Ready Set Joe Single Cup Brewer Review

by Mike on February 10, 2010 in Coffee Equipment Reviews

The coffee maker sitting on your kitchen, isn’t the only method to make drip coffee. There’s an even simpler method called the pour over. It takes everything out of the traditional coffee maker except the basket and the filter.

Melitta recently sent me two of their single cup brewers to test out, the Ready Set Joe with a coffee mug and the Ready Set Joe with a travel mug.

As far as making the coffee, it doesn’t get much simpler. You put the Ready Set Joe on top of your mug, put in the filter, add the coffee grounds and pour in hot water.

I recommend using about two tablespoons of finely coffee grounds per cup and the heat the water to just below boiling.

What I like about the Ready Set Joe is that it allows more control over the brewing process. It lets me use whatever temperature I like. It allows me to pour the water across the grounds slower than a traditional coffee maker. These two things can really change the final taste of the coffee. For me, I was able to make coffee that felt smoother and had a cleaner taste.

Another plus, is that I can take the Ready Set Joe just about anywhere. I’m taking it with me next time I travel somewhere, go camping or just head down to the office. It’s just a small plastic basket, so there’s no need for me to lug around full size coffee maker when I just want one cup of coffee.

Of course, that is the one drawback. This style only makes one cup of coffee at a time. There are other models that are larger and come with a carafe so that you can make more coffee.

Overall, this is a very simple, but effective way to make quality coffee without all of the hassle and cleanup of a full size coffee maker. If you haven’t tried manual pull over brewing, I suggest giving it a try.

The Ready Set Joe with a ceramic runs for $5.99. The travel mug version is just three dollars more.

Have you ever tried this method of brewing before? What did you think?

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Tagged as: Melitta

Article by Mike Crimmins

Mike Crimmins is the highly caffeinated blogger behind Daily Shot Of Coffee. Besides drinking way too much coffee, he's obsessed with the Yankees and getting dirty on his mountain bike.

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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }

Allen February 10, 2010 at 9:34 am

I almost bought one immediately following your review. . . but then, it’s more clutter for my cupboard and I already have a couple presses and instant coffee — neither of which require filters.

It looks like a great product, beautiful form factor, priced to move – but I’m not keen on filters.

Mike February 10, 2010 at 10:23 pm: On my list of things to do try sometime soon is see how it compares to a french press and the AeroPress. All three make great coffee, but I’m curious how the coffee they produce would vary.

Reply

Chris February 10, 2010 at 9:41 am

I like the new bio box at the bottom of your articles. Good idea. I’ve been thinking about a single cup brewer but I’ve also been thinking about finding a coffee maker that doesn’t need filters. I’ll have to check out some of your other reviews when I get into buying mode.
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Mike February 10, 2010 at 10:25 pm: Thanks! I saw the idea on a couple of other blogs and thought it would be great here.

If you’re looking for something nice and simple, this is it. However, I really have no complaints about the other single cup brewers that I’ve tried. Each have their own benefits.

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Extreme John February 10, 2010 at 11:59 am

Looks pretty cool for someone that might work on the road especially.
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Mike February 10, 2010 at 7:41 pm

Good point. I was going to say for singles or someone who is the only coffee drinker in the household, but it’s perfect for someone who travels a lot and doesn’t have time to mess with a full size coffee maker. Just move this single cup brewer from one hotel to the next.

Mike February 10, 2010 at 10:25 pm: Exactly what I was thinking! It would be a huge step up from the coffees that most hotels have.

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Billy.411 February 10, 2010 at 5:56 pm

The principle acronym – K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid!) comes to mind…

If is often the way that the simplest of products work the best. Look at the Aerobie AeroPress – what a fantastically simple idea!

Nice review Mike – again… I’ve never really rated much of Melitta’s coffee. Did you try the products with their coffee, if so, would love to hear your thoughts?

Mike February 10, 2010 at 10:28 pm: I’m actually in the process of trying some of their coffees right now. So far, I’ve liked the flavored coffees, but I’m starting the non-flavored shortly. I’ll be starting to post the reviews shortly.

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Anne February 10, 2010 at 6:09 pm

I bought one of these after Jason over at CoffeeCupNews mentioned it as an inexpensive option of brewing a single cup of coffee. I’ve only used it a few times and it does the trick well enough for a coffee novice like me.
Anne´s last blog ..More Snowy Shots From Ye Olde Homestead [A Photo Journal]

Mike February 10, 2010 at 10:29 pm: I hate to tell you this Anne, but you’re no longer a coffee novice! If you don’t watch out, you might become a coffee snob! JK! Glad you like it, I think it’s a great solution for us every day coffee drinkers.

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Mike Neg February 10, 2010 at 9:49 pm

There really is much extra work to use the manual drip cones and you could make one pot at a time, so these seem like an excellent alternative to the expensive one cup brewers.

Mike February 10, 2010 at 10:30 pm: I love it for when I want to make one cup of coffee real quick, however I’ll admit that most times I could drink a whole pot of coffee.

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Ryan Braby February 11, 2010 at 2:13 am

I find the pour over method to generally give a better cup of coffee than most auto drip machines. It gives you more control to ensure that all of the grounds are evenly soaked and to ensure that the water temp is correct. It is certainly great for when you just want a cup. The only auto drip coffee maker I’ve seen so far that gives results comparable to a well done pour over cup is a Technivorm Mochamaster.

Comparing to a french press, I think the pour over is a little easier. But, depending on the aspect of the coffee you’re looking to highlight, each brewing method brings out different aspects. A press will definitely give you more body, and is well suited to full bodied coffees like most varieties from Sumatra. The paper filter typically used in pour over works well to with brighter coffees and helps ensure a bright and clear cup (no grounds or grit).

Mike February 11, 2010 at 7:57 am: I couldn’t have said it myself better.

I still need to find a Technivorm Mochamaster to try.

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howard March 4, 2010 at 10:42 am

use a Melitta pour over (bottom portion) all the time,
every day in fact.

setting it up at the company lunch room is quick
and tons better than the pot of black liquid
which sits on the table beside us.

as far as how much coffee it makes…
i’ve found the one i have makes as much coffee
as i have grounds and hot water to brew.
seriously; an easy 22 ounces into a tall
travel mug or thermos is very do-able in
5 minutes.
one suggestion – and i think this applies to all
the pour over units i’ve seen – is that the filter
coffee holder sits very tentatively on top of
the cup or coffee holder below.
come close to spilling mine often
and a unit with a more secure mating surface
engineered would be an improvement.
it’s what i would term ‘tippy’ now.

also, after a few months the Melitta travel mug
started to leak at various places in and around
the screw on top. i had to toss it.
use my own smaller travel size thermos bottoms now.
this winter, 22 oz of coffee made in this pour over
just before i left the office was still steaming
hot even 6 hours later on the road when
i couldn’t stop due to snow and wild storm events.

if mine breaks, i’m getting another one.
available at most of the larger chain grocery stores
in the Ohio-PA area.