todduzzell Senior Member Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Location: San Diego, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Aug 20, 2008, 7:55pm Subject: Still confused which makes better coffee, Bunn, Capresso ST600, or OCS-12?
Hi everyone. I’ve been reading through these forums and reviews for about a week, but this is my first post. I am still confused over which is the best 200 F drip coffeemaker for around $100. Each seems to have positive and negative comments, so I can’t decide. Here is what I’ve heard so far based on comments here:
The Bunn either tastes great, or it brews too quickly, even with the three hole flow restrictor, leaving coffee tasting flat. I am also not crazy about the always on feature since I wonder if a defective unit could be a fire hazard, however I could always turn it on each morning.
The Capresso ST600, on sale on Amazon for $70, is prone to spillage and escaping hot steam, damaging overhead wooden cabinets. Also, some of the components are easily breakable.
The Newco OCS-12 also seems to have its fans. Others say the Bunn tastes better.
There is probably no way to know which I’d like the best without buying all three and doing blind taste tests, but can anyone suggest anything that might sway me one way or the other?
paslug Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Kennett Sq, Pa Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Aug 21, 2008, 3:53am Subject: Re: Still confused which makes better coffee, Bunn, Capresso ST600, or OCS-12?
Hi Todd,
I have the Newco OCS-8 at home, & I love it. I can brew as little as a 12 oz mug with pretty good results. (I sit the mug under the basket, & hold the valve open with a fork after the water sits on the grounds for a while.)
The carafe does splatter a little bit when you are pouring, but not a big deal to me. It makes good coffee.
I bought the Capresso ST600 on sale on Amazon for $39.00 for our summer house. I've had it for a couple of months now, & I still can't get a consistently good pot of coffee from it.
I'm using a Maestro plus grinder with the Capresso, and a Kitchenaid Pro-line with the Newco. So maybe I just haven't got the grind right yet for the Capresso. I do use the same beans, & bottled water at the summer house, so it isn't the water or the beans.
Maybe I'll get it right later, but so far I've not been happy with the Capresso.
I haven't had the leakage problems with it that others have mentioned.
Posted Thu Aug 21, 2008, 10:03am Subject: Re: Still confused which makes better coffee, Bunn, Capresso ST600, or OCS-12?
Hello Todd,
About Bunn...
I'm using a VP-17 commercial unit and it took a little time getting it dialed in for the amount I brew for my wife and me each morning, about a half pot. If you're going to be brewing similar amounts, there may be better choices than the Bunn. On the upside, it is a high quality machine and built like a tank.
Posted Thu Aug 21, 2008, 10:11am Subject: Re: Still confused which makes better coffee, Bunn, Capresso ST600, or OCS-12?
Aerospeed Said:
I'm using a VP-17 commercial unit and it took a little time getting it dialed in for the amount I brew for my wife and me each morning, about a half pot. If you're going to be brewing similar amounts, there may be better choices than the Bunn. On the upside, it is a high quality machine and built like a tank.
Lcornell Senior Member Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Layton UT Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Thu Aug 21, 2008, 7:08pm Subject: Re: Still confused which makes better coffee, Bunn, Capresso ST600, or OCS-12?
If it's just the best cup of coffee, many think the Technivorm does it better...for a price.
I've been looking for a basic no-frills coffeemaker since my Presto Scandinavian died (they are no longer available, otherwise, I'd just buy another since they were only $30 and they actually brewed to the correct temp).
The Capresso requires you to buy charcoal filters, and I have not found any independent verfication that it brews to the correct temp.
If you want 2oo degs, the Technivorm is certified to brew at that temp. I just don't want to spend that much just to get 200 degs. I really don't know why the industry doesn't understand the demand for that feature, and that a no-frills model with a high watt heating element would be a huge seller.
I am considering the OCS-12, but still haven't decided.
Sorry this probably was not very much help to you, but you should know we share the same dilemma. I'll keep looking and let you know if I find something else. Cheers!
raisin Senior Member Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 73 Location: nj Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Virtuosa Roaster: Behmor
Posted Thu Aug 21, 2008, 7:52pm Subject: Re: Still confused which makes better coffee, Bunn, Capresso ST600, or OCS-12?
Lcornell Said:
I really don't know why the industry doesn't understand the demand for that feature, and that a no-frills model with a high watt heating element would be a huge seller.
I am considering the OCS-12, but still haven't decided.
todduzzell Senior Member Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Location: San Diego, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Aug 21, 2008, 8:35pm Subject: Re: Still confused which makes better coffee, Bunn, Capresso ST600, or OCS-12?
Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. I am still undecided between the Bunn and the OCS-12. I'll probably read some more and just pick one. It looks like both the OCS-12 and the Bunn units have their admirers.
CraigA: I've seen on the forums that you are a happy Bunn owner. Do you have any theories why some people find the coffee a little on the weak side, even with the flow restrictor? Is it just the grind size that needs to be perfected before the Bunn makes the perfect cup?
Posted Fri Aug 22, 2008, 7:00am Subject: Re: Still confused which makes better coffee, Bunn, Capresso ST600, or OCS-12?
todduzzell Said:
CraigA: I've seen on the forums that you are a happy Bunn owner. Do you have any theories why some people find the coffee a little on the weak side, even with the flow restrictor? Is it just the grind size that needs to be perfected before the Bunn makes the perfect cup?
I believe so. The Bunn home units like their commercial brethern, do a brew in 3 minutes flat. Hard or soft water has a bearing on this also. With the Tim Hortons 3 hole restrictor brewhead a brew takes 3:30 minutes. With the standard recommended starting charge weight of coffee for the 40 oz brew (57g/2oz) & my grind size, my brew time is 3:50 - 4:00 minutes., for a longer brew/extraction time of 33%.
I've also posted the BUNN extraction brew charts (TDS percentages & proper concentration levels) several times before & you can find lots of info on the BUNN website. I make excellent full flavored, rich, deep bodied coffee with the BUNN. {:-)
The brew chart below is for the commercial brewers volume of ½ US gallon though, but the same deal., just on a smaller volume scale.
Ohh, I forgot to mention, welcome to the Coffeegeek forums Todd! {;-)
Yeah, I know. It's just that it would be nice if there were more choices. The more I am pondering this, the more I am leaning towards just paying up for the Technivorm.
Posted Fri Aug 22, 2008, 5:56pm Subject: Re: Still confused which makes better coffee, Bunn, Capresso ST600, or OCS-12?
Hi,
I went through the same dilemna.......... Which to buy.....
I decided to go with the Bunn due to Craig A's experience/advice. I ordered the restriction brew head (free of charge from bunn) and started experimenting. I found that if you do as Craig said....... dial in your grind and above all I think, STIR THE GROUNDS at the start of the brew cycle you will get the best coffee you have ever had at home with the Bunn.
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