Gifts that keep on taking

[SugarMountain]

My wife and I still are not on the same page about our spending and the hidden costs of small things.  Last Friday, she gave me a gift of a Nespresso Vertuo coffee maker.  It's one of the pod type machines.  I really hurt her feelings by not being excited about it, leaning towards returning it.  I ultimately decided to keep it with the idea that while nobody has reusable pods yet, they will.  They seem to be out there for the older Nespresso machines.  But, in the meantime, coffee will cost $.75 per cup, so probably about $1.50 a day.

How do deal with gifts that you know are ultimately going to cost you money in the long term?  My wife was so excited about having gotten me this and was really upset with my reaction.  All I could think of was this is going to cost me about $500 a year in extra coffee costs. I will say it is super convenient, but this is another case of exchanging money for convenience.

[pipercat]

Well, if only it weren't your wife!  If it were almost anyone else, I would suggest returning it.  Unfortunately, I think you should keep it.  Try being excited about it, but continue to plant the seeds of frugality.  Maybe someday soon, she will surprise you by suggesting you sell it.

Or you can simply develop a new water habit!

[SugarMountain]

The good thing is this did spur a long discussion about financial goals.  Plus, it's going to be another thing for me to try to hack.

[warfreak2]

I drink about half as much coffee as you, but I can't imagine spending $250/year on coffee. Then I remember that some people pay multiple dollars per coffee, and not even for particularly enjoyable coffee. I buy a jar of instant coffee maybe twice a year, it turns out I actually prefer it. (I also don't add milk, another preference that incidentally saves money.)

So, do you enjoy this fancy coffee more than the coffee you were drinking before - or other coffee that you could make yourself? If not, your wife might find it easier to understand simply as a taste preference. Does your wife drink it too? Make better coffee yourself (for cheaper) and let her try. You might get her on board without even mentioning money.

[CommonCents]

Depending on the nature of the relationship with the gifter, you can:
- Say thanks and never use it
- Say thanks and return it
- Say thanks, open a discussion why you prefer something else
- Say thanks and use, despite the costs

[AJ]

That reminds me of my brother and his wife:

My sister-in-law confided in me that she is saving up for a trip to Hawaii as a "gift" for my brother. My brother, OTOH, saves his cash secretly because he desperately wants to buy a house and start investing and he knows his wife will spend it if she finds it. The Hawaii trip is obviously a "gift" for herself.

I cringe to think of how that exchange might go down. She planned to arrange it with his boss ahead of time, pack his bags, and just say "surprise, we're leaving now!" I was able to at least convince her to give him some time to prepare.

[Frizhand]

Same thing happened to me last Christmas...except the machine came from my in-laws.   I didn't want the thing and I didn't want to fake being excited about it.  My wife was upset with me because I couldn't fake being happy about the gift her parents got us.  I'm very happy with my current coffee maker and all I could think about was how I was going to spend $1.50 to make my own coffee!  and the coffee from those machines isn't good!

Funny thing is, my wife gave me a hard time about not using it...but she soon stopped because it made an inferior cup of tea (she doesn't drink coffee). So, it all turned out ok.  We kept the coffee maker and we use it only during a party or some other 'special event' when many people want different hot drinks.

You may find that she is willing to stop using it simply because your current coffee making solution is better!

[JPinDC]

Because it's your wife I'd say suck it up and keep it. I googled around for some alternatives to nespresso pods and found these: http://www.hilinecoffee.com/ and some re-usable options on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Coffeeduck-Refillable-Capsules-Nespresso-Universal/dp/B009PLM9NG/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1395168063&sr=8-15&keywords=nespresso

[SugarMountain]

Because it's your wife I'd say suck it up and keep it. I googled around for some alternatives to nespresso pods and found these: http://www.hilinecoffee.com/ and some re-usable options on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Coffeeduck-Refillable-Capsules-Nespresso-Universal/dp/B009PLM9NG/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1395168063&sr=8-15&keywords=nespresso

This is the new Vertuo line (we're fancy like that), with different pods.  It does not appear that there are reusable pods available yet.  I have high hopes that there will soon be something like this available: http://www.my-cap.com/nespresso/foil-seals-for-my-cap-sule-capsules-for-nespresso-brewers-detail.html

Reusable pods might be more difficult as there is now bar coding on the pod so it can make the perfect brew. (I actually tried wrapping with tinfoil and it looked like it would work, but the machine couldn't read it since the foil covered it, so it errored out).

