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I have a Dolce Gusto too. The coffee from it is certainly not week, at least when you use the real Dolce Gusto pods. Other brands are nothing like the Dolce Gusto ones. I made the mistake of buying a box of Starbucks pods for the Dolce Gusto, awful stuff!

In comparison to the Dolce Gusto, I prefer the Nespresso, the taste is even better. But I don't like the Nespresso system, the cups don't have their own spout, so the Nespresso machines are more difficult to clean than the Dolce Gusto machines.

I use the Dolce Gusto for a fast cup of coffee, my regular cup of coffee is made in a Moccamaster. I haven't seen the Bonavita coffeemakers here, but I saw some good reviews of those.
 
My Keurig single cup machine was "new to me" as someone basically wrapped the thing up nearly new and left it for recycling collection.

Truth to tell since then have noticed plenty of Keurig machines littered about at thrifts, and or out for collection on trash day.

Had a stash of various K-cup coffee and tea otherwise likely wouldn't have bothered. For my tastes coffee produced is rather weak for what it is; but will do when one only wants one cup of coffee quickly.

Get better results from my Italian moka pot, but that of course involves washing up.
 
The Jiffy lube that I always go to change oil has exactly the same machine.

They adapted it to connect to a water line (almost like an ice maker)

Unfortunately it was the worst coffee I've ever had but that's not the machine's fault, it's my taste.

For me, coffee should be exactly like my husband: Black, super hot, super bold and super strong. It's very difficult (actually almost impossible) for me to find good coffee here in the USA. Every time somebody visits me from Brazil, I ask them to bring boxes and more boxes of Melitta "Extra-Forte" coffee. It's toasted to level 10 (the limit before it turns into charcoal)

It is also difficult for me to find a coffee maker that makes the coffee REALLY hot. I have a cheap Mr. Coffee that makes it warm as pee. HORRIBLE! I had luck with the Kitchenaid "personal" drip coffee maker.... it's hotter.... I'd score it a 8 out of 10. It's just like Nescafé... not the best thing in the world but it cheats my tongue OK. It's convenient, but the best thing ever is still boiling water on a stove and using a pour over FABRIC filter.

In Brazil I had a Senseo and a Dolce Gusto.

The senseo.... I loved it because of the "no plastic" pods. but coffee was HORRIBLE

Dolce Gusto.... it was great for other drinks (I love the chococcino and the latte machiato). The coffee (caffé forte and ristretto) tasted ok, but it wasn't hot enough. I mean, it was OK following barista standards in Europe, but not a Brazilian taste....
 
Old fashioned method for me wins out

 

 

I’m all about a really good cup of coffee.

 

I roast my own beans every week or two and grind them just before I make a pot of coffee.  

 

For me the important factors besides a good freshly roasted bean is the pre-infusion and the temperature of the water.  I’ve tried most of the makers that boast these features and none of them do as well as you will when you do a manual pour over.

 

Behmor Connected brewer: the brewer makes an OK cup of coffee, but the thermal carafe does not keep the coffee hot.  I have to transfer it to another container to keep it warm.

 

Chemex Ottomatic: I have the original version that does not do a pre-infusion.  It also brews at about 190 and I like closer to 205.  I am told the newer version does a proper pre-infusion but I don’t know if it brews any hotter.   The coffee is not bad it just never seems hot enough for my taste.

 

Technivorm: I have an older model that doesn’t have the pre-infusion but it does make a nice hot pot of coffee.  It’s faster but the Technivorm filters don’t filter as well as I like.

 

I haven’t tried the Bonavita, but I’ve read about them. They are supposed to make a decent cup.

 

So long story short, I’ve stopped using the automated machines for the most part.  I have a six cup Chemex.  I grind the beans, heat the water and use the pour over method.   I like the old-fashioned method just like many of us on this site for so many of the things we do.

 
no doubt fresh DIY roasting is the best...

but the extra work involved has stopped us from taking that final step... so far.

The Bonavita 1900TS does have a pre-infusion cycle that can be selected, and using it with this machine makes coffee as good as any when we used the French-press or manual method. I'm pretty picky and v happy with it, but no doubt roasting will be the Final Frontier.
 
also...

the latest Bonavita 1900TS model is guaranteed to brew between 198 and 205 for the ideal time of up to, but not more, than 8 min, and is certified to meet those standards by the Specialty Coffee Ass'n of America (SCAA). SCAA standards are met by very few machines.
 
Roasting coffee is not that bad

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">I do it about every two weeks usually and I do two pounds at a time.  I buy the beans online, on sale and usually pay less than $4 (last order all in was $3.88) a pound for the green beans.  I bought a Behmor Drum Roaster that does 1 lb at a time.  Each pound takes about 20 min roast and 10 min cool.  I'm not the psycho bitch from hell like some are with roasting as far as temps and moisture and god knows what else.  I buy the same green beans every time because I'm comfortable with that type.  I roast until just the start of first crack because I like a lighter roast.  When I hear the first few snaps I hit the cool button and that's really it.  I let the beans rest 24 hours.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">Honestly, if I had a coffee roaster close by and I could buy it fresh roasted at a reasonable price I would likely do that instead.  Out here, for whatever reason, we don't have one or if we do I haven't found it so I do it myself.</span>
 
Thomas, have you tried cold brewing?  I have a Toddy cold brew system and you can make it as strong as you like.  A friend of mine will let it sit for three or four days instead of just overnight, and it's pretty strong.  All he ever drinks is his own cold brew.

