Lisa_Bonami Senior Member Joined: 9 Sep 2006 Posts: 23 Location: NYC Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon May 21, 2007, 6:14pm Subject: I know, I'm CRAZY!...I bought ANOTHER BUNN!
Folks, I know, you must think Im nuts...I posted a few days ago that my Bunn B10 died, so I went out and bought a Saeco Venus ( new from Starbucks) then I returned it for the Cuisinart DCC-2400 (also from Starbucks) Then I actually returned that one and just purchased another B10 Bunn from Kmart ( the black unit with he chrome water heater)
It looks like they made a few small modifications to the unit since my previous unit. Anyways, I think I'm almost completely happy again....I dont know what it is but I just seem to find the Bunn makes a smoother, more even tasting cup of coffee than the other brewers which seem to over extract slightly to give a bit of that bitterness. The Bunn seems to always give you a nice tasting cup. I guess my only real gripe with the Bunn is the same gripe I have with all the brewers, it doesnt quite seem to be piping hot like I get from my local Deli. The funny thing tho is even in the Bunn manual, they stress that the proper cup of perfect coffee is brewed at 200f temps and the Bunn maintains that temp......wierd, it just doesnt seem like it.
Any comments?
Any Bunn owners?
Anyone want to just keep me company with something to say? :)
Posted Tue May 22, 2007, 4:49am Subject: Re: I know, I'm CRAZY!...I bought ANOTHER BUNN!
I suspect your local deli keeps the coffee heated after making it, which can't help the flavor. Even if the brew temp is right at 200 degrees, once the coffee drops in the carafe that can bring the temperature down substantially. Try swirling a cup or two of hot water in the carafe to preheat it before brewing.
Lisa_Bonami Senior Member Joined: 9 Sep 2006 Posts: 23 Location: NYC Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed May 23, 2007, 3:00pm Subject: Re: I know, I'm CRAZY!...I bought ANOTHER BUNN!
I dont know...usually its that hot when it comes out fresh straight from the brew....In fact I know it is, because I usually request the pot that is still brewing because it tastes fresher.
Im wondering if its because I add milk at home that came right from the refigerator whereas the the Deli usually adds the milk that has been sitting on the counter most of the morning so its not cold.
I dont know....I still think the commercial brewers brew 10 to 20 degrees hotter....Anyone else have a BUNN at home that they care to discuss?
Terry_L Senior Member Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 64 Location: Louisville-KY Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Coffee Grinder: Solis Scala 166 Vac Pot: French-Press(s)-Love 'em Drip: Bunn Roaster: SC/TO - Air Popper
Posted Wed May 23, 2007, 4:06pm Subject: Re: I know, I'm CRAZY!...I bought ANOTHER BUNN!
Lisa, You're not crazy....well maybe you are, but not due to the Bunn. I've been a Bunn owner for more than 15 years. Prior to reading here on CoffeeGeek, I was quite happy throwing my scoops of Folgers in my Bunn and waiting all of 90 seconds for my cup. Since CG, I've moved on to multiple french presses, a reasonable grinder, home roasting, and am getting close to buying my first espresso machine. BUT, my Bunn still gets used every morning. It's just too fast to not use in the morning. You're right about the temperature, it's low (I've measured mine at 185-190 as it falls from the sprayhead)
I have made some changes/modifications that have helped the Bunn make a reasonable cup. (both learned here on CG by the way)
First, I use the gold mesh filters, not paper....really seems to help with the body of the cup. Secondly, I temporarily 'plugged' 2 of the 5 holes in the sprayhead to slow down the brew, allowing a slightly longer steep time in the metal mesh basket. (without the slow down, my basket filter would overflow the grounds). Now, it does add to the time of the pot, but we're just talking a couple of minutes. Third, don't let the coffee sit on the warmer for more than just a few minutes. Use an insulated carafe instead.
Last, but not least, make sure you clean/descale your Bunn occasionally. I let mine go way too long (ok, years) and finally took it apart and found at least 1/4" of scale on inside the "boiler" and on the exposed heating element. Several hours with vinegar and a dremel tool got it clean, but it could have been prevented by regular use of vinegar or one of the commercial products.
Lisa_Bonami Senior Member Joined: 9 Sep 2006 Posts: 23 Location: NYC Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed May 23, 2007, 5:21pm Subject: Re: I know, I'm CRAZY!...I bought ANOTHER BUNN!
