You get the full flavor of the coffee and there are no filters and "pods" to throw away.

Easier than setting up a machine, too.

I would not umm, be "into" that to say the least.

The last cup might be a little "muddy" with the finer powder, but I drink it anyway. The big grounds are caught by the screen in the press.

Seems like there is a consensus on the French Press. I have heard it also uses less coffee. Is that true in your opinion?

because I make it strong.

You do get more flavor with a press because the paper filters soak up some of the flavored oil in the coffee. So there probably is a difference in that regard.

Pushing the press quickly seems to let more grounds get past the screen.

the grounds settle.

The guy who invented Starbucks swears that the coffee press makes the best coffee, and I totally agree!

"The chairman and CEO of Starbucks, has controversially admitted that the best way to make a cup of coffee - is not his brand's way. Howard Schultz says he uses a Bodum French press - a coffee presser brand - which results in 'the best cup of coffee known to mankind.'
" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130468/CEO-Starbucks-says-best-cup-coffee-known-mankind-home-simple-French-press.html


I only make coffee for myself and I like it strong, so I use 4 scoops for a single big cup. If you like a strong cuppa, then you can always use ground espresso instead of ground regular coffee. It makes a lovely flavor!


I have a Nespresso machine for my cappuccino which I make by frothing the milk with my amazing whisker that I found years ago. Then I heat the frothed up milk for about a minute in the microwave, it rises up to an absolutely perfect head and is better than any Starbucks ever made. I also use instant espresso which honestly is perfect stand-in when the capsules run out!

My secret shame however, is good quality instant coffee. I don't know why I love the stuff in the afternoon, but I do.

is freaking awesome!

I made that mistake once. NOT good. Go with Middle Eastern, Armenian or Arabic coffee.

Of course, it's really, really good tea (Chai).

It ain't a big deal. They will settle to the bottom of the cup and you just don't drink the last little bit.

and maybe wash the press, maybe once a week or month.

But yes, a press will make good coffee.

Of course, you also need a way to heat water, and perhaps a way to grind beans. This is beginning to sound like "cooking" (yikes!)

It makes excellent coffee.... I like my coffee strong as well.

How do you fee about espresso (straight -- probably the strongest coffee you'll get)? If so, get one that will build up some serious pressure.

French Press has some followers, but I find it doesn't filter well, and the coffee is grainy.

I do not LIKE grains in my coffee!

along with Sant' Eustachio Whole Bean Coffee. She loves it!

That they call the 'Italian Godmother'. Anything imported from Italy that you can't just walk into a store and buy in the US - she's the go to woman.

Yes Italian GodMother - I would like one of those!

My daughter is going to try to bring some back with her when she goes to Italy in June (don't know if that will work or not). She had it when she was in Sardinia a couple of years ago and wanted us to be able to try it. We've only found it at a liquor store in New York here in the US. Living in DE, we can't have anything boozy shipped to our home.

This winter I tried my hand at making my late mother in laws 'cream' lemonicello and cream strawberry liquer. I'll have to ask him if you can get that there. I've only tried it once at once - at one his cousin's house (Cosenza City) who is married to a woman from Sardinia. She knows how to make that - but my husband isn't a fan of it so I'm hesitant to try and get ahold of the berries to make it.

Press but it's more hassle. Heat the water, pour on grounds. Let is sit. Push down. With my Italian espresso pot I just put in the water and the coffee and put it on the stove and wait for it to fill up. The only drawback to it is that I have to pay attention and remove it from the burner when it's done. With a French Press of course, you can leave it and not worry about overcooking or overheating.

And it works flawlessly, nothing complicated and no clean up. The capsules are aluminum and keep the expresso fresher than you could unless you were grinding it yourself. The pods don't give off that plastic smell you get with Kuerig, come in more blends and strengths than you'd ever need, and are recyclable.
The closest to it is a French press, but the grounds are always a problem you have to manage with those. Had to redo too many cups early in the AM for me to be happy with those.

It's a must have, for me.

system, using a good quality unbleached filter to make a personal cup or two. Inexpensive and readily individualized depending on how strong you want it. A good hot water kettle with temperature control makes it even better. Getting water as hot as possible (which at altitude, as I am, is only possible up to a point). Still the hotter, the better. Most drip makers don't get the water hot enough.

