Coffeemakers

[jlampley]

Can anyone recommend a good 12-volt coffeemaker for use on our boat? Thanks.

 

[Ross]

You will do best to use the galley stove.

 

[jlampley]

Thanks, Ross. I was afraid of that.

 

[Steve Dion]

We use a kettle to boil the water. Those small butane stoves really work well for that purpose.

Then we have a Melita cone/filters & Carfe. Boil the water and pour it through the filter. The nice thing about this is you can do it at the dock or on the hook.

My understanding of those 12vdc coffe makers is that they take for ever and do not really get the water hot enough.

 

[jlampley]

Thanks much, Steve. Very helpful!

 

[Berndahle]

If you have an inverter and have 110V on board, a regular coffee maker only runs for about 5 min and doesn't really suck up too many amps. Just make sure you get one with an insulated carafe and that it turns itself off when done and doesn't continue to heat the plate. Works very well for us. I've also heard that the 12V makers take forever.

 

[Cayennita]

You can have mine. It was a farewell gift and I left it somewhere between Key West and Cuba. Boil the water and french press the coffee.

 

[Ron20324]

I use to have one in my van for traveling. It took maybe an hour to perk. Unless they have been improved, I suggest you stop at a 7-11 barge for coffee.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

What about a Keurig?

Single cup coffee makers.

http://www.keurig.com/allbrewers.asp?mscsid=5DQK1WR0PXGW8JDFE7BJUUXN136J8NPF

The whole URL is too long...so click on the menus to get the brewers.

I have no idea what the draw is, but it takes less than a minute to heat the water, so it can't be so much a decent inverter couldn't handle it. I have one at home--the Elite--and while I don't think ANY coffee maker is worth anywhere near $100, I really like it. The Mini Plus seems like it could a be good choice on a boat.

Just an idea...

 

[windward54]

Single cup coffee makers.

I have no idea what the draw is, but it takes less than a minute to heat the water, so it can't be so much a decent inverter couldn't handle it.
Just an idea...

You would be surprised how much power it takes to heat water. A coffee maker can pull around 85 to 90 amps just to heat up the water. The duration is short, but you have to have an inverter that can handle the current demand.

 

[Scott B]

Uh oh.... did someone mention anchors?? I mean coffee on board ... They both seem to draw the most replies.



We don't have an inverter and limited battery juice. We use a kettle, boil water on the stove, and Melita drip cone and filter. Same as coffee maker but no the electrical draw. Others swear by french press, same type of idea only different.

 

[Jalepeno]

We use a Melita cone/filters and an insulated carfe. Use the Origo stove to heat the water or an electric kettle when connected to shore power. Some use a French Press but I prefer filter coffee.

 

[Ross]

If you choose to use a french press you need to buy your coffee with a course grind.

 

[RAD]

I use to have one in my van for traveling. It took maybe an hour to perk. Unless they have been improved, I suggest you stop at a 7-11 barge for coffee.

They got 7-11 on barge's

 

[Jalepeno]

Just for interest, I looked up the electrical specifications for the Keurig mini single cup model. Looks nice but it will use about 5 amp-hours of inverter power to make just one cup. The big problem is that you will need a 1500 Watt inverter at a minimum. I think I'll stay with my Melita setup.


http://www.keurig.com/miniplusBlack.asp?mscsid=UJ5CQDV9BGWM8GQCST5PWR0S1DU22HBF

 

[njsail]

Coffee is a passionate topic and a good cup of coffee fits right into living the good life aboard. here's my 2 cents on the topic:

We've landed on two methods we're happy with. Our french press works great. It's a thermal version so you can make the coffee and it'll stay warm in the pot.
Here's our Frieling french press
http://tinyurl.com/c3f59p

We've also discovered an easier way to clean up french press coffee grinds after you enjoy your brew. It's a little filter that after your done uses a small hook to pull the filter along with the grinds up. clean up was the only part I hated about the press. This certainly helps.
http://lifehacker.com/5648883/coffee-catcher-filters-and-simplifies-your-french-press-coffee

We also have a single cup Keurig personal mini on board which works great on AC or via inverter.
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-35-Personal-Single-Serve-Brewing/dp/B001CTXWM6

The good thing about the mini is it has a pressure sensor that won't let you brew if you don't have a cup in it. It saved my hide a couple times already. We run it on a Xantrex inverter sometimes when out. But when at anchor we usually use the press since we can make many cups at once and I don't have to pull out an extension chord. Boiling water is quick and easy.

I say make a pot and enjoy. I'm heading down to the boat now and it'll be in the 40's in the morning. I'll certainly be enjoying a cup or two before changing the oil.

 

[Stroh]

Very nice percolator and inexpensive, I use it on propane burner:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005NCWQ...e=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B00005NCWQ

 

[Bob S]

I agree on the percolator. Got an 8 cup stainless and use paper filters made for them for easy clean up.

 

[zeehag]

melitta filter cones are most efficient. boil water, pour over. i use espresso roast and espresso grind. percolators take many more minutes of boiling and that is more fuel and more time at the stove in a heavy sea situation.. btdt.
french press coffee isnt filtered, non filtered coffee is more prone to causing pancreatic cancer.
i choose filtered.

 

[RichH]

Melitta or French Press, either one. The real secret is a GRINDER and FRESHLY ROASTED beans and a 'small' pinch of Baking Soda in the water. :-D