TL...thanks a bunch for your feedback and tips but I am quite satisfied with the flavor of the coffee my Bunn brews, its just that dang temperature that kills me....its not like its cold or anything but I just wish it wasn't ....gulpable, for lack of a better description....I want my coffee piping hot which forces me to take small sips at first rather than gulps.
Are there any tips you can provide on increasing the heating temp of my Bunn B10?
Hi Susan, like you I love my Bunn BX-B (B10-B) thermal brewer., & it indeed brews at the stated 200 F. The SCAA brewing standard is 195 - 205 F. You could always PID the brewer! {;-D
TOTHETUNE Senior Member Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 30 Location: AZ Expertise: Just starting
Posted Fri May 2, 2008, 3:23pm Subject: Re: I know, I'm CRAZY!...I bought ANOTHER BUNN!
I have a Bunn NHBX. I got the flow restrictor 3-hole sprayhead and the coffee is pretty good. No overflow problems with the tall filters (thanks to the forum). Looking to tinker a little, I put a plastic collar inside the pipe that the sprayhead screws on to in order to slow the flow. I got a 5 minute brew time and the taste was definitely inferior. Overextracted? I tried it on 2 different beans with same results. So much for that.
Posted Sun May 4, 2008, 9:49am Subject: Re: I know, I'm CRAZY!...I bought ANOTHER BUNN!
When I purchased my VP17 (a commercial brewer) last November, I was obsessed with getting it the hottest it could go. Fortunately, you can "trick it out" by manually raising the internal heater thermometer.
I believe I've succeeded, but in any situation, in order to get the the most preserved temps, you ~must~ pre-heat.
I used to have the NBX (home model) and was repeatedly let down at the lack of temp power even after doing a trial run (pouring water, letting it run through thus heating the mechanisms / brew basket / pot). The realty seems to be that commercial units have a greater chance at delivering a furious pot as the internal organs are a tad more complex and made for a more serious consistency rather than home units and their "economic" builds. Since you can't open the machine and play with the control thermometer, you can't get it any hotter than the manufacturer settings which are at 200 degrees in the tank (or so they claim).
If you don't believe me, explain why the commercial units which share the same technology but cost a good 120-200% more than home units.
There is also another thing you may want to get to perform your own temp tests: a decent digital read thermometer. You'll find that the temp dips through a journey if you don't make the right preventitives beforehand. I've found the water inside the tank to be exactly 200 degrees (some cheap ones have a margin of error, typically underreading by about 3-5 degrees), when it hits the filter basket, it will decline to (-5) then (-10) by the time it hits the bottom of even a pre-heated, open pot to about 180-185 degrees. The temp will further dip by the time it hits your cup (or even worse, a cold mug) without factoring the option of dairy to cool it down even more.
Don't know about you, but 180-185 degrees is about the ideal drinking temperature -- anything higher would likely scald and I like my coffee black and super hot.
I used to work at a Dunkin' Donuts at night and would compare temps with theirs (with in-line water tanks) and mine at home. I found most of the time, machines with inline water hook-ups delivered same to slightly hotter coffee. I don't know if this is mythical or not, but I still believe inline water hook-up machines versus pourovers just get that coffee even hotter if only by a few degrees. Don't forget, places like DD always have coffee going, so the equipment is almost always pre-heated.
coffeejn Senior Member Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 341 Location: Ottawa, ON Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale Vivaldi S1 Grinder: Mini Mazzer, Zassenhaus... Vac Pot: Yama Drip: BUNN BTX-B Roaster: SC/CO
Posted Sun May 4, 2008, 11:32am Subject: Re: I know, I'm CRAZY!...I bought ANOTHER BUNN!
CraigA Said:
Hi Susan, like you I love my Bunn BX-B (B10-B) thermal brewer., & it indeed brews at the stated 200 F. The SCAA brewing standard is 195 - 205 F. You could always PID the brewer! {;-D
Do you have a list of coffee brewers that will brew 195-205 F? I am in the market for a new coffee machine (finally going electric instead of manual due to the lost of the bodum Kona this morning). I say a Braun KF600 for a reasonable price, it has a fine gold filter, but I am unsure of the brewing temp (got a gut feeling it would be money wasted in my case)...
Can you get a gold filter for the Bunn?
Thanks
P.S. Good purchase on the Bunn, I actually am considering the same model with the thermal brewer.
- Life is too short to waste on unimportant things, now were's my coffee!
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