B E S T thing I ever did (coffee-wise)

I used to use a French press, but too often got a grittiness with it. Chemex avoids that.

No pods. No yuppie nonsense. Just great, strong coffee.

We used to buy more expensive drip coffeemakers ($50-$100), but they always broke somewhere between 1-3 years of age, and were simply uneconomic in the long term. It was the "cone filter" that we wanted, but finally decided to buy the least expensive automatic drip coffeemaker we could find with the flat bottom filters. No fancy timers, no clocks, no automatic off, no adjustable warming plate. We expected it to break in 1-3 years just like all the others. We're now beyond 3 years, and it still works great.

Pay less, get better quality.

The coffee is great. If you want it stronger, just weigh a little more into the filter, which stands nicely on a kitchen scale (I use 1/100g accuracy scale, and typically make a pot with 24 g of ground coffee, but it varies depending on brand). If you want it weaker, weigh less.

After we brew a pot, we pour it into a large vacuum bottle and turn the coffee maker off. That way it doesn't get a "burned flavor" over time, and it saves power.

The Bialetti Moka makes a rich cup of coffee, no filters too.

or a french press

I use the French press or Moka pot at home. Yum yum

I have to check it out.

Grind your preferred coffee bean roasts to an espresso setting and use filtered water. Enjoy!

ps: make sure they throw in a good conical burr grinder for your roasted beans......there, now you're set!

French Press - Look into Bodum.

Weekdays (so I can set it to be ready when I get up) I have a Cuisinart Coffee Maker.

Hubby has a pretty advanced commercial espresso machine - but it's funny -

He uses his grandmother's very old 4 shot espresso pot right on the stove if he's not in a hurry.



There's something to be said about the older way of doing things.


To me - the best coffee was the coffee on the fire in the old fashioned coffee maker my dad would make years ago.

Grinding your beans right before making coffee is the best.

The filters come in bulk from Costco and the cone is cheap and easy to use. Makes great coffee, too.

It was described on DU a few years ago. Crazy great invention. Shames the French Press. No muddy dregs. Clean up takes- wait for it- ten seconds. Water does NOT have to be as hot.

Last edited Mon Apr 27, 2015, 08:31 PM - Edit history (1)

in lieu of the pot of drip mud that sits on the heater all day. Very good invention. As you say, great coffee, simple to clean.

At home we have a Saeco super automatic espresso maker. Press a button and it grinds the beans and makes espresso (or an Americano a.k.a. cup of coffee, if you set the pour long). Steaming wand to froth milk. Expensive to buy, but over the 15 trouble-free years we've had it the price works out to maybe $30 per year, and it's reduced Starbucks' revenues by many thousands of dollars.

and how fast and how much you drink.
There are more steps with the press. Also, at least mine, it does not have a heater to keep the carafe warm.
I stopped using it for morning coffee since we have three adults and the first pot is gone in one press.
Then if you heat water and go through the process again, the coffee gets cold because the drinkers slow down.
( does that make sense?)

I've also used a Melita pour over pot. I makes more and is pretty good.

I once read that some people are going back to the old-fashioned percolator coffee.
If you are using regular old coffee and not some expensive gourmet brand, then I like a perc. for every day.

every one has good and bad points.

I have at least one of each-- drip, percolator, and French press. I don't notice much taste difference between them, but I probably use the French press most often simply because it's often more convenient. And it's kinda cool, being the most un-Keurig way to make coffee. The press also allows you to control the water temp, in case you're anal enough to care.

With the press, the grounds are still in the water until you finish the pot, so the longer it stands the more intense the flavor, although you might not notice it that much. And you'll get a fine powder in the bottom of the cup, possibly adding to the flavor but to some detracting from the texture.

Recommend a coarse grind, and fresh beans are nice if you have them. I mostly use the electric model for convenience, but I also have a stovetop percolator that I save for weekends when I'm cooking a big breakfast, as it needs some monitoring, but it lets you brew some wicked strong coffee. The hot water is repeated slueced over the grinds, making the flavor more robust even if you don't use the darker roast beans.

