Consider using a Chemex. If it's kept away from explosions and impacts with rigid surfaces, it'll keep 'working' until the heat death of the universe. You can even keep using the same filters if they're the right size.
Next bifl thread: Best electric kettle anyone?
I went with a regular gooseneck kettle and an induction cooktop. The cooktop can be used to boil water for pasta, etc. and the kettle is just a metal vessel with a thermometer on top. If the cooktop breaks, I can still boil water on the gas stove top.
I really have to second this due a few reasons:
It's not expensive and will last as long as you don't break it. It's made of glass but it seems to be special glass because it's hard to break. I've had two of them over the past 13 years. Broke one after ten years.
Since it's less expensive you can spend more on a BIFL coffee grinder and hot water pot. I'd suggest DeLonghi for a grinder and the FELLOW goose neck water heater. I've had both for many years and love them
The Chemex is easy to clean. After out pour your coffee just rinse it out. Use soap once a week and it'll not even get stained. Coffee makers end up getting really gross after a while in my experience so even if your coffee maker lasts a long time you'll want to throw it out because everything that comes out of it tastes burned and extra acidic.
Assuming you mean an automatic drip coffee maker, Moccamaster is definitely the most "BIFL" one out there, as it makes pretty good coffee and the design basically hasn't changed since the 1970s. Downside (or upside depending on how you look at it) is that they are hand made in the Netherlands, which makes them kind of expensive compared to most other options in the us.
Oxo makes a really similar brewer in their 8 cup which in some ways is a little nicer than the Moccamaster. The drip head is a bit larger so the drip is more even, there's a vent on top you can use to heat your mugs, and it comes with an extra cone to brew single servings directly into your cup. It's also not cheap, but less than the Moccamaster. Downside of course is that you're not buying something quite as proven.
I have friends who have sworn by Bunn coffee makers, and while I think their commercial units are basically bulletproof, I've personally experienced a number of the residental ones fail.
One other downside to all these is that they tend to not have any extra features like timers and whatnot, but that's probably why they have lasted so well.
French press is the cheapest, simplest way to brew coffee. You don’t need special filters, electronics (that break), or even an expensive one (I use a like $25 one from Amazon).
I know not what you asked for but realistically imo it’s the only one you’ll be buying for life.
I got a French press and used it for awhile. I'm extremely lazy though and got tired of having to clean the coffee grounds out of the screen. That's something I didn't consider before buying it. I switched to a chemex that I like much better. Yeah, there are disposable filters but it works better for me. If I were starting over, I'd probably just get some kind of pour over thing that fits over my mug. That would take up less space than the chemex.
Check out Moccamaster.
For practical, durable and quality made products that are made to last.