Starbucks Red Eye: "Taste Drive"

Starbucks Red Eye: "Taste Drive"

Starbucks Red Eye, Venti

In my new book about making great coffee, I stated that I can make great coffee at home for 60 cents, and even for a million dollars it would be hard to find a better cup of coffee anywhere.  A bold statement, I know.

I decided to put this to the test.  Unfortunately, my budget was not up to spending a full million dollars, but I bought an expensive coffee at Starbucks to take on a "taste drive".

At the Starbucks in my local Barnes and Noble, I asked if I could get a pour-over with 1/2 house blend and 1/2 dark roast.  The answer was that they did not have pour-over equipment at that location.  One of the baristas in back offered that they could make me a Red Eye.

What is a Red Eye?

This sounded interesting.  I don't think Red Eye is even on the official Starbucks menu.  A Red Eye is a cup of coffee with a shot of espresso added.  The barista thought this would give me the blend of dark and medium roast flavors I was seeking.  I ordered up a venti (20 ounce) Red Eye made with house blend and a shot of espresso that cost $3.14.

My first impression was that it was served too hot.  I couldn't taste much and had to let it cool down a bit.  I often find that coffee at coffee shops is served too hot.  I think this is done on purpose so customer's won't complain about getting cold coffee.

After cooling, I found that the Red Eye had pretty good flavor.  The shot of espresso added some of the dark, smokey flavor that I wanted.  Without looking at any nutritional information, I can tell you that a Red Eye has A LOT of caffeine!  I was wide awake all day.

My conclusion is that a Red Eye at Starbucks is a good way to wake up and is a good-tasting cup of coffee.  I still like my great coffee at home better, though.  The price of $3.14 is OK for an occasional treat, but I wouldn't want to do that every day.  I will count this experiment as the cost of doing business.

Copyright © 2015 Dr. Penny Pincher. All Rights Reserved. Coffee Maker Journal

A Cheaper Coffee Grinder

When Your Coffee Grinder Breaks...

Mr. Coffee Burr Grinder with Bean Storage

The other day, my coffee grinder failed, and it threw my day into chaos.  I had a nice Mr. Coffee burr grinder with a built-in storage container for the coffee beans.  It had worked well for about 3 years, but something broke and it would no longer grind.  I tried emptying it and cleaning it, but still no luck.  I suspect that one of the safety switches that prevents the grinder from running if everything isn't closed had failed.

The reason losing my coffee grinder was so chaotic is that it happened in the morning, and I didn't have any coffee grounds around.  I thought about trying to crush some coffee beans by putting them in a zip-lock bag and hitting them with a meat tenderizer, but that seemed like a lot of work.




I ended up stopping at a coffee shop on the way to work.  This is so expensive compared with making coffee at home that I rarely do this.  Plus, I can make better coffee at home.  Not to mention that I had to wait about 30 minutes longer than usual to get my coffee.  Chaos!

You can see why getting another coffee grinder was number one on my list of things to do.  Since I was pretty unhappy with my old grinder since it failed on me, I didn't want to get another one just like it.  If fact, I was ready to try something simpler and cheaper.

What I ended up with was also a Mr. Coffee product, but it is a simple blade grinder without a coffee bean dispenser.  The coffee bean dispenser on my old coffee grinder would sometimes get jammed up, so I was ready to try one without built-in bean storage.  I have glass coffee bean jars from my days using a hand grinder years ago, so I already have a good place to store beans.

My Replacement Coffee Grinder: Simple blade coffee grinder for $17

The cost of the cheaper grinder was $17 instead of $35 for the burr grinder.  My main concern with getting a blade grinder is that I worried that the blade would heat up the beans during grinding and damage the flavor.  So far, I have not found this to be a problem.  This model has an adjustable timer based on how much coffee you are grinding.  You just hold the grind button down, and the grinding automatically shuts off after enough time has passed for adequate grinding.

