Nick D—February 25, 2015
This simple little device is the best coffee maker that money can buy. It's portable, easy to use, and, most importantly, easy to clean! You always get a fresh tasting cup. Using it couldn't be simpler. Put in a coffee filter, grind some fresh coffee (optional,) boil water, wait a few seconds for it to cool, and pour the water over. I like to wet the grinds first, wait a few seconds, then just fill the cone up to the top. It just about fills a 12 ounce mug, and you can top it off with a bit more water once its drained. Depending on how you boil the water, you have excellent coffee in 5 minutes. My favorite part is the simplicity of cleaning. A quick wipe down and rinse is all that's needed. No descaling, vinegar cycles, crevasses to get gunk out of, mesh filters to tangle with (why I prefer this brewer over a press pot) or even a carafe to clean (since you put this directly on top of your mug.) A dirty coffee machine can ruin perfectly good coffee; this brewer removes the headache of cleaning from the equation almost completely. On top of all that, it's cheap as dirt. You can get 10 of these for the price of the cheapest single serve Keurig machine. Coffee filters are literally a dime a dozen, and you can brew whatever coffee you want with this, from the cheapest Maxwell House to the loftiest Kona sourced from organic Hawaiian roasters. Did I mention it's made in the USA from durable BPA free plastic, and its simplicity means that it's relatively environmentally friendly, since you won't be throwing it in a landfill in a few years when it breaks? Did I mention that the only way for this brewer to malfunction or break is for you to accidentally run it over with your car? In closing, buy this! It's only five bucks, and it's awesome. Read more
C. A. Probasco—January 15, 2012
I usually drink one or two cups of regular coffee then switch to decaf for another couple of cups at various times throughout the day. I have been using a Keurig, but the K cups are getting too expensive. Plus I have had problems with the machines. I have had three machines in two years. I must say, Keurig has been very prompt and helpful in replacing the machines, but it still is troublesome. My third machine was making funny noises (it is still working), so I decided to look for something else. In looking for an alternative, I found this Melitta. I had one similar to this decades ago and was surprised to see they are still sold. It is a solid piece of plastic that fits over your coffee cup and holds a a size 2 cone coffee filter. You put the coffee grounds in the cone filter and pour hot water over it. There are openings near the bottom so you can see how full your cup is getting. Up side. It works great! In fact, I prefer it over the Keurig for several reasons. First, obviously, is the cost. I paid about $5 for the Melitta, filters are about $2 per 100 and you can pay what you want for coffee. I figure I am paying about 23 cents a cup total for cheap gourmet coffee. Another advantage is that I can make the coffee as strong or as weak as I like and make my own blends including half regular and half decaf. I add spices such as cinnamon to the grounds for different flavors. This is really picky, but I like that I can moderate the temperature. The Keurig is always HOT. I like my coffee not quite so hot. I also like that I can make any size cup. My Keurig has two sizes 7 and 9 oz. Again this is picky, but my favorite cup holds just barely less than 9 oz so with the Keurig, it was either the stronger 7 oz or use a different cup. I also like to make a huge to-go cup when I travel and I can make it directly into my cup with the cone filter holder. Next is the maintenance. I bought the filter pack for the water reservoir for my Keurig, which cost as much as 4 of the Melitta. I descale the Keurig with vinegar and run two or three cleaning cycles and change the filter every three months. With the Melitta, it's rinse it out and toss it in the dishwasher. Finally, and this doesn't happen too often, when the power goes out, I use my little camp stove to heat water and I can still have my coffee. Now the down side. The Melitta requires more effort to put on the tea kettle, put the filter and cone together, pour in a little hot water to soak the grounds, wait 15 seconds or so and then fill the cone. The Melitta cone really only holds about 8 oz, so if you want a bigger cup, you have to refill the cone. Also, especially when you are first using it, you need to watch it to make sure your cup doesn't run over. All I have to do with the Keurig is turn it on, put the K cup in and push a button. Although it does take more time, surprisingly, the Melitta doesn't take much more time than the Keurig although I do use the Keurig if I am in a big hurry. The Melitta leaves the soggy coffee grounds in an open filter which you can throw away with no mess if you are careful. If the paper filter tears, it can be messy. I've only had that happen once, but it was messy. The K cup holds the filter and grounds in a neat little package that you toss in the trash. Both will leak coffee on the way to the trash can. Over all, I am most pleased with the Melitta. It takes a little experimentation to find what is just right for you when you first get it, but, personally, I think the flavor of the coffee with the Melitta is superior to any other method I have used. The device itself is pure simplicity, no moving parts, no electricity, nothing to break, nothing to replace. It seems quite study and I can't imagine doing anything to it under normal use that might cause it to quit on you. Best of all, it won't be obsolete in five years. Read more
