GE or Oster? Please help me choose.

[thomasortega]

Guys, I need to buy a new coffee maker and I´m between two options available.

1st is Oster counterforms 12 cup digital coffee maker. I have a little fall for it because i already have the matching toaster oven, so the kitchen would look nicer with matching appliances on the counter. But there's only a store that sells it and it costs 79 dollars.

The second option is GE 12cup digital coffee maker. I forgot the model name now but I already know it was recalled in the U.S. due to a risk of overheating and causing a fire. The design is nice too. The price is atractive... 22 dollars.

Well, i´m aware of this fire risk but, considering i never let coffee maker alone while brewing and I never use the timer and always unplug immediatelly after brewing (i don't use the keep warm function). the risk may be very reduced and it may worth the price.

What I want to know is... Does this GE make a good coffee? The tag price is really atractive. Is there any significant difference that justifies paying 3x more for the Oster?

 

[thomasortega]

By the way... both are available in a store in Paraguay.

If I buy in Brazil, I'll pay something around 100 dollars for a coffe maker that has nothing more than an on-off switch, a boring design and 100% sure it's made in china too and the coffee will come out warm like pee.

And the last detail i need to mention. I already have four spresso machines (Nespresso, Senseo, DeLonghi and Electrolux) so I can use them to prepare a better cup of coffee when I want it. What I need now is prepare lots of cups (for 6 people) Think of serving nespresso for 6 people that drink buckets of coffee. the capsules are too expensive!

Other options are premium coffee makers costing more than 200 dollars... of course I don't want them.

 

[dustin92]

I don't know if you have them there, but we have a Bunn, and although they are about $100, they make lots of good coffee and FAST. They do need to be left plugged in, but we are on our 3rd one in about 15 years and have never had an issue. The first two were still functional but just worn out. When we have company or family over, we make lots of coffee, and it only takes 3 minutes to brew a pot.

 

[thomasortega]

Thanks...

I already went to the store and saw both of them live.

GE looks like designed by a lumberjack. (nothing against lumberjacks) The design is gross, it looks really fragile. Even a child can see it´s not made to last more than a few months.
I got the Oster and it impressed me a lot. The coffee is really hot and tastes surprisingly good for a drip coffee maker.

Even better, it also makes good tea. I tried both preparations as soon as I arrived home. The machine is beautiful but honestly I don't expect it to last 10 years. 5 at the most, being really careful but even if it works for two years making coffee and tea like today, it will pay itself.

I asked for a discount, the saleswoman made it 68 dollars. I'm really glad with this buy.

The best of all, it's MADE IN USA.

 

[laundromat]

Have you seen the Hamilton Beach Brew station? It has no glass pot. It has a chamber the coffee brews in to and a valve in front you press your cup against to fill. I have the twelve cup version and love it.

 

[thomasortega]

Hi Chuck, thanks for the advice.

I've seen those but only in the U.S.

For me, those aren't very useful because i also make tea and then i put it in the refrigerator. It wouldn't be very handy.

For coffee only I would say it's a good idea for my home but while I was typing i remembered somebody (one of the nurses that take care of my mom or my boyfriend or I) simply grab the jar and walk around the house refilling cups for everybody.

To fill my "tiny" mug that's almost a bucket i need almost 6 cups. My boyfriend's mug is the same size.
After some weeks I can securely state that this Oster coffee maker is so fantastic that I´m seriously thinking about buying a second unit because every time we say "let's have some coffee" we need to prepare a full jar, serve, change the filter and prepare a second full jar.

One thing I couldn't understand yet is the size of cup that Oster believes people have at home.

A standard table cup is too small for it. a standard mug is too big. my boyfriend's and mine mugs are obviously out of standard. 2 mugs fit exactly between 10 and 12 marks. Well, that's irrelevant because we always make 12 cups according to the jar indicator. But I still curious, only to know.

Other thing i loved in this coffee maker is the speed. as the heating element is probably huge, its really fast. almost as fast as pouring water from a kettle right into the filter with the coffee grounds and the drips aren't those boring drops.