Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jay Caragay on January 22, 2010 at 2:41am

Clever is cheap and easy.

Hario is moderately priced and a little more work.

Eva Solo is expensive and easy.

If I were you, I would go with the Clever.

There are no "good" grinders for $100. There are "okay" grinders for that price. A cheap Cuisinart flat burr grinder (more of a masher) can be had at Costco for $30. The Bodum Antigua is sub $100 and comes with steel burrs. But for sub-$200, you can find a Baratza Virtuoso - probably the best choice (I use one at home).

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brady on January 22, 2010 at 4:47am

IFF you are not planning to use it for espresso, the Capresso Infinity gets you conical burrs for $100. Jay's sub-$200 Baratza is better.

If you are considering Clever, I'd add to your list for consideration the standard plastic Melitta. It's cheaper and just as easy (maybe easier). Also add the porcelain Beehouse... just as easy, but nicer.

Sorry - more options were NOT what you were looking for.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Adam on January 22, 2010 at 8:17am

Thanks for the replies:

The difference in the Clever is that it has the plug in the bottom.

Here is a link that I saw it on. Note the video at the bottom of the page on link.
http://theotherblackstuff.ie/machines/abid-clever-coffee-dripper/

The Melitta , Hario and Beehouse all start draining right away.

So I want to get one of these pourover type makers and then maybe the Hario V60 kettle and then there is the grinder!

So the Masetro grinder is just "okay" in your opinions? And is conical better then flat for burrs?

Thanks again!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Adam on January 22, 2010 at 1:44pm

Ricky:

Their is a filter in the Clever, so not steeping in plastic, right? I think I am going to get the Clever and the Baratza Maestro which I know some don't think is good, but I think for my needs of 1-2 cups a day will be fine. AND, I like the look of the Hario V60 kettle! Wow this is a lot of work, but worth it I bet!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brady on January 22, 2010 at 6:10pm

Adam said:

Thanks for the replies:
The difference in the Clever is that it has the plug in the bottom.

Understood. I own a Clever and prefer the Melitta. Yet to have a superior cup from a Clever, or even hear that it is to be expected.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lorenzo Perkins on January 22, 2010 at 9:14pm

Why is nobody talking Chemex? I've never had a coffee out of a melitta/hario/beehouse that can hold it's own to a Chemex. It's glass, it's clean, it's beautiful. And it makes an effen tasty cup.

As for grinders, if you can swing it, Baratza is definitely the way to go. Ebay, WholeLatteLove, CoffeeGeek, etc. sells refurbed ones all the time. And for drip coffee, it doesn't get much better than Baratza. The same grinders were manufactured under the brand Solis for some time as well, so if you can find a deal on a Solis Maestro, that might be the way to go.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Adam on January 23, 2010 at 7:43am

I think I would get the Cafe Solo over the Chemex. Love the way it looks and hear good things about it.
But for $13.00 and supposedly a great cup of coffee, the Dripper still intrigues me. Now, I need to find a place that sells them in NYC, so I don't have to pay $10.00 for shipping!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Keaton Ritchie on January 23, 2010 at 10:08am

I think I saw clevers in either Ninth Street Espresso in the East Village or Gimme! Coffee in Brooklyn when I was in NYC last weekend.

I love the cup i get out of my v60, but there's quite a learning curve, not only to figuring out dose/grind but also to the pouring technique. With the Clever all you need to do technique wise is pour water in and give it a stir, it's a much more forgiving method, whereas the Hario require a very practised pour in addition to all the dose/grind worries to control your extraction time.
Adam said:

I think I would get the Cafe Solo over the Chemex. Love the way it looks and hear good things about it.
But for $13.00 and supposedly a great cup of coffee, the Dripper still intrigues me. Now, I need to find a place that sells them in NYC, so I don't have to pay $10.00 for shipping!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Adam on January 23, 2010 at 3:31pm

Ricky:

Where did you purchase your Cafe Solo? Do you know of any retail outfits that carry them?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Liu on January 23, 2010 at 3:49pm

Get all 3! They're so different in character. I love them all.

If you're feeling cheap, skip the Cafe Solo. You can get the same character of coffee with a bowl and some soup spoons (scrape off the crust cupping-style). Plus Eva Solo lost their distribution in the USA, so good luck finding one.

I'm rolling with Clevers as my only brewed coffee at my shop. They're working out great so far. It's like the $13.50 version of a Clover.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Adam on March 9, 2010 at 11:26am

Hi all:

Does anyone know where I can find this kettle for sale in New York City? I don't want to have to order it online and then pay shipping.
http://shop.barismo.com/equipment/buonokettle

Thanks!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lorenzo Perkins on March 9, 2010 at 8:36pm

So, since my last post I've had A LOT more manual brew coffee. Syhphon, Hario V60, Chemex, Press Pot...

The best coffee I make at home comes from my Yama 5 cup and Virtuoso grinder. It's a pricier home setup, but it's pretty tasty. You can skip the syphon and pour overs and just go with a solid Press Pot. No fuss, easy clean up, hard to eff up. Just don't skimp on your grinder. If price is an issue, take a look at the Zassenhaus hand mills. Under $100 conical burr grinder, not too shabby. DO NOT BUY A HARIO SKERTON. They are stupidly inconsistant at coarser grind sizes.

But a Zassenhaus and a Press Pot would be extremely economical AND delicious.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page