Two of my favorite things (Early Intel Mac edition).

[WriteNow]

And yes, I've had very good luck with Signature Select coffee. Recently, it's been pretty much the only brand, although sometimes I'll get something else if there is a good sale.

My only nitpick is that I do like the idea of organic, Fair Trade...but the choices are limited, particularly with my budget. Safeway does have an organic line, but it's often $$$$ and not as good as Select. Although it is one of the ones I will buy when the price is right (i.e., good sale).

 

[eyoungren]

I should have said pour-over in my post above...

I guess I was thinking I wanted to make the style very clear, since they make a variety, including a model that comes with a multi-cup carafe.

The pour-over style I mostly used in the past was a design that would sit on one's cup. It had 2 sections--one to hold coffee (with permanent mesh filter) and a top section for the water. I think the top section slowed the water and helped distribute it over the coffee. This style worked well, with little fuss. I got one as a "when I just want one cup" maker...but there were periods when I'd use one of these for all my coffee. It wans't as convenient as auto drip, but it wasn't the hassle of a Melitta (or espresso machine).

That is the only pour-over I know about. It came into my knowledge almost a decade ago when I saw it being done at a coffee shop. So, you're one-up on me knowing more about it.

My response to just wanting a single cup in the very late 90s was to buy a Black & Decker single cup coffee maker. Just fill with water and put the coffee in the permanent filter and put your mug underneath. Dispenses directly into your coffee cup. I still have it and it still gets used from time to time.

But that was well before K-cups hit the scene. Now we have two of those coffeemakers, plus a four-cup coffeemaker for when I want more than just a single cup but not so much it requires using the 12 cup coffeemaker.

My wife was working at a Macy's warehouse at one point and during her break there was no coffee. Deathwish Coffee had this pour-over kit that I got her (it's a travel kit) and she was using that for a short time.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Yanno I just realized I did not share my new brewer purchase. One of my wife’s work perks is she gets access to an online store where awarded work “points” can be used to buy things so when our Ninja 12c brewer which was already half broken started to leak, she bought a Braun 14c Pure Flavor drip brewer in white. Three points worth noting:

1.) I LOVE having 14C brewed coffee each day. We drink a lot of coffee and 14C is a good amount for us.
2.) I LOVE LOVE having a functioning timer. Having it brewed hot and ready to go when we wake up each morning is such a nice way to wake up.
3.) The NINJA 12c brewer is junk imho. The timer function broke not even a year in and then the stupid reservoir started leaking. What a lemon. I will give credit to the designed removable reservoir which was a really nice feature but basic and important computer functions or the flat panel buttons that controlled them began to fail just from normal use which was obnoxious and frustrating.

 

[eyoungren]

Yanno I just realized I did not share my new brewer purchase. One of my wife’s work perks is she gets access to an online store where awarded work “points” can be used to buy things so when our Ninja 12c brewer which was already half broken started to leak, she bought a Braun 14c Pure Flavor drip brewer in white. Three points worth noting:

1.) I LOVE having 14C brewed coffee each day. We drink a lot of coffee and 14C is a good amount for us.
2.) I LOVE LOVE having it brewed hot and ready to go when we wake up each morning. It’s such a nice way to wake up.
3.) The NINJA 12c brewer is junk imho. The timer function broke not even a year in and then the stupid reservoir started leaking. What a lemon. I will give credit to the designed removable reservoir which was a really nice feature but basic and important computer functions or the flat panel buttons that controlled them began to fail just from normal use.

My only hesitation with #2 is that because you have to set it up beforehand, water and coffee end up sitting for hours before the brew timer goes off. We had a coffeemaker like that in 2002 or so and all I can remember is some funky taste of the coffee because it had been sitting in the reservoir all night.

Of course that was 24 years ago so its probably different now. But memory is sometimes hard to get past.

I put the coffemaker on my wish list. The one we have right now is still making great coffee, so have to wait until its not. Otherwise, Goodwill gets another coffeemaker contribution too early. 😉

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

My only hesitation with #2 is that because you have to set it up beforehand, water and coffee end up sitting for hours before the brew timer goes off. We had a coffeemaker like that in 2002 or so and all I can remember is some funky taste of the coffee because it had been sitting in the reservoir all night.