I will say, I actually like the idea of the pod machines, if you can refill the pods.  Keurig has refillable k-cups that are designed to work with their machines and my sister in-law has one of these.  She lived with us for a while and I found that  I used a lot less coffee using that than when I make part of a pot and throw some of it out.  I would have suggested going with a Keurig, but she is completely bought in to the superiority of <i>this</i> machine. 

[rocksinmyhead]

Ahhh, this isn't as bad because it wasn't a spousal purchase but much like Frizhand's story, my boyfriend's parents got us a Keurig for Christmas. I feel bad because it was a very sweet gift but OMG not something we would EVER buy ourselves. Thankfully, it even came with a reusable filter and that is what my bf uses most of the time (I don't really drink coffee anymore and I don't find it any more convenient than my teapot for making tea). And the other day there was a sale at the grocery store for boxes of a particular brand of K-cups for $3.50 per box of 12... still not a fabulous deal for homemade coffee in general (and not environmentally friendly!) but a great deal for K-cups, so I bought a bunch of those. It IS fun when we have people over for brunch.

But yeah, in your case that is rough. It's really good that it opened up a conversation, though... I would say if your wife was on a such a different page from you that she would buy you that gift and expect you to be excited, it's definitely a conversation that needed to be had!

[windawake]

Do you have to use the Neaspresso all the time? Can you have some other type of coffee (french press, regular coffee maker) for your daily coffee and then just use the Neaspresso for when you're feeling fancy?

[SugarMountain]

Do you have to use the Neaspresso all the time? Can you have some other type of coffee (french press, regular coffee maker) for your daily coffee and then just use the Neaspresso for when you're feeling fancy?

I do have a regular coffee maker (and a french press for that matter).  I probably will mix in when I make coffee the old fashioned way.

[MrMoneyPinch]

Your wife clearly wants you to have great coffee at home.  I suggest talking her into exchanging that machine for a real espresso machine.  Mine cost 650$, is manual, includes a grinder, and the few grams of coffee beans per cup it needs are quite cheap. 
Fantastic Java on the cheap !

[phred]

Thank her profusely.  Say it's just what you need in your office because vending machine coffee is so bad.  Take it to your office.  Dust it occaisionally.

[SugarMountain]

Haha!  I had sent email to My-Cap, the company that sells new foil seals for other Nespresso pods to see if they are working on pods for Vertuo makers.  They responded:

"Hi,

Thank you. We are working on a solution.  Hope to have it around May or June.

Take care,

My-Cap"

At that point, I'll be able to knock the price back to $.15 per coffee.  Feeling better already!

[rocksinmyhead]

Haha!  I had sent email to My-Cap, the company that sells new foil seals for other Nespresso pods to see if they are working on pods for Vertuo makers.  They responded:

"Hi,

Thank you. We are working on a solution.  Hope to have it around May or June.

Take care,

My-Cap"

At that point, I'll be able to knock the price back to $.15 per coffee.  Feeling better already!

Nice!

[BlueHouse]

My sister gave me a Nespresso machine as a house-warming gift.  She knows I don't drink coffee. 

[Shor]

This is a sign. This is your moment where you throw away that addictive crutch known as <Insert Thing Here>, and start living Your life! For you!

Oh, and keep the box... you can regift it at the next friend's wedding. She won't say a thing... until later... hopefully(?)

