The McMansionization of America

Is bigger always better?

Last weekend I went shopping with a friend who needed a new coffeemaker. She went away on vacation & accidently left the coffee grounds in the coffeemaker. When she got home it was all moldy. She washed it out but couldn't bear to use the darn thing. I suggested the tried & true cleaning method of running a few pots of white vinegar through the coffeemaker, but she couldn't get the picture of the green disgusting mold forest out of her head.

So we headed off to Sears. All the coffeemakers were enormous. She wanted to get one the same size as her old one due to limited counter space. We looked and looked. There was one stripped down model that wasn't too large, but it didn't have the automatic shut-off feature which given her busy schedule is a must.

Finally we realized that all the coffeemakers we were looking at were 12-cup models. All but the one stripped down model were 12-cuppers. Except for the $100+ cappucino makers and high end one cup machines, all made 12 cups. Both of our old coffeemakers -- all of 10 years old -- are 10-cup models.

And that's when it hit us. These were for the McMansions with the enormous kitchens. We live out here in the exurbs/suburbs, and space is no object. I guess if you drive a Hummer and live in a McMansion, you need a giant coffeemaker, too.

And my friend? She stopped at the grocery store on the way home & bought a gallon of white vinegar.