With the same Mr. Coffee drip coffee maker I've used for the past 15 years or so. I primarily use Lavazza Classico[1] or Lavazza Perfetto[2] coffee. The interesting thing about this coffee though, is that it's so non-bitter that it actually seems a little weird after so many years of drinking Starbucks coffee, and other really bitter brands. I find that I need to mix in just a little bit of something like the Starbucks brand Sumatra, to bring back just a touch of bitterness. If I don't, my cup of coffee feels like it's missing something.
I mix hand-ground premium beans with a commercial ground coffee that I already like. It makes it taste and feel expensive, but not really all that much more expensive. It's also half the exercise than grinding the whole thing every morning.
As for prep, I have a lot of different coffee making gizmos. Regular drip, French press, stove top espresso maker, Vietnamese coffee maker. I also have a cloth filter, but I don't use it so often that it would wear down quickly. It does make amazingly smooth brew, though. Each of them has their own pros and cons, but they all make good coffee which result in subtle variations in the final experience.
In the summer, I French Press a pot and put it in the fridge with milk and sugar already added (and far less sugar than commercial ice coffees). The press allows you to make super potent coffee, so you can add lots of ice and it won't ever taste too watery.
Hands down the best purchase of 2020. It feels a bit expensive, but I bought it via Amazon paying in installments. I configured it for 1x = espresso, 2x = larger like almost a small americano. My wife & I have been making 4-6 coffees/day for the past months, flawlessly.
Nest on the list: roast my own beans.
Edit: another relevant note, how did I choose it? I've asked 2 Italian+foody+nerd friends independently, nerd as it typically they compare 100 products before choosing. They both had this machine. The machine is French and they both are Italians... that's a lot of trust :)
That looks like exactly the Sage model I have. Clearly multiple branding going on, maybe per country (I'm in the UK).
Anyway, same situation as you: multiple cups for the wife and I daily since February 2020 without a glitch.
I set it for double espresso then I fill up the mug to get an americano. I don't use the quantity setting for the grinder, I do it manually in several small steps.
Moka pot. Loved it. A bit slow, not that delicious for making espresso. Not bad! Could be better.
A few months in,
Over priced fancy Italian espresso machine. Love it. Beans from local roasters, steamed creamy oat milk for a smooth, large volume, morning caffeinated beverage.
Ah! Same. I was wondering if others hadn't been driven to buy some sort of espresso machine. I bought one for $70 from Kmart, and loved it. Then I got a fancy grinder second hand and it improved the espresso a lot. So then I upgraded to a second hand DeLonghi Icona after a while. It was only $50 because it leaked, but I fixed that with a screwdriver and pliers.
I heat water in a kettle and pour it into a pour-over filter. I have also used a french press, Italian 'Moka' pot and other 'just add hot water' systems.
I have a spot where I'd like to plug in a drip coffee maker with a smart plug before going to bed. At sunrise - 5 min or so it would turn on the coffee maker and be ready when I wake up. The key though is the machine has to turn on as soon as the power turns on, which most coffee makers won't do.
(I use the outlet for other cooking devices during the day so the last thing I want is another timer to set)
Probably I should go to the salvation army and get an old one and hack the control circuit so it turns on when the power turns on ('push' the button with a 555?) but I haven't heard of anyone doing that as simple as it sounds.
I have an aeropress, but just make instant. After I was sick, I need 12 cups of coffee daily just to stay awake. I wonder if I will ever feel the same again.
Sage espresso machine with coffee beans from Costco.
I was lucky enough that I bought the coffee machine off Amazon last year right before lockdown (here in UK), since then the price has gone up £100-£150 when in stock.
Kettle plus pour-over for me. This is what I did in the office too, but then it was a single-cup, now I make a half-pot for self and spouse. Why make things complicated before coffee is made?
I put some ice in a glass, put in about 1/4 cold brew, then top the rest off with water. It's refreshing and only costs $5 a week for the brew (LaCombe light roast is the best!)
[+] [-] mindcrime|5 years ago|reply
[1]: https://italybestcoffee.com/products/lavazza-classico-ground...
[2]: https://italybestcoffee.com/products/lavazza-perfetto-ground...