It ties with the French Press for my favorite. (For the same reason - lots of contact with the grounds.)

but I'm pretty sure I did as well - a square filter with holes in each corner that slid over the center post.

I mostly don't make coffee at home, but I used that critter so much that I broke the basket off the stem. Not sure why I never replaced it . . .

but some days the perc is what is all about.

Was introduced to Moka Brew 15 years ago while working in Europe. Was so taken by the quality of its brew, I ended up bringing one back with me.

Its kind of unconventional, but no conventional coffee make can touch its ability to get full extraction from the grounds. It's kinda of a cross between an espresso maker and a drip. It's so efficient in the way it extracts, that you end up usin way less coffee.

They are available in the states at amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/KRUPS-KM4688-Brewer-Filter-Coffee/dp/B00JUOX22U

Also check out coffeegeek.com for reviews of just about any coffee equipment ever made.

http://coffeegeek.com/proreviews/quickshot/krupsmokabrew/details

easy to choose strength, advantages of french press without the grit, cheap to own and operate. Easy to clean, just rinse off after each use. Portable. ultimate control over the entire brewing process including what coffee you use, the water temp and amount of time water is on the grounds. Always fresh coffee because you make a cup at a time. It does have proprietary filters, but they are cheap or you can get a reusable screen, so no outrageous expense of pods and the non-recycleable waste you get with them. It is very efficient at extracting the essence from the bean so you don't need to use as much coffee per cup as by most other methods.

I have been using mine for several years and literally thousands of cups of coffee and it still works like new.

They are under $30 on Amazon. I cannot recommend them enough

Quick to make? Will the proprietary filters cost me much?

I will have to order from Amazon here in Japan.

It is very efficient at extracting the essence out of the bean so you don't need to use as much coffee as with other methods. I put water in the microwave for 3 minutes and it takes about 2-3 minutes to press the coffee. If you have hot water on tap you obviously cut the time in half.

A French Press, nothing else is even close, cheap, easy to operate, pretty much fool proof!

No moving parts. No paper filter. Mine is still running after almost 25 years.

I am drawn to the traditional beauty of the Bialetti, but have read such good things about the Aero Press (lousy unsexy name!)

How much hassle do I want between me and my perfect cup(s)?

How much do I want to screw around cleaning equipment afterwards?

I ended up going with the Krups Moka Brew I found while in Europe. The most perfect example of heaven in a cup and cleanup afterwards.

Good luck.

for strong coffee, I put three scoops in a big carafe, pour 16 oz. of boiling water in, stir, add cocoa or cinnamon to taste, and then pour the mess into a filter cone to get the sludge out.

I have had to give up coffee because there is not one decent brand available in the country I now live in. Enjoy a cup for me.

Nt

If you're using ground Folgers, you might as well just use a $20 Mr. Coffee. A French Press will only make it taste like, well...Folgers made in a French Press.

The French Press is awesome, and it does make very good coffee, but it can be a real pain when you just want a cup o coffee. Instead, focus on finding really good fresh-roasted whole coffee, then grind it only when you're ready to brew it. A drip coffee maker can be fine, but swap out the paper filters for a nice gold filter. Paper filters out all of the oils that make coffee taste good. Also, make sure you get a quality coffee maker with which you can control the temperature, preferably of both the water and the hot plate. A cheap coffee maker can ruin your brew after it's been sitting on the burner for just 15 minutes. Ideally, brew it directly into a thermos carafe, or get a coffee maker that automatically shuts off the burner.

That's my two beans.

it doesn't matter what I use for my Jamaican Blue Mountain - we use any damn coffee maker.
The best coffee is still the best coffee regardless of the equipment.

...get some coffee from Anderson's in Austin, TX. We're particularly fond of Alfred's Blend and Viennese, but every variety we've tried from them is way above average.

And we're Gold Cup adherents, by the way, with a basic Krups unit. French presses are a bit too much of a hassle for us, early in the morning when we're stumbling around, half awake.

Being metal makes it easier to clean. As somebody said, use filtered water.

