Over on Apartment Therapy, they've posted a Top Ten Coffee Machines list. It's divided up into coffee machines and espresso makers.

It's funny - I have owned their top two machines and was not happy with either. The AroMaster didn't make a strong enough brew and the FlavorSelect's hot plate is too... hot. Coffee left in the pot for more than 5 minutes is barely drinkable.

I thought my problems were solved when I disovered the Zojirushi Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker: it's sufficiently sleek looking, and I thought for sure the carafe would solve my burnt brew issues. Plus: cute little elephant logo! Aww. But, no. The machine brews the coffee at such a high temperature, it comes out tasting like hotel conference room at corporate off site cofeee. And I just can't handle that. I am delicate enough as it is first thing in the morning.

I am beginning to feel like the Princess and the Bean. Right now I have an absurd system that goes like this: Grind beans, brew coffee in the FlavorSelect, try to get to the coffee of the burner and into the Zojirushi carafe as soon as possible. The next step involves an embarrassing process by which I spew milk all over my kitchen and person as I attempt to froth some warmed milk. I swear, it is yummy - why else would I suffer such absurdity morning after morning? I get it wrong more often than when I get it right, but when I get it right, it's oh-so-good.

The machine I really want (and have been searching on Craig's List for semi-obesssively for, for quite a while now) isn't even mentioned on AP's top ten list. I am absolutely certain that the Capresso Coffee Tec is the brewer of my dreams. Even Amanda Hesser loved it, way back in 2001, describing it as "a high-end model with the tight body and clean lines of a luxury car." Hello! Who doesn't want a coffee maker with a tight body, I ask you?

For the true design fetishists, I think the Jasper Morrison machine is the thing for you. It's so sleek and moderne... who cares whether or not it brews good coffee? Your friends will be so dazzled by your impeccable design taste, they're unlikely to even notice the flavor of the brew.

My friend Antony is insistent that I throw over all these electric brewers for a Bialetti which has a lovely look to it and apparently brews a fine cup of coffee on your stovetop, but forget about making coffee for six with that thing - it's output is tiny. Of course, if you're one of those hosts who likes to hide in the kitchen and decompress after pulling off a dinner production (hi, hello, yes that is me.) then it's the perfect thing for you.

I'll save my Espresso maker ravings for a later in the day post. Right now I need to have a cup of coffee that is sure to disappoint me. Sigh.