Almost everyone here, including myself, will recommend a Moccamaster. All the models are pretty great just slightly different features. They're durable and easy to use

Plastic v60 and a goose neck kettle

Aeropress!

Moccamaster is the way to go. Simple, makes great coffee, and is durable enough to last. I bought one in 2012 and I'm still using it

Just to pile on, Moccamaster.

Bunn VP-17

The only answer is moccamaster

It’s not smart, but you put on a smart plug then it is

They aren’t cheap but it’s the last coffee maker you’ll ever have to buy

Bonus that it’s certified for coffee brewing competitions

My spouse prefers at-home coffee with that machine to coffee shop coffee

For great coffee, always use freshly ground beans. I grind a small amount of beans as needed and store the rest in an airtight container or glass jar to maintain freshness.

Consider looking at the Lelit Mara X or similar machines. In my opinion, they offer a good balance between quality and price.

You can choose between single or double boiler machines, depending on the brand. If you enjoy making milk foam frequently, such as for cappuccinos, a double boiler would be more suitable. However, if you primarily drink pure coffee, a single boiler should suffice. You can still switch to steam mode for milk when needed.

https://youtu.be/t8eYs2vxT-8?si=Re9B_IZ0vWJCjPKn

Can't go wrong with one of these. James Hoffman is pretty much the default person to recommend coffee gear.

I'd stick with one of the drip brewers he mentioned. Espresso is fun and all, but nothing says reliability problems in the long run like complex plumbing combined with a boiler and a pump running at 100-220 psi. Even the most expensive espresso makers are known for breaking.

The most no fuss brand is Breville. Even if you have reliability issues, Breville is known for making it right. They often have expensive flat rate out of warranty repair costs(usually a quarter to half the price of the machine), but you receive a machine with a warranty. If the repair is too much of a hassle, they send you a refurbished or brand new machine. They also sell replacement parts.

This is almost exactly what I was going to post. I will say that since we got the Hario Switch, our Aeropress sits on the shelf more, and we hardly ever use our v60 (still our camping go-to). It also makes a gooseneck kettle less important. I'm a big fan of all three options, but if I had to get one, it would be the Switch.

For filter coffee/pour overs I have yet to beat a Chemex.

Technivorm's MoccaMaster without a doubt. Worth the price and will last forever.

I was looking for this comment. It's my daily driver. The most important thing though is good beans freshly ground.

I second the V60. I use a ceramic one because I'm pretty anti-plastic (though you are right about better thermal dynamics) but pretty much any of them are great.

I love my Aeropress! Super easy to clean, convenient for that single cup, durable as heck, and really good coffee!

Vietnamese drip brewer.

These are how I started drinking coffee in the first place after I went to Vietnam, they're so good.

Stainless steel vacuum french press. Will last a lifetime, less parts to clean. Just grind the beans to your liking. Finer grinds will mean a bit muddier coffee towards the bottom of the cup.

Any pour over. Chemex, Bodum, etc. Easy clean, great coffee. Nothing else required.

Another Moccamaster fan. I’ve had mine for 12 years and it’s still brewing hot. Simple, easy to maintain and clean, brews hot, cool look on the counter. Only gripe early on was it doesn’t have a programmable timer. By design, they’re setting you up for a better cup of coffee. Got over it, though, with a simple smart plug.

Moka pot. I'm fortunate to own an Alessi 9090.

Seconded. I bought one about 6 months ago and it's been absolutely fantastic.

I really enjoy drip coffee, and it consistently makes the best coffee I've ever had from a drip maker. Sure, I've probably had better pour over, but I don't have the time to pour over coffee every day multiple times. I usually drink a pot or two a day, one in the morning and one in the early afternoon (don't judge me).

Also it looks fantastic. They come in a ton of colors and the design is very appealing even in the standard colors. They look REALLY good placed just about anywhere. Although I've not yet had any issues at all with my machine, it's my understanding that they have an excellent service and repair program with parts abundant. With reasonable care it should last forever. I 100% do not regret buying mine, and wish I'd done it sooner.

I frequently proselytize my friends and family about converting...

I stand by my French press. Just a stainless steel, double wall vacuum insulated French press. Few tbsp of coffee, some water from an electric kettle I got back in 2014, and there you go.

I could boil water on the stove if I need to, or use the French press to make cold brew by sticking it in the fridge overnight or any number of things. Hell, you could even use a French press for loose leaf tea.

Its simple, reliable, and technically doesn't need electricity to operate (if you've got emergency methods to boil water, it works just the same). And, it's only got one moving part, so if it breaks it's easy to replace.

Plus, super affordable. I went a little extra and spent 30 bucks on a double wall insulated one, but there's dozens of cheaper ones on Amazon and elsewhere.

Aeropress makes great coffee, however it makes it in smaller quantities in general so consider quantity needs. I’d also not classify it as BIFL because the seal will wear over time unlike most French Press.

The biggest game changer for me making a quality cup of coffee at home was good water, I tried a lot of variables and when I bought some bottled water I realized my fridge filter was not sufficient.

I wanted to go the Moccamaster route, but I brew a larger increment than they support (60oz vs 40oz). Ended up going with the Breville Precision which I would also highly recommend. Offers the ability to really dial in your brew {let's you control temp, bloom time, etc.) and the default "Gold Brew" is great out of the box.

