for anyone on here who collects coffee machines

[n0oxy]

I know a lot of us collect other appliances besides vacuums. I'm not sure if anyone on here collects coffee machines but if so, you will probably like this youtube channel. He does other reviews as well but a lot of his videos relate to lots of different coffee machines, including lots of the keurig machines.
Mike

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS-sk6Bpjsmq1TBM_ir-q5w

 

[human]

I don't so much collect Keurigs as I accumulate them. At the moment, I have three working units and one that needs work. I pick them up on the cheap at thrift shops ($15 maximum), bring them home, clean them up and give them a test run. As often as not, I pass them on to someone who needs one. Most recently, I took one to my mom at Christmastime because the one she had was giving her trouble. Does this make me an enabler of others' caffeine habits? Maybe. But in the process, I get to upgrade my own machines. To date though, I have not taken the plunge on a Keuring 2.0 machine. The idea of digital rights management for coffee just doesn't sit right with me.

 

[suckolux]

I own a few different coffee makers, different styles too, but not sure I collect.

 

[n0oxy]

Keurigs

I don't drink coffee though I know you can get other things in Keurig cups such as hot chocolate. I don't think I would get one for a couple reasons. First, I've heard that some of the plastic from the Keurig cups gets in to the drinks and of course that's not good. Whether or not that is true I can't say. The second reason is, at least with the newer models, you cannot use distilled water in them. The sensors use the minerals in the water to detect if there is water in the tank and if you use distilled water, it will think the tank is empty. I have several water distillers and if you could see the crud that is in one of those distillers when it's done with a cycle, trust me, you would never want to drink tap water again, not to mention that if you could use distilled water you would never have to descale the machine.
Mike

 

[jo]

I have had many and have a small collection

Currently use a Cuisinart K cup machine that was their first generation but had it replaced by Bed Bath and Beyond with an updated one because it kept having issues after a while, the replacement has a stronger pump and doesn’t give me issues.

Currently experiencing issues with my cuisinart 12 cup grind and brew thermal with the bean hopper on the top where you just load a bunch of beans in it and it burr grinds the dialed up amount. The damn thing overflows frequently onto the counter. I have to manually switch the bean cup dial to 2 or 4 after the grinder stops as the dial not only controls how much coffee is ground and dispensed into the basket but the speed of the pump. The 2 and 4 numbers on the dial are red while the other numbers are black and I figured it was for the slower speed since there is no other selection for this. I also have it set for strong which is likely a water pump speed control as well and should pump the water through at the slowest rate. The basket is too small and it gets overwhelmed and some of the grounds overflow into the cup and then make their way towards the carafe who’s lid has a small opening for the coffee to enter and if it gets slightly clogged the well around it is also too small and it overflows over the lid of the carafe and down the carafe and onto the counter and then the floor and a mess ensues. I’ve watched the coffeemaker for the entire cycle and see when it happens and have been able to catch it by shutting off the coffeemaker so the coffee can get into the carafe and into the basket safely then restart it with the grind off button selected first before restarting and it will finish up pumping the water through.

I’ve considered just using another coffeemaker but I do like the thermal carafe because it doesn’t heat the brewed coffee so it stays relatively fresh and warm and if it’s not hot enough I can always zap it in my mug in the microwave for 20 seconds or so.

I’ve researched other coffeemakers with the thermal carafes and none have the burr grinder. The Mr. Coffee with thermal carafe has no speed or strength or number of cup selection and boasts that it brews a 12 cup pot in 7 minutes. With my finer grind I like the basket would be sure to overflow with that much water pumping through that fast and likely I’ll have the same issues with that one so not too interested in spending money for that. So I’m just sitting there daily watching the coffeemaker for 10 minutes while it brews

I have a Krups coffeemaker from 1995 that still works beautifully. It is the ProAroma series and has 3 speeds and 6 carafe temps and carafe warmer auto shut off times are adjustable hourly up to 4 hours and a big basket. It has NEVER overflowed and is wonderful. I’ve sorta spoiled myself with all that customizable adjustability and therefore anything else I want must have the same features. In retrospect I should have bought the black but I got it in white because white was in back then but the black would have been a little more timeless in style but I don’t mind the white as it shows any dirt so I can keep it nice and clean.

I recently found another one of these wonderful Krups pots at the town dump gift shop…a give and take place for decent unwantables and took it for my Mom for a backup coffeemaker for her. I told her it is very good and therefore we should get it and hang onto it should her current one crap out.

Also I like a French press but have gotten rid of all my glass ones in favor of the double wall stainless steel ones. They are cheap enough on amazon for $25 so I upgraded and am much happier as the coffee doesn’t cool off nearly as fast nor is there any issue with breakage. I do have to preheat the pot with some boiling water and that helps keep the coffee hotter even longer.

Ive had a 4 cup farberware percolator for a while that I got from an estate sale but I’ve deleted that from my collection after I got tired of iit but I liked it’s simplicity and small footprint.

I also have a Mr. coffee 5 cup with timer. I like it and I got it to replace a Cuisinart 5 cup that annoyed me as it would shut off after only 1 hour, did not have an auto brew timer feature, and the carafe leaked out of the plastic band around the top…a consistent problem with this pot. The Mr.Coffee diesnbrew a little faster which makes for a slightly weaker brew for this amount of coffee and the basket is cupcake style but I use a cone shaped gold filter in it for a more concentrated brew. It fits in it so that works. My only main complaint is that the clock is not lighted snd since it faces the front it is hard to see. The carafe on it is stainless steel but not thermal but it is well designed with a ring on the bottom so the coffee doesn’t scorch. I don’t really use it much since there are two of us in the house wanting coffee in the morning and I want to make much more than 5 cups. But it worked well when I was wanting just 2 mugs of coffee in the morning. A perfect size. When my Brothers coffeemaker died he asked what I recommended and I recommended this one and he got it but he got it with the glass carafe. He likes it.

My Sister has a Bodum double wall stainless steel French press she got from Goodwill a long long time ago and what a steal that was. It is her favorite pot and at the time was close to $100. I think they are $88 today. She mostly drinks tea and uses an electric kettle so the bodum french press she keeps for any company wanting coffee because it’s simple, makes great coffee, and takes little space to store in the cabinet and she can just boil some water in the electric kettle to make both the coffee and her tea together. She has an island summer cottage and there she has a Krups 10 cup. The one with the round ball carafe. Always a great design I thought and it works nicely for guests as she has more company there a lot.

Jon

Jon

 

[s31463221]

Vintage Percolators

I’m probably one of the few people that still enjoys perked coffee. I have a small collection of percolators, and for anyone who has a Facebook account, I have a small group of likeminded collectors called Vintage Percolators, I’d love for you to join us if you have/collect/or enjoy perked coffee!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I very rarely drink coffee,

maybe 3 cups a year. But, I have numerous coffee makers/ percolators. I have about 7 or 8 Hoovers (big surprise), a 36 cup coffee urn (Westbend, I think), and will usually use my late mom's Sunbeam. I also have a few French presses. I also bought a Delonghi drip machine (to have on hand if I should need a quick gift).
So, I hope it doesn't constitute a 'collection', because I don't need to do that.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Jo -
Where is this "town dump gift shop" you spoke of? Sounds interesting...

 

[mark40511]

I'm going to stay on topic but sort of indirectly. I just got a Keurig...I got it with rewards points. On the points site, I could find nothing else I needed. My old drip coffee maker was around 8 years old and the cord was fraying....I watched a bunch of youtube vids how to use it, clean it...I came across some horror videos...people taking their Keurig's apart finding mold and slime inside them... Now, I've always cleaned my coffee makers regularly and I'm pretty sure the inside of mine is fine...can someone EASE my mind about this please. If I descale it regularly with vinegar and citric acid, keep all the parts clean....will this be OK? I just don't want to drink slimy moldy coffee...I know a lot of people get theirs and just never EVER clean it....and I suspect that's what happened with the videos I saw. I know this can happen with any coffee machine...

 

[mjhoshaw]

S31463221,

We drank only perc'd coffee for several years, using a like-new 2-6-cup Presto percolator we bought at an antiques mall. We liked the vintage vibe, not only the look, but also the taste. Perc'd coffee tastes like no other! In the past year we finished our basement kitchen in a '50s diner vibe, and I added a vintage GE percolator to display because I wanted one with a glass dome. I haven't made coffee in it yet, but I did "brew" a pot of water to verify that it works OK. Of course it does, it was made when small appliances were made to last.


 


Joel


 


 

 

[robsmith1977]

Too many to choose

I have always been partial to Bunn coffee makers because I like my coffee smooth, not bitter. But Bunn brewers take some getting used to because they brew so fast you have to understand how the funnel and filter work before you dive right in with filling them up with ground coffee. Oh and also the fact that there must be water in the tank before you plug it in! I have also had coffee from a Percolator and I think that that is really good coffee also! It always tastes very bold and rich! Alas, I currently use a Hamilton Beach standard machine that has a lot of nice features and uses a paper cone filter. It's not my favorite coffee brewer, but it's okay for now.

 

[jo]

Texas Kirby guy….

I’m in Dallas but the “town dump gift shop” I mention is in Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. My parents bought a house there in 1990 and I enjoy going there every year for my summer vacation. Recently lost my Dad and so this past summer I drove my Mom up to the house from her home in NJ and I spent about 5 weeks of my summer there on and off. The gift shop is a fabulous place. A free swap shop at the town dump transfer station and recycling center. A lot of towns in New England have forms of the “gift shop” or “swap shops”. It was invented by people who decided there needed to be a decent way to delete perfectly good no longer wanted things by freely giving them to others. It’s actually not uncommon to find nice things on ones curb with a cardboard sign that says “free” when wandering through a New England town. You see, there, in most towns you have to pay for every bag and item of trash…so if it’s something that works or is still usable…it’s cheaper to put it in the free gift shop or swap shop shed rather than having to pay to include it in the actual trash. This system works best when you have to pay by the trash bag and item. Recyclables are always free to put in the recycling bins but strictly monitored. Gift shop donations are monitored too…it must be something that works or not badly damaged or heavily worn out. I cannot tell you have many things my family has gotten from the gift shop since 1990…absolutely countless. Often we may take things and assess in more depth when back at the house and if we decide against them, simply bring back for someone else. I can say that my Dad accumulated a lot of unnecessary stuff from the gift shop…numerous sets of golf clubs, all sorts of plastic storage boxes, and duplicates of things we already had. I did return many things this past summer that were not of any interest and really did not need to be sitting in the basement collecting dust. My Dad would bring stuff back like beach toys, etc. and there aren’t any little kids anymore to need that stuff but if there are in the future…we can always obtain a few things from the gift shop.

Some of the best things from the gift shop have been several Electrolux’s. A model G, two model L’s, a very nice 1205, a Silverado, and a very nice Ambassador which had a crushed hose handle metal end…we fixed it. I have the model G and it is in great shape, though the switch sometimes won’t turn it in…I think I need to clean it out. I also got that great Krups coffeemaker this year and several years ago I got a nice stack of Griswold cast iron frying pans. We’ve gotten a lot of nice outdoor furniture from there too. There is clothing, bedding, dishes, cookware, and books at these gift shops too. The year before last there was a full set of attachments for an Electrolux..either a 1205 or teal model L…the vac itself was not there just the attachments and I took all but the power nozzle though I could have sold it, but we have a lot of them as it is. The attachments were not worn but terribly dirty, they clearly had been in someone’s basement or garage for a long time unused. A full detail,I got and they look like new and I’ll pair them with my model G which is painted dark blue metallic with teal trim.

Jon

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Thanks Jo - this 'town dump' type of thing is what EVERY city needs, with big cities having more. Reuse and repair is much better than recycling. Recycling is very limited to certain materials. Children in other countries should not be breaking apart/burning ewaste to 'recycle' the internal metals. We as a society throw away too much and too many still-usable or easily repairable things. The latter should really be offered to others to combat waste and to allow them to be reused or resold.
I do curbside scavenging in my 'hood before big trash pickup and collect smaller reusable items for taking to my friend's thrift store. They had made a lot of money from these things and kept them out of the landfill. See the 'Mike the Scavenger' channel on youtube to see the best waste reduction efforts an individual cancontribute - and he makes a lot of money doing it! Wonderful guy he is...

Okay, enough with my hijacking of this thread now - sorry to the OP...

Back on topic, I still have my mom's early 60's coffee percolator. It is a GE, chrome with black base, with the instruction book. It works, but unfortunately it leaks where the pour spout is attached - not sure how to fix that correctly...

I have an old 1995 cheapo Proctor Silex that I had installed an 80's Mr Coffee electronic control unit into. Also have a 2007ish stainless and black unit that came free with a coffee/tea service. It works but annoys me when the hotplate turns off every hour or so. The clock on it is so small it is almost unreadable.

I need to get the GE fixed soon so I can enjoy some good coffee!

 

[jo]

Yep

Waaaay too much waste goes on. I have a friend and she likes to change things periodically but keep a very tidy house and just stuffs the unwantables right in the trash. I finally offered to take some of the stuff to goodwill for her…I said it’s a shame to just put it in a landfill…it’s nice stuff and perfectly good..she didn’t mind me taking it there…but for her the trash bin is just easier than taking the time to run it over to goodwill.

Where is your friend’s thrift store. Would love to check it out. Email me so we don’t clutter up this thread with non coffee pot related chat!

I’ve taken up eating my cereal at the kitchen breakfast bar where I can watch my cuisinart grind and brew to make sure it doesn’t start flooding. I’ve caught it twice now from making a big mess. It’s a love hate relationship with that coffeemaker! It think it’s time to write cuisinart and complain about the design flaws and send some suggestions.

Jon

 

[acrossgracealle]

Coffee

I love coffee. I have been around the block with coffee and have no plans of slowing down any time soon. For me, it is a matter of personal taste, but clearly there are other people who enjoy coffee and want to invest in small appliances for their homes. As someone who collects these machines; it is hard to find small appliances that are innovative and unique in their own right without having to spend an outrageous amount of money. I hope this blog can help you narrow down your selection by answering some of your questions: http://chaosandcoffee.co.uk/