Looking for good coffee machine

[Andem]

I have 3 different types of coffee which I make at home; The first is with a Bodum set, which includes the coffee cups we saw years ago on Star Trek: The Next Generation. My second option is with a machine produced by Philips called Senseo.. excellent coffee. Thirdly if I'm craving coffee after 5:30pm, I make Nescafé Decaf Instant.

The Bodum with Star Trek cups:

The Philips Senseo one- or two cup coffee maker:

And finally the instant coffee:

When I lived in Canada, I had a Krups espresso and cappuccino maker which my brother and his room mate are now enjoying the use of.. I can't recommend this brand more. It looked something like this, but not exactly:

For espresso machines, make sure it's NOT steam-powered pressure. I went through 3 cheapo machines which were all returned to the store because they made such crappy espresso.

 

[Goober]

I have 3 different types of coffee which I make at home; The first is with a Bodum set, which includes the coffee cups we saw years ago on Star Trek: The Next Generation. My second option is with a machine produced by Philips called Senseo.. excellent coffee. Thirdly if I'm craving coffee after 5:30pm, I make Nescafé Decaf Instant.

The Bodum with Star Trek cups:

The Philips Senseo one- or two cup coffee maker:

And finally the instant coffee:

When I lived in Canada, I had a Krups espresso and cappuccino maker which my brother and his room mate are now enjoying the use of.. I can't recommend this brand more. It looked something like this, but not exactly:

For espresso machines, make sure it's NOT steam-powered pressure. I went through 3 cheapo machines which were all returned to the store because they made such crappy espresso.

Had a similiar type that I bought at Canex when staioned in Germany - 110 volt - love cappucino - Myself I use a heavy cream - heat the cups and a little baileys at the bottom - proper frothing of course and throw that sprinkle crap out the window - good chocolate ( european) also is tasty as hell -

When i was in Bosnia an emloyee -tranlstor and i stopped at this place where you had ice cream in your coffee - about the size of a NA style soup bowl - delicious -

 

[karrie]

I got a percolator coffee maker for camping. Makes better coffee than my conventional one at home.

Like this:

yeah, those are among my faves too. And, it has the added bonus of being your kettle and all in one. But, both are ways of drinking coffee that will still have fine particulate and the oils in it. Not everyone likes that.

Low tech, minimum electricity is the way to go, imo. The fewer things to go wrong, the better.

 

[karrie]

- also in NA the coffee sucks -

If you're after European style coffee, instead of Canada's somewhat tea-like version of coffee, then head down to any European immigrant centre in the nearest city.

Little Italy here in Edmonton is where I go. I simply found the bar with the largest gathering of serious looking Italian businessmen, and voila! Coffee to die for.

In Calgary, there is a coffee shop downtown (Kawa) run by a Polish chap from a family I know. PHENOMENAL coffee.

The key is immigration. :lol:

 

[AnnaG]

I mentioned Kicking Horse Coffee earlier, they have a couple types that are definitely not for tea drinkers. And the company comes from Invermere BC near the AB/BC border.
I think it's Nelson BC where OSO Negro Coffee is at, too.

 

[karrie]

I have yet to find the right brand of Kicking Horse I guess. I simply can't find a roast of theirs that is worth the ridiculous price it costs here in Edmonton.

Who was it that went on a rant the other day about companies exploiting peoples' willingness to 'buy Canadian'? They have hit me as that so far.

 

[AnnaG]

I have yet to find the right brand of Kicking Horse I guess. I simply can't find a roast of theirs that is worth the ridiculous price it costs here in Edmonton.

Who was it that went on a rant the other day about companies exploiting peoples' willingness to 'buy Canadian'? They have hit me as that so far.

Yeah, it is a bit pricey. About $14/pound, same with Oso Negro's coffee. Unfortunately, in this lil old rural area, we don't get a lot of European coffees and I doubt they'd be much cheaper if we did.

 

[AnnaG]

IMO, one can't beat perked or steamed coffee, but coffee made in French presses is almost the same and kettles don't use near as much energy as stovetops or drips/electric perks.

 

[Andem]

If you're after European style coffee, instead of Canada's somewhat tea-like version of coffee, then head down to any European immigrant centre in the nearest city.

Little Italy here in Edmonton is where I go. I simply found the bar with the largest gathering of serious looking Italian businessmen, and voila! Coffee to die for.

In Calgary, there is a coffee shop downtown (Kawa) run by a Polish chap from a family I know. PHENOMENAL coffee.

The key is immigration. :lol:

What I don't understand is why a cup of amazing cappuccino costs 0.80€ in Italy but it costs 4.00$ in Canada!

 

[TenPenny]

A word of advice. Don't spend 20 or even 50 bucks on a coffee maker. Alwayz spend at least a 100 bucks.

I've had those cheapies before and they ARE A FIRE HAZARD. I left coffee warming in the pot once, zipped to the store, came back and coffee maker was JUST getting engulfed in flames! A melted, white plastic mess!

This is the like the one I got right here, spent $120 I think.

That's what we had, except with the glass carafe. Worked great for 5 years. I liked it until the clock went whacky; it would shut off after brewing a pot. When I'd get my morning coffee, it had always shut itself off, and the coffee was lukewarm.