[ABC123]

A few years ago, my brother-in-law gave my husband a satellite radio system.  It required a $15 per month subscription in order to use it.  Yeah, that wasn't happening.  When the initial free trial ran out, the radio turned into an expensive mess of plastic.  What a waste. 

[CommonCents]

DH likes to ask both our parents for useful kitchen items for Christmas/birthdays. They're always "for me"...since I'm the wife I guess. We've gotten nice pans, a bread maker and new baking sheets this way. This year he asks his parents for a George Foreman grill...for me. I would be almost vegetarian if it weren't for him and anything I might make on that I can just as easily make in a pan so I don't forsee ever using it, which made him upset when I said so. Then the first time he and our roommate used it was while I was at work and they didn't clean the damn thing out (it does not have removable plates so it's a pain to clean). So I got a thing I'll probably never use and a greasy mess to clean up because of it to boot. I told him the new house rule is whoever uses it has to clean it because that was fucking disgusting.

Oh, and his parents decided that a quesadilla maker would go great with a George Foreman grill...which also doesn't have removable plates

Yeah, that's along the lines of how a friend and I got into an argument because she firmly believes wedding presents are for the bride, not the groom.  That outdated mentality needs to go. 

Call him on it the next time he makes a request "for you."  Just sweetly tell him thanks for the suggestion, but you've already given in your wish list to the parents.

[JPinDC]

Haha!  I had sent email to My-Cap, the company that sells new foil seals for other Nespresso pods to see if they are working on pods for Vertuo makers.  They responded:

"Hi,

Thank you. We are working on a solution.  Hope to have it around May or June.

Take care,

My-Cap"

At that point, I'll be able to knock the price back to $.15 per coffee.  Feeling better already!

Much better!

[dragoncar]

Wow, I'm surprised at some of the answers here.  Pretend to like it?  I'd prefer to be able to be honest with my wife.  In fact, I'd probably get mad right back at her because if she thought I'd want a pod coffee maker, then she hasn't been paying attention to anything I've been saying about finances*.

Worst case, I'd say "I like it, but I'd much rather exchange it for some jewelry for you!"  And then she gets useless jewelry that won't have ongoing costs, and I don't have to hide this stupid machine.


*hypothetical, because I'm not married... which may be a good thing given my reaction here :)

This year he asks his parents for a George Foreman grill...for me. I would be almost vegetarian if it weren't for him and anything I might make on that I can just as easily make in a pan so I don't forsee ever using it, which made him upset when I said so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4amanPDo2s

[Tempe]

Part of the promotion for the apartment I signed the lease for was a free Keurig. I'm not interested in the cost for cup for those, although some of them are tasty for once in awhile treats. Last year when I bought some as a gift for a roommate I was able to find k cups fairly cheap on amazon. I don't drink coffee, and I just don't imagine using the thing often. Because my bf and I aren't daily coffee drinkers the thing is just going to take up space, so I am contemplating selling it. On the other hand if I get a reusable filter it will at least be decent for the time I do make coffee, mainly for baking purposes (mocha pudding cake is soooo good)

Hopefully the reusable pods come out sooner than later. I knew someone who bought the pods themselves and didn't realize it went with a machine one time (facepalms)

[TheRedHead]

Probably depends on how long you've been married. I'm looking at 19 years this summer and I would flat out tell my husband "no thank you" if he did something along those lines. He would understand too. I said no thank you to a spa service he wanted to arrange for me for valentines day. He understood even though he thinks it's difficult doing nice things for me :)

[Fireman]

I just bought a 4 pack of reusable k-cup filters here.  At the cost of a box of disposable k-cups, I expect i'll save some coin if I use them instead!

[limeandpepper]

Wow, I'm surprised at some of the answers here.  Pretend to like it?  I'd prefer to be able to be honest with my wife.

