Help me choosing a coffee maker

[fan-of-fans]

Braun

I have one of those white Braun Aromaster 12 cup makers. I don't even drink coffee, only got it because it was the one on Keeping Up Appearances. I lent it to my mom to use when her machine broke - she said it made great coffee.

I still see those Aromasters once in a while at thrift shops. They also made a programmable version - also in black.

I see the carafes once in a while at thrift stores too. Unfortunately the clear flavor seal piece on the lid that's supposed to help keep the coffee fresh is almost always missing.

 

[hunter]

Vintage percolator

I use a late 60s aluminum GE.electric percolator I got at Goodwill for $5. Best coffee I’ve tasted.

 

[sarahperdue]

Sunbeam Coffeemaster

Vintage, automatic, vacuum coffee--deep, rich brew. I use Cafe Bustello ground espresso coffee in it. It's chrome plated copper and heats evenly all around the pot so the coffee doesn't get that burned flavor when kept on warm for a long time. It tastes fresh. I confess that I often warm up yesterday's coffee, and it still tastes pretty good. Paired with a Westinghouse timer, it's ready when I am.

My second favorite is the Chemex with the Chemex brand filter papers. Very clean brew.

Sarah

 

[mattl]

I used one of the Sunbeam vac pots for years, made really good coffee.  I think I've got 5 in my collection.  I'd chuckle as I had this 1940's tech hooked to my Samsung SmartThings to control it, talk about a blending of old and new.  I adjusted the thermostats a few times but got one too many boil overs and went back the Cuisinart.  As mentioned previously I'm  on the look out for a Mr. Coffee like we had at work.

 

[rp2813]

Tim, I see the V-shaped Melitta type filters at the 99c Only Store all the time.  Since I switched to a Chemex carafe, I use their proprietary (I think) cone type filters.  If you think the V-shaped ones are expensive, you ain't seen nothin' yet.  Chemex filters are tough to find, too.  Around here, BB&B stopped carrying them and now the only place I can find them is at ACE. 

 

I suppose the Braun carafes are becoming more scarce at the thrift stores, but that's your best bet for spares.  I accumulated way too many thrift store spares after repeatedly breaking carafes for my Cuisinart.  Of course, as soon as I had spares, I stopped breaking them.  They were added to the inventory of my moving sale last year.

 

 

[ea56]

The Medelco 10 cup replacement carafes fit the Braun Aromaster perfectly, and are easy to find on ebay and many other places. And you can get #4 cone filters at Walmart and Target at very reasonable cost. I have posted a link for an ebay listing for the Medelco 10 cup carafe.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Medelco-On...963120&hash=item4b574f8bc6:g:QYIAAOSwoNhbOUZl

And I agree with Matt about the Coffeemaster thermostat issues. They are very difficult adjust, and they don’t hold the adjustments well, unless you have the special small wrench to get the nuts tightened down properly. The Coffeemaster’s do make very excellent coffee when they are functioning properly, but they are a hassle to clean and maintain. I too have owned five of them, they are all gone now. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to experience using them, but I’ve got that checked off my bucket list for now.

Eddie

 

[justjunque]

I have to agree with Eddie and Ralph.
I've been using a Braun Aromaster 10 cup forever.
I've had to replace carafes over the years, because I'm a klutz.
I use the same Melitta brown #4 filters, and we've used the newer bamboo version of them.
It's not fancy, but it just makes great coffee!
Our current go-to coffee brand is Original Chock Full O' Nuts.
When I found a NIB Aromaster on Craigslist a few years back, I grabbed it, just so I'd have another one when mine finally gives out.
Fortunately, the first one is still going strong!

Barry

 

[ea56]

Barry,

I like the new Bamboo Mellita filters better than the regular brown paper #4 cone filters. The last box I bought are the regular brown paper, and I don’t like them as well as the bamboo. The finished brew has a cleaner flavor with the bamboo filters. And I always used filtered water for brewing, the chlorine in tap water just ruins the flavor of coffee IMHO.

Eddie

 

[lordkenmore]

One option I've liked in the past are small drip makers that sit on top of my coffee cup.

