32 replies to this topic

[MaterMisericordiae]

I don't know if any of you have ever used a manual drip coffee maker. I'm so used to using the electric coffee maker we have that my mom bought in November 2010, but I noticed disgusting calcium build-up inside and it made the coffee taste horrible. I also hated making "coffee pot cleaner" and running it through because it never fully cleaned the machine. Paper basket liners are such a waste as well.

Well, tonight, I started looking on Amazon for a new coffee maker because I wanted to read the customer reviews. While going through the products, I saw manual drip coffee makers that made 1 or 2 cups that you could place directly over the mug. That's when it occurred to me that I had bought a TeaVana PerfecTea Maker about 5 or 6 years ago that I used to make loose-leaf tea in. It has a permanent mesh fiddler so there is no need for paper fiddlers -- cutting down on waste (green living, anyone?).

I decided to wash and rinse the little maker and proceeded to spoon out the coffee. To make sure I had no spillages of hot beverages, I filled the mug I was going to use with water and put it in the microwave. I used our microwave's programmed hot water button and cut it off when 40 seconds were left. It was right before boiling point and was perfect. I carefully poured it into the tea maker and let it steep for 2-3 minutes while it gained a beautiful reddish-brown color. I used my favorite Dunkin' Donuts coffee and was anxious to see if it tasted any better. After it was done steeping, I placed the apparatus on top of the mug and let it drain the coffee. It was perfect! No coffee grounds in the finished product and no mess! I put my favorite vanilla coffee creamer and some sweetener in and enjoyed it.

I cannot tell you how much better the manual version came out. It was amesome! So rich and creamy -- just like the coffee shop version (maybe even better!). I highly recommend one. There are some low priced versions on Amazon -- I'd recommend the TeaVana version if you can afford it. Mine is kind of old but really sturdy. Cleanup was a breeze -- I just let it soak in warm, soapy water and then cleaned it with a bottle brush.

I can't wait 'til morning to have another cup!

Edited by MaterMisericordiae, 20 May 2012 - 11:21 PM.

[Winchester]

I'm not positive that the metal mesh fiddlers remove the part of coffee that increases LDL.

[MaterMisericordiae]

I'm not positive that the metal mesh fiddlers remove the part of coffee that increases LDL.

I'm not familiar with the theory that coffee can raise bad cholesterol.

[MaterMisericordiae]

This must be what you are talking about:

http://www.msnbc.msn...ee-cholesterol/

I don't drink 6 cups a day. The max I have is two.

[Basilisa Marie]

Have you tried running some vinegar-water through your pot (and then lots of clean water to get the taste out) to get rid of the calcium buildup? That usually helps with my electric kettle.

My dad got a French Press for his office. Mmmmmmm French Press.

[qfnol31]

French press coffee is amesome! I love using it, when I'm not drinking espresso.

So much better than Starbucks coffee....

[Groo the Wanderer]

6 cups is my minimum

[MaterMisericordiae]

Have you tried running some vinegar-water through your pot (and then lots of clean water to get the taste out) to get rid of the calcium buildup? That usually helps with my electric kettle.

My dad got a French Press for his office. Mmmmmmm French Press.

Yeah, I mixed some white distilled vinegar and water together and let it brew through the pot. The coffee still tasted disgusting. It doesn't help that my dad uses it too and leaves it a mess before he goes to work. There's coffee grounds inside the basket holder and on the hot plate portion. He doesn't even think to clean the inside. I got tired of trying to keep it clean.

I just enjoyed my second cup of coffee from the tea maker.

[Papist]

Have you tried running some vinegar-water through your pot (and then lots of clean water to get the taste out) to get rid of the calcium buildup? That usually helps with my electric kettle.

My dad got a French Press for his office. Mmmmmmm French Press.

French press coffee is amesome! I love using it, when I'm not drinking espresso.

So much better than Starbucks coffee....

French presses are great, but a hassle to clean. Helpful tip if you are using a french press is, grind your coffee course.

Yeah, I mixed some white distilled vinegar and water together and let it brew through the pot. The coffee still tasted disgusting. It doesn't help that my dad uses it too and leaves it a mess before he goes to work. There's coffee grounds inside the basket holder and on the hot plate portion. He doesn't even think to clean the inside. I got tired of trying to keep it clean.

I just enjoyed my second cup of coffee from the tea maker.

I'd say you have a bum coffee maker.

[qfnol31]

French presses are great, but a hassle to clean. Helpful tip if you are using a french press is, grind your coffee course.

LoL, finely ground coffee in a french press is disgusting.

I just rinse mine out. It normally takes me only a couple minutes, but I'm not very concerned. I normally use it so often that it doesn't have to be perfectly cleaned between uses.

That reminds me of the time I let my coffee mold in it for nearly a month...Yes, coffee will mold if left to sit out for that long. Ick.

[LaPetiteSoeur]

I love my family's french press!! For more on french presses, a thread in the lame board covered that and keurig.

Anyway, we also got a tiny motorized whisk in order to have whipped milk in coffee. it's great!

[CatherineM]

My husband has a Kuerig and loves it. He gets lots of different flavors plus it does tea, hot chocolate, apple cider, iced tea and coffee. Zack can't start the day without a white hot chocolate.

[Innocent]

I use this method every morning.

In future, I hope to grind my own coffee powder out of beans, as well.

Edited by Innocent, 21 May 2012 - 10:11 PM.

[MaterMisericordiae]

My husband has a Kuerig and loves it. He gets lots of different flavors plus it does tea, hot chocolate, apple cider, iced tea and coffee. Zack can't start the day without a white hot chocolate.

I just can't believe the price of those machines. The cost of convenience is not cheap by any means.

[MaterMisericordiae]

French presses are great, but a hassle to clean. Helpful tip if you are using a french press is, grind your coffee course.




I'd say you have a bum coffee maker.

It's a Mr. Coffee 4 Cup Electric Coffee Maker. My mom bought it on Black Friday from Target. I can't stand that you can't break it apart to put in the sink. That's why I like using the tea maker that I have -- I just submerge it in soapy water and then rinse. If you use Dawn OXI Soap, there's no need to scrub.

[jaime]

My husband has a Kuerig and loves it. He gets lots of different flavors plus it does tea, hot chocolate, apple cider, iced tea and coffee. Zack can't start the day without a white hot chocolate.

Wow that is reaaaallly hot!

[dUSt]

I bought this a while back. It's amazing. I use a regular coffee maker now just because it's easier for multiple cups and I'm lazy, but if you only make a single cup, this is the way to go.

Also, it's great for camping.

http://www.amazon.co...ASIN=B0047BIWSK

[Innocent]

Looks very elegant, dUSt.

[Totus Tuus]

My mom always used to clean ours by running it through with vinegar.

[MaterMisericordiae]

This is the kind of coffee maker we have at home:




It is very difficult to clean. As I stated earlier, I researched how to clean the coffee pot without buying the expensive pre-made cleaner. I used 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water and ran it through the full 4 cup brew. Then, I emptied the decanter and filled it with warm water (to prevent the glass from cracking) and ran it through the full 4 cup brew again. I used it right after and it still did not help with the taste. I wonder if the coffee maker is made with some sort of plastic that leaches out in the coffee or something because the coffee tasted like plastic. It was gross!