Several new coffee makers promise to jump-start your java fix, but how well do they work and how does the coffee taste?
Consumer Reports did some testing and comparing and looked at three coffee makers that claim to improve your cup of joe, including one that only makes cold brewed coffee, a method that requires steeping the grounds in cold water for a long time.
“It makes coffee that’s less bitter and less acidic,” said Consumer Reports’ Bernie Deitrick./
The $50 dollar Oxo Cold Brew is basically a filtered container on a stand. Fill it with water and grounds, and 12 to 24 hours later, the coffee decants slowly into the carafe. But testers wonder why you need it.
“You could also just use a simple glass jar, and pour the liquid off before you get to the grounds,” said Bernie.
Next up, the Fellow Duo Coffee Steeper. It costs $100 dollars and brews coffee hot or cold, and the double filter promises to keep the gunk out of the bottom of your cup.
“We needed to use more coffee, and we had to steep it for longer than the instructions suggested. But the chamber’s really well-insulated, so we were still able to get a hot cup of coffee,” said Bernie.
For just $30 dollars, the Aerobie AeroPress brews both coffee and espresso, using an airtight plunger to force the coffee thru the filter.
Plunging can be a little tricky and made testers a little nervous but the AeroPress does work quickly and is easy to clean.
“Eventually, we were able to get a good cup of coffee from each of these, but not right out of the box. We had to vary time, temperature, amount of coffee, the grind,” said Bernie.
So be aware – these new coffee makers do require a little work.
If you’re more of a traditionalist, Consumer Reports has several conventional drip coffee makers to recommend.
Among the best is the Cuisinart Perfect Temp for $100 dollars.
For a single-serve machine, consider the $130 dollar DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio.
Nydia Han
