On Mon, 22 Mar 2004, Scott wrote:

In article . ac.uk,
Peter King wrote:

I've tried on-line reviews, and have found them contradictory, and mostly
by people who have just bought their first coffee-maker. What I need is
advice from people who know what they're talking about. My coffee-maker
has just died, also after over ten years service, and I need a simple,
straightforward maker of good filter coffee. I don't want steamed milk,
I don't want clever gadgets that are almost certain to go wrong, I just
want coffee.

[...]
As far as autobrew, Philips made a good machine; you may have better
luck finding it in the UK than here in the US.

Thanks -- but are *all* Philips machines OK, or just one particular model?
(This was another problem with some of the on-line reviews I read: they
sang the praises of a particular machine, which turned out to be
unavailable, but replaced by a new model. As with everything from hi-fi
to computers to CDs, there's no guarantee that the new "improved" version
will be as good as the old one.)

The main criterion is whether the machine heats the water hot enough, to
ensure proper extraction. Brewing temperature should be 92 to 96 degrees
C; I believe the Cuisinart machines, as well as some of the Capressos,
meet this standard (as well as the Philips).

I know -- but that sort of information is hard to find (and I don't know
about the U.S., but shops here don't seem to think much of people going
round with a thermometer and a bottle of water...). I don't know if
Cuisinart are sold here, but again, is it all models?

Second thing to look for: a machine that brews into a thermal carafe. It
is FAR better to keep the coffee warm with a carafe than with a heating
pad; the latter makes the coffee become bitter after about 20 minutes.

Not a problem -- I drink what I make when I make it. How could I bear the
thought of coffee just sitting there not being drunk?

Thanks again for the response.

Peter J. King