Desperately in need of a new coffeemaker, I put my resentment for the Man with the Bag aside and hit the Internet to see who brews it best

Just because I write for a website that’s all about coffee, doesn’t mean my own kitchen always percolates with the velvety smooth aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Case in point: my coffeemaker is on its last leg. It recently started leaking from underneath and now every time I make pot, my countertop gets soaked. We writers are often notorious for our procrastination, so my attempts at salvaging my coffeemaker (the brand of which I’ll spare for fear of the inevitable backlash) have mostly listed to sopping up the water and hoping by some blessing from the coffee gods that tomorrow will be different.

While I asked for a new coffeemaker for Christmas, I’m afraid Santa failed to come through for me (maybe he’s read this blog and felt intimidated?). And the coffeemaker that really makes my mouth water is currently out of my range. So, with gift cards ready to fill a gap in my budget and a drive to exploit the post-Christmas sales for all they’re worth, I’ve decided to turn to the Internet for advice on finding my next great, non-leaking coffeemaker.

Even though I love espresso and my dying coffeemaker is half espresso maker too, I expect very little from my everyday coffeemaker. I’d like for it to 1) work consistently, 2) make at least 10 cups for when I have company over, and 3) require little more than filling the tank and filter basket and pushing a button.

Different brands, different appeal

I’ve seen a lot advertised lately about the Cuisinart Grind and Brew 12-cup Automatic Coffeemaker. What attracts me to this model is the fact that it has an automatic burr grinder built in that is meant to preserve as much of the beans’ flavor as possible. It also has a charcoal water filter, a 24-hour programmable clock, and an automatic shut-off so that I’ll never have to wonder if I left the pot on again. At $169.99, it’s slightly more than I’d like to spend, but if it’s as great as it looks, it might be well worth it.

My parents, the people I can blame for my coffee addiction, have sworn by coffee makers by Bunn for years now. I’ve never owned a Bunn, but their models seem simple enough. The BTX Home Brewer has an insulated carafe that keeps the coffee from burning, no matter how long it’s left on the burner. While it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the Cuisinart, it looks like it would get the job done, and its black-and-stainless steel motif would fit well with my other appliances. It retails between $121.95 and $154.98, depending on where you shop.

Finally, if I wanted to go for a totally funky appliance that doubles as a conversation piece, I might just pick up Michael Graves Design Automatic Drip Coffeemaker. At $39.29, it’s well within my budget and its rounded features have a fun, modern look. It’s also programmable and has a FlavorPlus option that lets you choose the strength of your coffee. Consumer Reports recently recognized it a “Best Buy”, which means it actually works.

So, which would you choose: the spendy one that does everything but wash itself, the practical one that has Mom’s seal of approval, or the art piece that comes with a guarantee? Thanks to my cousin, I have a pound of Intelligensia House Blend waiting on me. I think I’ll brew up a pot in my old clunker and think about which coffeemaker might brew it best.

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