I agree with this and I'm surprised at the answers, too. Your partner should be the person who knows you best (or strives to do so). If you're in a close relationship, the gift-giver should know what the partner wants or doesn't want, OR if they don't know, they should be able to ask before committing to a purchase, OR not be offended if they go it their own way and it turns out they were off the mark. Likewise, the gift-recipient should be able to be honest with their partner, in a gentle, tactful way of course. This makes things much easier and paves the way for better understanding and communication for the future.

Probably depends on how long you've been married. I'm looking at 19 years this summer and I would flat out tell my husband "no thank you" if he did something along those lines. He would understand too.

Mostly agree with this, except I don't think it matters how long you've been married, or if you're married at all. If you're in a healthy relationship these things should be able to discussed and negotiated like understanding adults.

[Milspecstache]

Worst 'gift that keeps on taking' I can think of is a timeshare.  Even once you own it (and can stop making payments on the mortgage) they can slap you with fees and fee increases to cover arbitrary stuff each year.  I pray that no one wills me one after their death because I will dump it asap.

[goatmom]

MIL bought my dd a puppy for Christmas a few years ago.  It eats, needs vet visits and grooming. And boarding when we travel.  It barks at anything, so we are saving on an alarm system at least. She did ask dh beforehand and he oked ut.

[johnintaiwan]

My wife gave me an expensive (compared to any other i have had) watch for my birthday when we first started dating. I explained that I was appreciative, but that I don't wear a watch and if I did I would not need one that nice. She was very understanding and we exchanged it.

I hate getting gifts. I appreciate the thought, but I also feel that if they really knew me, they wouldnt get me anything. Even if it is very nearly the exact thing I wanted, it is still not what I wanted. I also enjoy the weeks/months I spend researching the item before I buy it. Nowadays, I provide anyone who is planning on giving me a gift with about 10 options (with attached product numbers and dimensions, colors Etc.0). They still get to surprise me, but I know it will be something I at least want. I think it works out great.

Some (many?) people think I'm just an ungrateful prick.

[lexie2000]

I feel sorry for my DH.  I am EXTREMELY hard to buy for because there is really not much that he could "surprise" me with that I want.  He knows it, but he still tries from at Christmas time.  One Christmas he bought me some Uggs.    Last Christmas, and the Christmas before that, he bought me a book from Barnes and Noble to surprise me.  Neither was over $20, but I use this great thing called a library and it's really awesome cuz the books there are FREE!!  LOL!!

I did return one of the books (I don't think he even noticed), but those Uggs are still sitting on my closet shelf.  It's not that I don't "like" them, but I have to keep my jeans tucked into them when I wear them and then they keep coming out so I'm constantly re-tucking whenever I wear them.  Ugh!!  LOL!! 

[mxer54]

We have a Keurig, but we use thethe screen filter (lasts forever) for regular coffee grounds.  We both only drink one cup a day, it uses less grounds per day than using a regular coffee maker...So it works for us. 

[Fireman]

I did return one of the books (I don't think he even noticed), but those Uggs are still sitting on my closet shelf.  It's not that I don't "like" them, but I have to keep my jeans tucked into them when I wear them and then they keep coming out so I'm constantly re-tucking whenever I wear them.  Ugh!!  LOL!!

I think exasperation should be expressed as Ugg!!

[rocksinmyhead]

My wife gave me an expensive (compared to any other i have had) watch for my birthday when we first started dating. I explained that I was appreciative, but that I don't wear a watch and if I did I would not need one that nice. She was very understanding and we exchanged it.

I hate getting gifts. I appreciate the thought, but I also feel that if they really knew me, they wouldnt get me anything. Even if it is very nearly the exact thing I wanted, it is still not what I wanted. I also enjoy the weeks/months I spend researching the item before I buy it. Nowadays, I provide anyone who is planning on giving me a gift with about 10 options (with attached product numbers and dimensions, colors Etc.0). They still get to surprise me, but I know it will be something I at least want. I think it works out great.

