SAN ANTONIO – Coffee and college seem to to go hand in hand, so a good coffee maker can come in handy and save a student some money. After all, at $3 and up a cup for brews that aren't even fancy lattes or espressos, it can add up over a semester. Consumer Reports tested coffeemakers and gave some recommendations.
"College students now actually care about having a good c up of coffee, so one of the tests we do is measure how well coffee makers keep water between 195 and 205 degrees. Ideally, it does it for five to six minutes," said Paul Hope, Consumer Reports' home editor.
RELATED: Texas company recalls coffee with Viagra-like substance
A single-serve coffee makers keeps it simple. Consumer Reports gave high scores to the $130 DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio # EDG455T.
"Pods are really convenient, but the flavor doesn't compare to other coffee makers," Hope said. "Plus, they get expensive and they're less environmentally friendly."
A drip coffee maker can keep costs down. Consumer Reports names the Hamilton Beach 12-cup programmable Model 49465 a Best Buy at about $25.
If you have a budding barista, there's the $100 iCoffee, an electric version of a French press. Testers found it easy to use and clean.
For the coffee connoisseur, they said the Chemex Pour-over Brewer is an option. The filters are made of heavy paper designed to regulate water flow and keep coffee grounds and other undesirable flavors out. Coffee tasters gave the coffee brewed with in high marks for complexity, acidity and overall quality.
Consumer Reports also tested Ethiopian coffee beans. For pod machines, Green Mountain's Organic Ethiopian Coffee earned high scores. For other coffee makers, they named Trader Joe's Organic Fair Trade Ethiopian coffee and a best buy.
