Want to buy coffee maker for boyfriend, know nothing about coffee, help?

Acoshla

Hi All,

Mods I hope it's ok to put this here, I thought about putting it in the Gift Ideas section but I thought I might get very knowledgeable advice here, and that is *really* what I need, I'm clueless.

Ok so, my boyfriend loves coffee, black coffee, he's not into cappucinos or anything, just strong nice black coffee. He used to just drink Nescafe stuff in a jar, then he bought a cafetiere (plungey thingy, apologies, I don't drink coffee!) and went mad buying different strengths and flavours, proclaiming the differences and benefits of each of them to me.

I would love to get him a coffee maker, but feel free to tell me if it's pointless or I'm wasting my time if he isn't into fancy coffees. Like I said he loves a mug of strong black coffee and trying different ones, he's in awe of his friend's one but he makes all teeny tiny little cups of milky coffee, boyfriend tries to avoid dairy so that's what I'm so confused about all this stuff, he would drink them the odd time but not often, but it would be nice to be able to give people nice coffee when they visit, I seem to be the only person who isn't all coffee crazy. I tried educating myself and reading online, then looking on amazon, but there's so many, ranging from €20 to €800, so any advice appreciated!

There's a coffee maker on the Apprentice now, available in Harvey Norman I believe, it's self cleaning and uses real beans, some Italian dude invented it

Acoshla

Oh I meant to add too, (apologies if this is a ridiculous question), are the real beans or whatever they use easy to buy and stuff? I have a feeling that is a stoopid question but my expertise lie in other areas

Acoshla

RoverJames wrote: »

There's a coffee maker on the Apprentice now, available in Harvey Norman I believe, it's self cleaning and uses real beans, some Italian dude invented it

I don't have tv3 to see the Apprentice, is it the Philips Saeco one? Just saw that on the Harvey Norman website. The cheapest is €499, that would probably have been the higher end of my budget, is that what I will be looking at paying?

cnocbui

The best coffee is supposedly made by the sorts of machines mentioned here:

http://www.testfreaks.co.uk/coffee-makers/

You can still make a decent cup of coffee with something like this (just an example):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bialetti-Elegance-Venus-Induction-Cup/dp/B0009Q1DNS/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kh_1



I can tell you from experience that one of these will last decades. Cheap and foolproof. I am not talking about that particular brand, just the general type, of which there are lots, and lots. Stainless steel, not aluminium, would be my recommendation.

Go into Tesco and buy their own brand Colombian ground coffee - the pack with the gold stripe - and you're sorted.

Spadina

Spadina wrote: »

I don't have tv3 to see the Apprentice, is it the Philips Saeco one? Just saw that on the Harvey Norman website. The cheapest is €499, that would probably have been the higher end of my budget, is that what I will be looking at paying?

:eek: If I had know the price of them I don't think I would have suggested it to be honest. Looks like the sort of thing commercial ventures have.

Ogham

Those Saeco coffee machines can be bought for less than the Harvey Normal price
http://shopping.blogs.ie/2010/11/22/saeco-coffee-machine-as-seen-on-apprentice/

kenmc

What's your budget?
Get a good grinder, it's most important piece of kit. You can then look at getting some smaller cheaper coffee makers like an aeropress or a Hario Drip

Beans are easily sourced on the web, and need to be freshly roasted for best flavour. You can get a subscription from hasbean also, send out a different bag of beans every week or every month.
If you're in Dublin you could go into Colin in 3fe on abbey street and ask for some advice perhaps.

George83

I love my stove top espresso maker for perfect black coffee. Also have a Gaggia machine - the do relatively inexpensive ones which are great.

Richersounds.ie: John

Ogham wrote: »

Those Saeco coffee machines can be bought for less than the Harvey Normal price
http://shopping.blogs.ie/2010/11/22/saeco-coffee-machine-as-seen-on-apprentice/

Guys,

1st time poster over here on the Food & Drink forum - declared interest - I'm an electrical retailer, specialising in Philips.