 

[AnnaG]

Our Braun has been going for about 15 years. The clock even still works. I think we spent about $40 on it. The DeLonghi was about $200 and that's almost as old. The press is about 10 years old and cost about $40 and holds 4 or 5 mugs.

 

[TenPenny]

Our Braun has been going for about 15 years. The clock even still works. I think we spent about $40 on it. The DeLonghi was about $200 and that's almost as old. The press is about 10 years old and cost about $40 and holds 4 or 5 mugs.

It really pisses me off that, for the sake of a $1 electronic clock, the coffee machine is pretty much useless.

However, more than that, I hate a coffee pot that shuts off as soon as it brews a pot. In the old days, my father would take it to the cottage, where you'd wake up on a sunny summer day, and immediately be aggravated by appliances that don't work. Coffee pots that don't keep the coffee hot. Toasters that never pop up, so your toast is usually burnt by the time you get to it. Or toasters that don't stay down, so you have to hold the handle down until your toast is done.

What a way to spend your life, surrounding yourself with things that don't work properly, and being annoyed by them.

 

[karrie]

What I don't understand is why a cup of amazing cappuccino costs 0.80€ in Italy but it costs 4.00$ in Canada!

If you hit a North American chain, or a dedicated coffee house, yeah, you'll pay $4 for a cappy. But, hit an Italian sports bar here in town, and you can get the exact same thing for around $2.

 

[AnnaG]

It really pisses me off that, for the sake of a $1 electronic clock, the coffee machine is pretty much useless.

You mean if the clock doesn't work, the machine won't either? That's dumb.

However, more than that, I hate a coffee pot that shuts off as soon as it brews a pot. In the old days, my father would take it to the cottage, where you'd wake up on a sunny summer day, and immediately be aggravated by appliances that don't work. Coffee pots that don't keep the coffee hot. Toasters that never pop up, so your toast is usually burnt by the time you get to it. Or toasters that don't stay down, so you have to hold the handle down until your toast is done.

Ours keeps coffee hot for 2 hours then it turns off.

What a way to spend your life, surrounding yourself with things that don't work properly, and being annoyed by them.

It's a consume-it-and-throw-it-away society we live in. I agree. And it annoys me, too.

 

[AnnaG]

I get a latte in town for about $2.25 in a 16 ounce mug. Not sure what a cappucino is; never had one.

 

[VanIsle]

I have yet to find the right brand of Kicking Horse I guess. I simply can't find a roast of theirs that is worth the ridiculous price it costs here in Edmonton.

Who was it that went on a rant the other day about companies exploiting peoples' willingness to 'buy Canadian'? They have hit me as that so far.

I honestly don't know if it's on sale or if I just hit a number of customers who like the Kicking Horse coffee and were buying it anyway but ....if you live near a Save On More store, they carry a lot of it. At least the store I work in does. The last day I worked was on Sunday but sales start Sunday so it just might be. Sometimes people come in and buy a lot of one thing just because we are the only ones who carry it. A number of customers seemed to be buying it and I meant to have a look at the price but I forgot. Remember - I deal with codes - not prices.
On my way out the door to work but I just noticed a flyer sitting on my counter. This may or may not be a sale price to you but the Kicking Horse organic coffee is on sale (454g) for $9.99. (selected varieties)

 

[VanIsle]

We used to have better coffee - right? I went without drinking coffee for a few years but it seems that in the last 14 some odd years that I have been back drinking it, I keep searching for that "old" taste and just cannot come up with it. My husband was always a tea drinker until a few years ago (I guess that's why I quit drinking coffee - seemed like too much trouble to brew a pot for just myself)and he simply doesn't really understand what I am searching for.
Coffee here at places like Timmy's and Starbucks runs $4 - 5.00 a cup so we just don't go there. We buy an Ice Cap about once a year.

 

[TenPenny]

You mean if the clock doesn't work, the machine won't either? That's dumb.

Ours keeps coffee hot for 2 hours then it turns off.

So did ours, until the clock died. Then it made coffee and promptly shut off.

 

[In Between Man]

It appears to be SS with a glass liner. Is it?

No, mine does not have a glass liner, that just sounds like something begging to tick me off one day - "Are those cracks?! I THINK I SEE CRACKS! FRIGG ME!" :lol::lol::lol:

There was no heat under the pot so unless we pre-warmed the pot before we brewed, we had one cup of hot and then cold coffee.

Well, ya NEED a warmer on the bottom!!!! :lol::lol::lol: When you buy your new one at London Drugs, spring for the option.;-);-);-)

 

[In Between Man]

That's what we had, except with the glass carafe. Worked great for 5 years. I liked it until the clock went whacky; it would shut off after brewing a pot. When I'd get my morning coffee, it had always shut itself off, and the coffee was lukewarm.

This is my second one, my first was with the glass carafe. I like the stainless carafe much better because you don't have to worry about breaking it. You can't wash it worth jack mind you, and you'll find it has a permanent coffee colour quickly. Sure, put it in the washing machine, "It only washes the centre of the carafe, it doesn't get the freaking edges alley!" is what you'll say to me! And what it does wash, comes off in tiny little chunks and specs, so you gotta rinse and rinse and rinse until the carafe is clean.

LMAO! :lol: But I love my coffee maker, I swear by it;-);-);-)