I have tried both light roast Kona and dark roast French Roast with my new coffee grinder, and both taste great with no loss or distortion of flavor from using a blade grinder instead of a burr grinder.



It takes a bit more effort to scoop the coffee beans into the grinder, but this provides an opportunity for me to make custom blends of coffee from different kinds of coffee beans.

One nice feature of the Mr. Coffee blade grinder is that it has a "chamber maid" feature.  Someone had fun naming this...  The dispenser for coffee grounds has some built-in scrapers, and you can twist the housing to easily get all of your coffee grounds to pour out.  Otherwise, you would need to use a brush to remove all of the coffee grounds that stick to the sides of the dispenser cup that holds the grounds.

So far, simpler is better.  I have had no trouble with my new coffee grinder and hope it will last for many years.  I decided that saving $18 and having a simpler piece of equipment was the way to go.

Copyright © 2015 Dr. Penny Pincher. All Rights Reserved. Coffee Maker Journal

Custom Blend Whole Coffee Beans at Home

Make Your Own Custom Coffee at Home!

I have started blending whole coffee beans at home to create my own blends.  I really like the smokey flavor of dark roast, but I also like the nutty flavor and citrus notes of light roast.  Why not have all of these flavors at once in the same cup of coffee?

I bought a bag of French Roast dark roast whole coffee beans and a bag of Kona Blend light roast whole coffee beans at Target.  They were marked way down to $5.49 for a 12 oz bag, so I decided to give Target's Archer Farms store brand a try.

Dark Roast and Light Roast Coffee Beans to Blend
Image Source: Dr. Penny Pincher

I poured an equal amount of dark roast beans and light roast beans in a bowl and stirred them with a spoon until they were evenly mixed.

Custom Blending Coffee Beans at Home
Image Source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Next, they went into the coffee grinder, 5 scoops to make a 16 oz cup.  Finally, the freshly ground beans went into my Melitta Thermal Coffee Maker's cone filter and I filled the water tank with filtered water from my refrigerator.

The result...  Some of the best coffee I have ever had!  I have been drinking my 50/50 dark-light custom blend for about a week now.

This is an easy thing to try at home.  All it takes is two different kind of coffee beans and a coffee grinder.


Copyright © 2015 Dr. Penny Pincher. All Rights Reserved. Coffee Maker Journal

Coffee Drippers- Get a Coffee Maker for Under $10

Coffee Makers for Under $10!?

Did you know you can get a coffee maker for under $10 that makes really great coffee?

These are not typical coffee makers.  I am talking about a "coffee dripper".  This is a cone-shaped device that holds a cone filter and coffee grounds.  You put the coffee dripper over a mug and pour hot water over the top to make pour-over coffee.

All you need to make great coffee is a cone filter, coffee grounds and hot water.

For best results, grind fresh whole beans just before brewing.

RSVP Manual Coffee Dripper

RSVP Manual Drip Coffee Filter Cone for Carafes or Thermos

#4 Cone Filter Dripper

  Plastic Filter Cone #4 Large coffee maker (colors may vary)

HAROLD Coffee Dripper, From Holland

  HAROLD Plastic Filter Cone Medium Coffee Maker, Medium, Red

Melitta Coffee Dripper

  Melitta 64008 Red Ready Joe Filter Cone

Collapsible Coffee Dripper- Easy to Take With You

Kuissential SlickDrip - Collapsible Silicone Coffee Dripper, Filter Cone


Copyright © 2015 Dr. Penny Pincher. All Rights Reserved. Coffee Maker Journal

Best Electric Tea Kettle

Best Electric Tea Kettle- Tea Time Anytime

Hamilton Beach Electric Tea Kettle

For years, my wife had wanted an electric tea kettle.  Since we had a tea kettle for the stovetop, I didn't see an advantage to getting an electric kettle.  Finally, she got to pick one out for Christmas.  She did some serious research and compared a lot of different models to find the best electric tea kettle.  I am surprised how much we use it.