 

I use the concentrate from a Toddy for iced coffee mainly, but it makes a very smooth cup of hot coffee as well.
 
Cold brewing... Jeez... nah thanks....

Coffee has to be HOT (and never reheated)

Best coffee for me (sequentially)

1) Fabric filter, just like my grandma used to brew....(water boiled in a wood burning stove in a farm....
2) Very similar to fabric filter: Melitta "cone" paper filter, manual....
3) Very far from 2, but still good: Philips (café gourmet) coffee maker. (It really boils all the water BEFORE brewing)
4) Almost similar.... Kitchenaid personal coffee maker... It's small but the heating element has the same power, so water is REALLY hot.
5) Bialetti stovetop coffee maker (You can never go wrong with a bialetti)
6) Very far (i mean really far) from everything above... Nescafé (using the right technique, it can be actually a very good coffee. Of course, not perfect at all, but it can cheat well in case of emergency.

Coffee:

Folgers: Dirty water
Starsucks: Is that coffee? Most of the cups I see is actually a milkshake with a hint of coffee.
Coffee Bean and Tea leaf: Much better (or I should say "less horrible") than Starsucks. They have a double shot espresso that is "tolerable".
Mccafe: I'm going to throw up.
7-Eleven: (Brazilian Roast) Well, it has nothing "Brazilian" in it... I mean, the flavor has absolutely nothing to do with Brazilian coffee. Eventually I can consider it because it's not so horrible. (And My favorite 7-Eleven store knows how I like my coffee and they ALWAYS brew a fresh pot if I ask.)

By the way, my husband never liked coffee... Now he's learning how to drink it. maybe in a few more years he'll learn how to drink chimarrão (yerba-mate)
 
What I love about this site...

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">We are all so much alike and yet all so different.  </span>

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">I actually picked up an older Bonavita a few years back at Savers.  My intention was to use it with my Chemex the way others mentioned here but it was the smaller version and the Chemex didn't fit.  It didn't come with a pot so I think I gave it away.  I don't remember.  What I like best about the Chemex is the filter.  It really produces a smooth cup of coffee free of the things that can make coffee bitter.</span>
 
The water for making coffee has to be the right temperature. Both the Moccamaster and the Bonavita do that right. The Philips Gourmet boils the water indeed, but you can taste indeed that the coffee is burnt. Besides that, they are very unreliable. One SIL had six of them IIRC. Now she has a Moccamaster, no problems with that one.
 
Optimal brewing temperature for coffee is between 195F and 205F. This will vary slightly by type of coffee bean, but generally you want water just below boiling.

That being said many coffeemakers going back a few decades never get anywhere near such temps. This is one reason many seek out old/vintage coffee brewers of all sorts from perc to drip.

For small amounts of coffee you can't beat a moka pot.

One of my fav YT coffee channels:



 
I remember the first time I ever experienced Toddy cold brew coffee. It was May something 1980 and I had recently arrived in San Franscisco upon my new Honda Goldwing. The trip had been a bit rought what with Mt St Helens along the way that first morning dong her best to ruin my fun. My first evening in town I was on my way to the Opera when all of a sudden I found myself lost. I ventured into a bar where oddly all the men were wearing a lot of black leather and made my way to the bar to ask for directions. The bartender was quite busy so I sat down on a stool to wait and not any sooner a big glass of draft appeared in front of me. I had no idea where it had come from and so glanced around the room whereupon my eyes fixated up a tall slim good looking gentlemen all dressed in leather was leaning against a wall near the pool table and smiling at me I motioned him over to ask him if he knew how to get to the opera and the next thing I know he's on the back of my bike and we're heading back to his apartment/condo on the hill above castro street. After a lovely evening I found myself awake the next morning in his boudoir. He was already in the kitchen preparing breafast and asked if I'd like a coffee to which I replied yes. I got up and dressed and ventured into the kitchen and he was in the process of making my coffee with this strange contraption called a Toddy Brew. Well long story short you took a tablespoon or something of the cold concentated coffee liquid and mixed it into your cup with some hot water from a kettle.. As I recall it was quite nice and I was equally impressed by him. We spent the next couple of days touring around the Bay area on my bike. It was fun singing Que Sera Sera tootling across the bridge and stuff. I never did keep in touch afterwards and have often wondered about this good looking guy by the name of Tim Wilson who introduced me to Toddy Cold Brew . Is he still alive in SF,did he move etc . Other than the opera, the whole story is true LOL
 
Toddy Brew

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">My first introduction was in the mid 70s.  A friend had this contraption where you put a pound of ground coffee in the top, fill with water and let sit for 24 hours.  You then pulled out the plug in the bottom of the upper container.  The brew went through a filter to produce a smooth thick brew.  You also mixed it with hot water and it made a cup of OK coffee.  I wouldn't use it everyday because I like the process as much as the result.  I love the smell of the ground beans and the coffee as its brewing.  But, for a quick cup it wasn't that bad as I recall.</span>
 

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