Coffee machine or OS?

MrsE_2

Anne_Marie wrote: »

:rotfl:

Must admit that I would love one too, but....the cost of what I would like, and the size of the purse strings do not match up!

I do use my espresso machine all the time, and with a separate burr grinder, grinding only what I need every time, just takes seconds and is excellent.
I just keep thinking that if I had one of those bean to coffee machines and it broke, I would cry big time. I'll still cry whenever either my espresso or burr grinder breaks, but hopefully not both together. At least I still have a cafetiere for the bad times.

All you need now is a balliett (sp?) milk frother pump thing then & you'll be enjoying coffee better than costa.

Cloudydaze

Anne_Marie wrote: »

Forgot to say that the Aeropress gets good reviews too.
http://www.aeropresscoffee.co.uk/

You can read some reviews on Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aerobie-AeroPress-80R08-Coffee-Maker/dp/B000GXZ2GS

I'm a recent convert to the aeropress. I think it makes it best coffee (I've tried them all).

It's an ugly little thing though so not one to have on display!

Anne_Marie_2

lostinrates wrote: »

I also know even if i had a bean to cup machine DH would continue to use the stove top coffee maker.

It's probably a case of what you are used to, and with a bit or trial and error, about getting the measurements right, get a really good cup of coffee, that suits you, or in your case your DH.

Think the bottom line in this thread is, that most of us don't rate the pod machines much at all.

lostinrates

Frugalsod wrote: »

Then you need one of these, only £1.41 + £4.59 postage. Though look locally or on eBay and I guess you will beat that price.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flat-Bottom-FILTER-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000VZGCME/

I'm fine, I use the French press, or if I want espresso I use dh's machine with less aplomb.

Anne Marie......I think the thing for me is here we are on the old style forum, and its perfectly possible to make an old style cup of coffee with fairly basic technology of stovetop style espresso caffetiere or French press style ones (excuse Americanisms please:o) to the best possible standard with no expensive gadgetry, It seems common sense to do so!

newthrift

Alison_Funnell wrote: »

newthrift and lostinrates do either of you have a halogen or ceramic hob? I do and wondered if they work on them?

I have a ceramic hob and it is fine on that! I think they do work on multiple hob types, but double check in the description/use section!

Teacher2

I can't bear lukewarm or cold coffee. I use an insulated cafetiere and also heat the milk in the microwave to a roaring temperature. I buy really good coffee and stock up when it is on offer. For a reasonable outlay I have exactly what I like in a cup of coffee. But it probably wouldn't suit everyone and a coffee aficionado would say I overheat the grounds when I use boiling water. It's all a matter of taste, really. Coffee pod machines do seem to me particularly expensive - but if that's your treat and nothing else will do it's your choice and I would go with it. You can always economise elsewhere on something that isn't so important to you.

But try a cafetiere at least once. They make a terrific coffee.

Frugalsod

Anne_Marie wrote: »

Think the bottom line in this thread is, that most of us don't rate the pod machines much at all.

Yes I think that sums up the attitude of us all to pod machines. I was reading somewhere that in America one of the pod manufacturers was looking at putting bar codes on the pods so that the machines would not be refillable by third parties and so allowing them to sue anyone for copyright infringement if they did so. Basically jacking up the price of the coffee that you had to pay.

If I were ever to get a fancy coffee machine it would have to allow me the flexibility to use third party filters and coffee.

terra_ferma

Frugalsod wrote: »

Yes I think that sums up the attitude of us all to pod machines. I was reading somewhere that in America one of the pod manufacturers was looking at putting bar codes on the pods so that the machines would not be refillable by third parties and so allowing them to sue anyone for copyright infringement if they did so. Basically jacking up the price of the coffee that you had to pay.

If I were ever to get a fancy coffee machine it would have to allow me the flexibility to use third party filters and coffee.

There is a strong trend in trying to get customers tied to a specific brand of refillable products, it's worked up to a point for printers, they tried it with hand soap dispensers as well.

Frugalsod

terra_ferma wrote: »

There is a strong trend in trying to get customers tied to a specific brand of refillable products, it's worked up to a point for printers, they tried it with hand soap dispensers as well.

They would have to pay me to take one of those devices. I am trying to avoid such locked down systems through out my life.

gayleygoo

I don't drink coffee at all, but DH likes a good cup. We've tried several machines over a few years (all cheapy ones though, nothing to shout about!) He wouldn't consider the pod machines though, mainly because every time you want a cup of coffee, you have to throw away a (probably un-recycleable) plastic pot. Can you imagine billions of those lying around in landfill?!

Obviously I don't know much about coffee, so maybe they do make great-tasting coffee that is worth the waste! But getting sucked into having to buy specific brands to fit a machine, possible breakdowns of an expensive machine, and the general clutter on my bench, I'm not a fan of them...