The bridal shower for my niece turned out lovely. It wasn't huge, about 20 people, mostly family with the grooms mom and sister, and a couple of nieces friends. Our menu was chicken salad croissant sandwiches, broccoli salad with bacon, my veggie pizza salads, fruit, cheese and crackers, and a last addition of cinnamon bread that my sister in law bought at Cosco because it called out to her. We served water with lemon, sparkling strawberry lemonade, sangria's, and mimosas. We had cake strawberry cream cake from Nothing Bundt Cake-even non cake eaters couldn't resist with and coffee (or more drinks) after her gifts. My daughters helped set up and serve beverages, mostly so my sister in law could get our fair share of baby holding since DH's cousin came with her new baby boy-so precious.
Long update to get to my main post. I've decided I really do need to replace my coffee maker. Even with just a few coffee drinkers, using the Keurig is not practical beyond my morning cup. We made two pots yesterday, and it would have been very difficult to serve coffee if we had hosted the shower at my house. I'm disappointed that my Cuisinart maker, which should have lasted for decades for the price, developed a leak somewhere that makes it a problem to use.
My dilemma is whether I should buy another coffee maker or just something much lower tech. When both my coffee makers were on the fritz a while back, I had several recommendations to get a French Press. I've been researching them a bit, and do think that is an option. I've also thought about buying either an electric or an old stove top percolator. Some of my fondest memories as a child was seeing the old beat up coffee pot come to life on my mom's stove, the little glass topper bubbling the water, darker and darker with each bubble as the color and flavor of the coffee developed.
In my less than thrifty days, I probably would have just gone out and bought another cheap model, use it until it broke, then replace again. Thrifty doesn't mean cheap, and I would be happy with second hand. I want something durable and long lasting, which has me leaning towards a stove top percolator (my mom had hers before I was born and it was still in her kitchen after my dad passed away) or French press. I'm not rushing out to buy anything, since I'm not throwing any larger events for a while, but will keep my eyes open as yard sale season begins and as I wander into second hand stores.
Glad your niece had a nice shower. Sorry I can't be of any help with the coffee pot. I don't drink coffee. I do have a regular drip coffee mate coffee maker that I bring out for birthday get togethers so my parents and brother can have coffee so it only gets used 3 or 4 times a year. Good luck on your coffee maker search.
ReplyDeleteI use my Keurig daily, but even when just my older kids are around, or when I have a coffee drinking friend over I would like a full pot.,
DeleteThe problem with a French press is if you need to make a large batch....they don't hold much more than 1 or 2 cups.
ReplyDeleteIf you can hold off, coffee makers are one of those perennial inexpensive deals on the Black Friday ads.
Actually, I have a 12 cup French press. I ordered it directly from Bodum. It makes about 6 big mugs' worth of coffee, or a bona fide 12 cups avec saucers size servings. I make a full pot every morning. I have had all types of coffee makers, and I believe the French press makes the best coffee. We drink A LOT of coffee here. I first turned to my French press, a gift from a sil, when my electric maker broke about 20 years ago, and I have never looked back. I replaced it after twenty twenty years because it wasn't "resisting"when I pressed, I think because a bit of rubber became brittle. I don't foresee, short of breaking the carafe, having to replace it for another 20 years. On the other hand, I gave dh a much coveted Keurig one Christmas, and it broke beyond repair within 5 years. I did replace it, a)because he loves it a d b) because I used Plenti Points and a coupon at Macy's, leaving me only the tax to pay. The K cups I buy on clearance. Moreover, I think the Keurig coffee tastes horrible, and the electric brewed is not much better. Another beauty of the press is that I can even make fresh coffee during our all too common power outages! So, for my money, I say order larger Bodum French press.
DeleteI've seen both the small and large, but the large was very spendy-so I'm looking for all options.
DeleteWe love our French Press and several of our friends have bought one after having coffee from outs. It only makes 6 cups at a time, but it's quick to make.
ReplyDeleteSix cups would be better than my Keurig,a nd I can boil water fast.
DeleteI am with Sluggy on the French press. I have one that will make 4 cps of coffee, but it has to be consumed right that minute. I also have a smaller one that I love but it is just for me. My mom has one of those huge pots that makes 20 or so cups of coffee and we have all used it a various times, but it is one of those things that you need only to float between a few houses as needed (once a year maybe)
ReplyDeleteI would suggest you wait until some super sale and bite the bullet for a nice one.
p.s. One of my favorite childhood sound memories was hearing the coffee perk every morning.
I have heard the French press does make the coffee bitter after a while, so not great to let the grounds linger.
DeleteWe do have a coffee maker, it's an electric 1960s ceramic percolator bought for less than £1 from a car boot sale and we use once in a blue moon. Other than that it's a mug of instant granules no more then once a day (and usually less). xxx
ReplyDeleteI keep instant at my desk, but it is for emergency use-not the best when you like a real deep roast flavor. I've become more of an office tea drinker for that reason.
DeleteI only drink one coffee a day so I wouldn't be the one to ask but the smell and sight of coffee in a percolator would do it for me. Anna
ReplyDeleteThere is something homey about the percolator smells and sound.
DeleteI have never been to a bridal shower
ReplyDeleteI suggest reading Consumer Reports or better yet drink tea.
There's more and more couples gatherings, trying to be more inclusive of all couples and partners. I've been to showers for two brides, and I don't really know what we called the gathering for a male friend marrying his partner (we didn't say groom shower, I know that), but it was a good time with friends, hoping to launch him with well wishes and some gifts to help start their first home together.
DeleteThat's funny, I've just this minute made a pot of coffee! My machine was only cheap but does the job.
ReplyDeleteGlad the party went well. xx
I've gone through at lest four since we've been married, so average of 7 years. This last one though was expensive so should have lasted longer.
DeleteI used to have a French Press but immediately found I didn't like it. It doesn't keep the coffee hot (since it isn't on a heating element, the coffee just sits in the carafe), and the coffee grounds get into the coffee. I went back to a basic coffee maker.
ReplyDeleteThis is really a nice post..
ReplyDeleteUpgrade your coffee ritual, from a fully customizable brew to a shorter brewing time and easier cleanup and so much more with our simpli press.
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