Counterfoil

Nominate a coffee maker, best or worst

People have made coffee with a pot and a fire for centuries. They also make it with machines that have pumps, circuit boards, touchscreens, and accounts. Somewhere between the two, a tool for making coffee turns into a machine that needs looking after.

Which coffee makers have served you well for years? Which have let you down, broken where you could not fix them, or made you buy things you did not need? Tell us about one of each, or just one.

You don’t need to be an expert. The form asks whether it makes good coffee, then six plain questions about what it costs you to use it. Answer what you can: “Not sure” is a good answer.

We read every nomination, and the most useful ones become catalogue records. We may quote what you write, without your name. Your name and email are optional and used only to follow up (see Privacy). The thinking behind the questions is in How we evaluate tools. All open surveys.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Are you nominating a best coffee maker or a worst one?(required)
Does it do the job it promises?(required)
Is it wasteful? Think of pods, filters, power, water, and counter space, against what the job needs.(required)
Does it lock you in? Does it only work with one company’s pods, filters, or parts?(required)
Does it need an expert? Can you clean it, descale it, and replace worn parts yourself, or does it go back to the maker?(required)
Does someone else hold the controls? Think apps, accounts, subscriptions, or settings you are not allowed to change.(required)
Does it keep forcing change? Models replaced, parts discontinued, or a machine that cannot be repaired when one piece fails.(required)
Does it cost you more than it gives back? Think of the time, attention, money, or upkeep it takes, against what it does for you.(required)

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