It doesn't make an individual cup, though. I make two pots every morning, one (caf) for me and one (decaf) for my darlin' companion. It steeps while I do my exercises. (I am so damn good! Well, for 1/2 hour or so on an average day. Then I wake up.)

recommend a Turkish coffee pot. The aroma is earthy and deep is the best way I can
describe it, the flavor is awesome...nothing else quite like it. The process is different
in brewing it and may seem a little odd at first, but it is worth it.



Turkish Coffee Pot, Cezve, ibrik, Handmade Copper Pot, Coffee Maker Jezve - US FREE SHIPPING

https://www.etsy.com/listing/216102969/turkish-coffee-pot-cezve-ibrik-handmade?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_housewares-kitchen-cup-low&utm_custom1=6cbe0582-2975-4af5-948f-30cfb46c33c5&kpid=216102969&gclid=CKOApPPOlsUCFWlo7Aodm1QAdQ

the same. Being originally from downstate NY, we grew up on the waters delivered from upstate reservoirs, and which always score as among the best tasting waters in the US. The coffee always had a great aroma and taste, no matter the brand. Since then, I have had many coffees made in Florida, Carolinas, Georgia and Illinois, plus a few others, and the taste is never right. My wife drives me nuts buying brands from 4$ to 9$ lb, but they never improve. So don't get high expectations because the coffee maker is the latest technology.

I could add a quart of cream to a cup and it would still be strong.

It's all about taste. As part of my business, I hand-craft coffees these days. I am sitting here right now sipping my super smooth, super tasty Monsoon Malabar that I roasted just a few days back.

I prefer water (drip), or hot steam and water (expresso maker). I absolutely hate the French Press. But that's just me.


What can make a huge difference in your enjoyment is the quality of the coffee beans you are buying and THE GRINDER you use. To get proper flavor, you really, really need to precisely grind for the type of maker you are using.

I have never forgotten that scene in the super lab where Gale describes to Walter how he made coffee.

Walter says, "That's the best coffee I've ever tasted….why are we making meth?"

I saw that scene and all I wanted was a trough of that coffee!

Here's the scene:

I blend my own coffee depending on my mood. It's usually two thirds of one of my favorites plus one third Bustelo.

I can make it as strong as I want whenever I want. No pods. No filters.

Instead 50 cents per K-cup it's a nickel.

The water goes through more slowly, and I can get 12-16 oz of decent strength coffee.

(To tamp the grounds down, you have to have your own permanent filter.)

Reviews are all great and it SEEMS to combine the advantages of the French Press with a modern sense of technology.

Bonobo,

The Aeropress is FANTASTIC!

I just bought one for me for my birthday. I got tired of the not quite strong enough keurig, even though I used reusable k-cups and my favorite beans.

Aeropress is a great design and has the easiest clean up of any system. My favorite fun fact Aeropress is made by Aerobie, the flying ring people.

But as everyone has mentioned, beans make the difference in whatever system you use. I have a biggish bag and have tried them in the Keurig, a French press, drip, and a Moka. Aeropress is by far the best. It's also a very portable system. If you have a hot water source (microwave etc.), you're all set.

Regards,
Sorghum Crow

You can make it as strong or as weak as you wish. The taste is clear as a crystal bell.



http://www.espressozone.com/bodum-santos-stovetop-vacuum-coffee-maker?gclid=CO6Q1fHUlsUCFZIdgQodVrcANw

A french press is great for a household that only drinks an occasional cup. The other suggestion of a cone and filter, where you pour hot water manually into the filter, is the cheapest method, and also ideal for households that don't consume a lot of coffee.

I don't have the patience for the french press, nor do I think the coffee tastes all that great.

Avoid the aero press. It's the latest thing and uses a paper filter. It misses the point.

When pressed for time, I also use a small espresso pot like this one:

http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-464859/?affsrcid=Aff0001&CAGPSPN=pla&CAWELAID=120120820000001037utm_source=channeladvisor&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=googlepla&catargetid=120120820000151813&cadevice=c

Just put the grounds and water in, toss it on the stove, then let it brew while getting ready in the morning. Since it's espresso, it tends to be strong. I gave it to a friend once, and he called me from work asking if I accidentally mixed meth in. He was bouncing off the walls - and he's a regular coffee drinker.

I'm not sure TOS allows me to link to a product description, but I suspect linking to an image is ok.