The one I used was a 3 part design. There was a filter assembly (with permanent filter), a water reservoir that would fit on top of the filter, and a lid. (I often didn't bother with using the lid, figuring that the heat loss probably wasn't a significant factor.) One simply poured hot water into the water reservoir, and the water would slowly drip down into the coffee grounds. Unfortunately, I don't know if this style is even made now--it's been years since I've seen it in a store, and I just checked one place that had these on-line a few years ago, with no luck. Also this coffee maker was obviously more work than an electric coffee pot with disposable filters.

Melitta (and others) make similar coffee makers that use cone filters. These seem common enough--the last I knew, several stores in my area had these. Some love these. I, however, wasn't overwhelmed when I tried one. I can see pluses (disposable filters make them more convenient). But the coffee wasn't as good IMO as the style I used years back. A large part of this, I think, is that the Melitta system requires more care--my old system you could just dump in the hot water, and be done. The Melitta system may need more care with putting water in for optimal coffee. Also the permanent filter of my older coffee maker might have been better than paper filters. Still...the Melitta system is cheap enough for most people to gamble a few dollars on, and even if one doesn't like it, well, it might be good enough to be a backup coffee maker.

 

[lordkenmore]

Farberware Superfast Percolator

Years back, I went through at least a couple of phases (and maybe more...) of using old percolators. I was inspired by this site. This site has a lot to answer for. LOL

During that time, one percolator I used was a smallish Farberware (4-6 cups), which is a nice size for those looking to brew a small amount of coffee. It didn't make the best coffee ever, but it was a very nice daily driver coffee pot. Coffee snobs hate percolators, but based on my experience, a good percolator carefully used can make better coffee than a bad drip maker. One day I'd like to have another Farberware like that one.

And, as mentioned above, the Farberware is fast, which is nice in the morning when one is rushing about to get ready for the day. I defaulted to my Farberware many days just because of how fast it was.

 

[lordkenmore]

>Sometimes I think in this day of automation, and Technology, we often overlook the simple methods, that were tried and true. I think we over complicate our lives with all this gadgetry.

Very true!

 

[lordkenmore]

Sunbeam Coffeemaster

I also went through a phase of using one of these... I can't remember my impressions of the coffee. It must have been drinkable, at least, because I wouldn't have continued using it. But I wasn't wowed to the point of "I'll never use anything else again!" Honestly, I think I might have enjoyed my time with percolators more, even though I think the Coffeemaster coffee would be better. One thing to note: I used it "as is" from the thrift store. Thermostat adjustments might have made it work better.

I'm not sure I'll go back to using a Coffeemaster ever, although "never say never." I'd like to use a vacuum pot again...but I'd rather have glass so one can watch the coffee brew. This would be for "relaxed after dinner" coffee, not first thing in the morning.

Although I will the Coffeemaster does look pretty sitting on a shelf... I don't have it on display, but I could see doing that, like I have several old percolators that I've never used that are entirely decoration at this point.

 

[polkanut]

One can never go wrong with a vintage Norelco Dial-A-Brew.  The unit in the photo was found at a church rummage sale about 6-7 years ago for $5.00.  My wife has a standing order that if I see one at a estate/tag sale I'm to buy it.  We have 2 spares already, but she wants to be on the safe side because she loves it so much.

 

[lordkenmore]

Braun

My mother had one of these from the late 80s to early 90s. While we both agreed French press was better, the Braun was a nice, convenient daily driver.

For some reason, I'm thinking it was top rated by CONSUMER REPORTS.

 

[lordkenmore]

Cone filters

From my memories, the paper filters are a bit more expensive. But they are common, and there are ways of saving money (generic filters--very common--or IIRC Target had good prices once on big boxes of filters).

Another option: they make (or used to make) permanent cone filters. These aren't as convenient when its time to clean up, however. My mother had one of these, and she felt the coffee was better, too, although this is probably one of those "your mileage may vary."

 

[passatdoc]

I do very well with a Cuisinart 1150. Hotplate keeps coffee hot (until I pour it into a thermos) and there is a 1-4 cup setting for small jobs. Auto Clean cycle as well, which I use quarterly to descale it.