Coffee — caffeine, really — is the fuel that propels my day. I get up 30 minutes earlier than my children simply so I can hunch over my kitchen table with a hot mug of joe resting on my chin, coaxing me into consciousness. It also happens that I came of age (culinarily speaking) in Berkeley, California, right around the corner from the original Peet’s Coffee. So it’s fair to say that coffee’s in my blood.
While my caffeine addiction keeps my coffee snobbery in check, I still have high standards when it comes to my daily cup. The best coffeemaker I’ve found may surprise you; it’s the AeroPress by Aerobie. This single-serve contraption looks more like something out of Austin Powers’s cache of shag-props, but I ‘ll tell you this: it makes the smoothest cup of coffee I’ve ever had. Put grounds and hot water into the main chamber, stir, then push the plunger to press the coffee though a special paper filter straight into your cup. Mmmm. Elixir of the Gods in little more time than it takes to boil water. Unlike coffee made with the French press, a mug of AeroPress coffee has no sludgy sediment at the bottom to ruin the last sip. And the AeroPress fits a busy family well: it’s inexpensive (both the unit and the filters), unbreakable, and easy to clean and store.
If you like to make more than one cup of coffee at a time or are serving guests, give the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal a try. I was skeptical about the built-in grinder, but I hate the noise and mess of grinding my own coffee, so I was willing to give it a shot. Excellent results. The coffee tastes good, stays hot (my major complaint with automatic drip coffeemakers), and everything goes into the dishwasher once you’re finished. You can even set the built-in timer and wake up to fresh, hot coffee if the sound of the grinder doesn’t jolt you out of bed first. Appliances that do some of the work for me? I’m sold.
September 17th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
So is that AeroPress essentially a French Press? If so, I think I’m going to have to get it for my husband for his birthday.
I think my father-in-law has the coffee machine. I like that it removes the step of having to transfer the ground beans from the grinder, but you still have to wash out the pot. I’m loving my Keurig machine because it requires almost no cleaning. The coffee isn’t that strong and you’re limited in the brands (no Peets) but I’m much less of a coffee snob than I used to be.
Check out my review here: http://celebritybabies.typepad.com/reviews/2006/12/keurig_single_c.html
September 17th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Is it wrong to lust for a coffee machine…? I’ve had a couple opportunities to sample the nectar of the gods produced by one of these makers and the good folks at Nespresso, and make no mistake about it — this is some high quality java. Take it from someone born and raised in Portland, OR…
Sigh…someday you’ll be mine: http://www.nespresso.com/precom/sima/fiche__Nespresso_Concept_D290__N_C290_A_1_us_en.html
September 18th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Danielle: Unlike a french press, the AeroPress has a paper filter. Also, french press coffee “steeps” for a while and is then pressed through a wire strainer, then poured into a mug, while AeroPress is stirred for about 10 seconds, and is then pressed straight into the cup. AeroPress coffee is so much smoother than french press coffee…the contraption doesn’t look as good on the countertop, but the coffee’s worth it!
September 18th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Another vote for the Aeropress; it makes far and away the best coffee I’ve ever tasted. Married with super-fresh beans and it’s a little slice of heaven. There’s a bit of a ritual involved with using it (heat the water, grind the beans, pour, stir, press, dump, clean), but if you’re the sole coffee drinker in your house like I am, it’s actually more economical than running the drip coffee maker (I also endorse the Cuisinart Grind & Brew, even if mine only gets used when we’re entertaining. My only complaint is that the space behind the basket eventually gets gummed up with coffee fines from the grinder and can be a pain to clean).
I also enjoy my stovetop espresso maker, even if it’s a tad persnickety to use and clean, it’s fun, and if coffee is going to be a hobby as well as an elemental foodstuff, it should be fun.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:45 am
We actually bought the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal as well. My husband is a coffee snob and loves this product! It’s a great way to get freshly ground coffee without the mess of a separate grinder.
September 18th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I wake up to the sound of my coffee being freshly ground by the Cuisinart Grind & Brew every morning. It is the most used wedding gift we received and it really makes an amazing cup of coffee. I was never a big coffee person, however, now we are both addicted to the serious java. The coffee also stays really hot for hours which is amazing. Not waking up to the freshly ground coffee doesn’t happen in my house ever and that is pretty darn nice!
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Hmm, I dug into the site because I had decided to get my husband the Aeropress for his birthday but I had totally forgotten about the Grind & Brew and now I’m stuck! What to get?!?! I guess I’ll have to get both! Thanks for the great suggestions Asha.