Half-Awake Girl Seeks Mr. Coffee for Early Mornings & Late Nights
Joelle said in the early morning on May 30, 2008
I’ve found the source of the mystery squeak. It is, like I suspected, the coffeemaker. While making my morning Gold Coast Blend, I was filling up the pot and after dumping the water in to the coffeemaker, I heard the stainless steel carafe start to squeal… this time, like a pig. An actual squeal. I put the pot right up to my ear and sure enough! Gosh, I can’t imagine why my $24 coffeemaker doesn’t have a high quality seal. 
I think since I started this blog in 2003, I’ve been through about five or six coffeemakers, constantly searching for the perfect one that doesn’t cost half a year’s salary. I’ve had three different models of the average Mr. Coffee, the first of which lasted me five years and I loved it profusely. It shut off after 4 hours instead of two and it was just the most perfect coffeemaker ever. When it died, I replaced it with the newer model of the same brand and it busted within a couple months and rarely made good coffee.
After that I had another Mr. Coffee, then got a Cuisinart Grind n’ Brew, which I really, really liked, but I rarely used the grind part. It was a big production, required lots of cleaning and was loud, etc. etc. I just use my little corded power-grinder for that. It’s loud, but I can muffle it with dishtowel if it’s too early. The Cuisinart was one of my faves because it made really delicious coffee and again, it had a 4-hour shut off, but it died in about a year. That’s it! A year.
When I moved into this place a little over a year ago, I bought a new coffeemaker from Black & Decker… one with a stainless steel carafe because I can’t drink my coffee fast enough. The stupid 2-hour shut off always leaves me with a 6 cups of cold coffee. I contemplated doing Senseo or another of those little “single cup” deals, but eh… I’d rather have the pot of coffee. I like to drink coffee until around noon sometimes and there are times I may want to offer some to someone else. Kathy suggested I get the stainless steel kind so that at least it’ll stay hot.
I’ll go as far as to say it stays lukewarm. Of course, now it stays lukewarm and squeals.
In order for me to get a really decent, consistent, reliable cup of joe I have a feeling I’ll need to drop a bit more cash. Can anyone recommend a coffeemaker they like? I’m not a big coffee snob, I just want good brew with as long of a shut-off as I can get, that doesn’t require 37 moving parts and that doesn’t take up three cubic feet on my counter. Maybe I should get one of those that has an espresso machine on it, too. Then I could liberate myself from Starbucks and their ill-prepared lattes!
Who loves their coffeemaker? Anyone?
Moxie Design Studios™
from MA
We’re in the same boat at our house. We have no fewer than 3 coffeemakers right now, and really aren’t in love with any of them.
I love the one here at work, though it’s a bit pricey. It’s a Keurig, and it takes these little cups of premeasured coffee. We have the water line in one of those large watercooler bottles of water so all we have to do is put a cup under the spigot, throw whichever kind of coffee we want into the drawer, and press the button. The machine makes the coffee and throws the little cup away. There’s no heater element on it, since it only brews one cup at a time, but you can make cups over and over with no wait.
Someday, I’ll be able to have one at home.
I almost never drink coffee, but I know several people who swear by the old-fashioned glass percolators. The electric kind, not the ones that go on the stove top. (They make metal ones too.)
I can verify that they make good coffee, with no plastic or metal aftertaste.
from Colorado
I am all about the coffee, and I’m in love with my coffeemaker/whatever-else-you-want-to-make-maker. I got so tired of buyinga new coffee maker what seemed to be every single year, and I never really drink a full pot. While hubby was in Iraq last year, (you know, when the cats away and all that...heh), I bought myself a lovely Keurig brewer, which as it turns out has been insanely perfect for us.
I don’t drink coffee, but I have owned a couple coffee makers and I can tell you NOT to buy a Gevalia branded one, I got a free one from them (supposdly it is worth $100 retail) and I think it made 2 pots before it stoppped working completely.
I have bought my friend the Mr. Coffee dejour from Costco (usually around $35 and has lots of features) and it is still working like a champ, I think its been about a year and half since purchase date and they use it everyday.
Cocktail: Amaretto Stone Sour
We use the grind n brew at work. Since the drug reps give us beans, we now have about 20 pounds stored in the office. Clean up really isn’t much of a bother and the grinder only runs for about 15 seconds. It has the thermal, stainless carafe but no squeal. Anyway, I’m debating getting one for home when ours dies.
I bought a Starbucks stainless steel brewer when I worked for them about a decade ago and it’s still going strong. It doesn’t keep coffee warm as long - I think the seal on the pot is wearing out, but I still get 2-3 hours of really hot coffee. I don’t think I’d buy another one from them again - mine retailed for around $80 and who knows if the quality has stayed the same over the years. Without the employee discount, it’s just not worth it. When it dies, I’ll probably stick with a french press.
Okay this is what I have. It’s the Krups 867 Bistro, and it makes coffee and espresso - make your own fabulous lattes at home, and tell Starbucks to fuck tehmselves.
I love it. I did manage to drop the carafe like a retard, and shattered. I haven’t replaced it with a new one yet. I just brew by the mug now. The coffee maker though still rocks after 5 years. Not sure of the actual cost of it. It was a gift from Sandra. The ONLY good thing that came from that!
http://www.krupsusa.com/All+Products/Coffee+Machines/Espresso+coffee+machines/Products/867+Bistro/867+Bistro.htm
from New Hamster
I have to say I LOVE my Keurig - but I’m a one, maybe two cupper in the morning. My husband doesn’t drink coffee, so it’s perfect for us. I have an old Mr. Coffee (or Black & Decker) that I’ve barely used and a smaller 4-cup that has seen more use. They’re taking up space here because I keep forgetting to take them to Goodwill—they’re both yours if you want them.
Don’t know about brands, but a properly functioning stainless steel carafe with a properly functioning seal should keep your coffee hot for a few hours. You just got one with a bad seal.
Best coffee I’ve ever had, outside of a cafe that is, came from a percolator.
from hell
I think it’s time for the perculator: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bLiZjApZix0&feature=related
Now if they only made “it’s time for the toaster” because I can’t find one that lasts over 6 months. I’m brutal with my toast.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@girlplease: dude, what is this perculator dance thing??? Am I living under a rock or am I just not down with the kids? lol. *percolates*
from coffee pot
Oh man, that’s from like late 80s, possibly early 90s. Big time “hip house” mix from Chicago. The song is like 20 min. long and drives you insane. But I think every percolator should play this until your coffee is done.
As for the dance, never knew it had one but guessed it did.
Usually “Percolator” follows up with “Dookey Booty”. Dont’ ask. It’s a (horrible) Chicago thing.
from columbia, mo
I know that you said you already went the Grind ‘n’ Brew route, but I can’t say enough good things about Cuisinart’s thermal carafe. It keeps coffee HOT for hours. Perhaps they have a non-griding model with one of those.
I also need to add that we needed to replace the first one that we bought after two years, but Cuisinart sent us a new one, free, no questions asked. I spoke to their customer service folks and they took care of it with no fuss, no receipt and no wasted time.
from fayetteville, ar
I’ve heard coffee lovers SWEAR by the french coffee press.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Melissa: that gives me hope… maybe I’ll go back to Cuisinart. I love their products, usually…
from MI
I am a French Press girl ALL THE WAY. I am so in love with my Frenchy! It takes some getting used to - you will need to grind your beans coarsely or you get icky sludge - but once you get the hang of it, you will never look back. Good luck!!