Thread: Grind and brew coffee makers opinions?

On 28/05/2011 10:26 PM, pamjd wrote:
> Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
> the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
> it. thanks

One thing to think about is the life of your grinder/brewer when one of
those two functions craps out. If you have a coffee maker that dies you
can replace it. If your grinder dies you can replace that. If one or the
other in a dual machine bites the dust, you have to replace both.

On 5/28/2011 10:26 PM, pamjd wrote:
> Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
> the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
> it. thanks

I've always ground frozen beans just before using in my 15 year old Mr
Coffee drip pot. A drip pot, IMHO, is the only way to go but I prefer
not to keep an opened package of beans at room temperature. I did once
have a combined grinder/pot but I never liked it even if was a mill
rather than a fast rotating blade.

--


James Silverton, Potomac

I'm *not* [email protected]

In article <6e6265a0-f050-4490-ac38-7648a06403b2
@x3g2000yqj.googlegroups.com>, [email protected] says...
>
> Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
> the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
> it. thanks

If you're talking about the Cuisinart, fuhgeddaboudit. When mine died I
didn't even miss it. Has no strong points at all except having some
kind of brown liquid waiting in the morning (it's also a pretty fair
alarm clock if the sound of a jet engine cranking up is the sound you
want to awaken you).

The thermal carafe works fine if you preheat it, but if you're using the
timer you can't preheat it. The beans get soggy from condensation and
make a mess. The marks for filling can only be seen from directly above
with a light shining directly into the thing. If you've got a
dishwasher it cleans up easy, if you don't there are a lot of bits to
clean. The basket overflows and spills coffee on the counter. The
coffee it makes is very weak.

And that's just the stuff I remember.

On Sat, 28 May 2011 19:26:49 -0700 (PDT), pamjd <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
>the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
>it. thanks

I have the Cuisinart DGB-900BC Coffee Maker, Grind & Brew 12-Cup
Thermal Automatic.
Just fill the hopper with coffee beans and you are good to go.

I've had it for about 3 years and it's still going strong. The only
negative I see is that it is noisy. Some people could have a problem
with that, for me, it's an alarm clock.

koko
--
Food is our common ground, a universal experience
James Beard

www.kokoscornerblog.com

Natural Watkins Spices
www.apinchofspices.com

"James Silverton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:irsbgu$kbp$[email protected]..
> On 5/28/2011 10:26 PM, pamjd wrote:
>> Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
>> the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
>> it. thanks
>
> I've always ground frozen beans just before using in my 15 year old Mr
> Coffee drip pot. A drip pot, IMHO, is the only way to go but I prefer not
> to keep an opened package of beans at room temperature. I did once have a
> combined grinder/pot but I never liked it even if was a mill rather than a
> fast rotating blade.
>
> James Silverton, Potomac
>
>
I burr grind frozen beans every morning as well. Roasted coffee beans
oxidize when they sit exposed to the air at room temperature. The morning
brew goes into a thermal pot for the remainder of the day.

Kent

On May 28, 10:34*pm, Dave Smith <adavid.sm...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> On 28/05/2011 10:26 PM, pamjd wrote:
>
> > Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? *Before I spend
> > the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
> > it. *thanks
>
> One thing to think about is the life of your grinder/brewer when one of
> those two functions craps out. If you have a coffee maker that dies you
> can replace it. If your grinder dies you can replace that. If one or the
> other in a dual machine bites the dust, you have to replace both.

Hear, hear. My cousin had one - said the coffee was no better and it
was one more thing to store and break down.

Go with simple - I use a French press - nothing electrical to
breakdown, easy to clean and store. I have a one cupper, and a four.

On May 28, 10:26*pm, k...@letscook.com wrote:
> On Sat, 28 May 2011 19:26:49 -0700 (PDT), pamjd <guppy21...@aol.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? *Before I spend
> >the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
> >it. *thanks
>
> I have the Cuisinart DGB-900BC Coffee Maker, Grind & Brew 12-Cup
> Thermal Automatic.
> Just fill the hopper with coffee beans and you are good to go.
>
> I've had it for about 3 years and it's still going strong. The only
> negative I see is that it is noisy. Some people could have a problem
> with that, for me, it's an alarm clock.

The grinder function on my Grind & Brew died at about 3 years and I
continued to use it for several more, but it was always a hassle to
clean either way. Plus, it did waste more coffee that I was
completely comfortable with. I never used the timer function.
>
> koko

--Bryan

On Sat, 28 May 2011 22:34:58 -0400, Dave Smith
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On 28/05/2011 10:26 PM, pamjd wrote:
>> Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
>> the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
>> it. thanks
>
>One thing to think about is the life of your grinder/brewer when one of
>those two functions craps out. If you have a coffee maker that dies you
>can replace it. If your grinder dies you can replace that. If one or the
>other in a dual machine bites the dust, you have to replace both.

Spot on.

Boron

pamjd <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
>the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
>it.

None of those all in ones have a quality grinder... you're far better
off buying separate appliances.

On Sat, 28 May 2011 20:26:50 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>On Sat, 28 May 2011 19:26:49 -0700 (PDT), pamjd <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
>>the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
>>it. thanks
>
>I have the Cuisinart DGB-900BC Coffee Maker, Grind & Brew 12-Cup
>Thermal Automatic.
>Just fill the hopper with coffee beans and you are good to go.
>
>I've had it for about 3 years and it's still going strong. The only
>negative I see is that it is noisy. Some people could have a problem
>with that, for me, it's an alarm clock.
>
>koko

Although I agree with Dave that a 2-in-1 grinder brewer can mean one
part craps out before the other, my FIL has been very happily grinding
and brewing great coffee with the same pot you have.

I have the 12 cup without the grinder and after press and Chemex, it's
used most. Great for weekday mornings.

I wanted a Technivorm, but they are just too damn pricey.,

Boron

"Brooklyn1" <Gravesend1> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> pamjd <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
>>the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
>>it.
>
> None of those all in ones have a quality grinder... you're far better
> off buying separate appliances.
>
>
I think they all, regardless of brand have that flat burr assembly made in
China. Those burrs wear out after so much use, and I don't think can be
replaced. I've worn out two Cuisinart burr grinders. Also they don't grind
very well, there's too much heat, and not enough uniformity.

Kent

"pamjd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
> the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
> it. thanks
>
>
Once your coffee is automatically made it starts to breakdown from the
warming heat on the bottom. You want to brew it and put the coffee into a
thermal pot, which will retain good coffee taste throughout the day. Best is
a conical burr, which grinds slowly and produces a uniform particle.
Integrated machines don't have that. Finally, leaving coffee exposed to the
air ongoing, as you may be doing oxidizes it and lessens any fresh tasting
flavor.

Kent

which is the reason we have never purchased one of these, bunn coffee maker,
series of grinders/buy ground, Lee
"Dave Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:lhiEp.16128$[email protected] ...
> On 28/05/2011 10:26 PM, pamjd wrote:
>> Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? Before I spend
>> the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
>> it. thanks
>
> One thing to think about is the life of your grinder/brewer when one of
> those two functions craps out. If you have a coffee maker that dies you
> can replace it. If your grinder dies you can replace that. If one or the
> other in a dual machine bites the dust, you have to replace both.

On May 30, 5:55*am, "Kent" <keh6...@ana.yahoo.com> wrote:
> Best is
> a conical burr, which grinds slowly and produces a uniform particle.

Yep, I use the old cast iron, hand-cranked grinder that I bought new
thirty-something years ago. An English Spong, though I think what
looked like the same machine was later sold under the Salter name.
Since I make my breakfast coffee the original way, requiring a powder-
fine grind, I appreciate the ability to screw the pressure up.

LW

James Silverton <[email protected]> wrote:


> I've always ground frozen beans just before using in my 15 year old Mr
> Coffee drip pot. A drip pot, IMHO, is the only way to go but I prefer
> not to keep an opened package of beans at room temperature. I did once
> have a combined grinder/pot but I never liked it even if was a mill
> rather than a fast rotating blade.
>
The very worst thing you can do with frozen beans is expose them to the air
before they're at room temperature. Moisture condenses on them and kills
the flavor VERY quickly.

Boron Elgar <[email protected]> wrote:

....
>
> I wanted a Technivorm, but they are just too damn pricey.,
>
> Boron
>

I've had a Technivorm for several years. They're really not very well made
or well designed but they do have water that's actually hot enough to brew
coffee properly. I would recommend a Newco over a Technivorm. They're not
pretty but they're hot enough, better made and slightly cheaper. I can
usually make a better cup of coffee with my Aeropress with a Coava disc
installed. Even better is the 'Cafe Crema' that I make using my Rancilio
Silvia espresso machine. This is very common in Europe but almost unknown
here. I use about 20 g of coffee ground finer than drip and coarser than
espresso and do a 25 second pull that makes about 8 oz of fairly stout,
very tasty coffee with a bit of crema on the top. The trick is geting the
grind right. The fact that Miss Silvia has an after-market PID controller
for the boiler temp doesn't hurt either. But I digress. Look at the Newcos
before you spring for a Technivorm.

On Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:11:12 -0500, BubbaBob
<rnorton47@_remove_this_comcast.net> wrote:

>Boron Elgar <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>...
>>
>> I wanted a Technivorm, but they are just too damn pricey.,
>>
>> Boron
>>
>
>I've had a Technivorm for several years. They're really not very well made
>or well designed but they do have water that's actually hot enough to brew
>coffee properly. I would recommend a Newco over a Technivorm. They're not
>pretty but they're hot enough, better made and slightly cheaper. I can
>usually make a better cup of coffee with my Aeropress with a Coava disc
>installed. Even better is the 'Cafe Crema' that I make using my Rancilio
>Silvia espresso machine. This is very common in Europe but almost unknown
>here. I use about 20 g of coffee ground finer than drip and coarser than
>espresso and do a 25 second pull that makes about 8 oz of fairly stout,
>very tasty coffee with a bit of crema on the top. The trick is geting the
>grind right. The fact that Miss Silvia has an after-market PID controller
>for the boiler temp doesn't hurt either. But I digress. Look at the Newcos
>before you spring for a Technivorm.


I'd almost be embarrassed telling you how many different coffee makers
I have, from simple Vietnamese and Aeropress sorts, various cones and
presses, several vac/siphon systems, automatic drips and right up to
a La Pavoni espresso machine. Heaven knows I do not need another
coffee maker of any sort whatsoever. Need never enters into these
purchases. I collect the damn things.

I do, though, have my eye out for a new roaster, but my old and well
used Hearthware, so ancient it is from the days when they were
decently made, has never given any trouble in almost a decade. Its
only problem is its limited capacity. I'd get a Behmor, but I prefer a
damnably dark roast (except for Cea's fabulous Kona from Smith Farms).

Thanks for the info on the Newco.

Boron

On May 28, 9:34*pm, Dave Smith <adavid.sm...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> On 28/05/2011 10:26 PM, pamjd wrote:
>
> > Do you have and enjoy a grind and brew coffee maker? *Before I spend
> > the money on one I thought I would ask who has one and how they like
> > it. *thanks
>
> One thing to think about is the life of your grinder/brewer when one of
> those two functions craps out. If you have a coffee maker that dies you
> can replace it. If your grinder dies you can replace that. If one or the
> other in a dual machine bites the dust, you have to replace both.

Good point. Bundling anything is subject to this type of failure. I
used to work for 1800-Comcast, and of course Comcast was big on
getting people to bundle their TV, phone and internet ostensibly to
"save money!" HA! Not only is it not saving you money, but when the
service craps out, there you are with no TV, no phone AND no Internet!

I have an old Mr Coffee drip coffee maker and a $20 coffee slicer.
Either one craps out on me, I replace it and I'm caffeinated once
again! :-)

John Kuthe...

On 6/2/2011 3:01 AM, BubbaBob wrote:
> James Silverton<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>> I've always ground frozen beans just before using in my 15 year old Mr
>> Coffee drip pot. A drip pot, IMHO, is the only way to go but I prefer
>> not to keep an opened package of beans at room temperature. I did once
>> have a combined grinder/pot but I never liked it even if was a mill
>> rather than a fast rotating blade.
>>
> The very worst thing you can do with frozen beans is expose them to the air
> before they're at room temperature. Moisture condenses on them and kills
> the flavor VERY quickly.
>
I don't know about what time interval you are thinking about when you
say "quickly". I grind the frozen beans for about 40 seconds, place them
in the filter and start the coffee maker almost immediately. Perhaps, I
spend about a minute and a half from removing the beans from the freezer
to the onset of brewing. Any flavor leached out by water condensing on
the cold ground beans goes into the coffee, anyway.

--


James Silverton, Potomac

I'm *not* [email protected]