Coffee makers over the years

[fan-of-fans]

I was thinking about coffee makers my family has had. I don't remember my parent's first. But at one point they had a Mr. Coffee programable with dial clock in white and brown. I also vaguely remember a gray and white Regal drip. Then a plastic Betty Crocker percolator and a Mr. Coffee Accel. After those a cheap dollar store drip that last a week. Then my mom got one of the last slim Proctor Silex. It was still going but I bought my mom a Kenmore programable to replace it. It was awful and was recalled and the second was no better. Then my mom got another Proctor Silex and then a new Mr. Coffee but liked neither as the grounds sat under the lid and would fall into the tank. I found a cheap Rival with separate basket like she prefers and it's still going.

My grandparents had a Norelco Dial a Brew II for years but my grandma replaced it with a new Mr Coffee as she wanted something new. They just use it to make hot water for instant coffee.

My other grandmother liked percolators and had a few Prestos. I think she has a drip machine now that my aunt got her for her assisted living apt but she might have gotten a perc again.

 

[lordkenmore]

This could be a fun thread!

My family growing up had a long line of them. The first I have any real memory of is a percolator. Actually, I don't remember the percolator at all, but I do remember us going shopping for a new glass bulb. Probably the mid-70s. Unfortunately, a suitable bulb could not be found, and so the percolator was replaced. It also vanished, which is surprising given that my mother had quite the graveyard of on-working appliances in the kitchen. (We moved probably about that time, and so that might have been a factor in dumping the percolator.)

The percolator was replaced with a Mr. Coffee maker. If I remember right, it didn't have a reservoir to hold water that would (basically) be pumped. Water was poured in the top, and heated, dripping down into the carafe. That died when I was in elementary school--although it was only the keep warm element.

Mr. Coffee also brought an orange extension cord. Not sure if it was because of the old house, or our new one. But that extension cord got used by every coffee maker from that point on.

My mother used a West Bend Party Perk for a while. No, our household didn't drink 30 cups for breakfast. It was just there, and so she used it to make a smallish quantity.

When it died, it was a series of 2 Norelco Dial-A-Brews. One was bought new. When it died, it was replaced with one that had been at my father's workplace, but replaced with a new coffee pot.

When the Norelco coffee makers acted up, it seems to me they still heated to "keep warm" but not "brew." Don't quote me, though. In any case, I think my mother kept them going after they stopped working by manually pouring hot water into the coffee ground basket.

Finally, my mother had enough. It was onto a Melitta. I was in junior high about that time. One of my mother's arguments was that a German company might make something longer lasting. My father's take: we'll see if it does last. It did last several years, and then died suddenly. At that point, my mother rushed to buy a Braun--as she told me, if she hesistated, my father would buy something dirt cheap on sale which might last a year if we were lucky.

That Braun gave several years of service, although it saw lighter use than ealrier coffee makers.

I don't know off hand what one grandmother did. I have a vision of her having a Revere stovetop percolator. That vanished, replaced by some drip maker. IIRC, she didn't drink coffee herself.

The other grandmother loved percolators. I had one to play with when I was maybe junior high, and she saw it...and insisted we make coffee with the percolator! She had some lying around her own kitchen, but had moved to a Norelco. I'm not sure sure her heart was really in the Norelco--more of abit emulating what others were doing. Peer pressure does not apply only to drugs, I guess, but also coffee maker choices...

 

[chachp]

I remember three.

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">When I was very young I remember the glass Pyrex percolator that she used on her Hotpoint stove.  I remember the trivet that sat on the burner so the pot wouldn't crack.  I remember her putting in the filters so she wouldn't get grounds in her coffee.  </span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">She also had a very old electric chrome (I think) percolator that she used on Holidays or when they had company.  I still have that percolator and use it from time to time.  It still makes a great cup of coffee and when I use it, it takes me on a real spin down memory lane.  Even the smell of the coffee brewing in that pot smells the same to me as it did when I was a kid.  I have the old set of dishes as well so I can really recreate those memories.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">After that glass Pyrex I remember only a very long line of BUNN coffeemakers.  She's 93 and actually just yesterday bought a new one because the one she had, she said, "just wouldn't go" and I have no idea what that means.  She says the same thing about her E-mail sometimes LOL.  She lives in Ohio and I'm in Arkansas so it was easier for her to get a new one than try to troubleshoot from here.  It's not like I can put TeamViewer on it like I did her computer.  </span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">BUNN has a 3 year full replacement warranty and if it's older you can purchase a brand new pot at 50% off.  We have used this warranty a number of times over the years and likely would have this time too but it was easier for her to call some local store and have them deliver one to her.  We seem to average about 5 - 10 years per maker which is pretty good if you ask me given some of the junk that's on the market right now.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">As of about six weeks ago she is no longer driving.  She was in a car accident and broke her arm so we are now in a new chapter of her life trying to figure out how it's all going to work.  She won't sell her house so she's going to have to get creative now on how things will work.  But I guess that's a topic for another thread.</span>