It's called the "clever dripper." It combined the best features of a french press and a pour-over: you steep the grounds like a press, but then drain them through a paper filter like a pour-over; it's got the ease of a press (no need to fussily worry it like a pour-over) and keeps grounds out of the cup in a way I never could with a press (plus the paper filter makes cleanup much easier than a press). Added bonus: while I grind my own coffee, you could use pre-ground in it if you wanted to (french presses, by contrast, need a coarser grind than you find in pre-ground coffee).

Costs about $20, my wife claims I no longer have "coffee breath" in the morning, and it makes the best cup of coffee I've ever made at home.

I'm going to try that.

is to use water that's the right temperature -- generally in the 180-190 degree range. I've had best results heating water to a boil, then taking it off the heat and pouring only after it stops bubbling. (You don't even need to get a full boil going, but I do because I'm generally also making tea for my wife.)

It's a cross between a french press and melita cone. It makes the most delicious fresh cup of coffee ever. Costs around 20 bucks on amazon.

Trust us, it's the best.

Melitta Ready Set Joe Single Cup Coffee Brewer, plus Cuisinart GTF Gold Tone Filter (Amazon item titles).

You will need one of these stove top espresso makers:

and some


(boy, I had to try about 10 images of the Bustelo to get it to show!)

http://www.food.com/recipe/cuban-coffee-cafecito-503292
No Cuban meal is complete without a cafecito, or Cuban coffee. More than just an espresso, a well-made cafecito has sweet crema floating over strong espresso coffee. Despite its name, crema has nothing to do with cream—it's actually foam made from sugar that's been thoroughly beaten with a splash of coffee. Many don't realize that it's the technique for making the crema—not the type of coffee beans used—that makes the coffee Cuban. But for the full Cuban experience, Castro recommends using Café Bustelo espresso. Chef, nutritionist, and cooking teacher Lourdes Castro shared this recipe for Cuban coffee, or cafecito, as part of a festive Cuban party menu she created for Epicurious.

usually from one of the cute places on Duvall Street, yum! This thread is inspiring me, just brought out the French Press after some time. It's easy and delish-

My little Italian espresso maker with filtered water and Cafe Bustelo. No crema for me, I just drink it black. Muy delicioso!

I like mine wickedly strong too.

Takes about a minute to get ready and by the time I count out my morning meds, it's ready.

Minimal hassle and effort.

These days, I'm using a drip maker with a thermos carafe. Works fine with good coffee. I like French press, but it's too time consuming for me. I also like the vacuum makers from the 40s and 50s, and still have a working one that I use for company, just because I like the sucking sound it makes when the coffee is done. I have a stovetop percolator that I use sometimes when the power is out. Works great, if you know how to control the flame properly. I can even make a great cup of coffee in a saucepan, although I don't recommend that method unless you can stand and watch the entire time.

Bottom line for me is that good coffee makes good coffee. The methods all work OK, but it's quality coffee, measured carefully and prepared appropriately for whatever device you use that makes the difference.

I know there's no such thing as expresso.

I am one who also thinks it's more about the water, grinder and kind of beans you use. I wish I did not love coffee so much!

It's my mane reason for getting up every day.

That's very fast coffee, right?

Honestly, I am in no condition in the morning to make coffee or for that matter wait for it. I wake up to a really good cup of freshly ground coffee every morning. Fill the hoppers and set the timer and the machine does the rest. The Capresso is superior to other grind and brews IMO because it has a good quality grinder and it seems to make the coffee hotter than other drip machines. Is it the best cup ever...probably not but what you get is a great consistent cup every morning without a whole lot of fuss. It also lets you adjust coffee strength to your liking.

The cost to performance ratio is through the roof. I usually get about 10 years out of the $20 investment.

I could certainly use one of the many other methods, they are pretty good, but why bother?

That said, the real key to good coffee is high quality, fresh-ground full coffee beans and a pinch of salt in your cup.

I'll spend on the beans while they spend on the coffee machine

Strong strong coffee. This way of making coffee has been around since 1933. You can buy one for cheap at amazon.com or even at Target.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot

Practically indestructible. Nothing to plug in or short out.