[+] [-] ksaj|5 years ago|reply
As for prep, I have a lot of different coffee making gizmos. Regular drip, French press, stove top espresso maker, Vietnamese coffee maker. I also have a cloth filter, but I don't use it so often that it would wear down quickly. It does make amazingly smooth brew, though. Each of them has their own pros and cons, but they all make good coffee which result in subtle variations in the final experience.
In the summer, I French Press a pot and put it in the fridge with milk and sugar already added (and far less sugar than commercial ice coffees). The press allows you to make super potent coffee, so you can add lots of ice and it won't ever taste too watery.
[+] [-] ecesena|5 years ago|reply
Hands down the best purchase of 2020. It feels a bit expensive, but I bought it via Amazon paying in installments. I configured it for 1x = espresso, 2x = larger like almost a small americano. My wife & I have been making 4-6 coffees/day for the past months, flawlessly.
Nest on the list: roast my own beans.
Edit: another relevant note, how did I choose it? I've asked 2 Italian+foody+nerd friends independently, nerd as it typically they compare 100 products before choosing. They both had this machine. The machine is French and they both are Italians... that's a lot of trust :)
[1] https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes870.html
[+] [-] mytailorisrich|5 years ago|reply
Anyway, same situation as you: multiple cups for the wife and I daily since February 2020 without a glitch.
I set it for double espresso then I fill up the mug to get an americano. I don't use the quantity setting for the grinder, I do it manually in several small steps.
[+] [-] cdaringe|5 years ago|reply
Moka pot. Loved it. A bit slow, not that delicious for making espresso. Not bad! Could be better.
A few months in,
Over priced fancy Italian espresso machine. Love it. Beans from local roasters, steamed creamy oat milk for a smooth, large volume, morning caffeinated beverage.
[+] [-] wombatmobile|5 years ago|reply
Now considering "fancy Italian".
[+] [-] PaulHoule|5 years ago|reply
I have a spot where I'd like to plug in a drip coffee maker with a smart plug before going to bed. At sunrise - 5 min or so it would turn on the coffee maker and be ready when I wake up. The key though is the machine has to turn on as soon as the power turns on, which most coffee makers won't do.
(I use the outlet for other cooking devices during the day so the last thing I want is another timer to set)
Probably I should go to the salvation army and get an old one and hack the control circuit so it turns on when the power turns on ('push' the button with a 555?) but I haven't heard of anyone doing that as simple as it sounds.
[+] [-] wikibob|5 years ago|reply
Most old fashion electric coffee makers just above the cheapest option have a clock and auto start timer.
Then get a 3 in 1 outlet extender so you can leave it plugged in and use the outlet.
Disclaimer: Mr Coffee style coffee makers don’t make great coffee. The water doesn’t get quite hot enough.
[+] [-] chunkles|5 years ago|reply
Which method I use depends on my mood that day and how much time I want to sink into making the coffee.
[+] [-] wombatmobile|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] westcort|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Jtsummers|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bradknowles|5 years ago|reply
I buy them by the 48-count box.
[+] [-] kevinherron|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ryanchants|5 years ago|reply
Grind in burr grinder.
Heat water to 175 in an electric kettle.
Brew in Aeropress. Pour enough water to cover grounds, stir for 30 seconds. Trickle water in for 30 seconds to fill. Plunge and serve.
[+] [-] _throwawayaway|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mytailorisrich|5 years ago|reply
I was lucky enough that I bought the coffee machine off Amazon last year right before lockdown (here in UK), since then the price has gone up £100-£150 when in stock.
[+] [-] sbuk|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Finnucane|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Minor49er|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] alexmingoia|5 years ago|reply
I buy medium-roast washed beans grown locally by organic farmers, from a local roaster who delivers them once a month.
[+] [-] runjake|5 years ago|reply
It just depends on how lazy I am that day. Most work days, it's just drip coffee. I try to limit myself to 1-2 cups a day.
[+] [-] punchclockhero|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sandruso|5 years ago|reply
Aeropress is complicated at first, but it is worth trying. Acidic flavors works great with aeropress.
[+] [-] wombatmobile|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] frompdx|5 years ago|reply