coffee at home - help me decide

luvmylocs · 01-10-2012, 01:55 PM

so i'm trying to be more practical and better about frivolous spending. that said, sometimes i need my coffee! i'm a big tea drinker but some mornings (about 1-2 times per week). i want coffee, bad! since i don't have a coffee maker at home i end up going to starbucks (unless i'm on a starbucks ban) but it's expensive.

i'm trying to decide if i should...

a - buy a cheapo coffee maker and just make coffee at home the few times i want it
b - invest in one of those single cup coffee makers and enjoy my coffee
c - just drink tea it's cheaper (that's what i have at home already)
d - keep going to starbucks since it's only 1-2 times per week

other info...i live alone so this would be just for me. i don't see drinking more coffee even if i get a maker but maybe i would. i'm also trying to be healthier so i'd want good, fresh coffee but i don't need to make any fancy, sugar loaded concoctions. i'd want to keep whatever i buy on my countertop but i don't like big gaudy appliances. i also am big into recycling but would like something that is enviromentally friendly.

what do you think is the best option for me?

xcptnl · 01-10-2012, 02:02 PM

I have a regular mult cup maker. I like the idea of the kcup ones but the kcups are expensive and it's a lot of excess packaging. I just came across a single cup maker by brookstone that a friend loves. It uses regular coffee. I have not bought it yet because my current coffee maker is not broken or anything so I do not want to ditch it.

Here is the link

http://m.brookstone.com/mt/www.brook...tainless-steel

luvmylocs · 01-10-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcptnl

I have a regular mult cup maker. I like the idea of the kcup ones but the kcups are expensive and it's a lot of excess packaging. I just came across a single cup maker by brookstone that a friend loves. It uses regular coffee. I have not bought it yet because my current coffee maker is not broken or anything so I do not want to ditch it.

Here is the link

Single Cup Coffee Makers at Brookstone—Buy Now!

oh my, that looks perfect and that's the price of about a month of starbucks. i'll wait to see a few more replies but it looks like a great buy!

cmb4314 · 01-10-2012, 02:09 PM

We have a Keurig, but we also have the little insert for it that allows you to use your own coffee rather than the K-cups. Much more economical.

Works great for my husband since he doesn't have to make a whole pot for just himself, and it boils the water and brews the cup really quickly.

I also use it to boil water fast for tea, I just run plain water through the machine and use a teabag.

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divegirl · 01-10-2012, 02:12 PM

How about a French press?

luvmylocs · 01-10-2012, 02:17 PM

cmb4314 do you have a link with the eco cups you use? that is important to me. going to add that to my above post

ursula · 01-10-2012, 02:21 PM

This is what I have:

Bonmac Ceramic Dripper

You can also find cheaper ones. The plastic ones are around $5, I think.

cympreni · 01-10-2012, 02:23 PM

The cheapo coffee makers are usually good quality for their price. The $20 ones usually last me a few years. I treated myself to an $80 one once, it lasted about as long as the cheap ones. I was very sad.

NetG · 01-10-2012, 02:26 PM

I'd go with a small normal coffee pot. The single cup makers aren't a bad idea, though, when using something so you can make your own with coffee you purchase. I can taste a definite difference with kcups or something like that.

If you buy whole bean coffee and grind it yourself the flavor lasts better - as does storing it in your freezer. However, if you buy smaller bags and freeze them even with pre-ground you're better off than buying pre-made cups of some sort.

Spider · 01-10-2012, 02:30 PM

I have a Mr Coffee and only out enough coffee & water for one big cup ( or travel mug). I've never had to make / waste a full pot just for me.

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inheritedcurls · 01-10-2012, 02:31 PM

Make coffee at home..treat yourself once a month at Starbucks!!

I have a cuisinart given to me by the in-laws...the thing I like is it has a place for instant hot water if we want hot tea or hot chocolate.

cmb4314 · 01-10-2012, 02:32 PM

We have this accessory for our Keurig. My husband packs it pretty tight and gets a pretty strong cup of coffee.

http://www.keurig.com/accessories/my-k-cup

Sorry to make you copy and paste, but I have no idea how to make that link clickable from my phone, lol.

Edit: my phone is apparently smart and figured it out on its own :P

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cympreni · 01-10-2012, 02:33 PM

your link works just fine^^^^

nynaeve77 · 01-10-2012, 02:40 PM

My husband has used one of these for years:

Amazon.com: Melitta Ready Set Joe Single Cup Coffee Brewer: Kitchen & Dining

You can buy the filters at the grocery store. We buy whole beans and grind them at home. All you have to do is add boiling water, like making tea! Plus, you can't beat the price--$5.00 is pretty cheap!

luvmylocs · 01-10-2012, 02:49 PM

these are all really good ideas. you guys are awesome!!!

wild~hair · 01-10-2012, 02:50 PM

A plastic Melitta is what I use too. I make coffee every day with it.

It's cheap [$5] and it makes great coffee. Small, so it's easy to store when not in use. You can buy unbleached filters for it. The biggest investment here would be a good coffee grinder. Or you could buy ground beans, I suppose. It's better when they're fresh roasted and ground right before brewing though.

I will never understand the Keurig thing. I've tried it many times at SO's parents and I really don't get why people think that's good coffee. It's convenient and the appeal ends there. Maybe for the people who like it, that's all that matters?

luvmylocs · 01-10-2012, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild~hair

The biggest investment here would be a good coffee grinder. Or you could buy ground beans, I suppose. It's better when they're fresh roasted and ground right before brewing though.

ironically i have a coffee grinder. it's a good one, cuisinart maybe. i bought it some years ago when i was going to add fresh ground flaxseed to foods

curlysue21 · 01-10-2012, 03:05 PM

I am an only coffee drinker as well and second (or third) the French press. I love mine and would never go back to a machine. You can save money from buying those K-cups (I found them to be overpriced) and use whatever grounds you like and adjust for whatever amount of coffee you drink (I have the equivalent of two cups every morning).

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ursula · 01-10-2012, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlysue21

I am an only coffee drinker as well and second (or third) the French press. I love mine and would never go back to a machine. You can save money from buying those K-cups (I found them to be overpriced) and use whatever grounds you like and adjust for whatever amount of coffee you drink (I have the equivalent of two cups every morning).

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I used to use a French press, and I prefer the taste, but I stopped when I learned that coffee made in a French press can increase your cholesterol. I drink enough coffee that it concerned me.

Just a warning for those of you who may not have known this!

LAwoman · 01-10-2012, 04:07 PM

I like the French press idea! I looovved mine. Make very yummy coffee.

Or you could also buy just a little "mini" 4-cup regular coffee maker. I've seen them as cheap as $10!