TAN #199: jobs R imporTANt, conTANkulations TANgemelons! (Page 62)

Depending on how much you make, look at a Keurig.

HOWEVER, if you like espresso and such.  There is a sweet machine at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.  You get their pods (which isn't as wide spread as Keurig, which is a downside.)  BUT, you can make espresso shots like a Nespresso machines OR make coffee like a Keurig.

Starbucks has a similar contraption, but the pods are 50% more.

If either my espresso machine dies or my Keurig, I'm getting the combo machine.  Then I clear my counter some and have the best of both worlds.

I'm a big fan of just using a Mr. Coffee drip machine, but a nice grinder to fresh grind the beans for every pot.

Haha.  I have a drop machine too - I put that away unless I need to make mass quantities.

I bought an insert to use my own coffee in the Keurig - So I grind my own, put it in the special cup and run it.  Saves a lot of money.

On weekend when I have more time, I bust out the coffee press. 

I want to buy a coffee siphon for the fun of it.  Just looks like a cool contraption.  I'm a bit a a gadget nut and coffee snob.

I have both the Nespresso and a Cuisinart. The Cuisinart we use every morning and is pretty good, it has its own "built in" filter (so you do not need the paper filters), allows you to set brewing by amount (less than 4 cups or more than 4 cups), bold or mild, etc. I use the Nespresso for Company or after dinner coffee.

The wife got an espresso machine when she worked at starbucks - gosh, 11-12 years ago?  It's probably not the BEST.  But I just love it.  It's not as good as you get from the coffee shop.  Something is a bit off (the crema is off).  I probably only use it during the weekend, but if it breaks, I'm getting a new one STAT.

I used one of the Nespresso machines in Paris - they had it in the hotel as part of the breakfast.  SO good.  Just as good as a shop.  I would love to get one except that you have to join a club to get the pods.  They ship them every month whether you need them or not.  Also, a bit expensive.  You pay for convenience I guess.

So a home made machine, even if it's less than perfect, is still my choice.

I didn't know such an animal existed!   I might actually be interested in a Keurig now.  To be able to fresh brew from fresh grounds on a per-cup basis would be freaking awesome!

That's not the case. We initially ordered a case of pods (you can mix and match - boldness and decaff/caff). And now we only order when we need them; you sometimes can find special editions in places like William Sonoma. And they are fast delivering the things!

Just Google "refillable capsules for brand". Nespresso has them too. Or look in Amazon.

Yep, I got mine from there.  They have 5-6 to chose from.

I'll give you my consumer reviews:

I bought the original one a couple years ago here.   It's a three part system with wire filter.  Sort of sucks.  Water flows out the top instead of through the coffee and you get sludge.  I got one for my mom and dad and they had the same issues.  They found if you took the foil off of a real cup and rinse it, you can put THAT inside the holder instead of the wire one with better results.  Also, you have to take something out of your machine to use it, the replace it if you want to use a standard K-cup.

3 out of 10

I then stood there an read and decided for 30 minutes and got this.  To ME, it worked great.  The best results.  A spring in it offers a level of tamping and it's easy cleanup.  BUT it uses tiny little filters.  Those were a hastle to the wife and you have to buy refills.  So the reason it made the best coffe (filters) was also the problem.  Waste, extra work, extra purchases.

8 out of 10 - for coffee quality.

The wife wanted something different so she got this.  It's self contained.  One piece, wire filter, no leakage (like the first one).  The wire STILL leaves a little sludge.  Don't have to take any parts out of the machine like the first - just throw it in like a Kcup.

8 out of 10 - for all around combination of quality and convenience.

All the rest (like Ekobrew) seem like variations of the above.

TAN used to be my oasis during a long day at the office...

It's been on life support for a couple weeks now.