Bad Coffee On A Monday Morning

/ Ally Bean

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Let’s just say, for purposes of discussion, that this morning I made a pot of coffee that was so weak, so bad, so disappointing that I could only drink about half a mug of it.

And then let’s say that upon discovering how bad the coffee tasted, I threw out the rest of the pot.  Which was wasteful.  Something we do not like here at Chez Bean.

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Further, let’s say that thinking back I realized that ye olde coffee maker has made some rather dodgy, hissy, dragon-y sounds every morning for the last few months as it works at heating the water.

And even then, the water has not been as hot as it should be to brew a pot of coffee.  Or at least a pot of coffee that I would consider worth drinking.  Which, I think we can agree, is the prime directive of any coffee maker that sits on my kitchen counter.

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All of which brings me to the crux of our discussion.  To the real reason that I’m taking the time to write this post even though my brain is foggy from lack of caffeine and my morning appears to be shot to heck.  Here is what I want to ask you, my gentle readers:

If you had to buy a new electric coffee maker, which one would you get?  And why?

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41 thoughts on “Bad Coffee On A Monday Morning”

  1. I have always been in love with Gaggia expresso makers. I have an entry level one, I suppose you could say, a Gaggia classic, good sturdy machine which makes delightful expressos with crema froth on the top and has a powerful millk frother which means I don’t have to stand there for ages waiting for it to heat up between blasts. My friend bought a DeLonghi coffee maker which does everything, even self cleaning at the touch of a button, but it makes rotten, rotten coffee. Do not go there! I am a bit of an expert on this subject, loving coffee, proper coffee, as I do. I have owned several coffee makers over the years and this is definitely my favourite so far. Looking forward to seeing how this develops.

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    • Polly, thanks for the info. I don’t know much about Gaggia except that I’ve seen the name around. Will look into it. DeLonghi I know about because we have a vacuum from them. Not really a company that I equate with coffeemakers.

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  2. Since a start everyday sans coffee, I cannot answer your question. I can, however, tell you that I have been introduced to French vanilla Cappuccino – which is yummy. So far, that is the only coffee I have liked. So, I am not of any help to you on this yucky day.

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    • Cheri, it is a yucky day around here, isn’t it? I, too, like Vanilla Cappuccinos. But I think of them as a treat, not as the way to start my day. I need a machine that makes a good cup of black coffee in the morning.

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  3. I have to admit I like my Keurig. Not for the true connoisseur but for someone who just wants a single cup of coffee that doesn’t require thought, ideal. I like the idea of a really great espresso maker but I know my early morning limitations.

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    • Zazzy, I wonder about my ability to use an espresso maker at any time of day! Z-D has a Keurig at work & likes it ok. I’m still thinking that I want a machine that brews a pot of coffee… but maybe individual cups/shots are better?

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  4. We have a Keurig (for convenience) and a Melitta Mill and Brew for brewing pots with beans. I love them both. My husband brews a pot every morning but I trudge over to Starbucks for a mocha latte! Good luck with this decision. I have been tempted to get an espresso machine but they are expensive and I am so ignorant (and lazy) that I fear I will buy something I don’t like (or is a lot of work).

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  5. Oye. I was just interviewed by CBC Marketplace on my love of coffee and my Tassimo which I parted ways with because it lost it’s loving flavor and is an environmental hazard filling up landfills one pod at a time. I ended up with the Cusinart Grind and Brew and it was love at first sight. Delicious coffee each morning and it grinds the beans for me 🙂

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    • robin, we have a KichenAid mixer that I adore, so a KitchenAid coffee maker makes sense, too. Good to know that you like yours. Another idea to think about. Thanks.

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  7. My husband just bought a Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer. He bought it because he wanted a better made coffee maker but not one we would have to mortgage the house to afford. He also likes the fact that he can either make a single cup or a pot of coffee with this one. Oh, and he says it makes a damn fine cup of coffee.

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  8. Have you ever considered a French Press? It would be for one cup at a time, as there’s no element to keep the coffee hot. But they’re not too expensive, and kind of fun. I’ll admit I do not drink coffee, but my husband loves his French press. You can get the water as hot as you want that way. 🙂

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    • J, you’ve got a good idea there. I’ve never tried one of those, but I agree that they look like fun. The coffee would have to be hot & fresh with one of those.

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  10. I use my espresso machine(it’s ancient) nearly every morning and love it. The only thing that takes any time is steaming the milk. I have a Krups with an espresso side and a regular coffee side, which I never use. I don’t even know how to make a regular pot of coffee! I make a better mocha than Starbucks though. 🙂 And as you know, I live in the land of a Starbucks on every corner.

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    • Margaret, about a gazillion years ago we had a Krups coffee maker. I’d forgotten about that brand. I’m torn about the espresso idea. I love them, but wonder if I’m up to making them at home! You give me inspiration that I could do it. Better than Star$ you say…?

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  11. I’m not a coffee snob, so if you are, please don’t judge. I just want to have a good,hot cup of coffee in the morning. I find that almost any coffeemaker will do this. I don’t buy whole beans; I buy Maxwell House South Pacific Blend. Starbucks is not my thing. Currently, our (actually, MY–Rick does not drink coffee anymore) coffeemaker is a Cuisinart brand. But I only drink one cup a day. When it dies, I am going to buy the cheapest two-cup maker there is.

    PS–Did you try running the white vinegar through your coffeemaker to de-crud it?

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    • nance, I did try cleaning the machine. I figured that a half gallon of white vinegar was worth the investment… in case it got the machine working again. But it didn’t.

      I/we need to be able to make a pot of coffee in the morning because we both start our day with it, so I’ll buy a machine that allows for that. Cuisinart is a brand that I keep hearing good things about over and over again, so maybe…

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      • Ally–Maybe it’s just mine, but the Cuisinart takes FOREVER to brew even two or four cups. Mine takes 7-8 minutes, usually. I am impatient, I know, but isn’t that a long time? Just letting you know.

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        • nance, you bring up a good point. I hadn’t thought about how long it takes to brew the coffee. That’s something I need to keep in mind as I look at all of these machines. Thanks for saying that.

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  13. Can’t believe you wrote this – I need this info –
    Our coffee maker is barely managing (has a piece of slate to hold the top down while it brews as the darn thing is sprung and cracked.) We have a french press, but that’s too much trouble when you need more than one cup. We just haven’t been able to decide.(bought one for Christmas present – it went back. picky picky) Not much counter space. Cuisinart has a good reputation.. (husband doesn’t want all-in-one coffee pot with grinder and storage. (how fresh do the beans stay deal) We start looking at costs. I’m about ready to go to Target and get a Mr Coffee. They work. And I can afford to buy good beans at that price.
    Be sure to update what you end up with!

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    • Great minds! Right now, after processing all of this advice & doing an online search about coffee makers, my head is spinning. Much to my amazement, the suggestions on this post run from $30 to $300. Clearly I’ve hit on a popular topic… all because I was in a grumpy mood on Monday morning. Go figure.

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  14. Back to the coffee press, there are some that make 4 or 5 cups, I think. So if you’re making coffee for both of you, there’s that. As I said, it won’t last a long time as there’s no way to keep it hot. But you can make another cup if you want it. 🙂

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    • J, I’ll look at those when I get the time to go shopping. Our current machine works about half the time, so on the days when the coffee is hot I’m happy. It’s just on those other days, like Monday, when the coffee is lousy that I get focused on a new machine. I’m being a bit fickle, aren’t I?

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