 

[vacerator]

I'm back with a

Mr. Coffee. I've had one of most of them.
They lasted two to three years each, but the Mr. Coffee ones last the longest.
One I had which was white, with a digital clock and a knob to adjust the warmer temp. lasted ten years. I bought at Montgomery Ward back in 1989.
So after our Bunn began to leak, we got a Mr. Coffee thermo carafe model. It lasted 3 or 4 years, and last spring, I got a 12 cup with a glass decanter.
The old one still pumps water through, but the display is dead, and stuck on the clean cycle.
If we were rich, I'd have installed a Bosch, or Miele built in coffee brewer when we remodeled.

 

[polkanut]

My parents weren't big coffee drinkers, but my paternal grandparents were.  Grandma used a Drip-O-Lator daily, and had a special little saucepan where she would reheat any leftover coffee in for supper etc.  My great-aunt Alvera (Grandma's sister) was a very frugal (cheap) woman when it came to making coffee.  She used a stove top percolator.  She would would make a fresh pot on Sunday morning, and then would just add a tbsp. or so of fresh grounds to the old ones in the basket each day.  By Saturday her concoction was next to undrinkable because it was just basically tan hot water.

 

My maternal grandmother only drank either Sanka or Brim because she had essential tremors, and caffeine made them worse for her.  She also used a stove top percolator.

 

My mom's aunt & uncle had quite an unusual ritual that never varied regardless of who was at their house.  In the morning with breakfast it was Postum, at noon it was egg coffee (absolutely delicious), and for supper it was green tea.  I still smell the aroma of the Postum boiling over if you didn't watch it close enough.  YUCK!!!

 

[mark_wpduet]

I've tried a few over the years

Currently, I have one almost identical to this kitchenaid. I love the design! I'm actually not using the glass decanter it came with but instead I'm using a MR. COFFEE thermal carafe and it fits perfectly. I'm thinking its 4 to 5 years old now. I've always used the drip coffee makers, mostly MR. Coffee with the program feature. But I like this kitchenaid better than any of the ones I've had in the past, because of it's design. The water container detaches and no coffee residue gets into the container that holds the water. The way it drips prevents coffee residue from getting everywhere.

While on the subject of coffee makers, I will mention this. I noticed a few weeks ago, every time I had coffee, about an hour later, I would get really nauseated, which is unusual for me. I've always kept the coffee maker and the thermal decanter really clean. But I noticed the lid on the thermal decanter comes apart with screws. OH MY GOD - I took that apart and it was coffee colored SLIME to the MAX. I can't believe it never occurred to me to take the lid apart and clean it.

Coffee Maker
https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-K...62606&sr=1-3&keywords=kitchenaid+coffee+maker

Thermal carafe
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-DR...=1467463088&sr=1-4&keywords=mr+coffee+thermal

 

[jakeseacrest]

We got our first in a long line of coffee makers in 1986 or 1987 starting with a Norelco Dial a Brew. Next up was a Proctor Silex, a Mr. Coffee, a Mr. Coffee Accel, a Braun, a Kitchen Aid, another Braun, and my present Bunn.

 

[rp2813]

The first coffee I ever drank as a kid had been brewed in a Sunbeam Coffeemaster.  I remember sometime in the early/mid-ish '60s it developed issues, my dad tried to fix it, but it was, in Sunbeam terms, toast.

 

Then it was on to some cheap electric percolator.  My mom's friend had an early Corningware Electromatic, and she urged my mom to get one.  That unit was still working fine when, probably in 1972-ish, my sister presented my parents with a first generation Norelco 12 Automatic Drip machine.  After that, there was no turning back.  Coffee was never perked again, except for large gatherings when the big 30-cup urn was brought out.

 

When my mom's vision began to fail, ease of use became the main factor in any purchase.  The Black & Decker (GE clone) auto drip was perfect for her, as it had a similar carafe-mount filter basket system to the tired, well used Norelco, pleated filters that were easier to work with, and wow -- even an on/off switch! 