Boiling Water for Tea in Hamilton Beach Electric Tea Kettle
Image Source: Dr. Penny Pincher

With an electric tea kettle, it is so easy to get a cup or two of water boiling.  You just press down on the lever, and the nice blue lights come on.  Within a couple minutes, your water is boiling- tea time!  The kettle turns itself off just after it reaches a full boil.

I use the electric tea kettle to make tea almost every day.  I drink decaf tea or herbal tea in the afternoon and evenings.  Sometimes I make instant decaf coffee with the hot water too.  My kids like to make decaf coffee and add milk and honey to it.

The Kettle Lifts Off the Base
Image Source: Dr. Penny Pincher

Here are some features I like with the Hamilton Beach electric tea kettle:

• Clear glass kettle- you can watch the water boil
• Cool blue lighting
• Kettle automatically turns off when water reaches boiling
• Boils water fast
• Kettle is a nice size

The Hamilton Beach electric tea kettle is available on Amazon for under $40:
Hamilton Beach 40865 Glass Electric Kettle, 1.7-Liter


An electric tea kettle is a great addition to your kitchen if you enjoy hot tea or if you make instant coffee.


Copyright © 2015 Dr. Penny Pincher. All Rights Reserved. Coffee Maker Journal

Top 10 Thermal Coffee Makers

List of the Top 10 Thermal Coffee Makers

Thermal coffee makers have an insulated carafe to keep your coffee warm.  Coffee makers with a glass carafe use a burner which can make the coffee taste stale and burned.  Other features to look for in a thermal coffee maker are cone filters.  The shape of a cone filter allows better flavor extraction from the coffee grounds.

I like to go with the simplest and least expensive product that has the features I want.  As you'll see in my list, I picked the Melitta as the best thermal coffee maker.  This is the one I have used for years after my Cuisinart coffee maker failed.  The Melitta is very simple, makes great coffee, and sells for under $60.

#1- The Best Thermal Coffee Maker
Melitta 10-Cup Coffee Maker with Vacuum Stainless Thermal Carafe

Melitta Thermal Coffee Maker

Melitta 10-Cup Coffee Maker with Vacuum Stainless Thermal Carafe (46894A)

This is my coffee maker that I have owned for several years.  This article goes into the details of why I picked the Melitta as the best thermal coffee maker.  This coffee maker sells for around $60.

#2
BUNN BT Velocity Brew 10-Cup Thermal Carafe Home Coffee Brewer

Bunn Thermal Coffee Maker

BUNN BT Velocity Brew 10-Cup Thermal Carafe Home Coffee Brewer, Black

This is a high end thermal coffee maker, sells for around $130.

#3
Cuisinart DTC-975BKN Thermal 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

Cuisinart Thermal Coffee Maker

Cuisinart DTC-975BKN Thermal 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black

I had a Cuisinart thermal coffee maker for years, and then it failed.  I was not happy with the reliability of my Cuisinart.  I decided to get a simpler coffee maker- that's why I ended up going with the Melitta.  This Cuisinart model sells for around $85.

#4
Mr. Coffee BVMC-PSTX91 Optimal Brew 10-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker

Mr. Coffee Thermal Coffee Maker

Mr. Coffee BVMC-PSTX91 Optimal Brew 10-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker, Black/Stainless Steel

At around $60, this Mr. Coffee thermal coffee maker is in the same price range as my favorite thermal coffee maker, the Melitta.

#5
Bonavita BV1800SS 8-Cup Original Coffee Brewer

Bonavita Thermal Coffee Maker

Bonavita BV1800SS 8-Cup Original Coffee Brewer, Stainless Steel

The Bonavita is a bit pricey, selling for around $160.  This is a high quality, simple thermal coffee maker.

#6
Black & Decker CM2035B 12-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker

Black and Decker Thermal Coffee Maker

Black & Decker CM2035B 12-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker, Black/Silver


The Black and Decker thermal coffee maker is another inexpensive option, selling for around $60.

