Small Coffee Maker


 
JKalchik said:
That'd be in indication to me that whatever has taken up residence isn't inside the water circuit, but somewhere else in the housing. Likely not cleanable without a full disassembly, IMO.
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Was thinking about that but, one thing really bugs me. If the "bugs" are buried in the electrical stuff, why is it even the hot water comes out smelling like a primordial soup? I think there is something living in the water tank, or in the heating coil. Because even the water smells just "icky".
 
LMichaels said:
So I looked at one. Thing is Not sure I'd have a way to heat water reliably to put in it. So, I'll test the little Cuisinart when it comes and if that works as well as I hope, I'll be a REALLY happy guy as then I don't have to drink hotel coffee. Even the restaurants in the resort. They brag on their "gourmet blend beans", and brews. Gimme a break! Maybe if they actually used some coffee in the brew? But I doubt they come anywhere near to using proper coffee to water ratios and who knows how long the ground beans sit open. They always taste weak and insipid to me.
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So, I've thought about this concept. They tell you not to reuse grounds because it apparently extracts benzene and makes the coffee taste terrible. Well, most restaurants use the large tank style brewers. My theory is that they brew so much coffee through one brew and set of grounds that by the time it's at the end of the brew they are essentially reusing used grounds. And, since I've been paying attention to that over the years I've found that most high volume breakfast restaurants have coffee that tastes like that benzene taste. Again, just my theory.
 
MikeLucky said:
So, I've thought about this concept. They tell you not to reuse grounds because it apparently extracts benzene and makes the coffee taste terrible. Well, most restaurants use the large tank style brewers. My theory is that they brew so much coffee through one brew and set of grounds that by the time it's at the end of the brew they are essentially reusing used grounds. And, since I've been paying attention to that over the years I've found that most high volume breakfast restaurants have coffee that tastes like that benzene taste. Again, just my theory.
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That is pretty interesting. I've always sort of thought, it's not the coffee that is bad it's the brewer or the methods. Or both. I think you might be on to something. Because yeah, I was amazed at how huge those brew filters are. Even where my dad is at they do this. I think they'd get better coffee if they just used multiple smaller brewers and "staged" them to finish brewing as one is used up, then simply go back through the rotation. And Benzene. I'd never really put 2 & 2 like that but now you mention it!
BTW my late father in law. Was notorious for reusing grounds. He had a 10 or 12 cup Mr Coffee. In which he MIGHT put 3 Tbsp of grounds to a full pot. When he used that up he'd simply add and rebrew. Horrid stuff
 
LMichaels said:
So I looked at one. Thing is Not sure I'd have a way to heat water reliably to put in it. So, I'll test the little Cuisinart when it comes and if that works as well as I hope, I'll be a REALLY happy guy as then I don't have to drink hotel coffee. Even the restaurants in the resort. They brag on their "gourmet blend beans", and brews. Gimme a break! Maybe if they actually used some coffee in the brew? But I doubt they come anywhere near to using proper coffee to water ratios and who knows how long the ground beans sit open. They always taste weak and insipid to me.
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I don't think I've ever stayed at a place that didn't have a means to heat water, at least an electric kettle of some sort. It wouldn't take much more than a phone call to find out, but I'm with you 100% on not wanting to experiment with something so important as morning coffee! Maybe when you have more time....
 
Ed P said:
I don't think I've ever stayed at a place that didn't have a means to heat water, at least an electric kettle of some sort. It wouldn't take much more than a phone call to find out, but I'm with you 100% on not wanting to experiment with something so important as morning coffee! Maybe when you have more time....
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I've been to this resort 4 or 5 times staying in their hotel. So, I am going off experience. Which is why I know about their awful coffee makers and almost as awful restaurant coffee.
 
Ed P said:
Coffee brewing is such a personal thing I hesitate to make a suggestion. Have you tried an AeroPress?
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I've heard of it, it's highly regarded and makes a great cup, I hear. But I'm already sold on the Hario V60 02. We also have one for travel, same size but somewhat collapsible.
 
My wife just got this little guy off Amazon. I like how small it is and that it has a basket instead of K-cup design so you can make a big cup that's actually strong enough. I drank a ton of coffee when I was younger but can't anymore for some reason. Now Caffeine puts me to sleep.

