Can you recommend a coffee maker?

[nataliachick7]

And what is better; using the disposable filters or having a perm filter? thanks

[Eman'smom]

I love our French Press and cheap, easy and amazing coffee

[BaBaBa]

another vote for the french press.
No electronics, no waste and makes the best coffee

[tinuviel_k]

I have never found an inexpensive electric coffee maker that I've really been impressed with. Most don't heat the water to the correct temperature, and all seem to have plastic baskets and water tanks. I never like to drink any hot beverage that has been soaking in plastic: that just can't be good for the body!

How many cups do you drink at a time?

If you and your family drink 1-2 cups in the morning then I really recommend ceramic drip cones with unbleached filters! I like it better than french press, as I like my coffee a little less sedimenty (haha, a new word!). You can easily find plastic cones, but I don't like those. The ceramic ones are harder to find, as last year most ceramic cones on the market were pulled due to lead content (made in China).
The best place I've seen to get ceramic cones is Sweet Maria's. They have white ceramic cones, certified lead free, made in Japan. I have the large Beehouse coffee dripper, and I love it!
http://sweetmarias.com/prod.single_cup.php (scroll down to the bottom four cone brewers).

If you drink more coffee in the morning I really would recommend the Chemex coffee brewers. They are very pretty, made of glass, and make great coffee.
http://sweetmarias.com/prod.chemex.php

And lastly, I LOVE vacuum brewers. I used to have one, but I accidentally broke it. It is a little more complex, but is oh so cool and scientific looking. The good ones are made of glass and have cloth or glass filters.
The Cona is absolutely gorgeous but really expensive. The Yama is quite reasonably priced, and definitely more practical.
http://sweetmarias.com/prod.brewers.vacuum.php

[Tizzy]

We have a stainless steel stove-top percolator and we LOVE it. No filters to mess with, easy to clean, easy to make and it's excellent coffee. Ours is a Copco brand and cost $30.

[zoebird]

i second the french press. no filters!

i don't drink coffee, but my DH does. he loves the press. the clean up is easy, it's easy to store, light on the earth, etc etc etc.

and you can get ones that make 6-8 cups if you make a lot. ours makes 2-4 cups, since it's usually just DH drinking it once a week (sundays).

[ParisApril]

Originally Posted by Tizzy

We have a stainless steel stove-top percolator and we LOVE it. No filters to mess with, easy to clean, easy to make and it's excellent coffee. Ours is a Copco brand and cost $30.

I'll second that. And with all stainless steel parts it will never break a month after you buy it even if you drop it! (Like my glass french press.)

[RosemaryS-F]

Funny, I was on to say french press as well. We boil our water in an electric kettle which uses way less energy to boil than boiling on the range.

[shayinme]

Originally Posted by Tizzy

We have a stainless steel stove-top percolator and we LOVE it. No filters to mess with, easy to clean, easy to make and it's excellent coffee. Ours is a Copco brand and cost $30.

I also use a stainless steel stove top percolator, I love it and would not go back to dealing with filters, etc. If I didn't have a percolator I would go for a french press.