It’s a sad, sad day in the Kewlstuff household.

I told you how I forgot to put a filter in the basket of my Cuisinart in this post. And I told you how I loved, loved, loved that coffeemaker in this post.

Well, I did it again. Forgot to put a filter in the basket. And this time, when the coffee rose up and out of the basket, it soaked the circuit panel.

My beloved coffeemaker has been in a coma since.

Mr. Kewl Stuff, who has mad technical skillz, even tried resuscitating it with the blow dryer.

But there’s still water in the little clock window. It’s digital numbers just flutter, then disappear altogether.

I’m afraid I shall never hear the sweet sound of it happily brewing my freshly ground coffee from it’s little corner of the kitchen again.

TAGS: None

Admittedly, I’m a coffee snob. I like it strong and I like it rich. I’ve purchased expensive beans locally and outrageously expensive beans online. I’ve dripped and I’ve french-pressed.

So imagine my surprise when I bought a 12oz bag of Beaumont Sumatra Coffee and found it to be one of the better tasting coffees I’ve tried. And I bought it, of all places, at Aldi’s.

As soon as you open the bag, you know you’re in for a treat. This dark roast, 100% Arabica bean coffee has an earthy aroma that will have your mouth watering. And it’s smooth, lingering flavor is going to keep you coming back.

For under $5.00 you can try it yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

Tags: Beaumont, coffee, Sumatra

Awhile ago I bought a programmable coffeemaker with an insulated stainless carafe. My life was complete. I had fresh brewed coffee when I got up, and the carafe kept it hot through my second and third cup. Unfortunately, if was recalled shortly afterward.

The replacement they sent had a glass carafe…..and you know what that means. The coffee is exposed to constant heat and tastes like feet in about two hours. So I’d end up tossing the left over morning coffee and making another pot (or two) in the afternoon.

Then coffee, in an attempt to keep up with the rising gasoline prices, hit $10 for a two-pound can. I began looking for a solution.

Enter the Cuisinart Grind and Brew. This coffeemaker is an engineering piece of art. You put your beans in the built-in grinder and it spits the grounds through a chute that ends up, in of all places, the coffee basket. (The grinding feature can be toggled off if you prefer to use ground coffee.) The brushed chrome carafe keeps the coffee hot for at least six hours, eliminating the need to throw out multiple pots of feet-tasting coffee throughout the day. It paid for itself in no time.

Happily, with the money I’m saving, I can afford to splurge on coffee that doesn’t come in two-pound cans.

Tags: coffee, coffee pot, coffeemaker, Cuisinart