I second this. They’re a bit pricey, but I’ve used mine daily for the last 16+ years and it still makes excellent coffee.

I love my aeropress. Super easy to make great coffee. I also had a French press and it was really annoying to clean every time. With the aeropress you just pop the puck of coffee off into the trash, rinse and wipe the plunger end and that's it.

Grinder with French press or V60 pour over

Thanks everyone. I truly appreciate all of your help. I'll go with techivorm Moccamaster.

We LOVE our moccamaster. It makes delicious coffee.

Moccamaster if you’re looking for a “drip” type coffeemaker that makes pour over style coffee. If you want to spend big dollars on a superautomatic, get a Jura. I have a Moccamaster and a Jura Giga 10.

Seriously, for just basic coffee you will never beat a good grinder and a French press. Get something like a Baratza and then whatever press meets your fancy. Done.

Breville works. Fits the budget.

I’ve had a Technivorm Moccamaster for about 7 years now and love it. It’s simple, but makes great coffee.

To grind the beans, I have a Baratza Encore grinder, which surpasses any other grinder I have owned. And I can get replacement parts for anything that wears out or breaks. If you go this route I’d suggest ordering a couple of replacement burr holders. They’re cheap enough ($5?) and if you use it daily like I do you’ll need them eventually.

Alright controversial take coming in, prefaced by having had some very nice Mokas, Bodums and other machines.

BUT pound for pound, dollar for dollar, and ease of use, quality of brew and love for it, hands down winner is the Aeropress.

Soooooo easy to use, clean, reuse, great brew with crema, I originally snobbily discounted and wrote off this kit but it's amazing

The defacto Reddit Approved(tm) combo is a Technivorm Mochamaster and Baratza Encore. I also have them both and they are fantastic.

Grind quality 100000% affects taste. Once you go even a more affordable burr grinder like the Encore you'll immediately notice the difference over the spice/blade/bullet shaped grinders you're probably used to.

Second the Aeropress - simple, cheap, durable and they make excellent coffee. Compact and light enough to take camping.

I have had expensive machines and cheap machines and I still prefer the v60 hands down. It might be cheap, but with a good electric gooseneck it is so easy and clean up is a breeze. Not as easy as a brown water pod machine, but the coffee is divine.

Moka pot + hand grinder.

I do the slightly more analog, prep the mochamaster in the evening and press the button to brew when I stumble out of bed. It's a perfect coffee maker.

Agreed. I’m a aeropress person. But an ok grinder and a French press, aeropress, or pour over dealy is a great single serve solution.

Thank you for your post. It’s very exciting to read about your experiences with different brewing methods.

I’ve seen that both James Hoffmann and Aramse think the Fellow Aiden brews a good cup of coffee. Their opinion is no more valid than yours. I’m just curious if you have any thoughts on why you have such different experience on how good a cup of coffee the Fellow Aiden brews?

I've found that my Aiden is substantially better in larger batches, e.g. 30 ounces. I don't care for small batches with the Aiden. Also, the chat gpt for Aiden is pretty sweet.

I recently received my xbloom studio, Coming from a mocca master that I received as a gift. The main reason for buying the xbloom is due to the fact that my mornings are extremely busy, and I usually didn’t have extra time to spend on a coffee routine.

Most of my weekday mornings usually involve me forgoing the mocca master and just using the keurig at work. And when I do use the mocca master, chances are it gets used on Monday and Tuesday and gets cleaned during the weekend. Less than ideal to say the least.

After using the xbloom for a week I not only noticed an incredible difference in my morning routine, but coffee quality as well. With the mocca master, no matter what grind size I use, or beans, I’m usually left with a inconsistent brew that leads to a decent cup at the most. With the xbloom and its pods, it is consistent quality, consistent taste, and very little harshness in the cup.

For me, the xbloom is a no brainer, excellent quality machine that meets all of my needs. Outstanding cups of coffee, time efficient, and no meddling with settings or variables to get a great cup.

How consistent do you find the Melodrip Colum? And how beginner friendly is it?

Utopia has became my new favorite, so good and reasonably priced. I really liked their one that was rated 96 (can’t remember the name) and Pearl

If you’re looking for extreme simple, no gimmicky bullshit, I recommend the BUNN 55200. It simply brews a pot of coffee. The machine only has an on/off switch and will last you decades. Brews a 10 cup pot of coffee on the spot in 3 minutes. You cannot go wrong. But keep in mind, it just brews a pot of coffee. No iced coffee, shot of espresso, latte, etc options.

The correct answer is Moccamaster. Completely rebuildable and known to easily last decades. Just descale regularly like you would with any other coffee machine.

Get an electric percolator. Buy whole beans and grind it for French press. Use cold water. The only waste from this is the grinds and any unused coffee. All the parts are easy to see and clean, no hidden water lines caked with mold like drip coffee makers. No k cups to throw away. The coffee is hot and rich and takes the same amount of time to brew as a drip coffee maker.

You need to buy whole beans because all ground coffee is ground for drip coffee makers and not electric percolators.

For filter coffee, I've had for multiple years already Braun PurAroma 7 KF 7020 BK and I love it! It even has a timer so you can set the machine to start making your coffee at 7am when waking up haha.

If youre a snob, go with Aeropress. If you want a machine then go with moccamaster or some breville