Some (many?) people think I'm just an ungrateful prick.

yeah, I'm not really into gifts either. I'm with you on the "here's a list so you can kind of surprise me but it won't be a BAD surprise" concept. thankfully my parents and boyfriend are comfortable with this... anyone else I'd really just rather not get a gift from. and gift-giving stresses me out, unless I happen to have stumbled on the PERFECT gift. definitely not one of my love languages :)

[MrsPete]

I don't think those coffee machines are the worst idea in the world -- we don't have one, but my husband wants one.  He is the only coffee drinker in the house, so making a whole pot is wasteful.  He really enjoys one cup, and he won't drink old, stale coffee from yesterday.  If he and I both drank several cups a day, a drip machine would make perfect sense, but for one cup a day . . . this isn't a bad idea. 

Also, with these things gaining in popularity, I suspect we'll see the price come down as other companies begin to make the K-cups. 

As for the general idea, gifts that require cost or maintenance in the future, I think it depends upon the circumstances.  If it's something that the person really wants and will use, fine.  If it's something that's just going to be a hassle, then it's an inconsiderate gift. 

I bet we can all agree on the worst "gift that keeps on taking":  A surprise puppy given to your child.  That's the ultimate in rudeness.   

[MayDay]

We have a Keurig because DH sometimes drank one cup a day.  Well, he gave it up and now doesn't drink coffee at all, and I never did.  I tried the cocoa/chai type k-cups, but OMG don't read the ingredients.  They are horrifying. 

So basically, we own this large, heavy machine that we only get out when we have coffee-drinking company come over.  And in that scenario, we almost always could use a whole pot anyway since we are serving multiple people!  But we got rid of our old drip coffee maker when we got the Keurig.  Argh!  I might try to sell it on CL and hen go buy another drip maker. 

[RMD]

Not a coffee snob.  I bought one of the Cafe Valet things that they have in hotel rooms.  One cup for me every morning.  I have a lot of friends and family who travel...they bring me back the coffee from their hotel rooms.  :)  I don't do fancy flavors or anything like that, though.  I do want to look into seeing if someone would make me one of the trays out of tin or similar so I could reuse and use regular coffee with a washable bag...but I haven't done it yet.

As far as gifts that keep on taking...my coworker was given some fancy kind of manicure thing by her husband for Christmas, now she feels like she has to go get her nails done to keep them up as they grow out...and she's mortified at how damaged they are when the fake stuff comes off.  It's both a money-suck and a time-suck because she's always trying to work in the appointment around other stuff.

[RetiredAt63]

My sister has one, and a machine for making lattes (I do see the point of that machine if one really loves lattes).  I don't see it - I make my coffee one cup at a time by boiling a cup of water and pouring it over coffee (of my choice) in a cone filter holder with a paper filter.  Coffee is fresh every time, the filter and grounds go into the compost (could go into a green bin for city dwellers) and it takes very little space in the cupboard when not in use. I actually have 2 cones (wow, spendthrift here) so if I have a guest I can make two different coffee choices at the same time.  Better than the machine!  I also have a Melitta carafe and cone and larger filters for when I need to make a larger quantity.  It is just as fast as a machine (any machine, any type), makes great coffee, and doesn't take up masses of counter space.  I get my filters at Costco so the cost per cup is very little beyond the actual coffee.

I think we are all being suckered. YMMV.

[bikebum]

I was a band geek in high school, and one year the seniors got the band director a personalized license plate for his car. I think it read "JAZZ MAN". He later found it cost about $50 a year to keep it.

[chicagomeg]

Alright, going to have to dodge some face punches here, but I talked myself into the Vertuo a few weeks ago. The one thing I can suggest is that you can reprogram it to make larger cups out of one pod. I have it brewing about 12 oz from the coffee ones. It still tastes great when I use any of the stronger pods like the Stormio. For the espresso, I just open use each pod twice by opening the machine just enough for it to recognize its open and then closing it again. If you don't want the machine it might still not be worth the money, but I'm personally really happy with my splurge.

