SAN ANTONIO – Consumer Reports tested three new types of coffee makers that are said to improve your cup of joe, including one that only makes cold brewed coffee.
Cold brewing is steeping the grounds in cold water for a long period of time to make coffee that’s less bitter and less acidic.
The $50 Oxo Cold Brew is basically a filtered container on a stand. Fill it with water and grounds, and the coffee decants slowly into the carafe in 12 to 24 hours. You could also just use a simple glass jar and pour the liquid off before you get to the grounds.
Next up, the Fellow Duo Coffee Steeper. It costs $100 and brews coffee hot or cold. The double filter is supposed to keep the gunk out of the bottom of your cup. Testers needed to use more coffee and had to steep it longer than the instructions suggested. But the chamber is well-insulated, so they were still able to get a hot cup of coffee.
For just $30, the Aerobie AeroPress brews both coffee and espresso using an airtight plunger to force the coffee through the filter. Using the plunger can be a little tricky, but it works quickly and is easy to clean.
Testers were able to get a good cup of coffee from all three of the new coffee makers, but not right out of the box. They had to vary time, temperature, amount of coffee and the grind. So if you don’t mind a little work, you do have some new options.
If you’re more of a traditionalist, Consumer Reports has several conventional drip coffee makers to recommend. Among the top-rated are the Cuisinart Perfect Temp from Sears and the Kenmore Elite 12-cup. Both cost about $100.