Today I have been tasked to recommend a new drip machine for my parents. Oh boy, I like window shopping, but this is not something I want to take a simple approach too.

I have been rocking a Technivorm Moccamaster for about eight years now, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a great machine. But I now have a budget to keep in mind, and the TV MM is a premium product at a premium price.

A sticker on the side of the MM that said SCA was my first exposure to the Specialty Coffee Association. I have since researched into what the SCA, now SCAA was all about, and I can confidently recommend any SCAA approved machine to somebody that wants a good cup of coffee at home.

I am not saying these are the only machines that makes good coffee, because they are not. Just because somebody has not submitted a machine for approval does not mean it cannot make good coffee. But any machine on that approval list have been tested and have been found to meet the minimum requirements, consistently. And that is important. It is so very important.

A consistent machine removes a set of variables from the equation when you are trying to tweak a recipe to fit your desired taste preferences.

A consistent machine removes a set of variables from the equation when you are trying to tweak a recipe to fit your desired taste preferences. (Its important enough to repeat).

The differences of the machines then comes down to build quality, features and customer support.

I am fully aware of the other coffee brewing methods available and the delicious coffee and different nuances that each method can provide.

But I have considered the audience in this case, and my 71 year old mother is not going to be interested in learning how to make syphon coffee (or any type of pour over, etc) at this juncture.

I also know there are plenty of machines that would meet the criteria for brewing a good coffee that are not approved by the SCAA (yet), however, I am efficient (lazy) and don’t want to spend the time researching it at this time. There are also time constraints on this recommendation project.

In this quest for the replacement coffee maker, here is the outline of the plan of attack:

1. I will start with the list of approved coffee makers.

2. With list of approved machines in hand I then eliminate everything outside of budget.

3. Next is to look at feature sets that are desired, eliminate machines that fall short.

4. Short list now created, read and watch all reviews for each machine, making notes as required.

5. Make recommendation and wait for machine to arrive so I can start testing it out. (This means make and drink a lot of coffee).

I will let you know how it goes.