[homehandymum]

I don't think those coffee machines are the worst idea in the world -- we don't have one, but my husband wants one.  He is the only coffee drinker in the house, so making a whole pot is wasteful.  He really enjoys one cup, and he won't drink old, stale coffee from yesterday.  If he and I both drank several cups a day, a drip machine would make perfect sense, but for one cup a day . . . this isn't a bad idea. 

Little french press? That's what I use.  I bought a double-walled stainless steel one, because I kept breaking the glass ones.   I just fill it half full for a single cup, or all the way full for a big mug. 
http://www.briscoes.co.nz/kitchen/tea-and-coffee/plungers/1042120/Zip-Pinnacle-350ml-Stainless-Steel-Double-Wall-Plunger.html

[pachnik]

We don't have the counter space for a Keurig and I wouldn't want one because of buying those pods. 

My husband makes very strong coffee in a French press and I just use a small coffee maker. 

[Vjklander]

I feel your pain. I actually still use an electric percolator.  You can't beat it, though I have to buy beans and grind them at the store.
I am impossible to buy a gift for myself.  I try to be pleased with gifts I don't want and can't use, but I am a real bad faker.  My son solved the problem though.  For my 50th birthday he wanted to do something special, so he got the fam together to brainstorm and he basically figured out there are 3 things I like. Beer, food, and naked ladies.  So they all took me to a 'gentleman's club' in Richmond where we had food and beer and lots of naked ladies. That was great.
Vjk

[MrCash]

We don't have the counter space for a Keurig and I wouldn't want one because of buying those pods. 

My husband makes very strong coffee in a French press and I just use a small coffee maker.

You can get refillable cups that take French press grind.  That is what I use so I don't have to buy the k-cups.

[johnintaiwan]

off topic but just noticed this scrolling down the replies.

BobInDenver and JPinDC, I love the names

[rocksinmyhead]

My sister has one, and a machine for making lattes (I do see the point of that machine if one really loves lattes).  I don't see it - I make my coffee one cup at a time by boiling a cup of water and pouring it over coffee (of my choice) in a cone filter holder with a paper filter.  Coffee is fresh every time, the filter and grounds go into the compost (could go into a green bin for city dwellers) and it takes very little space in the cupboard when not in use. I actually have 2 cones (wow, spendthrift here) so if I have a guest I can make two different coffee choices at the same time.  Better than the machine!  I also have a Melitta carafe and cone and larger filters for when I need to make a larger quantity.  It is just as fast as a machine (any machine, any type), makes great coffee, and doesn't take up masses of counter space.  I get my filters at Costco so the cost per cup is very little beyond the actual coffee.

this is the BEST way to make coffee while camping!

[dragoncar]

My sister has one, and a machine for making lattes (I do see the point of that machine if one really loves lattes).  I don't see it - I make my coffee one cup at a time by boiling a cup of water and pouring it over coffee (of my choice) in a cone filter holder with a paper filter.  Coffee is fresh every time, the filter and grounds go into the compost (could go into a green bin for city dwellers) and it takes very little space in the cupboard when not in use. I actually have 2 cones (wow, spendthrift here) so if I have a guest I can make two different coffee choices at the same time.  Better than the machine!  I also have a Melitta carafe and cone and larger filters for when I need to make a larger quantity.  It is just as fast as a machine (any machine, any type), makes great coffee, and doesn't take up masses of counter space.  I get my filters at Costco so the cost per cup is very little beyond the actual coffee.

this is the BEST way to make coffee while camping!

