When I went away to college, there were three things that I needed: a television, a computer (three gigs of ram was top of the line back then) and a coffee pot. I had no problem getting the television or computer to work, but the coffee maker was a different story. I had coffee before, but I had never brewed it to myself. I didn’t understand where the water was supposed to go and tried pouring it directly in with the coffee grounds. More coffee spilled on the counter, then made it into my coffee mug that morning. Luckily, by the second day of classes, I figured out that the water went into the water chamber. Simple concept, but I was too cool to read the directions.
Anyways, check out this required reading on what coffee equipment to bring to college and make sure you practice before the first day of classes.
Coffee 101
On the first day of classes, the last thing you want to be doing is running around trying to brew a cup of coffee to keep you awake for your 8am class. The perfect solution for the student that wants something easy and convenient is the single serve coffee machine. My recommendation is the Keurig B70. It’s been a few too many years since I had to wake up for an early morning class, but this coffee maker is great for when I’m half asleep and in a rush to get somewhere.
Keurig Platinum B70 Single Serve Coffee Maker $169.95
The Good:
* Easy To Use
* Makes A Quick Cup Of Coffee
* Easy To Clean
The Bad:
* Price Per K-Cup
* Isn’t Tall Enough For Travel Mugs
* How Environmentally Friendly Is It?
Do your homework and read the complete Daily Shot Of Coffee review.
Coffee 202
Single serve coffee makers aren’t for everyone. They’re convenient but the price is on the higher end of things and when you have hundreds of dollars worth of books to buy, I could understand why you would want to spend a little less on a more traditional coffee maker like the Black & Decker (DCM18S) Brew ‘n Go Personal Coffeemaker.
Black & Decker DCM18S Brew ‘n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug $19.99
This personal coffeemaker brews 15 ounces of coffee directly into a stainless-steel travel mug. The mug has a rubber handle for a safe grip and a lid to keep coffee hot. It’s tapered to a 2-1/2-inch-diameter bottom, so it fits most vehicle cup holders. The coffeemaker itself is designed for an on-the-go coffee drinker. It has a permanent filter–no messy disposable paper filters required–and shuts off automatically after brewing. The mug, filter, filter basket, and mug lid are dishwasher-safe, and the coffeemaker can also be used to heat water for tea, hot chocolate, and instant foods like oatmeal and soup.
If you’re looking for something that can brew more than one cup of coffee, you have to check out the Zojirushi Fresh Brew Thermal Coffee Maker. It produces some of the best tasting coffee that I’ve ever had, plus it has a thermal carafe so you could go to your 8am class, go back to the dorm and still have hot coffee waiting for you.
Zojirushi (EC-BD15BA) Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker $79.99
The Good:
* Thermal carafe keeps coffee warm without burning it.
* Coffee brews hotter, bringing out more flavor.
* Easy to set the time and to program it.
The Bad:
* Tall, may not fit under some cabinets.
* Thermal carafe with no marking for cup measurement.
* Coffee filters didn’t fit in perfectly.
You can do your homework on this one too, check out the full Daily Shot Of Coffee review.
Coffee 303
Now this only for advanced coffee geeks. When you break out the French Press, it’s sure to impress any member of the opposite sex. Plus, it’s the ultimate way to make coffee anywhere – the dorm, the off campus apartment, etc.
Bodum Chambord Coffee Press $29.02
The Good:
* Excellent Coffee
* Price Is The Same As Most Drip Coffee Makers
* Did I Mention It Makes Incredible Coffee
The Bad:
* Fragile & Lack Of Padding In Shipment
* Not As Quick And Easy As A Drip Maker To Make And Clean
Required Reading: Full review of the Bodum French Press
Extra Credit
For extra credit, make sure you get a burr coffee grinder. Pre-ground coffee will get caffeine into your blood stream, but nothing compares to the taste of coffee made with freshly ground beans.
Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder $90.11
This conical burr grinder features adjustable settings for various grind options. Choose from ultra-fine for Turkish coffee or large and coarse for percolators. The settings offer consistently shaped grinds and even extraction, which is the key to producing flavorful coffee. In addition, the unit’s metal conical burrs preserve more natural bean flavor than blade drivers due to the slower grind nature. The grinder comes equipped with a removable bean hopper that holds 1/2 pound of coffee beans, and its stainless-steel/polymer base offers start and stop control, as well as an on/off switch. Other highlights include a variable timer with 10 to 30 seconds of grind time, anti-static technology, and a removable burr for convenient cleaning.
What coffee related advice do you have for college students?
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Photo by Infidelic.
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{ 5 comments }
I went to a commuter college, so no dorm room to worry about. I was using either my drip coffee maker, my grandmother’s percolator (she made the coffee) or I bought my coffee for .10 at the student union. (I am a little older than many readers.)
At .10 a cup it was worth it to get up early so I could get my joe at the union. I am totally clueless about what a standard cup of coffee sells for at student unions these days.
If I was at school in a dorm I’d have a french press (which is what I use at home) or a single serve cup coffee maker because they are so easy to use. I love the things.
Coffee and college…the two just seem to go hand in hand.
Ciao,
Ardee-ann
You’re right, coffee and college do seem to work really well together.
I paid a lot more than ten cents for coffee, however, I’m sure they’re paying even more than that now!
I was in college in 1975 that is why coffee was only .10 a cup! LOL!
Ciao,
Ardee-ann
I didn’t need coffee until my junior year in college – for some reason. I lived in an apartment off campus and brewed my own. I have been drinking it ever since – 22 years! LOL
The hardest part for me was the earlier years – that’s when I had the early morning classes. By the time I was a junior and senior, I was able to pick more of my classes and ended up with the classes later in the day.
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