I have spoken to the guys at Harvey Norman - they have an exclusive for Ireland for the Saeco range of Coffee machines (they are really excellent BTW) and for Boardies, Harvey Norman are happy to pricebeat that Pixmania price + 10% which would give you a stonking deal!

I will post a Saeco range review over on our own Richersounds/Philips Shop Forum over the next few days - however if I was you I would head to your local HN to buy one with the pricebeat rather than buy online from France .

As ever give me a shout if I can assist in any way,

ATB,

John McDonald - The Philips Shop

Acoshla

kenmc wrote: »

What's your budget?
If you're in Dublin you could go into Colin in 3fe on abbey street and ask for some advice perhaps.

I would have said my budget was up to about €300 or possibly more if something was really awesome, but from here and from talking to friends it seems that some of the cheaper options might be just as good to get him started. Unfortunately not in Dublin, not really near anywhere that would know much about coffee machines really

Richersounds.ie: John wrote: »

I have spoken to the guys at Harvey Norman - they have an exclusive for Ireland for the Saeco range of Coffee machines (they are really excellent BTW) and for Boardies, Harvey Norman are happy to pricebeat that Pixmania price + 10% which would give you a stonking deal!

I will post a Saeco range review over on our own Richersounds/Philips Shop Forum over the next few days - however if I was you I would head to your local HN to buy one with the pricebeat rather than buy online from France

That's a great deal John, again unfortunately I'm not near a Harvey Norman and don't know when I would get the chance to be, but if I do decide to go for the higher end of my budget that offer would be great and maybe worth travelling for, just need to learn a bit more before I go parting with my cash!

Mr Magnolia

If he likes black coffee then the cafetiere he has combined with a good grinder and quality freshly roasted coffee beans is all he needs. The Baratza Maestro Plus is all he'll need in the way of grinder. Available here.

Don't waste your money on an expensive machine for the perfect black coffee.

If you do go this route ask him to look up some tutorials to learn to brew properly. Also, don't forget the beans.

Ogham

That machine on the apprentice is probbaly overpriced.
The Nespresso machines get great reviews and are much cheaper.
Good Choice on Amazon and free delivery to Ireland

Make sure you choose seller as Amazon to get free delivery here .

MarcoB

Ogham wrote: »

The Nespresso machines get great reviews and are much cheaper.

If he is into his coffee as described in the OP then I don't think a nespresso would suit him as it is really processed coffee in capsules and it is not really open to experimenting or using your own beans etc.

kenmc wrote: »

Get a good grinder, it's most important piece of kit. You can then look at getting some smaller cheaper coffee makers like an aeropress or a Hario Drip

Beans are easily sourced on the web, and need to be freshly roasted for best flavour. You can get a subscription from hasbean also, send out a different bag of beans every week or every month.

I would go for this, we have lot of coffee machines in work (we make coffee machines & are agents for a few) and most people in the place go for the aeropress and more recently the hario ceramic dripper. A more expensive one might take up room and not be exactly what he wants, an aeropress is compact enough to bring about on holidays or to work etc so will always have a use if he does upgrade. What I really like about it is the cleanliness of it, you have a compressed semi dry puck a the end that you just pop in the bin, perfect for a 1 cup brew.

The subscription is also a very good idea and would not go to waste or be OTT.

Swampy

I'd go with the grinder as per Mr. Magnolias's post. I love black coffees and for me you can't beat a French press with freshly ground beans.

wireyj

I have a Tassimmo and i would definitely recommend it. However you would have to order the coffee from england. Worth it though.

Acoshla

Thanks for all your help and advice everyone, however ironically enough the boyfriend was told yesterday to give up coffee by his doctor, thank God I hadn't paid for anything yet! Hopefully in the future when he can drink his beloved coffee again I can use all your advice.

Thanks,

Spadina

kenmc

get him a second opinion, then coffee kit