qualin Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2012 Posts: 464 Location: Calgary, AB Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto 3 Grinder: Mazzer Mini Elect. Type A Vac Pot: Looking to buy Drip: Manual Roaster: Considering?
Posted Thu Nov 29, 2012, 4:03am Subject: Gift for a hardcore drip drinker
My mother is a hardcore drip coffee drinker. She usually plows through an entire 8 cup pot of coffee in a day, sometimes two pots.
She's burned through more coffee makers than I can count. The drip coffee maker she has now looks no worse for wear, so I want to get her something durable and indestructible. Budget really isn't an issue, just so long as I know it can put up with the demands.
Now, she usually doesn't grind her own coffee. She usually buys coffee by the can. I want to get her out of that habit. :-) My thoughts on a easy to use, no mess drip-only grinder were:
Cerridwyn Senior Member Joined: 6 Jun 2010 Posts: 395 Location: Inland Empire California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Thu Nov 29, 2012, 5:52am Subject: Re: Gift for a hardcore drip drinker
I bought my daughter and SiL a Bonavita for Christmas last year. He's one of those people that has to understand what he uses. So he called the company and spent a fair amount of time on the phone with them, asking questions. He said he was very impressed with the customer service and how willing they were to answer questions. (I assume he called a US number, but with him, who knows.)
I know they like it. Now, this is not their every day machine. They use it when they need to make more than 2 cups at a time. Otherwise he does pour over or she has a pod espresso machine for foofoo drinks (nespresso).
I had planned to originally by them a Technivorm until I read reviews that seemed to indicate that you got better wetting from the Bonavita. (That and it's got a bit smaller profile and is less expensive.)
Posted Thu Nov 29, 2012, 8:00am Subject: Re: Gift for a hardcore drip drinker
Cerridwyn Said:
I bought my daughter and SiL a Bonavita for Christmas last year. He's one of those people that has to understand what he uses. So he called the company and spent a fair amount of time on the phone with them, asking questions. He said he was very impressed with the customer service and how willing they were to answer questions. (I assume he called a US number, but with him, who knows.)
I know they like it. Now, this is not their every day machine. They use it when they need to make more than 2 cups at a time. Otherwise he does pour over or she has a pod espresso machine for foofoo drinks (nespresso).
I had planned to originally by them a Technivorm until I read reviews that seemed to indicate that you got better wetting from the Bonavita. (That and it's got a bit smaller profile and is less expensive.)
+1 on the Bonavita - a simple and effective brewer from my experience. My Bonavita does disburse water better than my Technivorm but both make a great pot of coffee.
I have an older model Baratza - the Maestro - which the Encore replaced and it is great for pour over and drip ground coffee.
I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?
Posted Thu Nov 29, 2012, 10:17am Subject: Re: Gift for a hardcore drip drinker
Another +1 for the Bonavita. It's only got the one hinged part to cover the water reservoir, and a very simple and sturdy cone which, unlike most drip machines, doesn't have some complicated hinge and catch and valve mechanism to get dirty or break, and can be put directly in the dishwasher. It's maybe a little hard to clean the thermal carafe (my hand only just fits) and lid though. It's as about as simple and robust as I think you could make a home drip machine (I guess the Bunn falls into this category as well).
On the grinder, I think robustness there should be key as well. My Bodum Bistro, although nearly as expensive as the Baratza Encore, is pretty robust, and easy to clean (just wash the pyrex grinds hopper and lid), so maybe consider that as well. The Capresso ones have felt a little flimsy when I've seem them in stores, and I've had some trouble with my Baratza Preciso, which although very well handled by the company, might put you off for the Encore (although I don't think that model has the same issues).
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,723 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Thu Nov 29, 2012, 5:26pm Subject: Re: Gift for a hardcore drip drinker
Qualin,
Have you looked at the Brazen? How about the Bunn Trifecta?
I'm just curious because I know you tend to really do your research and would like to know what made you narrow your list down to those other three (while excluding these latter two).
Cerridwyn Senior Member Joined: 6 Jun 2010 Posts: 395 Location: Inland Empire California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Thu Nov 29, 2012, 6:34pm Subject: Re: Gift for a hardcore drip drinker
I have never had a great cup of coffee from a trifecta. Had coffee made by Bunn reps even. And isn't it a bit high in price as it is not really a home machine?
yeah, seems high priced to me (but he did say money wasn't a problem). Anyhow, I have never tried anything from on, I recall reading the owner's thread here and people who own them seem to really love them...so, I was just asking...'cause I may one day do something similar for my Mom.
Posted Thu Nov 29, 2012, 7:13pm Subject: Re: Gift for a hardcore drip drinker
There's a home version of the Trifecta (the MB) available for $549. It's great, but it also sounds like it would be a poor fit for the OP's mom since she drinks so much coffee; fussing with an expensive one-cup-at-a-time machine doesn't strike me as "her style" based on the description given.
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