Coffeemaker

[thelamb]

I feel like my dad gets a new coffeemaker every 2-3 years, usually as a gift, because he asked for one.  They don't completely die out on him, but performance degrades significantly (whatever that means) and he's just not happy with it.  And I've used them and generally contend that they suck. 

I feel there are three price points before the prices start to get silly:  ~$20, $40 and $60.  There's nary any difference in features between the $20 and $40 models, but the $40 model does appear sturdier with a sleeker, stainless steel facade.  They do the same things; the appearance is perhaps all for show?  The $60 model has a bunch of features that seem silly, especially if you just want a basic cup of morning joe.  So what happens:  the frugal person buys the $20 model, the smart buy. 

But I think they've gone wrong as I purchased the $40 model 15 years and just now replaced it and, frankly, while it was starting to breakdown, it still worked better than the crap ass $20 models my dad goes through every 3 years. 

While the $60 I've saved over the past 15 years isn't a big deal, it makes me sad to think of all those poor coffee makers in the trash. 

[boognish]

I'm a big fan of the French press. No chance of "performance degrading," no filters, takes up less space, less expensive, easy to clean, and you make the exact amount you want to drink.

Buying a coffee maker once every 15 years isn't too shabby either

[Thegoblinchief]

I'm a big fan of the AeroPress, which is very similar to a French press.

[UnleashHell]

I use a zojirushi thermal carafe coffee maker. its very good, has a timer (just in case you can't wait that 30 seconds in the morning it takes to get it ready) and the thermal pot keeps the coffee hot and fresh for hours. I didn;t give a damn about coffee makers until my wife bought one 11 years ago - when it died last year i used cash back on a credit card to buy a replacement... so now I have 2 pots and a coffee maker.

I've be all in favor of the more expensive one.

[justplucky]

Stovetop percolator -- we're old school at our house. $25 and still going strong seven years later.

[stevedoug]

I'm a big fan of the AeroPress, which is very similar to a French press.

+1 to the Aeroporess. With proper set up it makes the best coffee. for real

[YK-Phil]

I've been using the same Gaggia Classic for over 15 years. I can't clearly remember how much I paid for it, perhaps no more than $400-500. I would love to upgrade to a "prosumer" machine but so far I am satisfied with the quality of my espresso shots, which really depend more on the beans than anything else, and most importantly on the grinder, so the benefit of upgrading would not be as perceivable as if I were drinking cheap Folger's. I also use a moka pot which always gives me a good cup of strong coffee every single time. If I had to upgrade anything, I'd go for a nice Rancilio Rocky grinder, but at $400, this is not a priority.

[EngineerMum]

My Italian in-laws gave us a very good coffee machine as an engagement present about 9 years ago. It costs about $90 a year for a service and beans, maybe another $10 for de-calc and filter replacement. Yes, it's hedonic adaption, but I'm including replacement and running costs in my FIRE budget. Though when I replace I'll probably downgrade to something more like this http://www.saeco.com.au/en_AU/automatic-espresso-machine/espresso-machine/Minuto/HD8761_03 rather than the full bells and whistles version they gave us. Yes, that's a $700 machine. For me, yes it's worth it. I am currently tolerating instant coffee while I'm still far from FI, and while I get great coffee for free at work, but in retirement, I want to enjoy my coffee, and roughly $100 running costs + $100 replacement cost per year is a lot less than buying coffee even twice a week. If drip coffee was my only option I'd have to quit coffee.

[kpd905]

I'm a big fan of the French press. No chance of "performance degrading," no filters, takes up less space, less expensive, easy to clean, and you make the exact amount you want to drink.

Buying a coffee maker once every 15 years isn't too shabby either

Be careful using a French Press all the time if you have any family history of high cholesterol.  Apparently there are oils in unfiltered coffee that can raise cholesterol.  They are mostly caught by filters.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6242467/ns/health-heart_health/t/coffee-cholesterol/#.VIEBcNLF-So

[Mr. Frugalwoods]

We do pourover coffee, since we each only make 1 cup per day and neither of us is jazzed with the idea of reheating yesterday's coffee.

Couple of cheap melitta forms, filters are super cheap from amazon, and you have a great cup of coffee with no waste.  Here's a full photo of our setup:

https://twitter.com/FrugalWoods/status/538023932591628288

Pourovers, filters, scale (portion control!), and kettle.

This also illustrates how this method ceases to be convenient when you need to make more than 2 cups of coffee :-)  My folks were in town for thanksgiving and it's the one time of year where we really wish we had a larger-capacity way of making coffee.  But the other 51 weeks a year... it works great!

[Rezdent]

We do pourover coffee, since we each only make 1 cup per day and neither of us is jazzed with the idea of reheating yesterday's coffee.

Couple of cheap melitta forms, filters are super cheap from amazon, and you have a great cup of coffee with no waste.  Here's a full photo of our setup:

https://twitter.com/FrugalWoods/status/538023932591628288

Pourovers, filters, scale (portion control!), and kettle.

This also illustrates how this method ceases to be convenient when you need to make more than 2 cups of coffee :-)  My folks were in town for thanksgiving and it's the one time of year where we really wish we had a larger-capacity way of making coffee.  But the other 51 weeks a year... it works great!

+1 for Melitta coffee filters.  Cheap, easy and virtually indestructible.   Oh, and makes good coffee.

[MayDay]

So we used to have a Keurig (I KNOW.  God that was stupid!).  I sold it on craigslist. 

Now we have a cheapo 20$ model that we use whenever we have company, maybe 6 times a year, as we don't drink coffee.  I would love to do a French press or similar, put most of our company drinks a whole pot in the morning, and I know they would revolt at having to French press themselves 8 cups of coffee. 