#7
Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker

Cuisinart Thermal Coffee Maker with Built-in Grinder

Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Brushed Stainless/Black

With the Cuisinart Grind and Brew, you get a thermal coffee maker and a whole bean grinder in one machine.  I used to have a coffee maker with a built-in grinder.  This is a space saver, and you only have one thing to plug in rather than two if you grind whole beans.  This is a bit expensive, selling for around $200.  You can buy a cheaper thermal coffee maker for around $60 and buy a coffee grinder for around $40 for a total of around $100 for a thermal coffee maker and coffee bean grinder.

#8
Zojirushi EC-BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker

Zojirushi Thermal Coffee Maker

Zojirushi EC-BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker

If I had to replace my Melitta thermal coffee maker, I would consider the Zorji.  This company has a long history, and this looks like a clean, simple coffee maker design.  Priced at around $70, it is one of the lower cost options for a thermal coffee maker.

#9
Mr. Coffee JWTX85 8-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker

Mr. Coffee Cheap Thermal Coffee Maker

Mr. Coffee JWTX85 8-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker, Stainless Steel

This Mr. Coffee thermal coffee wins for the cheapest one!  At about $40, this may be the cheapest thermal coffee maker you'll find.  This one uses "regular" flat-bottom coffee filters, not the cone filters that I recommend.

#10
Breville BDC600XL YouBrew Drip Coffee Maker

Breville Thermal Coffee Maker

Breville BDC600XL YouBrew Drip Coffee Maker

The Breville is an expensive model selling for around $250 that has a built-in coffee bean grinder.  This is a sharp looking coffee maker, but I would go with something cheaper and simpler.


Copyright © 2015 Dr. Penny Pincher. All Rights Reserved. Coffee Maker Journal

Drinking Mexican Coffee in Cancun

Is It Safe to Drink Coffee in Mexico?

Necta Coffee Machine- How I Got Good Coffee in Mexico

This question was on my mind as I prepared to go to Mexico for a week-long vacation- is it safe to drink coffee in Mexico?  I have read lots of warnings not to drink tap water in Cancun because parasites in the water cause diarrhea also known as "Montezuma's Revenge".  At the Cancun Airport, there were even signs on the bathroom mirrors warning people not to drink the water.

But a week without coffee would be tough.  Especially in a place that has potential for good local coffee beans.  Some reading on the Internet convinced me that hot coffee should be OK- the high temperature kills the parasites that I have mentioned.

It turned out that the resort I was visiting had treated water, so even the tap water at the resort was probably safe- although I didn't trust it.  I used bottled water for drinking and even to brush my teeth.  I really didn't want to have problems with amoebic dysentery.

Since the resort had treated water, and then this water was heated, I felt OK to try the coffee.  They may have even used bottled water to make the coffee- we noticed that the water glasses they served at dinner were filled from jugs of bottled water.

Mexican Coffee in Cancun

I had read some travel reviews that said it was almost impossible to get a good cup of coffee in Cancun- the coffee at the hotels is terrible and the only hope is a Starbucks.  The resort I stayed at was actually about an hour south of Cancun and finding good coffee there was no problem.

The resort had an Italian Necta coffee machine.  It was loaded with whole coffee beans and had settings to brew shots of espresso or Caffe Americano.  This machine could also brew cappuccino and other drinks with milk.  The menus on the machine were in a foreign language, either Spanish or Italian, so I sometimes ended up with a surprise.  Sometimes the machine would not brew, so I simply moved on to a different machine since I was not sure what the problem was.

During my stay, I noticed that some of the machines had a small sign that said "decaffeinato".  I am not an expert on Spanish, but I think that means decaffeinated.  I am pretty sure most people did not notice the small sign.  I tried both the regular coffee and decaffeinated.  It was an espresso roast, strong and fresh.

Overall, I would rate the coffee I had in Mexico as quite good, but your experience could vary quite a bit depending on what your hotel has to offer.


Copyright © 2015 Dr. Penny Pincher. All Rights Reserved. Coffee Maker Journal