Of course that was 24 years ago so its probably different now. But memory is sometimes hard to get past.

I put the coffemaker on my wish list. The one we have right now is still making great coffee, so have to wait until it’s not. Otherwise, Goodwill gets another coffeemaker contribution too early. 😉

That is something I have not really noticed but as every day drinking goes, I drink a medium light rst breakfast Colombian bean. I keep my coffee at room temp in a sealed container in the cupboard anyways, but to your point I assume there must be a certain amount of oxidation that occurs while it waits between 8pm and 530am when it starts brewing.

I just can’t get past the convenience of stumbling into my kitchen half asleep and the coffee be freshly brewed just sitting there. I think a bit of oxidation will just have to happen LOL.

I think I talked about this but I’m pretty sure my mom n dad’s coffee brewer has a timed grind/brew function on it. You put whole beans in it and it grinds them up, then spits them into the brew basket and then brews a pot. They’ve must’ve had that thing for close to 25 years LOL. I keep forgetting to look but I’ll swing by there today and take a picture of it and see what it is.

 

[eyoungren]

That is something I have not really noticed but as every day drinking goes, I drink a medium light rst breakfast Colombian bean. I keep my coffee at room temp in a sealed container in the cupboard anyways, but to your point I assume there must be a certain amount of oxidation that occurs while it waits between 8pm and 530am when it starts brewing.

I just can’t get past the convenience of stumbling into my kitchen half asleep and the coffee be freshly brewed just sitting there. I think a bit of oxidation will just have to happen LOL.

I think I talked about this but I’m pretty sure my mom n dad’s coffee brewer has a timed grind/brew function on it. You put whole beans in it and it grinds them up, then spits them into the brew basket and then brews a pot. They’ve must’ve had that thing for close to 25 years LOL. I keep forgetting to look but I’ll swing by there today and take a picture of it and see what it is.

Yeah, everyone is different. Not that I am a purist, I just didn't care for the taste. And while I do love my coffee, the first thing I want each morning is water.

I'm also not sure which mood I'm going to be in. If I load it up the night before with coffee brand A and in the morning I really want coffee brand B, then I'm out of luck until brand A is drunk. And by that time, I'm not wanting as much coffee, LOL.

My wife could care less either way as long as its actually coffee. But for me, there's been more than once where a fresh pot of coffee got brewed, sat all day and then got poured down the drain the next day. I always feel bad doing that and it's more likely to happen if I've set up autobrew and then just went to Starbucks instead.

Anyway, this works for a lot of people. Otherwise it wouldn't be a feature, so I'm glad it's working for you.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Anyway, this works for a lot of people. Otherwise it wouldn't be a feature, so I'm glad it's working for you.

Man, I missed it terribly. This braun brewer though - the way they programmed how to set your auto brewer makes no sense. I mean we figured it out eventually but the directions are pictorgraphic - a cryptic "follow the pictures" sequence that when combined with a German engineering mindset are as clear as mud LOL 😀

Anyways, enjoying it so far.

 

[WriteNow]

That is the only pour-over I know about. It came into my knowledge almost a decade ago when I saw it being done at a coffee shop. So, you're one-up on me knowing more about it.

The only reason I know that Melitta has anything else is having seen the cone/carafe package for sale at one store. And that store has since permaently closed, so I might not see it again...

The first pour-over I got came from the mall store where we got coffee. I don't remember seeing anything like that sold new in any other store. Although I got similar ones years later in thrift stores (possibly ones bought at that same mall store, plus a similar but not identical pour-over that was branded Starbucks).

 

[WriteNow]

As for timers start coffee makers...

That's not anything I've ever had. But I remember my mother telling me when she was in college that she had a small percolator that she'd connect to the outlet on her clock radio. The alarm would come on, and coffee would start brewing. (Doing this could be problemantic, since I'd guess it could be too easy to have a percolator that would pull too much power for a clock radio switched outlet.)

 

[eyoungren]

As for timers start coffee makers...