[UnleashHell]

So we used to have a Keurig (I KNOW.  God that was stupid!).  I sold it on craigslist. 

I took my Keurig to work - and order the cups through our office supplies :D

[golden1]

I'm a big fan of the French press. No chance of "performance degrading," no filters, takes up less space, less expensive, easy to clean, and you make the exact amount you want to drink.

Ditto this - and it makes a hell of a cup of coffee with some good quality beans.

[RunHappy]

I love my electric percolator (5 years old).  Best coffee ever in my opinion, but we do have a Mr. Coffee drip (4 years old) that is not too bad.

Why not suggest to your dad to sell these on Craigslist?  He won't get what was originally but at least they won't go into the trash and will get some money to offset the cost of the new one.

Edit: In case anyone wonders why we have 2 coffee makers, it is because my SO and I both had complete 1-2 bedroom households and we recently merged.  When we move again in the spring (and everything is unpacked) we are planning to figure out what to keep and what to toss.  Until then we will live with 2 of everything.

[Franklin]

So we used to have a Keurig (I KNOW.  God that was stupid!).  I sold it on craigslist. 

Now we have a cheapo 20$ model that we use whenever we have company, maybe 6 times a year, as we don't drink coffee.  I would love to do a French press or similar, put most of our company drinks a whole pot in the morning, and I know they would revolt at having to French press themselves 8 cups of coffee.

Here you go:   http://www.amazon.com/BonJour-French-Polished-Stainless-12-Cup/dp/B00004R8Y8/ref=sr_1_8?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1417788955&sr=1-8&keywords=french+press

[RetiredAt63]

Melitta also makes larger carafes and cones, and you just buy larger filters (#4, #6).  It stores easily in an out-of-the-way cupboard when you don't need it.
http://www.amazon.ca/Melitta-640616-Gourmet-Manual-Coffeemaker/dp/B000MIT2OK

Serious portion control! I just use the measuring spoon that comes with the cone.

This also illustrates how this method ceases to be convenient when you need to make more than 2 cups of coffee :-)  My folks were in town for thanksgiving and it's the one time of year where we really wish we had a larger-capacity way of making coffee.  But the other 51 weeks a year... it works great!

[2lazy2retire]

I feel like my dad gets a new coffeemaker every 2-3 years, usually as a gift, because he asked for one.  They don't completely die out on him, but performance degrades significantly (whatever that means) and he's just not happy with it.  And I've used them and generally contend that they suck. 

I feel there are three price points before the prices start to get silly:  ~$20, $40 and $60.  There's nary any difference in features between the $20 and $40 models, but the $40 model does appear sturdier with a sleeker, stainless steel facade.  They do the same things; the appearance is perhaps all for show?  The $60 model has a bunch of features that seem silly, especially if you just want a basic cup of morning joe.  So what happens:  the frugal person buys the $20 model, the smart buy. 

But I think they've gone wrong as I purchased the $40 model 15 years and just now replaced it and, frankly, while it was starting to breakdown, it still worked better than the crap ass $20 models my dad goes through every 3 years. 

While the $60 I've saved over the past 15 years isn't a big deal, it makes me sad to think of all those poor coffee makers in the trash.

My wife picked up one of these,  still in the box at Goodwill for $12

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/de-longhi-pump-ec702-espresso-maker/1016141461?mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_coffeetea_&adpos=1o3&creative=39230273749&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=COjms6OQr8ICFVNp7AodcBYAAw

[FarmerPete]

My coworker brought in a Hamilton Beach "Scoop" coffee maker.  It does 1 cup at a time.  It uses a reusable metal "Scoop" filter.  He bought his for $60 from some local place.  I really liked the idea.  Basically like a Kurig, but with reusable filters that actually work.  A week after he bought his, I saw the same model at Goodwill for $4.  I bought it, and I leave it in my cube at work.  I still harass him about it a little bit.  It's worked great over the last year.  I buy my coffee in 2.5lb bags from Sams for $13.  I'll go through half a bag a month.  Based on my current volume, that comes out to roughly 192 cups of coffee for $13 or $0.0677 per cup. 

If/when this coffee maker breaks, I'll probably switch to a french press.  We have a hot water dispenser at work, so it will be fairly easy to do.

[NoraLenderbee]

I'm still trying to figure out how a coffee maker's performance can "degrade significantly." My coffee maker is 14 years old, and it hasn't gotten slower or started to produce worse coffee. 

[RetiredAt63]

Same here - but maybe it doesn't get the water as hot?  Or needs a good cleaning (scale buildup in the water part, oil buildup in the carafe)?

My Melitta is almost fool-proof, except for me - I am perfectly capable of knocking the cone off and having to deal with all the spilled grounds  ;-(    However, I found even a French press was too much bother in comparison.  And the filter and grounds go in the compost.

I'm still trying to figure out how a coffee maker's performance can "degrade significantly." My coffee maker is 14 years old, and it hasn't gotten slower or started to produce worse coffee.

[tofuchampion]

I bought a Chemex about 2 years ago and have never had better coffee. 

[alsoknownasDean]

I had an espresso machine for a while, but eventually ditched it and started making plunger (French Press) coffee instead. I used a couple of cheap Arcosteel plungers, but once they broke, ended up getting a Bodum Brazil, which has been going strong ever since. :)

I grind the beans with this (purchased in my less-frugal days):

http://www.thegoodguys.com.au/sunbeam-conical-burr-coffee-grinder-em0480

It works well enough, but as my workplace has a coffee machine (with free coffee that isn't instant), I tend to only make coffee at home on weekends.

With the OP's Dad's machines, it sounds like they could do with an occasional clean/descale :)