Hacker News

by Ryan Harman

Coffee's new status symbol is a machine without plastic (cnn.com)

20 points by thunderbong an hour ago

seemaze 2 minutes ago

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but even the $10k slayer espresso machine has a plastic water resevoir. Granted the brewing assembly is mostly plastic free.

While I sympathize with the sentiment to eliminate plastic from the transport chain for anything ingestible, it's practically impossible in the modern world.

Simple is usually best; glass or ceramic pour over, stainless press, or even the traditional South American coffee sock[0]

[0]https://perfectdailygrind.com/2016/01/coffee-sock-old-school...

troyvit 38 minutes ago

Huh, cool. If you want to save a few bucks you can go with a stainless steel French press or a mason jar if you're into cold brews. You're symbolizing a different kind of status though.

This summer was sunny and hot in Colorado, so every morning I'd make a jar of sun coffee. I'd leave it out through the day and overnight. The next morning I'd pull it in, filter it, refill it with grounds and water and take it outside again. It was cool enough to enjoy and really smooth.

roflchoppa 18 minutes ago

I should get my cold brew setup out, thanks for the reminder.

dominotw 27 minutes ago

i dont like french press coffee

Marsymars 18 minutes ago

FWIW, French press and cold brew are entirely different - the fact that a French press was used to filter cold brew is really kind of incidental.

Fricken 19 minutes ago

I use a moka pot. I don't feel comfortable calling what it makes espresso but for it's still pretty decent. If I had more patience I would do pour over at home.

SomaticPirate 35 minutes ago

Aeropress makes a glass version although I was never too concerned about the microplastic risk

SoftTalker 4 minutes ago

Huh. They used to say they specifically did not offer a glass or stainless version because it would get too hot to hold/use.

Instead of a new $500 coffee maker like the ones in the article, that takes special (likely costly) presssed pellets of coffee, get a Chemex pour over for $50 and you'll never need another coffee maker again (unless you drop it) and you can use whatever coffee you want.

grich7642 3 minutes ago

It's not actually glass but a different synthetic/plastic. They do, however, make a stainless steel version. A lot of food safe stainless steel products are coated in PFAS though.

nachbo a few seconds ago

I own one. It's glass and cast aluminum. Pricey but feels very solid. The glass does not get hot. It's very think.

comrade1234 28 minutes ago

I used to grind my coffee and manually make espresso. Years ago though I switched to an all-in-one. I was very adamant that it had to have ceramic grinders so that it will last forever. I've since had to replace some internal parts and I'm sure the display will eventually fail and not be replaceable, but those grinders are going to last centuries!

giwook 21 minutes ago

I'm assuming you've already noted in your will that the ceramic grinders be harvested from your coffee maker when everything's being sold at an estate sale otherwise what was the point of anything

Marsymars 20 minutes ago

> I was very adamant that it had to have ceramic grinders so that it will last forever.

I wonder about this - I've got a few 1Zpresso grinders - they're rated for 100-200kg of coffee, and napkin math says my most-used one has probably done about 70kg to date. At grinder prices and my age though, not sure I'd ever come out ahead with BIFL burrs though.

zekehernandez 17 minutes ago

I would enjoy a plastic-free drip machine with a thermal carafe for convenient large batches. For now, been enjoying a stainless steel french press and pour over.

throwitaway222 30 minutes ago

I think the status symbol is not having enough time to make it at home and also being able to afford it at Starbucks.

zodwick 12 minutes ago

good thread to lookup : https://x.com/levelsio/status/2088235859887726696

zaphar 35 minutes ago

I mean, among real coffee snobs the status symbol is mostly not using a Keurig or Lavazza machine at all. Pour overs, Espresso machines, most status symbol coffee equipment is pretty light on the plastic already.

shostack 7 minutes ago

This. Anyone serious about coffee who is not going with one of these machines purely for convenience and speed would not otherwise consider them in a million years.

schnevets 22 minutes ago

I think it's less about status or quality and more about a convenient cup of complimentary coffee in a waiting room that doesn't come with two ounces of environmental guilt.

Marsymars 25 minutes ago

Yeah, my normal morning coffee for my wife and I is from a Kalita Wave glass brewer. No plastic touches the coffee. Costs $40. Ceramic or stainless steel also available.

cjoelrun 12 minutes ago

Status: titanium credit card at expensive local coffee shop.

elchief 35 minutes ago

i just use a stainless steel electric kettle, and a glass ikea french press

$55ish CAD total

rafram 33 minutes ago

This setup does not make good coffee compared to an espresso machine.

chocochunks 5 minutes ago

I think you mean that setup does not make good espresso compared to an espresso machine. As someone that enjoys good coffee but doesn't particularly like drinking an overly strong thimble of coffee, a cup of milk on top of a thimble of coffee or a grossly stringent cup of coffee I hate the equation that espresso is the best coffee. My favourite bits of coffee, what I enjoy in lighter roasts is lost in espresso. Espresso is nice for cafes because it's a quick non-batch brew, that's about it.

You can have good coffee from any method.

skinfaxi 28 minutes ago

I wouldn't consider a French-press coffee to be espresso. In fact, espresso is probably too fine for a French press.

mcmcmc 29 minutes ago

It does if you like French press

Milner08 9 minutes ago

Nonsense. They are different drinks. Filter coffee through a French press can be fantastic, as can Espresso. You can also get dreadful espresso and dreadful filter coffee. However if you start with good beans the chance of getting good coffee out of a French press is much higher than a proper espresso machine (If you know what you're doing it can be amazing, but dialing it in properly is no easy task)

christkv 28 minutes ago

So ridiculous we already have ESE pods for traditional expresso machines. We replaced the Nespresso machine in the office with a normal expresso machine so people can make bring their own ground coffee if they want but we also offer ESE pods for people who don't care but still want a good coffee.