Melitta Ready Set Joe Single Cup Coffee Brewer
|
List Price: Our Price: $2.36 You Save: $1.63 (41%) Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days Category: Kitchen See more product details |
|---|
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Melitta Ready Set Joe Single Cup Coffee Brewer
Customer Review: Simple, Works
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been using one everyday for 4 years now. I make a single cup of good coffee at home before I come into work where there are gallons of Starbucks at no cost to me personally. For many years previously my former office partner and I shared a French Press (I recommend the Portugese-made Bodum with a brazed and chromed brass frame and borosilicate glass decanter rather than their lesser spot-welded sheet metal units) -- but presses are more effective at "8 cup" sizes and now I'm drinking only "2 cups" that I brew myself. Also, this filter holder is far easier to cleanup than a press. The coffee is a little tamer than that made by a french press but comparable to drip brewed coffee.
Drip brewing is really done best in very large volumes because some of the beans' flavors are not extracted immediately unless a super fine grind is used. Small volume drip brewing tends to overextract finely ground coffee and underextract coarser grinds whereas large volumes of water tend to even everything out regardless of the coarseness of grind provided there is sufficient volume of coffee grounds. In small volumes, a perfect medium is difficult to achieve and using the right volume of coffee grinds is also important as too much will result in overextraction of the most available compounds whereas too little will result in a watery brew. Finer coffee will slow the drip down whereas coarser grinds will drain faster. Finer grinds conserve coffee beans but require more precise quantities.
With this type of brewer, you are in control of the water temperature and I've found it makes a big difference. Near boiling water tends to overextract tannic acids and make a bitter brew. Although some reputable experts suggest 190-200 degree water, I've found that 180-185 degree water produces less bitterness. It must go into a pre-heated cup.
The plastic here I understand is polypropylene -- no BPA, phthalates or PVC. I doubt ceramic versions are safer.
Customer Review: When one will do
Summary: 4 Stars
I've got three coffee makers. The french press type that generates tons of enthusiasm here on Amazon, a Mr Coffee 4 cup drip, and this little gizmo. Of the three, the ratings go like this. Mr Coffee first, this gizmo second, and the french press comes in a respectable third. Friends have told me I brew the best cup they have ever tasted. First rule - clean equipment. More important than any other single factor. Much as the coffee producers(those that package pre ground) would like you to believe that one grind fits all....not true. Fine grind for drip, coarse for french press. I use 100% Columbian almost exclusively. I'm using the Melitta Columbian fine grind (the only pre ground fine grind generally available in my markets) with my Gizmo and it's great. But, the water seems to run thru the filter rather too quickly as compared to an automatic drip. Sooo, I now run it thru twice. A little extra work produces great results. Naturally this Gizmo was made to generate sales of the Melitta brand coffee filters. Fine with me. I'll use their product when the price is competitive or another when it isn't. I defy anyone to taste the difference between filter brands. So when all I need is a one cup wake up call, this little Gizmo does the job admirably. Be Brave, go out and gamble a few bucks and see for yourselves.Customer Review: Add coffee to water, stir, then pour into filter
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been using the Melitta system for over 20 years, and about 5 years ago starting using a new technique, which I like better. So here it is.
First, I fill my coffee cup with hot tap water to preheat it. Then fill the Melitta brew cone with a #4 filter, and wet it down with hot tap water. I like the over size # 4 filters, it keeps grounds from going down the side of the filter using this technique.
Next, I heat room temperature spring water in a Pyrex glass measuring cup, using a microwave. If you measure the water, you can easily get the right microwave time to produce 185 F degrees. For me, it's about 1:50 for 8 oz. You want to avoid adding the coffee to boiling (212 F) water, it can make the coffee taste bitter. If it boils, let it cool for 60 seconds or so.
Then, I add the coffee, measured with a scooper, directly into the Pyrex cup full of hot water, and stir vigorously for 10-15 seconds. If you want, you can wait a little longer, depends on your taste.
Last, I pour the coffee and grounds into the Melitta cone/filter, which is placed over the empty pre-warmed coffee cup.
I think the end result is better, due to the longer contact time, and better ability to stir the coffee/hot water mixture. Give it a try yourself.
Customer Review: Coffee Aid
Summary: 5 Stars
When it does come to a good cup of coffee, it always can be hard to find a great filter and a way to place it on top of a single coffee cup. While it might be hard to find ones that can work well, without the use of a simple coffee maker, fortunately for Melitta they definitely have known the best and simplest way to have the use of ground cups of coffee in just a single cup. The Perfect Brew Filter Cone handles well, where you just place a single Filter Cone with a #2 filter on top of your favorite coffee cup, put the filter in, add your favorite kind of ground coffee into the filter, and pour hot water, and let the feeling of the cup of coffee drip in just through a matter of minutes. It is simple and convient to use, with a inexpensive price. So if you just want a simple cup of ground coffee of any flavor, this is definitely the best way to go. I love using it everyday in the morning when I have my morning cup, and it definitely is worth the money, without using one of those over-the-top expensive coffee makers. I absolutely recommend Meltta's Perfect Brew Filter Cone, and if you're on a budget looking for a new way to make coffee, than I suggest you toss away your bulky coffee kit, and just get this.
Price: A
Convience: A
Overall: A
Customer Review: Best Space Saving Coffee Maker
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this for my RV so DH and I would have an easy way to make coffee on travel days and while boondocking. It makes a vey good cup of joe when paired with the Medelco #2 Cone Permanent Coffee Filter. This filter fits the Melitta perfectly and does not leave an off taste as the paper filters do.
UPDATE
I find that this setup is more difficult to clean than the swissgold® KF 300 One-Cup Coffee Filter. They produce an equally decent cup of joe. The Melitta makes it easier to see how full the cup is. Easy to see vs. Easy to clean. User decides. My preference is for the Swissgold.
The only other coffee maker that I use is a Toddy Cold Brew System. This Makes a fabulous cup of coffee by just adding hot water. It produces the smoothest coffee I have ever drank. I just store the decanter inside the fridge in one of the door shelves.