It was not too long ago that getting a beverage from a coffee vending machine was done so out of desperation as their reputation for providing a good cup of coffee was not real good. Typically, the drinks produced were either too strong, too weak or just downright nasty and despite the complaints of those that bought drinks from a coffee vending machine, buy them they did. It may have been because of the some of the fancy cups they used because in most cases it was not because of great tasting coffee.

Typically, many of the old style coffee vending machines simply provided hot water that was run through a portion of instant coffee that did not always completely dissolve during the process. The result was often hot water with some grounds floating on the top of the water or settled on the bottom of the cup and tasted more like coffee that was made two or three days previously. However, after years of complaining about the drinks produced by a coffee vending machine manufacturers finally made headway in making their product more pleasing to coffee drinkers.

Today, a coffee vending machine can produce a cup of brew that might even be close to the coffee produced at home in a brewer. Once activated, some of the machines grind the right amount of beans, run water heated to 110-degrees through the grounds and pour the coffee into an insulated cup.

Most Machine Coffee May Be Good But Not Great

Travelers and many others who work for a company that provide a lunch room may be limited in their sources of a good cup of coffee and if they feel a need for a burst of caffeine will buy a cup from a coffee vending machine. Even with the improvements made to the machines and improved quality of the finished product, it will never equal the product available from a coffee shop or that brewed at home.

However, there are going to be some that enjoy the brew made by a coffee vending machine, but remember that a machine is a machine and cannot adjust they way it was instructed to brew the coffee. A coffee vending machine will produce coffee that it too strong for some and too weak for others and still, to this day, will carry the stigma that the drink was made by a coffee vending machine, therefore it cannot possibly be good.

Bunn coffee makers have a large legacy to live up to. The Illinoise-based company was the first to master the automatic drip both for household and domestic use, and the company still thrives today. While Italian brands like De Longhi have rather cornered the market on large-scale espresso machines, Bunn remains a large player in people’s homes, which prominently feature Bunn.

The Bunn-O-Matic Company

Called the Bunn-O-Matic Coffee and Tea company, Bunn has been through a lot. The advent of coffee shops and upstart coffee equipment producers has driven Bunn to produce a quality product. They tend to be a little more expensive, but well worth it. But what do you do when your slightly-expensive Bunn Coffee Maker breaks? Parts. You need parts.

Where to Get Them

You’ll probably have to used the same sources as retailer to obtain Bunn Coffee Maker parts. Luckily, you don’t have to be a major retailer to gain access to Bunn Coffee maker parts. That’s right, just use the internet. With retail sites, rating sights, and corporate merchants, you have a full spread of Bunn Coffee Maker parts available. Just try and look for that broken on/off switch. I bet it’s on there.

Protect Yourself on the Internet

Keeping your information absolutely private on the Internet is virtually impossible these days. You may feel inundated by the amount of people trying to sell you something or get your money. You may spy a great deal, but it’s not worth risking your identity over, I can guarantee it. Saving a couple of dollars, even for Bunn Coffee Maker parts, never worth a shady deal If you have any doubts, you can always look for their rating on the BBB.

Protect Yourself at Home

When installing new parts in your Bunn Coffee maker, always be sure to take basic precautions. Always, always unplug the machine. Bunns can use a very high voltage and it’s important not to endanger yourself even for a quality cup of Bunn coffee. Before starting, pull out everything you will need, including the parts. Another great tip is to grab something—a tea saucer, nearly anything–to catch any screws.

By following these simple steps, you can sure that your Bunn-O-Matic and you will have a very happy life together.

Oh, and while you’re struggling with that Bunn? Their customer service number is (800) 532-2866. Remember that if you’re nice to them, they gotta be nice to you? Right? Now, if only we could get all those people onto some Bunn-brewed coffee.

In the US, a cappuccino has multiple forms. When you order a “cappuccino”, what do you expect? Most people in this country would say, “something like a latte, but with lots of foam.” And they would be right. That’s the cappuccino a la Americán, a drink served up in hefty portions. More esoteric cappuccino coffee makers and drinkers would probably cringe at this!

“What’s All That Milk Doing Sitting on My Espresso Shot?”

In an American cappuccino, the espresso is poured into a cup, and the rest of a 12, 16, or 20 oz. Cup is filled with liquidy milk foam. While snobbery is unattractive in any form, it seems particularly pointless to bicker about coffee. There is an American method that is different from methods in Turkey, Mexico, or Viet Nam. Even our drip coffee is different, and cappuccino coffee makers and consumers commonly accept this fact willingly.