It's kinda ridiculous that fancy-shmancy coffee shops are now touting this method, when it's one of the most basic ways you could possibly make coffee.  Of course, that doesn't stop the industry from making expensive (you can buy $200 kettles to boil water and such). 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/magazine/13Food-t-000.html?_r=2&sq=japanese%20pour-over%20coffeee&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=1&adxnnlx=1395333647-ANcxJrR96x75HzjopVtu4A
http://www.theawl.com/2012/01/the-scourge-of-pour-over-coffee

[Dr.Vibrissae]

My in-laws bought me a Keureg a couple Christmases ago (I don't drink coffee, my MIL just likes to buy whatever is fun and trendy.  I once got a Tickle-Me-Elmo in college because they were the HOT gift, ha.)  It was fun until the sample cups ran out. It took up a ton of counter space, doesn't make a very strong brew and requires you to buy more cups. 

We got a reusable filter, which we used for both coffee and loose leaf tea.  It worked fine, but the Mr. likes a strong cup of coffee and a lot of it, so he went back to his French press after awhile, and I found it easier to just make a cup of tea with a tea bag than to go through the rigamarole of loading and then cleaning the filter.

Our solution was to take the Keureg into the Mr.'s shared office.  People at the office trade off buying the cups, or contribute a few bucks a week to the stash (we haven't spent our own money on cups since it moved over), several people also use the reusable filter.  At home we went back to the French press, and tea pot, and a cheap electric water pitcher to boil for both in the morning.  The Mr.'s recent splurge was an expresso machine he found for $8 at the thrift store, it will also steam milk for latte's and still only takes up half the room of the Keureg.

[golden1]

One of the first habits I changed when I started reading this blog was to stop using my Verismo coffee maker (except for a very occasional latte) and start making french press coffee.  I really enjoy the coffee!  It takes a bit longer in the morning but it is worth it!

[RetiredAt63]

Oooh, I 'm trendy  ;-)  I use Melitta cones, not Japanese, but the idea is the same.  I boil my water (filtered, all my drinking water goes through a Britta filter) in the microwave in a Pyrex measuring cup, so I know exactly how much water I am pouring - the method is much the same, pour in a little water to wet the coffee and get it started, and keep it from going all the way up the filter, then keep slowly adding - at one cup of water, this is not that lengthy a process.  The paper filter removes bitterness, I could taste the difference when I tried using a permanent filter (fine wire mesh).

It's kinda ridiculous that fancy-shmancy coffee shops are now touting this method, when it's one of the most basic ways you could possibly make coffee.  Of course, that doesn't stop the industry from making expensive (you can buy $200 kettles to boil water and such). 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/magazine/13Food-t-000.html?_r=2&sq=japanese%20pour-over%20coffeee&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=1&adxnnlx=1395333647-ANcxJrR96x75HzjopVtu4A
http://www.theawl.com/2012/01/the-scourge-of-pour-over-coffee

[dragoncar]

Oooh, I 'm trendy  ;-)  I use Melitta cones, not Japanese, but the idea is the same.  I boil my water (filtered, all my drinking water goes through a Britta filter) in the microwave in a Pyrex measuring cup, so I know exactly how much water I am pouring - the method is much the same, pour in a little water to wet the coffee and get it started, and keep it from going all the way up the filter, then keep slowly adding - at one cup of water, this is not that lengthy a process.  The paper filter removes bitterness, I could taste the difference when I tried using a permanent filter (fine wire mesh).

It's kinda ridiculous that fancy-shmancy coffee shops are now touting this method, when it's one of the most basic ways you could possibly make coffee.  Of course, that doesn't stop the industry from making expensive (you can buy $200 kettles to boil water and such). 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/magazine/13Food-t-000.html?_r=2&sq=japanese%20pour-over%20coffeee&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=1&adxnnlx=1395333647-ANcxJrR96x75HzjopVtu4A
http://www.theawl.com/2012/01/the-scourge-of-pour-over-coffee

I'm sorry, only heathens microwave their water.  You must heat the water gently over a an artisan candle made with locally-sourced organic beeswax.