Filter Coffee Machine

So you have just bought one of those new fangled machines – you know a filter coffee machine. Or you may have even sucumed to the coffee shop charms and plunged into the world of espresso machines. 

But the burning question that you have how; that is emblazened across your brain, that keeps you awake at night tossing and turning; that has made you forget your own mothers birthday ……………… what the hell can I do with with all those paper filters that are sat in cupboard!

Here’s some ideas for spare filters (who knows you may carry on buying them:

• Use to clean windows and mirrors as they don’t have any lint and won’t streak;
• Apply shoe polish with them;
  
• When storing crockery, place a filter between plates to protect them;
• Cover dishes in the microwave to prevent food splattering inside the microwave;
  
• Push the wooden stick of a ice lolly through the filter to catch drips;
• Serve hot dogs, popcorn, tacos and other messy foods;
• Place a filter in an iron skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust;
• When re-potting plants, place one in the bottom to keep soil from coming out of the drainage holes;
• Protect Christmas ornaments when your storing them;
• Put potpourri in them and tie them up with ribbon or cotton and use as drawer and closet sachets;
• Use as a rest for spoons/cooking utensils when cooking;
• Tie herbs in the filter and use a bouquet garrni for soups and stews;
• Use for childrens crafts – angels, butterflies and flowers (or wherever else your imagination can conjure up!);
• Soak coffee filters in water with food coloring to create colorful craft papers for scrapbooking;
• They’re ideal to stop bleeding from razor nicks when shaving;
• Use them absorb the fat from fried foods;
• Has the cork broken into your wine? Use a the filter to, well, to filter it;
• Pop baking soda into the filter and put it into shoes or a closet to get rid of and prevent nasty odors;
• Use the cone-style filters to pour in oil and other liquids into your car’s engine, safely;
• Use a filter to clean up liquid spills because unlike a paper towel, they won’t leave behind any lint;
• Got a wobbly table or chair? Use a folded up coffee filter under the leg to even it out;
• What about tumble drier sheets – have you run out? Pop some drops of fabric softener on a filter, rub sides of the together, and put in the dryer with your laundry to help prevent static and make your clothes smell fresh.
  

Well there you have loads of extra uses for those spare paper filters.  Oh, almost forgot, if you have a filter coffee machine with a plastic filter – why not use a paper filter in the basket to prevent a mess and make great coffee!

Where can I get "to-go" paper cups that fit in the machine? I have an office, and I would like to offer my clients some coffee in a nice looking paper cup, preferably with a lid. The Starbucks ‘tall" cups are too big…where can i get a variety of sizes of starbucks type cups with lids?
Thanks!

i use dixie brand "to go cups" available at target .

• 3 year guarantee
• Automatic Bean to Cup Filter Coffee Machine
• Unique grind & brew system automatically grinds fresh coffee before brewing
• Fully programmable with automatic start timer
• 1-4 cup quantity selector
• Grind off feature for use with pre-ground coffee
• Gold-tone filter for commercial quality brewing
• Double-wall insulated carafe with vacuum-sealed lid ensures freshly a brewed flavour for hours
• 10 Cup capacity
• Brew pause function
• Charcoal water filter

The Cuisinart is a durable and robust grind and brew coffee maker.  If you are a little more adventerous in with your coffee, this machine will not only allow you to experiment with your choice of beans, but you will also be able to blend your own coffees.

The Pros

• You have the facility to use coffee beans as well as filter coffee.
• The hot plate keeps the coffee properly warm without stewing
• Produces consistently good coffee (but don’t follow the suggested measures of coffee beans as this does tend to produce a weaker brew)
• Has a level of complexity that will pleease those who want to feel they’re progressing on the coffee journey, but with just a good read of the manual you are well on your way to brewing lovely coffee.

The Cons

• This is a blade grinder and not a burr.  This is my mine drawback with this machine.  To find out more about blade vs burr, read my post here
• Cleaning is not straight forward (see handy tips below), but I don’t mind this.  The extra effort just means my expertise is increasing.
• The grinder is a little noisy

Handy Tips

• Cleaning is more time consuming than with many other filter coffee machines. Each time you use the unit, you need to clean and dry the grinder (drying it is very important), clean three filter components (inlcuding the gold mesh filter itself), and rinse out the carafe. This may sound fiddily, but in actual fact it only takes a couple of minutes and is well worth the little effort.
• Yes it may be noisy – but how many of us sleep in the kitchen!

Whether you buy this machine or not will really depend on what your priorities are.  If you want a straightforward filter coffee machine that takes pre-ground coffee and needs little in the way of cleaning effort then look else where (there’s plenty of these reviewed on this site). 

However, if you want a machine that that will allow you to explore a new world of coffee beans and experiment with your own blends (but don’t mind the little extra effort), then this machine could be the one for you.

For more information on this machine and pricing, please click here.