Joining the party

[pbrennan10]

Well i went ahead and pulled the trigger on a Cuisinart DC1200 coffeemaker, i tried to read up on here to get advice on here first but you all made purchasing a coffemaker sound like german physics class.

Since i have ABSOLUTELY zero experience on coffee besides drinking some prepared by others i have the following simple questions.

1) Is the typical department store coffeemaker frowned upon by the connoisseur?

2) Do you use the the various flavorings such as french vanilla etc?

3) Is roasing beans really worth it for a beginning drinker or should i proceed as my taste buds desire?

4) This coffeemaker comes with a metal filter so ALL i'll need to make coffee will be the coffegrounds and water, right?

Appreciate the help.

[Twill413]

Paging Dr.'moo, paging Dr.'moo. Asistance needed in noobie assimiliation. Repeat, assistance needed in noobie assimilation.

[Tristan]

1) Is the typical department store coffeemaker frowned upon by the connoisseur?

It's definitely not ideal. The typical dept. store coffee maker doesn't brew at the proper temperature. In my opinion, you would be better off getting a Bodum French Press; sold at Target for under $20. This produces a slightly thicker coffee than a drip machine.

2) Do you use the the various flavorings such as french vanilla etc?

I don't personally use any flavorings.

3) Is roasing beans really worth it for a beginning drinker or should i proceed as my taste buds desire?

a) Do you have access to a local roaster? If not then,....

b) Do you have time to tinker?

c) Do you want to enjoy some of the worlds best coffee for a fraction of the cost?

4) This coffeemaker comes with a metal filter so ALL i'll need to make coffee will be the coffegrounds and water, right?

As far as I can see, you are correct. This coffee maker appears to come with a goldtone filter. The information I read said that if you desired you could use a paper filter.

Why a paper filter when they include a permanent filter? From what I hear the gold filters will let more through, hence you will get better flavor due to essential oils and goodness getting through, but a little more sediment.

Some people don't like any sediment in their coffee whatsoever. Those are the people who might prefer a paper filter.

Hopefully this helps! Remember, these are just my opinions, YMMV.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by pbrennan10

Well i went ahead and pulled the trigger on a Cuisinart DC1200 coffeemaker, i tried to read up on here to get advice on here first but you all made purchasing a coffemaker sound like german physics class.

Since i have ABSOLUTELY zero experience on coffee besides drinking some prepared by others i have the following simple questions.

1) Is the typical department store coffeemaker frowned upon by the connoisseur?

2) Do you use the the various flavorings such as french vanilla etc?

3) Is roasing beans really worth it for a beginning drinker or should i proceed as my taste buds desire?

4) This coffeemaker comes with a metal filter so ALL i'll need to make coffee will be the coffegrounds and water, right?

Appreciate the help.

Lets cut to the chase. This is not a complicated business at all - heh heh heh.

Here's an easy start: "What's your budget?"

[pbrennan10]

i can spend as much as i HAVE to

[EvanS]

Originally Posted by pbrennan10

i can spend as much as i HAVE to

ok, I was going to give a rational Tristan-like repsonse...but you have just flown 1st class smack into the middle of Moo-ville.
When you get certified as elite coffee ninja please don't forget us little guys

[Mister Moo]

The officially sanctioned World's Best Coffee of the Day would be disappointing if it was brewed under sub-par circumstances. I happen to be a fan of the $10 Gevalia (Cuisinart rebadge?) subscription brewer, but not their coffee beans.

One Coffeegeek review said of the DC1200, "...Bottom Line: The Cuisinart Brew Central is a nice, attractive, well built machine...that produces cups of luke warm mediocrity." Maybe that's true and maybe not. I dunno.

What I do know is this - perfect brew temp for water matters a lot and one cheap automatic drip machine may provide it for years while a $200 machine may miss the mark. Crap shoot, brewers. Perfect brew temp, as Tristan hinted, can be had for $20. The french press (or manual pourover filter) is the low cost ticket for perfection in brewing. That and a kettle to boil water. Stovetop kettle, electric kettle - whatever. I favor an electric.

French press is perfection IF you have a decent grinder, which is a whole 'nuther story. Bad grind means a lot of sediment in a press - good grind means less sediment. Search "bodum french press" for example. Search "solis maestro" or "bodum antigua" for bottom end grinders, for example.

Dodge the grinder and sediment issue completely with paper filters and a manual pourover. Search "chemex" for example. A $17.99 whirley-blade grinder can work fine with paper filters.

As grinders go I am a "Go long, Ray, go long!!!!" booster. The best grinder you can possibly buy will be much more versatile over time, last longer and perform better than... whatever. Good grinder is good advice and great grinder is great advice if you really like coffee and plan to drink it for a while.

Boil water (212*/sea level), wait 15-30 seconds (water now 195-205* approx) and pour it into the press (or filter), stir and wait four minutes. Voila (vwa-lah! or wallah)! Perfect temp on the grind and the best you'll get from whatever beans you select.

And ONLY select fresh roast if you wanna live the good life. And try to have a cigar with your coffee once in a while.


Landmark coffee is not any kind of rocket science. Just use fresh beans from a reliable provider (like yourself, if you go that way) and pour water over the ground stuff at 195-205* and you have arrived. Go forth and pour ye fine java, gwasshoppuh.

Have fun, whatever you do.

[Razorhog]

I use the Cuisinart 12 cup and I love it. It does not come with a metal filter however. The filter is "gold-toned" but it is plastic. Just wanted to clarify that.
Get a good burr grinder. I use the Capresso Infinity and love it too

[pbrennan10]

received my machine yesterday made a cup with maxwell house about an hour ago.

i really enjoyed it and paired with an indian tabac my day has started off right. Can't wait till i get a grinder and some beans hope they're as good as you all say~

[EvanS]

Originally Posted by pbrennan10

received my machine yesterday made a cup with maxwell house about an hour ago.

i really enjoyed it and paired with an indian tabac my day has started off right. Can't wait till i get a grinder and some beans hope they're as good as you all say~

Congratulations pbrennan10

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by pbrennan10

received my machine yesterday made a cup with maxwell house about an hour ago.

i really enjoyed it and paired with an indian tabac my day has started off right. Can't wait till i get a grinder and some beans hope they're as good as you all say~

Yo ho. If the coffee tasted good then it's probably hitting water temp in range.