What’s the difference? Milk, mostly, with most cappuccino purists preferring a more traditional, and even, ratio of espresso to milk. According to old world standards, the cappuccino should be about 5 to 6 oz, maximum, and should really be served in a small porcelain cup and saucer. Supposedly the porcelain insulates the foam just right, although most cappuccino coffee makers probably won’t hold a paper cup against you.

The espresso should be brewed just right, ideally with a layer of golden-brown crema covering the top. The milk should be a fine foam heated to 145°. This can be a tricky feat, but the milk should sit on top of the espresso like shaving cream—not soap bubbles. That’s the sign of a great cappuccino coffee maker and machine.

This is really where the two methods differ: in the true Italian style, you shave off a small portion of the finest foam and place it on top of the espresso shot. In the Buick-esque method of the Americans, you block the pouring of the foam and fill about 1/3 of the cup with milk from the cappuccino coffee maker and throw all the foam on top of that, resulting in 12 oz. of deliciousness.

One thing that is essential for the good cappuccino coffee maker to know is to always clean the wand of the milk frother after use. Everytime. Besides being a health hazard, the milk can form solids on the sides of the wand, which then end up in the next drink. Therefore, it is essential to monitor its cleanliness. You can also do a periodic steam flush with pressurized hot water.

Convenience on the Trail with a Camping Coffee Maker

When you rough it in the wilds you don’t have to be without your daily fix of coffee. You can now bring along a camping coffee maker that works just as great as the one you plug in back home. It may mean a little extra weight in your pack but if you really can’t live without that morning cup of coffee then you won’t mind the extra weight.

It means a smooth cup of coffee that is rich tasting, no worry of coffee grounds stuck in your teeth with one of these babies. It’s just a little bit of luxury when you’re out in the wilds. It really is worth it if you really appreciate coffee.

How it Works

To use a camping coffee maker you will need a camping stove. You will probably have one if you are on a long trip that lasts more than a couple of days or a veteran camper. Simply fit your camping coffee maker over the stove and you will soon have a wonderful cup of coffee that tastes just like you would make it at home. It might even taste better when you are out in the great outdoors.

Nothing Fancy

A camping coffee maker should be simple to use and it should be as no frills as possible. This means that you should be able to use just about any old coffee filter out there. Anything that requires special filters should be tossed out as you might find yourself without the luxury of buying special filters when you are about to go camping.

A good camping coffee maker should also be able to handle wear and tear. Anything that seems flimsy is not a good idea. When you are out camping your pack is likely to get dropped or you might drop the whole coffee maker. Anything that can’t stand a knock or two is not suitable for repeated camping trips.

The average camping coffee maker will probably take a little longer to brew coffee than the machine you have at home but this is to be expected. An unfortunate drawback is that all camping coffee makers will not keep your coffee warm.

The solution to this is to pour your coffee into thermos as soon as it’s freshly brewed and then you will have hot coffee for the rest of the day. You won’t be sorry you lugged your camping coffee maker all the way into the wilds when you have the first great cup of coffee.

Making Coffee with the Best Coffee Maker

Having coffee that tastes great is not as easy as you think. It needs two things before you can have that perfect cup of coffee in the morning. First you need good beans and second you need the best coffee maker. Good beans are easier to find, all you need to do is sample different types of coffee till you find a type that you like.

Then voila you have found the perfect beans. Just as finding the right tasting beans is subjective finding the best coffee maker is highly subjective too. It depends on your lifestyle and your budget. Different people will think of different models as the best one.

Simple but Perfect

If you want really rich coffee then you may not have to look for a fancy machine that needs to be shipped from god knows where. It could be as simple as a French press. This machine is basically a glass jar with a plunger. And that’s essentially all this coffee maker and to some coffee purists this is the best coffee maker ever.

All you need to do is put your coffee grounds into the jar and fill it with hot water. Press down the plunger and allow it to brew for about four minutes and you have some great coffee. You will get a fairly concentrated flavor so if you like your coffee strong then this is the best coffee maker for you. It also doesn’t cost much and lets you spend all you want on gourmet coffee beans.

Everyday but not Average

Coffee drip brewers are so common that they hardly come to mind as the best way to brew coffee. Yet their commonplace presence in nearly every office pantry lies with the fact that they are the best coffee makers. With these coffee makers you can be assured of a good cup of coffee.

Look around for the more expensive models that really pay attention to the amount of water and the temperature of water that comes into contact with the beans. This is not a good model if you want to have a lot of coffee on hand for long periods of time. This is because the carafe is continually heated and this will end up with the flavor changing and the last few cups will taste awful.

Whatever machine you decide to buy stay away from coffee percolators. Those are most definitely not the best coffee makers on the market. All you will get is hot caffeine in a cup. A waste if you have invested in expensive beans.