 

[gusherb]

My parents started with a Mr Coffee drip brewer and a large party perc both as gifts around 1980. The Mr Coffee lasted until around 2004. The percolator is still going and still used at large parties. Sometime when I was little I got interested in auto drip Brewers as part of my interest in appliances and other home related things, so I've had quite a few over the years. The mainstay was a Bunn I got in 2003, it got recalled and I got it back refurbished or was new, not exactly sure but it worked much better after. I gave it to my aunt in 2009, not sure what she did with it since she now uses a Keurig. Probably tossed it when she moved. I've had a Bunn VP-17 commercial brewer since 2008, that has been the trusty work horse.
I have a collection of Mr Coffee, Cuisinart, and another residential Bunn brewer none of them I really use since I don't drink coffee much I just like the technology and art of brewing it.

 

[dynaflow]

my parents

started out with a aluminum mirro stovetop pot , then dad bought her a corning electromatic somewhere around 68 or 69 they both like there coffee to be at the almost boiling point I always buy a electromatic when i find one mother wont use anything else seems like there was a regal poly perk somewhere in there

 

[joeekaitis]

Grew up with stovetop and electric percolators . . .

 

 

 

. . . until the parents jumped on the Melitta bandwagon the moment it hit the States, followed by a succession of Norelco and other drippers.

 

Always favored electric drippers myself especially the ones with an automatic bloom feature (usually called the Robust or Aroma setting) that recreates the initial pour-over splash of a Melitta manual.

 

Also have a West Bend 42-cup Party Perc, probably among the last made in the USA.

 

Current daily driver: 12 cup Melitta electric by Hamilton Beach with the Robust feature.

 

[circlew]

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I remember the coffee makers our family had. The first was a late 40's-early 50's Universal percolator. We actually had two of them for when my mom had card club or other parties. Next came a Universal (GE div. by then) that was purchased sometime in the late 60's. It finally gave up some time in the mid 80's, and was replaced by a Farberware, which was stainless steel. That was used until when my mom passed away in '95. I think I may still have it somewhere if my sister didn't take it. We also had a Corning Ware that was a stovetop model; it was a Christmas gift from my Aunt Doris. We never got one of the drip type such as a Mr. Coffee. Several neighbors had that kind, but my parents didn't care what other people had, and always had what suited themselves.

 

[ea56]

I love coffeepots

and have collected them for years. Every since I can remember I was aware of what type of coffee pot every home I entered had. For the most part both sides of my family used stove top or electric percolators during the 50's and 60's. My favorite aunt had an 8 cup Revere Ware perc that was always on top of her 1955 Westinghouse stainless steel cooktop. Once the coffee was brewed it kept at perfect drinking temp. on the Westie's simmer setting (the control glowed Blue on simmer). My paternal grandparents used a 9 cup aluminum stove top perc for everyday, but when Grandma had company she pulled out her 9 cup West Bend Electric perc. My Mom preferred using a 9 cup pyrex stovetop perc. But she was always either breaking the stem or basket, so most of the time she brought the water to a boil in the pyrex pot, added the coffee, stirred it and let it steep for a few mins. The she would add an egg shell or two, stir again and pour the coffee through a strainer into the cups. She called this "Hobo Coffee". She also had a Universal Coffeematic that she used from about 55' through 58'". Then for a few years in the 60's during the week she used instant, eck! But them about 1970 she got one of the original Norelco Drip machines, and it was great as I recall.

Personally, when I left home in 1970 I bought a used Universal Coffeematic for $3.00 at a thrift store. I used this perc almost daily until about 1979, at which time I gave it to my sister who used it until about 1986. After I got rid of the Universal I got a Mr. Coffee.

Over the years I've used just about every kind of coffeepot there is. I really like good perked coffee, but the best way to achive this is with a good stainless steel stove top perc. Most electrics have some kind of drawback. Either they don't perc long enough, or the basket's holes are too large or too small, thereby impeding the brewing process and causing ground to be in the finished brew either because they drifted through the too large holes are the basket overflows because the too small holes don't allow the brew to drain back into the pot quickly enough. Or they perc too long and give a scorched taste. What I've found to be my preference is a stove top vacuum pot. My daily driver is a Nicro Stainless steel pot with a New Cory glass rod filter. Its so easy to use and really fast once you get the hang of it. Since its metal I can put it on high heat, set up the top with the filter and coffee and in about 7 mins for a 6 cup pot the water is just about at a boil. I place the upper pot on the lower, lower the heat to med low, the water rises almost immediately and I give it a stir and allow the coffee to brew for 2 mins., then remove the pot form the heat and in about 2 mins. the coffee has siphoned to the lower pot and is ready to drink, all in about 10 mins., with no paper filter taste. And its a snap top keep clean. I never have any grounds or sediment in the bottom of the cup. For everyday coffee I've been using Cafe Bustelo for the past several months and for preground coffee it makes a very good, dark, strong cup of coffee.
Eddie

