I Like Drip!
I think drip is just okily dokily. The key is to get the grind right, and grind the beans daily. Also, I think the thermal carafe types of drip machines are better. The heating plate on older drip units overheat the coffee, making it bitter after an hour or so. Also important to use paper filters. The drip machines with Melita type cone-style filters are best - they concentrate the grounds under the drip head. The Mr. Coffee flat bottom filter baskets don't get all the grounds as evenly wetted as the Melita type filter baskets. For my taste, the mesh filters - even the gold plated ones - let too much fine sediment through to the final product. Plus, the filter paper is supposed to absorb some toxins that can cause health problems.
Currently the only perk machine I have is a huge Delonghi 60 cup stainless urn. Great for club meetings, the only time I fire it up. It has a glass perk bonnet on top, fun to see the coffee get its full color up there. Other features include a coffee level indicator, a spigot, and a row of lights that let you know how long since the coffee was brewed (the "Freshness Indicator"). It also makes some pretty impressive bumping and mini-explosive noises as it heats up. With freshly ground coffee, makes an excellent brew. Just way too much of it at a time!
Have never tried a French Press or a vacuum coffee maker. I do have a couple of pump-style espresso machines, but got tired of all the effort involved a few years back. But I did develop a good method for getting a perfectly layered cup of latte. I'd steam the milk first, and then layer the espresso on top of it. Looks great in a clear glass beaker.
