Author Topic: Need a portable coffee device (Read 5829 times)

Balog · « **on:** September 30, 2011, 11:40:50 AM »

I'm looking to get a new coffee making mechanism for my office. Needs to be small footprint, easily cleaned, and usable with standard ground coffee. I was going to get a french press, but I was looking at some of the options on Amazon and now I'm not sure. Any thoughts?

dogmush · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2011, 11:43:29 AM »

It's not standard ground coffee, but I really like my K-cup machine.

AmbulanceDriver · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2011, 12:00:24 PM »

and IIRC, you can get a "reusable" K-cup adapter that you fill with your coffee of choice.....

Balog · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2011, 12:10:18 PM »

I'm really more interested in unpowered devices than in a machine like that. :)

Ben · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2011, 01:23:57 PM »

For something unpowered, I really don't think you can do better than the french press. Though you'll still need to boil water somewhere, so you'll have french press plus whatever footprint the heating device leaves.

roo_ster · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2011, 01:53:27 PM »

I like a hot pot and coffee singles, like a tea bag.

lee n. field · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2011, 02:01:18 PM »

French press. The glass ones (we have had) break pretty readily.

brimic · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2011, 02:15:55 PM »

French press is the way to go, if you have a microwave or stove at work.

Grebnaws · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2011, 02:20:07 PM »

The french press is cheap and very easy to use. It may take some work to get the coffee you want with standard ground coffee, mostly due to the grind requirements of the french press. The coffee should be slightly coarser than you would use for a drip maker. You can buy the beans whole and use the store grinder set at the appropriate level to reduce the clutter and inconvenience of making your coffee on site. They are fragile compared to a Stanley thermos but they're also cheaper. Cleanup is as simple as pitching the spent grounds and rinsing the carafe.

I would use mine more often but I prefer to make a 1/2 pot in the morning and finish it at night. The standard french press limits you to about 3 good servings and that final cup will continue to brew as you finish your first 2 cups. Dang good coffee though. The better your beans the more you will enjoy the french press.

For the record, I have used the FP with Folgers coffee during a power outage. The turkey fryer was used to heat a tea kettle and I pressed the folgers. Still a much better cup of joe than instant coffee.

Balog · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2011, 06:03:49 PM »

I was just going to buy a french press then I saw this. http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1317420181&sr=8-10

Very well reviewed, simple, and cheap. Anyone have experience?

Chuck Dye · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2011, 06:15:23 PM »

I bought a Frieling stainless steel French press. Double walled, it keeps coffee hot enough that I do not microwave the second mug.

For those still buying glass French presses, I have some lids, rams, and handles, free for the postage, to fit Bodum and similar 1 liter pots.

Ben · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2011, 06:20:31 PM »

Quote from: Chuck Dye on September 30, 2011, 06:15:23 PM

I bought a Frieling stainless steel French press. Double walled, it keeps coffee hot enough that I do not microwave the second mug.

I have a stainless one as well (forget the brand). Though I've been using a Keurig brewer at home for the last almost couple of years, the steel french press still goes with me traveling, and I still break it out once in a while at home.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #12 on:** September 30, 2011, 06:24:27 PM »

My wife likes the Toddy cold brew system. I don't know why, but she does.

Ben · « **Reply #13 on:** September 30, 2011, 06:28:43 PM »

Quote from: fistful on September 30, 2011, 06:24:27 PM

My wife likes the Toddy cold brew system. I don't know why, but she does.

Apparently they are supposed to take the acidity out of the coffee. One of my coworkers swears by them. He brought some in once, and I have to say, the coffee tastes pretty darn good. I think there's a whole production for getting coffee though (i.e., not quick)?

mtnbkr · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2011, 07:09:42 PM »

I had one of the Toddy cold brew systems. I wasn't impressed. The coffee tasted flat. It was ok for iced coffee and such, but not for hot.

Chris

KD5NRH · « **Reply #15 on:** September 30, 2011, 09:01:47 PM »

Quote from: Balog on September 30, 2011, 11:40:50 AM

I'm looking to get a new coffee making mechanism for my office. Needs to be small footprint, easily cleaned, and usable with standard ground coffee.

http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/H0062/ You should compost the grounds well before putting them in, though, as fresh grounds can be a bit much for the plants.

Wouldn't it be easier to leave the making to the plantations and stick to just brewing it at the office?

Or just get a bunch of these.

go_bang · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2011, 11:01:32 PM »

I'll toss in a recommendation for the Black & Decker Brew N Go single mug coffee makers. It comes with a reuseable mesh filter, but take that out and you can use Melitta #2 cone filters in it, which makes clean-up a whole lot easier.

gunsmith · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2011, 03:02:01 AM »

back in the old days when I had more then the average hardworking third world-er, I bought a steel french press from starbucks because I figured it wouldn't break. It hasn't.

MrsSmith · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2011, 08:58:28 PM »

Definitely French press. I have a lot of friends who live aboard sailboats and cruise all over the place and most have a french press aboard. Coffee isn't "cooking" too long, easy to use (I don't drink coffee but even I can make a decent cup with it), green, etc.

coppertales · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2011, 09:49:09 PM »

you can always try one of those "cold drip" gadgets. You can make the "syrup" at home then take it to the office and measure some into a cup, add water and nuc it......chris3

seeker_two · « **Reply #20 on:** October 01, 2011, 10:38:29 PM »

Quote from: roo_ster on September 30, 2011, 01:53:27 PM

I like a hot pot and coffee singles, like a tea bag.

My solution is similar....on long car trips in winter, I'll bring a Thermos full of boiling water and those Taster's Choice coffee straws....just mix up in your travel mug....and the water will stay hot pretty much all day....

Mabs2 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 01, 2011, 10:39:02 PM »

Get one of them cold brew coffee makers.
They apparently make better coffee anyway.

Northwoods · « **Reply #22 on:** October 02, 2011, 12:06:23 AM »

How about a cone filter? It's all SWMBO uses, as well as mom, step-dad and sister. We have slightly different style but it does the same job.

It's great for 1-cup at a time brewing. My wife at least VASTLY prefers it over regular drip coffee.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #23 on:** October 02, 2011, 03:50:51 PM »

Quote from: Mabs on October 01, 2011, 10:39:02 PM

Get one of them cold brew coffee makers.
They apparently make better coffee anyway.

Not really.

Chris

French G. · « **Reply #24 on:** October 02, 2011, 05:37:47 PM »

Quote from: sumpnz on October 02, 2011, 12:06:23 AM

How about a cone filter? It's all SWMBO uses, as well as mom, step-dad and sister. We have slightly different style but it does the same job.

It's great for 1-cup at a time brewing. My wife at least VASTLY prefers it over regular drip coffee.

Used to use one of those with great results. Little $3 plastic cone holder that sits on the mug. cheap and easy.

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Author Topic: Need a portable coffee device (Read 5829 times)