That's not anything I've ever had. But I remember my mother telling me when she was in college that she had a small percolator that she'd connect to the outlet on her clock radio. The alarm would come on, and coffee would start brewing. (Doing this could be problemantic, since I'd guess it could be too easy to have a percolator that would pull too much power for a clock radio switched outlet.)

I imagine you could also do (and that plenty of people have done) those light timers, but just hooking your coffeemaker up to it instead of a light. You know those old timers you'd plug your lights into when on vacation and that'd switch them on at sunset and off at sunrise?

You'd need the old style coffemaker though where it starts brewing when switched on, rather than the new stuff where you actually have to push a button to start the process.

 

[WriteNow]

You'd need the old style coffemaker though where it starts brewing when switched on, rather than the new stuff where you actually have to push a button to start the process.

Yes, although there would be one plus: it's been argued that coffee makers with mechanical switches last longer. No fancy electronic circuit to blow up with a big puff of smoke!

Although I do wonder if they haven't cheapened the switches on mechanical switch models...

I remember my parents having a couple of Norelco drip makers. Interestingly, they were turned on and off by plugging and unplugging the cord. I wonder if Norelco even thought of putting a switch? That design was, I think, one of the first drip makers, so they might have figured people are used ot this, thanks to percolators. Or else a corporate bean counter figured that the switch savings would add up to meaningful extra profits.

 

[eyoungren]

LOL! Quorra from Tron (Olivia Wilde) has my coffee mug!!!!

 

[eyoungren]

So another thing I like Youtube for is videos of walkarounds or drive arounds places that I have never been and am unlikely to ever be.

Since I'm Gen-X and grew up with malls, sometimes that's malls.

So here's a place I've never been…the Apple store at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, UAE. Screencaps from Microsoft Edge on a 2009 Mac Pro.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

So another thing I like Youtube for is videos of walkarounds or drive arounds places that I have never been and am unlikely to ever be.

Since I'm Gen-X and grew up with malls, sometimes that's malls.

So here's a place I've never been…the Apple store at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, UAE. Screencaps from Microsoft Edge on a 2009 Mac Pro.

View attachment 2638465

I've used google maps that way except I drive around my old home town that I grew up in Ohio in the 70-80s - see how it has or hasn't changed. The last place I went to this way was Eastport Maine. That's where my dad grew up and I went there a number of times for vacation in the early to mid 80s. It is exploration in a sense but reconnecting to places that mean something to me and are thousands of miles away from where I'm at now LOL.

I hadn't thought to use YT like Rick Steves and travel the world that way but that makes great sense. 🙂

 

[TheShortTimer]

So another thing I like Youtube for is videos of walkarounds or drive arounds places that I have never been and am unlikely to ever be.

Never say never because you never know what the future may hold. 😀

 

[eyoungren]

I've used google maps that way except I drive around my old home town that I grew up in Ohio in the 70-80s - see how it has or hasn't changed. The last place I went to this way was Eastport Maine. That's where my dad grew up and I went there a number of times for vacation in the early to mid 80s. It is exploration in a sense but reconnecting to places that mean something to me and are thousands of miles away from where I'm at now LOL.

Periodically I check on the town I spent 20 years living in using Google Maps then streetview. Otherwise, it's a 4 hour drive. 😉

Then there is the house in Houston, just to see what's changed periodically. When they make you memorize your home address as a little kid it sticks. My dad installed a lamppost there when we moved in, probably 1975 or '76. It's still there.

I hadn't thought to use YT like Rick Steves and travel the world that way but that makes great sense. 🙂

Oh, I've been around. 😀

The Harujuku district is pretty cool to walk around, the tunnels in Tokyo, city driving in Stockholm, etc. There's a whole bunch of people that post this stuff which is really cool.

Then of course there's my flights I post periodically and airport walking tours too. It's just cool to see what places look like that I've never been to.

 

[eyoungren]

Never say never because you never know what the future may hold. 😀

Ah, yes. You're correct. That is why I used the word 'unlikely'. 😀

Not putting the kabosh on anything. 😉

 

[eyoungren]

Never say never because you never know what the future may hold. 😀

PS, I was in London once. My dad had points with American Airlines in 1983. I was 12.

