1 yr. ago • 100%

BIFL Coffee Maker

Looking for recommendations on coffee makers. Preferably a drip coffee maker. I've been using a percolator for years and while it usually works fine, it doesn't always brew thoroughly if the water isn't cold enough.

15 comments

Assuming you mean an automatic drip coffee maker, Moccamaster is definitely the most "BIFL" one out there, as it makes pretty good coffee and the design basically hasn't changed since the 1970s. Downside (or upside depending on how you look at it) is that they are hand made in the Netherlands, which makes them kind of expensive compared to most other options in the us.

Oxo makes a really similar brewer in their 8 cup which in some ways is a little nicer than the Moccamaster. The drip head is a bit larger so the drip is more even, there's a vent on top you can use to heat your mugs, and it comes with an extra cone to brew single servings directly into your cup. It's also not cheap, but less than the Moccamaster. Downside of course is that you're not buying something quite as proven.

I have friends who have sworn by Bunn coffee makers, and while I think their commercial units are basically bulletproof, I've personally experienced a number of the residental ones fail.

One other downside to all these is that they tend to not have any extra features like timers and whatnot, but that's probably why they have lasted so well.

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Consider using a Chemex. If it's kept away from explosions and impacts with rigid surfaces, it'll keep 'working' until the heat death of the universe. You can even keep using the same filters if they're the right size.

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- Next bifl thread: Best electric kettle anyone?
  
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  I went with a regular gooseneck kettle and an induction cooktop. The cooktop can be used to boil water for pasta, etc. and the kettle is just a metal vessel with a thermometer on top. If the cooktop breaks, I can still boil water on the gas stove top.
  
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- I really have to second this due a few reasons:
  
  It's not expensive and will last as long as you don't break it. It's made of glass but it seems to be special glass because it's hard to break. I've had two of them over the past 13 years. Broke one after ten years.
  
  Since it's less expensive you can spend more on a BIFL coffee grinder and hot water pot. I'd suggest DeLonghi for a grinder and the FELLOW goose neck water heater. I've had both for many years and love them
  
  The Chemex is easy to clean. After out pour your coffee just rinse it out. Use soap once a week and it'll not even get stained. Coffee makers end up getting really gross after a while in my experience so even if your coffee maker lasts a long time you'll want to throw it out because everything that comes out of it tastes burned and extra acidic.
  
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- I feel like most pour over cones will work. I use a V60 (the plastic variety) and there’s no way I could foresee it breaking outside of being an idiot.
  
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French press is the cheapest, simplest way to brew coffee. You don’t need special filters, electronics (that break), or even an expensive one (I use a like $25 one from Amazon).

I know not what you asked for but realistically imo it’s the only one you’ll be buying for life.

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- I got a French press and used it for awhile. I'm extremely lazy though and got tired of having to clean the coffee grounds out of the screen. That's something I didn't consider before buying it. I switched to a chemex that I like much better. Yeah, there are disposable filters but it works better for me. If I were starting over, I'd probably just get some kind of pour over thing that fits over my mug. That would take up less space than the chemex.
  
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  A plus side to filters is that they filter out cholesterol. Unfiltered coffee such as from a french press can raise cholesterol so better to stick with filters. Also the maker of the aeropress did his own polling and found the vast majority of people prefer the taste of filtered coffee. I'm pretty sure he did pretty rigorous testing, not just self report too.
  
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  I probably shouldn’t, but I just wash it all down the disposal, or dump the grounds in my plants.
  
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- Maybe I should try one of these, for now I use a very similar item called the Aeropress. It does use filters though. It makes a single cup of coffee at a time
  
  But I can take it camping
  
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  The only thing on them that isn't quite BILF is the rubber on the plunger goes after a while but you can buy new ones so it still viable
  
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Check out Moccamaster.

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For a drip coffee maker, I would buy a Moccamaster again. Ours have run daily for over ten years, and only issue is a broken LED. Which we will fix at our own convenience. Raipairability and replacement parts availability is a great pro for Moccamasters.

The One maintainance tip for drip makers if you want your coffee to stay fresh:

Only ever use a clean container for adding water to the machine. Never ever use the pot for this without thoroghly rinsing with soap first. The fat from the coffee beans will stick to the inside of the heater where it accumulates and adds a foul taste to your coffee forever.

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