French press is best.

Or your old Mr. Coffee.

Of any of the pour over methods.

That's the reason I've stopped asking. Everyone has a different idea. Sure, French press seems to draw a plurality, but you just never know.

I still can't make a particularly good cup of coffee. Maybe it's my technique. Maybe it's the water, the temperature, the coffee, how much coffee, the grind. Whatever.

I've settle on the French press. One of the smaller ones. Claims to make 3-4 cups, but it really make a mug and a half. I put in two scoops of coffee ground with the #4 grind (I think). I let it steep for four minutes. It's okay, but I'll never open a coffee business.

All comes back to the past.

Mine is the plumbed-in model; it's connected to my R/O system. Fully programmable for up to 10 different people, and each style of coffe (espresso, coffee, latte, etc) can be customized. The pre-brewing option is perfect for those who like a very strong but not bitter cup.

They all do the same thing. It is what you put in them that controls what you get out. Always remember that and you can make coffee to suit your tastes without worrying about what you use to make it in.

I don't like my coffee adulterated with sugar or other fancy stuff because I like to taste it, and the stronger the better. I buy local roasted beans, grind them and use a press. There is absolutely no bitterness that sometimes happens with drip makers.

I won't ever use anything else.

there are always tradeoffs


find out what works for YOU

I have the kind you see in the restaurants. The first one lasted 20 years and began to leak. It was used once or twice a day. The second one is over 15 years old and going strong. It's the best coffee I've ever had. I use a pump carafe to hold the brewed coffee to cut down on waste. I bought both at Sam's club.

I use a BUNN in the house and a stainless percolator for the camper bus! I got it at an estate sale on EBay, like brand new! Has the little glass top on the lid...you watch it perk! Best coffee!

Not only amazingly good tasting coffee but incredibly fast and hot (3 mins).

I'm a convert to the cold brew now. I just use a large jug with a lid. Add ground coffee beans and fill with water, and then wait at least a day. Mine holds more than a day's worth, so I leave in the fridge and take out coffee as I need it, pouring it through a strainer. It winds up being strong, so most people cut cold brew with 1-3 parts water or milk.

But that won't make for much of a birthday present, so maybe a french press

Happy Birthday!

I'm a coffee snob in that I really appreciate a good cup of coffee. But I drink almost anything - including that prepared using "Mr. Coffee" type devices (which I described as "Blech" below).

I have run across two exceptions that won't drink in now 37 years of drinking coffee: The first is Bruegger's coffee (unless I bring my own cup) - the glue in their cups leaches into the coffee in about 5 minutes. I had never thrown out a cup of coffee because of taste in (then) 20 years of drinking coffee - until my first cup of Bruegger's coffee. The second is cold brew. It isn't that cold brew tastes bad - it is that what I identify as coffee flavor is completely absent (which is why most of the people I know who make it that way really want).

French Press
Old fashioned perk-on-the-stove.

What they have in common with each other is extended time in contact with the ground coffee.

Pour over would be my third choice

Keurig is surprisingly good - although it takes more coffee per cup to get a strong brew. I have a re-usable filter and find that it makes a pretty decent cup of coffee if I tamp the coffee in the filter. I can get a pretty good 14-16 oz of decent strength that way.

An espresso machine, used to make an American is decent, too.

Drip maker: Blech. Brown water, often with a side of nasty.

decent Italian espresso- not too expensive, you can get 4 packs of Lavazza on Amazon pretty cheap.

I had a Gaggia Classic for a long time... a little pricey but I actually used a whole shitload of airline miles I'd had accumulating for a couple decades untouched... It worked great for a long time but it had this persistent pump/lock issue so finally I ditched it.



Now I've got a Saeco Aroma. It was a couple hundred bucks but so far it works great, at least as good as the Gaggia -- doesn't lock up and quieter, too.

....

Actually being a fan of Turkish coffee, it's one of these things:

Go here and learn all about it if you don't know how already: www.sweetmarias.com

Water heats up fast to boiling and french press is big enough for me and my hubby. I got it on amazon along with a couple of extra screens. Total cost was about 50 dollars for everything including the kettle.

The trick is to get the water hot enough. Most coffee makers don't.