Do you love your coffee maker?

[Anonymous]

We need a new one that is a step up or two from a typical coffee maker. My husband is the coffee drinker in the family and wants a surprise for his birthday but I have no idea where to start. We don't want a full-blown professional machine but I suspect he'd like to make mochas or cappuccinos. What ideas?

[Anonymous]

We have a Technivorm Moccamaster for regular coffee and a Rancilio Silvia for coffee drinks. And a Rancilio grinder.

[Anonymous]

The grinder is so much more important than the coffee maker, at least for regular coffee. We love our Baratza Maestro Plus grinder.

[Anonymous]

We use a French press. Love it.

[Anonymous]

Get him a high quality burr grinder. It will make all the difference in the world, and he will be very thankful to you. Cuisinart makes an inexpensive one, but depending on budget there are $200-$250 models that are excellent. Seriously, burr grinder.

[Anonymous]

To be clear, it's not like my husband is a coffee gourmand- he just wants a new toy, I think, that would be fun to make more "fancy" drinks from... (coffee drinks, that is- something more fun/convenient to use)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be clear, it's not like my husband is a coffee gourmand- he just wants a new toy, I think, that would be fun to make more "fancy" drinks from... (coffee drinks, that is- something more fun/convenient to use)

what's your price range? $30? $200? $1500?

[Anonymous]

maybe.. $150?

[Anonymous]

What does he drink? If he consumes by the pot, the previously mentioned Technivorm is a good choice. Single cup at a time? An Aeropress and a good burr grinder. Mainly iced coffee? Get him a Toddy, ditto on the grinder.

[Anonymous]

You might browse, or even call, seattle coffee gear. They have great prices and are really nice and they might be able to give you some thoughts.

It kind of depends on what you are thinking of though-- you could get him a milk frother, or an inexpensive espresso machine, or a new drip coffee maker (if the last one I'd get the bonavita to save $ over the technivorm).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We use a French press. Love it.

We do as well. The coffee is so much better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We use a French press. Love it.

We do as well. The coffee is so much better!

+2

[Anonymous]

What's the next step down from a techniform?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the next step down from a techniform?

Capresso. Very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the next step down from a techniform?

I think most of the coffee geeks would say bonavita