Rant: stopped using drip coffee makers after 20 years of them

I used to swear by my Mr. Coffee machine for decades, dumping in pre-ground Folgers every morning without a second thought. But last year I switched to a simple pour-over cone and freshly grinding beans from a local roaster down the street, and now I can't even stand the taste of drip coffee anymore. Has anyone else made a similar switch and found it hard to go back, or am I just being picky?

3 comments

3 Comments

ross.angela1mo ago

Try using water just off the boil instead of boiling hot for a smoother cup.

beth_baker691mo ago

90 degrees Celsius is the sweet spot I've found in my own testing! I actually bought a thermometer just to check because I was so shocked at how much difference a few degrees makes. Boiling water at 100 degrees seems to scorch the grounds and brings out all that bitter, burnt taste. Going just below the boil, around 95, still extracts well but keeps the delicate flavors intact. It's wild that something so simple can change your whole cup of coffee from bitter to smooth. I honestly thought people were exaggerating until I tried it side by side one morning.

ninaross1mo ago

Wait, is this really that big of a deal? I mean, I get that good coffee is nice and all, but boiling water vs. not-quite-boiling water seems like splitting hairs to me. @ross.angela, you're making it sound like a whole science experiment, and honestly, who has time for that in the morning? My buddy's dad used to just pour boiling water straight from the kettle into his drip machine and nobody complained for 30 years. I don't know, maybe I just don't have the taste buds for it, but a few degrees seems like it wouldn't ruin the whole cup.