Drip Coffee Makers — super simple, super cheap
Technology Connections7 HN recommenders · recommended in 5 months, 2022–2024
explainer · general · evergreen · 2022–2024 on HN
Technology Connections explains how the simple American drip coffee maker works, including the bimetal valve and bubble-pump heating, and compares the original Mr. Coffee with modern machines.
HN recommends it as a clear, enjoyable look at why simple designs are brilliant, and as a pointer to a channel with a hacker's-eye view of everyday technology.
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8 comments from Hacker News
Technology Connections on youtube has an awesome video about coffee makers! its 35 minutes, but i highly recommend it! ▶ this video i think it's actually amazing how much design went into these "dead simple" coffee machines!
Drip coffee makers are just better than the old percolators. Technology Connections on youtube has a video about drip coffee makers which is very good (he demos an original mr. coffee machine which has some differences vs modern machines) ▶ this video He also did a vid on percolators recently which I haven't watched but the thumbnail suggests its an extended rant about how they suck link
Just a friendly recco for the Technology Connections YouTube channel. Really liked his exploration of the Coffee Machine and other vids. Not affiliated in any way. ▶ this video
Anyone interested in how the traditional american coffee maker works should watch this. ▶ this video Very fun video and I love the concept of using a piece of metal as a temperature-sensitive valve.
Simple drip machines are a marvel--I spend more on a month's supply of beans than I do on the maker, and have been getting about 5 years daily service out of each one. Technology Connections made a great video explaining how stupid/brilliant they are ▶ this video
Came here to post this :D The TC channel is definitely a hacker's eye view in to all the technologies that we take for granted every day. Tons of fascinating tech history covered, too. Other fun ones: - a defense of the simple drip coffee maker ▶ this video - why do the turn signals not sync up when you're at a stop light? link - how humidifiers work and ehy the simple swamp cooler style are pretty ideal link - why dishwasher detergent packs are stupid (use powder/liquid) and why you should use the pre-wash slot and not bother pre rinsing your plates link - why do light switches click? link
I just watched an amusing video that compares Mr. Coffee's original machine to modern drip coffeemakers. Mr. Coffee would cost $300 today (adjusted for inflation). There's been great simplification of the design over the years. ▶ this video Given a more than order of magnitude reduction in price, a shorter lifespan can be tolerated, and could even be a rational consumer choice.
▶ this video The specific mechanism that gums up the works occurs at 6:45. When you raise the lid of the modern version, grounds and coffee bits that have dusted up to the lid of the coffee maker drip via condensation into rear water reservoir. For greater detail, juxtapose minutes 8-11 with minutes 16-21. Mr. Coffee represents the king of drip still. And it is the greatest contributor to this fundamental design flaw (imp).