20250214_083849~2.jpgMy wife's favorite coffee is

Shop — Bargreen's Coffee Company

www.bargreenscoffee.com www.bargreenscoffee.com
 
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OK, it came today. I gave it a whirl after flushing it out. While it has a "shower head" it seems to push the water out a little faster than needed. I tried a 3 cup brew (assuming as my other machines a cup is 5 oz). I used same coffee, same grind as I use in the OXO machines and the Breville which all make REALLY good brews. Used the same ratio of grounds to water. It seems to brew quite hot with water leaving the bottom of the brew basket about 180 on my instant read. Plenty hot IMO.
But it seems to want to leave a bit of a "furrow" in the bed of grounds, so the result was actually a fair tasting cup BUT quite a lot weaker than it should have been. I think the secret sauce is possibly a slightly coarser grind and or stopping it and allowing the bed to bloom, then switching it back on. I'll be experimenting with it next week prior to the trip along with the little Shardor grinder I will bring. Hopefully I can get this little device to brew close to my prize machines. Though no matter what it's still a far cry better than the hotel coffee (room or cafe)
 
Joe Anshien said:
Mokka pot.
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Again this is for hotel room, and for my wife on AMs I cannot make it for her and she needs a quick little pot of Joe. Need it simple and fast. And good as well. I bought this one because Cuisinart is supposed to be good stuff. And it seems to be a decent little unit. One switch, auto shutoff.
 
When we were in Puerto Rico one of the places we stayed had an electric Mokka Pot. Very easy and compact. Just add water and coffee. It was so good we bought a large stove top one when we got home. We use it almost every day.
 
Joe Anshien said:
When we were in Puerto Rico one of the places we stayed had an electric Mokka Pot. Very easy and compact. Just add water and coffee. It was so good we bought a large stove top one when we got home. We use it almost every day.
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She's not into it and if she needs to go in really early it's the last thing she'll mess with. She needs simple and easy
 
LMichaels said:
OK, it came today. I gave it a whirl after flushing it out. While it has a "shower head" it seems to push the water out a little faster than needed. I tried a 3 cup brew (assuming as my other machines a cup is 5 oz). I used same coffee, same grind as I use in the OXO machines and the Breville which all make REALLY good brews. Used the same ratio of grounds to water. It seems to brew quite hot with water leaving the bottom of the brew basket about 180 on my instant read. Plenty hot IMO.
But it seems to want to leave a bit of a "furrow" in the bed of grounds, so the result was actually a fair tasting cup BUT quite a lot weaker than it should have been. I think the secret sauce is possibly a slightly coarser grind and or stopping it and allowing the bed to bloom, then switching it back on. I'll be experimenting with it next week prior to the trip along with the little Shardor grinder I will bring. Hopefully I can get this little device to brew close to my prize machines. Though no matter what it's still a far cry better than the hotel coffee (room or cafe)
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Coarser grind will result in a lower extraction, so you may want to experiment by pushing things toward a finer grind. Did the cup also taste sour ? If it didn’t taste sour you can use the same grind but up your ratio a bit (coffee to water input).
 
Keith P said:
Coarser grind will result in a lower extraction, so you may want to experiment by pushing things toward a finer grind. Did the cup also taste sour ? If it didn’t taste sour you can use the same grind but up your ratio a bit (coffee to water input).
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I have to look at a couple things with it. It's called a 5 cup machine. But, I did not measure it's "cup size". So, IDK if it's rated for 5oz cups as my 2 OXOs or the Breville or as some do a 6oz cup. I measured based on 5oz cup and 8 grams coffee per cup. I should have taken a photo of the bed. It was like the water was hitting too hard and tunneled under the bed which was why I thought perhaps grinding just a touch coarser would allow the water to pass through more evenly and get slightly better extraction.
So my first order is to measure cup size then move on to improving extraction.
 
For what it's worth, I bought a $10 drip machine at Walmart. It was so cheap I bought two. Sure enough, after a fashion I shattered the carafe. No problem, I had a replacement. The week after that, the little power light in the switch went out. No problem, I had a replacement. Didn't miss a cup of coffee.
 
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