That said, I've got friends in Birmingham, Nottingham, London and Leeds. And of course, wherever it is you are.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Ah, yes. You're correct. That is why I used the word 'unlikely'. 😀

Not putting the kabosh on anything. 😉

Dubai has become a popular migratory destination for Brits but no-one has sold me on the benefits, so far…

PS, I was in London once. My dad had points with American Airlines in 1983. I was 12.

That said, I've got friends in Birmingham, Nottingham, London and Leeds. And of course, wherever it is you are.

I'm in London, South East London to be exact and I was born not that far away from tourist spots like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. 😀

Speaking of travel. An alum who relocated to Thailand has invited me to spend some time with him and a family friend pointed out that I haven't lived in the Caribbean for a long time and that an extended visit is well overdue. These are very tempting propositions but there's the small matter of paying for the flights to reach those locations!

 

[eyoungren]

Streaming the Backrooms original soundtrack from my NAS. Symfonium for Android on my Pixel. That's my 7th Gen iPad, which I bought for my daughter but unknowingly it had a bad home button and sticky volume buttons (I got her another one). Using it with a mouse.

And of course, the Mac Pro (which I have had some difficulty with lately, but managed to get back up yesterday) on Reddit.

Coffee to come soon!

 

[WriteNow]

I'm trying various coffee makers as part of a process of making downsizing decisions. Or so I tell myself. Some might say I'm just using the downsizing as an excuse to quietly play with coffee makers.

Today I used this old Hamilton-Beach, which came from Goodwill. It feels pretty cheaply made, and the coffee isn't the greatest, but drinkable. My late lamented Braun 4 cup was, I think, better. But this does win points for convenience over French press, pour-over, etc.

The photo does not show coffee--I had an earlier photo, but it didn't turn out well...Probably because I hadn't poured coffee down my throat before taking it.

 

[eyoungren]

I'm trying various coffee makers as part of a process of making downsizing decisions. Or so I tell myself. Some might say I'm just using the downsizing as an excuse to quietly play with coffee makers.

Today I used this old Hamilton-Beach, which came from Goodwill. It feels pretty cheaply made, and the coffee isn't the greatest, but drinkable. My late lamented Braun 4 cup was, I think, better. But this does win points for convenience over French press, pour-over, etc.

The photo does not show coffee--I had an earlier photo, but it didn't turn out well...Probably because I hadn't poured coffee down my throat before taking it.

View attachment 2641445

I looked it up…vintage 1970s, Scovill Model 784. You can find a bunch of them on eBay. Hamilton Beach has a Mini Brew now, but that's a 5-cup and modern.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I'm trying various coffee makers as part of a process of making downsizing decisions. Or so I tell myself. Some might say I'm just using the downsizing as an excuse to quietly play with coffee makers.

Today I used this old Hamilton-Beach, which came from Goodwill. It feels pretty cheaply made, and the coffee isn't the greatest, but drinkable. My late lamented Braun 4 cup was, I think, better. But this does win points for convenience over French press, pour-over, etc.

The photo does not show coffee--I had an earlier photo, but it didn't turn out well...Probably because I hadn't poured coffee down my throat before taking it.

View attachment 2641445

What is the scale along the top of the carafe? Is it decorative?

 

[WriteNow]

I looked it up…vintage 1970s, Scovill Model 784.

Interesting--I had half thought 1970s because brown seems more 70s, but the flimsy feeling plastic feels later! Although...they might have done cheaper plastic because of oil prices. I seem to recall hearing that vinyl LP quality dipped duirng the 70s for that reason.

Another touch that may be of that era: no switch to turn it on & off.

You can find a bunch of them on eBay.

I should take a look. I might be sitting on a gold mine here! LOL

Also if this ends up on the keep/don't keep line, the fact that I can buy it back might make it easier to donate.

Hamilton Beach has a Mini Brew now, but that's a 5-cup and modern.

Plus I bet you'd look long and hard to find this sticker (or anything like it):

 

[WriteNow]

What is the scale along the top of the carafe? Is it decorative?

Water drops from the coffee. Closeup: