Chezsven Blog: Wellfleet Today: Thoughts on Buying a New Coffee Machine

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Thoughts on Buying a New Coffee Machine

The ability to provide good coffee is an important part of being an innkeeper. Here at Chez Sven, we serve organic free trade and grind whole beans every morning. Recently I have been in a quandary about what type of coffee machine to purchase for 2011. These gadgets are convenient but do not last very long. Recent models have built-in filters, which is fine, until you need to change the filter and cannot find the same type in local stores. I tried leaving a French press in the cottage over the past two months and decided guests do prefer coffee machines. So, I have been looking for a new one. Have you ever thought about what most coffee machines are made of? The water goes into a receptacle that, even in metal machines, is usually plastic. At Chez Sven, plastic is something we try to avoid.

Yesterday, on my way back from Boston, I checked out the selection at Costco. The box for the new Cuisinart "Brew-Central" is marked BPA-free. I did not expect BPA in a coffee machine but still was glad to see Cuisinart is aware of the risk BPA poses to health.

In France, I brewed coffee in a small metal coffee pot. Snow's, in Orleans, sells this type, but I know, from experience, that the larger ones are hard to close and that the rubber ring needs regular replacement. Still, that would have been my choice were I not running a B&B.

"Do you think this coffee pot was made in China?" I asked Sven this morning.

"Bet it is," he responded. "Everything is made in China these days."

I turned over the box, and sure enough. What a shame the United States lost these industries because manufacture is cheaper abroad! That's the reason for our runaway deficit. Everything is Made in China, stuff that breaks and needs to be replaced.

What type of coffee pot do you use? Any suggestions on how to avoid plastic while brewing coffee?

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chezsven 82p · 728 weeks ago

Kerri emailed: "It's impossible to find a coffee maker made in the U.S. When ABC News did its recent Made in America special, a coffee maker was the only thing they couldn't find made in the U.S. Thanks for the info on the BPA free though. I'll look for that the next time we need one."

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Sheryl · 728 weeks ago

I would never have thought that BPA is in coffee makers! Between that fact and the fact that so many are made in China, it's (almost) enough to keep me away from drinking it. Next time I look for a new coffee maker I'm going to be aware of these facts; I wonder if I'll be able to find one that is free of both (?)
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Christine · 728 weeks ago

I'm puzzling over the same thing now - what kind of coffee maker to get, and considering the same issues as you. Sadly, I am drinking instant, because I can't find a coffee maker that works. i had a French press also, which was clean and minimalist, but found it just wasn't giving me the flavor I wanted.
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david wright · 728 weeks ago

We use a large,traditional Italian style stove top espresso maker (made in China) and bought at Atlantic Spice. Impractical for a larger group not all drinking at the same time. What about a gold filter (no paper) over a carafe (the drip method) on a low burner? We sometimes do that when entertaining.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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chezsven 82p · 728 weeks ago

Thanks, David. I will check at Atlantic Spice. This new one does have the gold filter. For a bunch of guests, the carafe method is not practical, but thanks for the suggestion.

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sarah henry · 728 weeks ago

I'm a tea drinker, so not much help to you here, but am sure coffee fiends will have strong opinions on how they want their brew at a B&B.
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Champion of My Heart · 728 weeks ago

With just 2 of us in the house and because we only have coffee a couple of times a month, I use a French press ... rather than keep a big, honking coffee maker on the counter. I accidentally broke my tiny one-cup press a while back, but my hubby found a nice 3-4 cup one (glass + stainless) at a garage sale last summer, so now I use that.
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Jane Boursaw · 728 weeks ago

You know, I never really thought about the health/environmental factors of a coffee machine. We used to have one of those vintage glass, stove-top coffee makers, which is probably in the basement somewhere. Now we just have a standard coffee maker you plug in. Plastic with disposable filters. I'll keep an eye on this thread and see what you end up with.
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VM Badertscher · 728 weeks ago

Another tea drinker here, but I just want to congratulate you on thinking about the environment even in coffee makers. That's a thought I've never seen discussed anywhere else!
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NoPotCooking · 728 weeks ago

My mom had an electric percolator that was metal when I was growing up. The sound of the coffee perking and smell of it used to wake me up in the mornings. Although I don't drink coffee (I don't care for it), that smell and sound still says home to me. Modern coffee makers just aren't the same.

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Alisa Bowman · 727 weeks ago

We have a Saeco brand that has lasted about 8 years of very heavy use. The part where the water goes is stainless steel. You can learn more about the company here: http://www.saeco-usa.com/en/mission/mission.html I don't know if they make them in China. I couldn't find anything about that on their website, but the company does seem to support the enviro movement (or at least pays lip service to it).

1 reply · active 727 weeks ago

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chezsven 82p · 727 weeks ago

Thanks, Alisa. I have not heard of this brand but will certainly check it out!

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Kristen · 727 weeks ago

I didn't realize that most coffeemakers (I guess all) are made in China. I'm not a coffee drinker myself, I try to drink plenty of water, though, and keep up with changing my filter.

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Jennifer Margulis · 727 weeks ago

My husband is the brewmaster in our family. We use a French press (no plastic, just glass!). He also uses a totally cool contraption that is all glass and looks like a 19th century coffee experiment. I need to ask him what it's called.

I've never been in a Costco. I hate those big box stores. I would urge you--when you decide what to buy--to purchase it from an independent locally owned kitchen store and not these big box conglomerates that are sucking our nation dry.

1 reply · active 727 weeks ago

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chezsven 82p · 727 weeks ago

Costco has advantages, Jennifer. If we pick up, say, toilet paper, on our way home from a trip to Boston, then we do not have to have toilet paper delivered by UPS which takes energy. Regarding the coffee machine, may I hasten to add that I first compared at our local department store, Snow's, and was distressed by the paltry selection, all made in China, and even spoke to the sales personnel on this subject? Now, thanks to Alisa, I can return to Snow's and suggest they carry Saeco. Also, Costco operates like a co op for the people who work there. You will be interested to know I just sent them an email lamenting the fact that I could not purchase any fruit while there, because none of it was organic ...

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jeanine Barone · 727 weeks ago

We've been in the market for a new coffee maker and we were also surprised not to find any that were made in the U.S. I don't get it.

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James · 727 weeks ago

SaEco is an Italian company that mostly make espresso machines, and should be good--especially if you get one that has metal internal parts like Alisa's. It looks like an all metal one online is 150 or so, which might be more than the American models but likely better made.

The best coffee makers (and the fastest to heat up and brew) are Technivorm machines. They are mostly metal, I don't know if they have parts in contact with the water that are plastic. They brew a dramatically better drip coffee, but they run about 300 for the 12 cup model, though they should last.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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chezsven 82p · 727 weeks ago

Thanks for the details, James. SaEco will be my choice next year and I expect it to last.

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merr · 727 weeks ago

I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but what about those French presses I see at the store? Aren't they glass and stainless?

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ruth pennebaker · 727 weeks ago

I can't remember what kind of coffeemaker we currently have. They seem to last only a year or so, which I find irritating.
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chezsven 82p · 727 weeks ago

Thanks

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Adam Thomas · 727 weeks ago

I am also planning to buy a Coffee Makers machine..

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Kris Bordessa · 726 weeks ago

Gah! We're surrounded by plastic and poor choices! I have your standard plastic/metal electric coffee maker. I've wondered, though, about returning to the days of a percolator! I have one (Corning Ware, I believe) in my camping supply box, but maybe I'll seek out an electric version for day to day. I think antique stores are an excellent place to find throw-back alternatives to plastic.
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garyspeed · 694 weeks ago

Thanks to sharing us a information about the Coffee Machines..

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