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When heating water in a Microwave, you have to keep in mind that the water can explode. (Link below)

Yes, I've accidentally done this before and narrowly avoided getting scalded. It's deceptive really.. The water in the cup will boil for a short while and then it won't boil anymore.

You take the cup out thinking that the water is just hot, then you put something in the water, like a spoon or whatever and BLERMF!!!! Hot scalding water everywhere.

If I want a single cup of coffee, I use one of these: http://www.bialetti.com/coffee/moka/ ... It takes about 3-5 minutes to heat up on an electric stove, faster on a gas one..

 
I use a K-Cup machine at home and at work and found that the extra price for the cups makes up for the convenience of just "Pop it in and go". Then again, we buy our K-Cups in Bulk at a place which specializes in selling bulk coffee to businesses, so we get a decent rate on the cups.

We have the older Breville model with the chrome covered steel lid thingy (As opposed to the newer one with the plastic one.) and it comes with a my K-Cup device we can use to make teas and coffees in.

For Capuccinos, I use a Bialetti Mukka Express. It makes 2 regular cups of cappuccino which usually results in my friends thinking I'm high on Meth if I drink it all in one sitting.
 
About 10 years ago we bought the Melitta One-One pod machine at Linen n THings or somehwhere like that, all the stores were selling them. After about 3 years you couldn't find the pods anywhere except on line so it sits gathering dust. So I'll wait now till the dust settles on which type will still be in business a few years down the road,, Keurig, Tassimo or Nespresso. I like them just for the convenience though.

We've been through a few coffeemakers. The Cuisinart grind'n brews were good but prone to breaking down. Last summer I bought another one and it lasted all of about 3-4 days before the grinding mechanism failed so back to the store it went.

So I bought a Hamilton Beach Brew Station, no carafe, and it's by far probably the best coffee maker out there. Got high marks in CR as well. It's super simple to fill and use and clean and makes great coffee, even 2-4 cups. Highly recommend it.
 
I got one of those one cup Melitta cones last winter. I'm not sure it's the best drip coffee I've had--but I found it quite acceptable. The only problem is that I found that I needed to be careful pouring in water to make sure all the grounds got wet.

Two things I like about the Melitta--it's BPA free, or so Melitta claimed when I asked. My cone was also made in North America. And the price cannot be beat.

My big objection is that it uses paper filters. That's one reason my Melitta is currently out of service. I don't like paper filtered coffee as a rule--the taste isn't as good as a non-reactive metal filter. I'm also frugal, and I'm not wild about spending the money on filters. Particularly since I don't like the coffee as well. (Although I will admit that there are times when the filter convenience is worthwhile--one reason I got the Melitta. And I think one could find a permanent washable filter that would fit the Melitta.)
 
The style of drip maker I used for years, and really liked, used a permanent filter. It had two parts--a large filter area. And, on top, a smaller compartment that had a sieve-like bottom. One pours water into the top, and the top part would (I think) spread the water evenly over the grounds, and possibly help control the speed at which the water went through.

I provide a link to Amazon below showing something like what I've used.

The coffee from this coffee maker was very good--the best drip I've had. And it's simple, and easier to use than the Melitta.

The big reason I phased my old coffee maker out was that I'm concerned about BPA. I have no idea how to tell if a plastic is something that might have BPA (at least in a case like this with no recycle codes). My drip maker has unknown history (thrift shop find--5 years old, or 20? Who knows?), so asking the maker might not get an accurate answer.

http://www.amazon.com/Frieling-Coff...8XZ0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1323029416&sr=8-2
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
BPA is supposedly on its way out in new products. I've never associated BPA with coffeemaker plastics but can't say definitively that it is not.

Microwave water can definitely explode, I've seen it happen. Perfectly-smooth containers are greatest risk.

Best coffee I ever had was Kona from a grinder and French press. So I bought both but could never achieve the same results. No, I wasn't pressing too fast or grinding too fine. Dunno what it was.
 
French Press

French Press used to be my method of choice for brewing a couple cups of coffee. That was until I cracked my Bodum on the edge of the sink.

Now, I use a Keurig on weekday mornings when all I want is a single cup to get me up and out the door. A lot less expensive than Starbucks, for sure. And you can't beat the convenience...

Malcolm
 
Less is more!

I have a small and large electric percolator and two stove-top percolators.
In addition to these I have some vacuum pots. (READ: Too much stuff).

I actually use a small 4-cup classic Farberware stainless steel percolator for my daily coffee. (The classic were made in Bronx,NY. The new ones are made in China).

I make 4 cups and have no problem drinking leftover coffee the next day if need be. (Reheated in microwave). I honestly don't taste the difference. I just don't allow the percolator to keep the coffee warm. It gets more concentrated and becomes bitter and nasty to me that way.