 

[lordkenmore]

Past family coffee makers, and onto ones I've had

I have probably had too many coffee makers to list. Of course, a large percentage have either seen light or even no use (I have a number now as conversation pieces in my living room).

Of the ones I've actually used for a signifcant amount of time:

1. A cup top filter that brews one cup. I remember using this to brew just one cup of coffee here and there towards the end of the era when I lived at home.

2. Norelco Dial-A-Brew--bought used in a lot of other stuff. I don't think it was complete for some reason, but parts were lying aruond the place I lived at the time. I had been using a coffee maker at that place as well that was not mine. That coffee maker was having issues, and so the putting the Norelco into service made sense.)

3. I moved, and the new place had a Genvalia branded Melitta lying around. Later that more or less became mine--or at least was available for the taking when I had to move. I opted not, wanting a fresh start.

4. During much of the Melitta in #4's time, however, I just used manual systems, such as filter that sits on a cup.

5. Thanks to AW.org, I was inspired to play with percolators. For a long stretch, I used one as a daily coffee pot. 3 different percolators--a Farberware, a small Farberware, an Electromatic.

6. Also a peirod of using a Sunbeam Coffee Master.

7. A couple of years ago, it was back to drip with a small 4 cup Braun.

8. Then it was back to manual systems. Currently, I'm using French press, although I'm toying with putting the Braun back in service.

 

[wishwash]

I recently picked up an 80s model GE space maker like my grandparents used to have. Works just fine and brings back memories.

 

[jmm63]

Interesting topic

Here's pics of what we've had in our family (up to the Mr. Coffee) and then what I've had on my own up to the Cuisinart, which I think I've had 5 of them since they last just about 2 - 3 years. The glass Pyrex I still have and use occasionally on the weekends or when we have a power outage.

 

[dustin92]

I don't drink coffee (love the smell but can't stand the taste) but since I was born in 92, my parents have had lots of coffee makers- Seems like 5 or 6 of the old simple Proctor Silex 12 cup drip ones, then around 2000 they needed a new one, and got the new updated version with the programmable timer and pause stopper, which lasted for all of a day when my Dad got up for work to coffee and grounds flowing across the kitchen counter and floor (pretty sure the pot wasn't seated properly). Anyway, that one was returned, and they bought a Bunn. That one worked for several years, but was one of the recalled ones, so they sent it in and it came back not working. Bunn sent another one that had a crack in the plastic base, and finally one that worked. Turns out the original one had a wire come loose, and my Dad fixed it. We ended up with 3 Bunn coffee makers out of that deal, they didn't want any back. Gave the cracked but otherwise brand new one to friends, kept the original one in service and saved the new one as a spare. Eventually the original one started leaking, and the replacement one lasted a few more years. My Dad found a nearly new Bunn at a garage sale for $5 and that lasted about 3 years, then also started leaking. I picked them up a programmable Cuisinart at a thrift store to hold them over until they could buy a new one, and I think they are going on a couple years with it now, and love it. They always set it to be ready when they get up, and say it makes great coffee, better than the Bunn ever did. My Dad says he wants another one if this one ever dies.

 

[rp2813]

Ah yes Jim, picture #7's Krups combo.   I had one of those.  It  may have replaced the Braun Flavorselect.  I didn't have it long.  It made bad coffee.  I gave it to Dave's daughter when she moved out.

 

I'm using a #11 DCC-1200 right now.  I got it at a thrift store a few years ago while I had a Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew machine. 

 

Grind & Brews don't last long, and my latest one was failing this past winter.  I bought a '70s KA Coffee Mill, trashed the Grind & Brew, and brought the DCC-1200 up from the basement.  I'm happy with this arrangement.  Grind & Brew models by any maker are bad buys.

 

 

[delaneymeegan]

Remember inheriting something like this, as a young teen, from a relative, after it stopped working.  It was 1980 and I thought it was cool because of the lighted switch, but didn't really know what I was going to do with it.   lol.