Now that temperatures have dropped to the 50s, we’ve stopped drinking iced coffee and are planning for a long fall and winter of piping hot java to start the day right. Each morning, we brew a pot for the office- and depending on what beans we have and how many people might want to share, we’ll use a French press or use a Keurig single cup machine. But though there are an incredible number of ways to get your caffeine, one of the classics and most enduring is the drip brewer.
The Capresso CoffeeTEAM TS is one of the latest from the company, which has made a wide range of models over the years. It’s part of their grind-and-brew line, where you simply add your desired whole beans and don’t need to worry about grinding them first. One of the most important components of freshness is minimizing the time between grinding and brewing, and it’s hard to do much better than with this style of machine. Plus, it doesn’t use a cheap blade grinder like some folks have, but instead a solid conical burr grinder. It’s also a pretty compact design for a machine that can make up to 10 cups, ideal to fit on a countertop even in a crowded apartment.
They’ve included a stainless steel thermal carafe keeps your brew’s temperature . There is a permanent GoldTone filter, so you never need to buy or worry about filters. Six ounces of beans can fit in the hopper waiting, which isn’t a lot (not enough for a full bag) but enough for a few days. You might need to play around with grind settings, and you can also choose from strong or mild brew strength, and even opt for 2, 4, 6, 8 or the full 10 cups. There is a water filter to ensure quality as well. Like the previous version we tried, the CoffeeTEAM Pro Glass, we did have occasional problems with clogs, and we did have some trouble cleaning it. Plus, a ten minute brew time can feel like quite awhile when you’re waiting for your morning pick me up.
But the biggest issue by far was that this guy makes noise, and a lot of it, during grinding. If you’re trying to be quiet, then you’ll want to find another way- but in an office setting, it probably won’t matter, and even at home you’ll just want to make sure folks are up and awake before starting the process. One other note: the carafe needs to be aligned properly or you might face some drips. As before, we liked the matte stainless steel exterior and pretty simple controls. And the results are excellent- great coffee, consistently. The Capresso CoffeeTEAM TS is available now, online and in stores, for around $205.
