I'm not a coffee roaster, well maybe one day, but I enjoy a good cup, but I'm happy with simple and really can't see myself spending more than about $300 for a coffee maker. I've had french presses, pour overs, you name it, and at one time had a technivorum mochapot at work (coworker was really into coffee).

In any case at home I have usually rolled with a french press but more often just a simple drip machine. I have always found that good beans freshly ground gave me the best bang for buck improvements in quality and just kept using a drip machine. Went through a few over the years. The last purchase was a all in one Cuisanart when me and the misses got serious and I had to make enough coffee for two. I thought the all in one would be nice in the morning not having to fool with grinding and set up all. After all how cool is it that you set a timer and it grinds then brews without having to get up?

Well I was wrong about all in one. It was a pain to clean and set up every night. I got to the point were I was just putting beans in in the morning. So nothing saved and the grinder was a blade and ground coarse and used WAYYY more beans than I was used too to get it right. Well after just a year it went tits up with the drip part clogging up and decalcifying not working to fix it.

So I went looking for a simple, good cofee maker. Talked with some people and online (sorry never got around to asking my CA brothers for help, oops) looked at a lot of reviews and found the BonaVita. Said it got water to 195-200 etc.

So I took the leap and bought one:

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IMAG0169 by kydsid, on Flickr


Very simple well built machine. No timer, no parts to connect that might break etc. It is only 8 cups, but that is enough to fill our two travel mugs after both of us have a cup while getting ready in the morning. So far in love with this thing. I will say nearly as good as a mochapot, and for less than half the price of a mochapot that is saying a lot too me. Also as good as a french press, not as oily of extraction as french press, which yes I like, but for the ease of use AND cleaning this will be my go too during the week. Highly recomended if you are looking to get a drip machine. Also not bulky and the misses likes how it looks in the kitchen, which is always important :-)
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Thanks for the review. I don't see myself ever going back to a drip machine after getting used to a french press, but I see how it would be nice and easy in the morning. I work at an office and leave all my required items here so I can show up a few minutes early everyday to make a press. The all in one machine sounds awesome, but it is a shame it didn't hold up.
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So finally got the new setup done. Decided on the Capresso Infinity Burr grinder. Finding a grinder sub $200 or there abouts is a pain in the ass. Based on online reviews they all equally suck and are equally awesome. The finalists were the Breville and the Capresso. The Capresso is doing a bang up job so far.

We hit up a couple of the local roasters yesterday. So I am sitting here with a fresh ground and brewed cup of Chuck's Blend from House of Java. Excellente, cafe if I do say so myself. Not fancy cappucino or whatnot just good and hearty coffee. Enjoy all.


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IMAG0190 by kydsid, on Flickr
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