I have actually seen a coffeemaker set up from the night before so all it needs is to be started in the morning. Not a big fan of this, in that in my way of thinking the essence of the coffee dissipates overnight and the flavor is affected.
 
remember this from almost 2 years ago?

Remember this awesome post from a coffee thread a couple of years ago? No, it wasn't mine but it was so funny I remembered it now. We can add "add the grounds, microwave the water make sure it doesn't explode and strain before drinking":

So, the secret to a really good cup of coffee is to use Eight O'Clock, Hemisphere Roasters, Peet's, New Mexico Pinon, HEB, Seattle's Best, Jamaican Blue Mtn., Yuban, Maxwell House, Chock Full O' Nuts, Folgers, Java Coffee, LaVazza, Trader Joe's, Kona, Willoughby's, Caribou or Intelligentsia coffee,

then brew it using a

technivorm Moccamaster (ding-ding-ding; the winner in my book)
Sunbeam AP-20, Cuisinart Grind & Brew, Chemex, Mr. Coffee, Norelco Dial-A-Brew, Gaggia, Pyrex, GE, West Bend, Corning, Breville, Universal Coffeematic, Farberware, LeLonghi, Presto, French Press, Silex vacuum pot, Sunbeam vacuum pot or a cold brew or manual drip with a Melitta,

preferably made by Margaret Hamilton.

:)
 
Tea thread!

So how do y'all make tea?

Wifey uses bags but I do the following:

Heat a small corningware tea pot (the old pyroceram, of course) with tap water
boil water for 1 mug (14 ounces)
when the water boils tip the tap water out of the pot
add 3 teaspoons of lipton loose tea
pour water on tea
cover pot and let steep ~3 minutes.
 
I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but for the few times I drink a cup of coffee I have this Senseo. The coffee tastes OK. Although I must admit the coffee from a friend's Bosch fully automatic espresso machine tastes better. lol. But I just don't drink enough coffee to justify the price of such an expensive machine.

foraloysius++12-7-2011-15-52-48.jpg
 
So how do y'all make tea?

I have one of the old 24oz Dunkin Donuts travel mugs. Put 2 sugar spoons of sugar in the mug and a bag. Wait for the water to come nearly to the boil in the electric kettle and pour about 6-8 oz in. Swirl the mug to mix the sugar then fill. Let it steep a few minutes and take the bag out. Rich uses a bit of milk in his, not me.

These same bags (from the UK- Tetley, round, sans strings) will make pot that holds enough for travel mug and a proper cup or so. US 'regular' blends taste weak to me now. Been drinking this for about 10 years thanks to an unfortunately recently deceased friend and antiques dealer in the UK who used to send it with the goods for sale.

We also use Constant Comment orange/spice blend (bagged) and some loose teas on occasion. The UK Tetley is by far my favorite for straight-forward tea, though our friend sent a few others to try like PG Tips and Typhoo, or, "Executive Typhoo," as Mr. Harmon called it in Are You Being Served.

Chuck
 
So how do y'all make tea?

These days I mostly use teabags. I don't lock myself in on one brand--I get tired of the same thing all the time. Plus I tend to shop sales. Right now, I'm mostly drinking some Stash Organic English Breakfast that was on sale at Bartell Drugs.

Years back, I was either a snob or a connoisseur and insisted on loose leaf tea. (I still prefer that, actually, but it's harder finding local sources now that have it.) One mall store carried tea in bulk--a house brand, plus other brands in tins. I can't remember what brand it was, but there was one tinned brand I liked--it was reasonably cheap, but was pretty good, and had a great variety.

During the period of getting tinned, loose-leaf tea, my grandmother came for a visit. She was not known in her later years for being adventurous in trying new things to eat or drink. During this visit, she wanted a cup of tea. She went to the pantry, and looked and looked. Finally, there was a dialog like this:

"Don't you have any tea?"
"Yes. In those little tins."
"I mean real tea."

Next time she visited, she brought a stash of cheap tea bags.
 
So how do y'all make tea?

I made a pitcher of tea this morning, as I do every three days or so (more often in hot weather).

First I bring about 3 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan, then remove from heat. I usually then put in one Luzianne decaf family size and one regular family size bag, and let it steep for five minutes. Next, bags are removed and 2/3 to 3/4 cup cane sugar is added. I cover and let this set for 20 mins. Then I pour into a 2 qt. pitcher and add water until full. Fill a glass or plastic cup with ice, and pour tea over.

I drink iced tea year round, but occasionally will have a cup of hot tea if I'm very cold.
 

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