Why doesn't my home coffee maker make a cup of Coffee taste like Dunks or Starbucks?

Question

I've purchased Dunken Donuts and Starbuck's ground coffee but it doesnt' have the full flavor i want. What kind of coffee maker do I need to reproduce the same taste?

Answer 1

As a former chef and a coffee fan it can be a number of things, first the one respondant said the name "Bunn", these are high end commercial coffee makers, they heat the water hotter, have a spray head similar to a shower head, they are all in the high end coffee places, the coffee goes so fast that it never goes bad, most times it is in small pre-sealed pre-portioned bags, so every time it is made the same way.

Also it can be the blend of coffee beans, and Dunkin Doughnuts may grind it for every pot, whole beans keep longer than ground. I buy mine at the local grocery store, they have a gourmet coffee section, I make a blend of Columbian, Guatemalean, Kenyan, French roast, Sumatran or Moka Java, just a small of everything but the Columbian. Grind it for each pot, small coffee grinders can be purchased at WalMart or any place that sell homewares for $10-20 US, 30 seconds of buzzing it will grind it for most coffee makers, better water is also a factor, bottled non-mineral based water, distilled or spring.

The Bunn machines also have a built in filter to removed lime and minerals from the water, it is in the back and looks like a large battery on the water in line.

Answer 2

I have asked the same question for many years but the answers I got never revealed the truth. The commercial coffee (Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or McDonald's) is never the same as the coffee you brew at home or even the whole beans or ground beans you bought from them. Commercial coffee gives you the effect that you'll never achieve with home brewing. They put chemicals in their coffee so that we get desirable feelings. I feel better and look better after drinking their coffee. I tried every possible ways to get the same coffee, I even bought a coffee roaster and roasted my own coffee but the results are not the same. I think these coffee houses will never allow their secrets out like CoCa Cola will never share their ingredient secrets.

Answer 3

If you are purchasing the coffee, you are getting the taste. Duncan Doughnuts and Starbucks both add a little to their coffee for that distinctive taste. Any coffeemaker should make the same brew with the same coffee. If you are getting a different taste, it is likely the water you are using. Try a water filter or bottled drinking water. You may require a bit more or less coffee in the filter. If you are percolating it, you will always get a slightly different taste.

Answer 4

I am addicted to my full flavor coffee..I use a Starbucks Barista coffee pot-thermal carafe. I like my coffee better now that any other coffee...As long as you make it with the right strength of great freshly ground beans from Trader Joe's or Starbucks (2T per 6-8 oz cup), cold water, and INTO THERMAL cups or carafe, it has the potential to be as good as you get there, in my opinion.

Answer 5

I agree, and as soon as my friend in Starbucks management calls back, hopefully I can update you.
Some facts from being a waitress- and a Dunkin' cashier back when-
We need stuff that's been well-sealed.
We need grounds that have been brewed moments before making them. (machine=money, hunh?)
WE MAY also need a higher temperature coffeemaker.
If we're talking about flavored coffee, I'm going to guess that the heat helps loosen up the flavored oils so we get the scent betterm and therefore perceive the taste better.
Good luck!

Answer 6

There`s other factors to consider than the coffee maker and the coffee. There`s the measurements, the type of water you use, and the type of filter.

Answer 7

They actually have coffee makers from Starbucks

Answer 8

I've often wondered this myself. I wish I had an answer for you. I've been eyeing the Bunn coffeemakers. (I've had some great coffee from these machines, but only in retail or community places--like the waiting room of a oil change place, or while hanging out on jury duty).

I'm not sure about price, though. They may be fairly expensive.

Anyway, you can check out their products here:

http://www.bunnomatic.com/retail/products/nhb.html

Answer 9

the best machine is the rancilio silvia without a doubt, but it takes a bit o practice to use right. u need a grinder and decent tamper too, the tamper that comes with it can go straight in hte bin

Answer 10

a lot of what happens is the difference in how the beans are ground, the water that they use is filtered 5x!, and just the maker itself.....one quick solution may be a bit less water and more coffee...