Looking for recommendations on coffee makers. Preferably a drip coffee maker. I’ve been using a percolator for years and while it usually works fine, it doesn’t always brew thoroughly if the water isn’t cold enough.
Assuming you mean an automatic drip coffee maker, Moccamaster is definitely the most “BIFL” one out there, as it makes pretty good coffee and the design basically hasn’t changed since the 1970s. Downside (or upside depending on how you look at it) is that they are hand made in the Netherlands, which makes them kind of expensive compared to most other options in the us.
Oxo makes a really similar brewer in their 8 cup which in some ways is a little nicer than the Moccamaster. The drip head is a bit larger so the drip is more even, there’s a vent on top you can use to heat your mugs, and it comes with an extra cone to brew single servings directly into your cup. It’s also not cheap, but less than the Moccamaster. Downside of course is that you’re not buying something quite as proven.
I have friends who have sworn by Bunn coffee makers, and while I think their commercial units are basically bulletproof, I’ve personally experienced a number of the residental ones fail.
One other downside to all these is that they tend to not have any extra features like timers and whatnot, but that’s probably why they have lasted so well.
Second moccamaster. Makes the best drip coffee I’ve ever had and if something does go wrong they sell all the parts. But it probably won’t go wrong.
Consider using a Chemex. If it’s kept away from explosions and impacts with rigid surfaces, it’ll keep ‘working’ until the heat death of the universe. You can even keep using the same filters if they’re the right size.
I really have to second this due a few reasons:
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It’s not expensive and will last as long as you don’t break it. It’s made of glass but it seems to be special glass because it’s hard to break. I’ve had two of them over the past 13 years. Broke one after ten years.
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Since it’s less expensive you can spend more on a BIFL coffee grinder and hot water pot. I’d suggest DeLonghi for a grinder and the FELLOW goose neck water heater. I’ve had both for many years and love them
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The Chemex is easy to clean. After out pour your coffee just rinse it out. Use soap once a week and it’ll not even get stained. Coffee makers end up getting really gross after a while in my experience so even if your coffee maker lasts a long time you’ll want to throw it out because everything that comes out of it tastes burned and extra acidic.
IIRC the glass is borosilicate, which is really the perfect glass for this application.
I would recommend Baratza grinders. They’re easy to repair and they offer just about every part. The motor in my Encore developed a dead spot after like 7 or 8 years and several hundred pounds of coffee. Took less than an hour to replace the motor and upgrade the burr set.
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I feel like most pour over cones will work. I use a V60 (the plastic variety) and there’s no way I could foresee it breaking outside of being an idiot.
Next bifl thread: Best electric kettle anyone?
I went with a regular gooseneck kettle and an induction cooktop. The cooktop can be used to boil water for pasta, etc. and the kettle is just a metal vessel with a thermometer on top. If the cooktop breaks, I can still boil water on the gas stove top.
Check out Moccamaster.
+1 for Moccamaster
One more for Moccamaster. Old and proven design, made in Europe. Mine is inherited and at least twenty years old and chugging along nicely. Bought a new drip tray s as the old one cracked when dropped, and they still still the same parts for pretty cheap
French press is the cheapest, simplest way to brew coffee. You don’t need special filters, electronics (that break), or even an expensive one (I use a like $25 one from Amazon).
I know not what you asked for but realistically imo it’s the only one you’ll be buying for life.
I got a French press and used it for awhile. I’m extremely lazy though and got tired of having to clean the coffee grounds out of the screen. That’s something I didn’t consider before buying it. I switched to a chemex that I like much better. Yeah, there are disposable filters but it works better for me. If I were starting over, I’d probably just get some kind of pour over thing that fits over my mug. That would take up less space than the chemex.
I probably shouldn’t, but I just wash it all down the disposal, or dump the grounds in my plants.
Not a coffee drinker at all, but that’s what I encourage people to do: dump them in their compost bin.
A plus side to filters is that they filter out cholesterol. Unfiltered coffee such as from a french press can raise cholesterol so better to stick with filters. Also the maker of the aeropress did his own polling and found the vast majority of people prefer the taste of filtered coffee. I’m pretty sure he did pretty rigorous testing, not just self report too.
Maybe I should try one of these, for now I use a very similar item called the Aeropress. It does use filters though. It makes a single cup of coffee at a time
But I can take it camping
The other option, as someone else mentioned is a pour over. If you want to take something camping Stanley makes a real solid one.
I’d recommend trying a French press. It’s my preferred method as I have a lot of control over it, and unless the glass breaks, or the screen gets mangled, there’s nothing to break.
The only thing on them that isn’t quite BILF is the rubber on the plunger goes after a while but you can buy new ones so it still viable
For a drip coffee maker, I would buy a Moccamaster again. Ours have run daily for over ten years, and only issue is a broken LED. Which we will fix at our own convenience. Raipairability and replacement parts availability is a great pro for Moccamasters.
The One maintainance tip for drip makers if you want your coffee to stay fresh:
Only ever use a clean container for adding water to the machine. Never ever use the pot for this without thoroghly rinsing with soap first. The fat from the coffee beans will stick to the inside of the heater where it accumulates and adds a foul taste to your coffee forever.
I’m not dead yet, but my Cuisinart, “Mr. coffee”style coffee maker has been going for at least 15 years and parts are available still. All the electronics still work so I can program it to have coffee waiting for me in the morning. 
Here’s a link to a brand new one that looks exactly the same as my old one.
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/cuisinart-12-cup-brew-central-programmable-coffee-maker/
I have the version of this with the thermal carafe and the hopper that rests atop the maker with a built in burr grinder. Came to post it, because we’ve had it for 11 years with daily use and is still works like a champ. Like you said, parts are readily available, inexpensive, and it’s been easy to replace the ones that needed it. If ours somehow broke irreparably I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another the next day.
I love my kettle and pour over set up. Keeps my taste buds safe from a stale cup.
It’s surprising to me that a percolator would not brew properly. As far as I can remember I made coffee without much thought in a percolator with great results. Perhaps look into that?
Otherwise, a French press might be of interest to you. Bodum has great products with spare parts.
