The Consumer's Guide to Coffee Makers
An In Depth Look at Coffee and Espresso Makers
Coffee makers come in a multitude of types and sizes variously suited to personal preference. There are electric machines and manual models, coffee machines and espresso-come-cappuccino makers. Combination machines produce more than one kind of drink. Different models offer a diversity of special features. When confronted with so many choices, what’s a consumer to do?
A number of criteria will affect your decision as to which coffee maker to buy. Do you want to produce the very best demitasse for the coffee connoisseur or your dinner party guests, or will a quality mug suffice? Would you invest time and effort into the making, or is the automatic self-made coffee for you? Versatility in producing an array of espressos and cappuccinos, cost (be it one-time purchase price or ongoing expenses), and size requirements in terms of capacity and space availability are all factors to be taken into account.
Coffee Makers vs. Espresso Makers
Are you looking for a simple, non-electric manual coffee maker? Take a look at the benefits of a French Press. To make coffee with a French Press just place the ground coffee directly into the carafe, pour hot water over it, stir and leave to steep for as long or as little as you like, according to your taste. If you prefer an electric coffee machine, Drip Coffee Makers offer a convenient way to make a quick cup of coffee. Simply fill the machine with water, place the coffee grounds inside, turn on, and voila!
Espresso Coffee Makers are used to make espresso, which is coffee with a layer of creamy froth on top. Most espresso makers include a spout for frothing milk and can thus be used to make cappuccino coffee, as well – which is espresso combined with both steamed and frothed milk. Espresso coffee makers are found in an assortment of styles, employing diverse methods of operation that produce cappuccinos, lattes and mochas to suit every taste and budget.
Coffee Maker Features
In this age of increasing mechanization, the modern consumer seeks convenience and ease as well as optimum quality. A host of special features offered in various models can prove advantageous in saving you time and effort and will further enhance the flavor of the coffee produced.
A built-in water filter purifies the water used. This requires replacement filters that – depending on the model - need to be replaced every 2 – 6 months.
A removable water tank makes it easier to clean and to fill the machine with water. It also makes it easier to determine the water level. Some machines include water level gauges which help you determine the number of cups you wish to make.
A hot-water dispenser allows you the luxury of preparing any other hot beverage.
Some machines now offer permanent filters. These are far more convenient than paper filters which must be replaced frequently, and the resultant coffee tastes better, to boot! Check if the machine calls for cone-shaped filters. Some prefer the taste they produce to that yielded by flat-bottomed filters.
Cup warmers do just that: they warm your cup while the machine prepares your coffee. This is usually a flat area on top of the machine.
A timer will allow you to program the precise hour you want your coffee to be ready and waiting for you.
A pause button interrupts the brewing process and instructs the machine to pour your cup of coffee right now so that you won’t need to wait any longer.
Double-pot systems enable you to prepare 2 different coffees at the same time. No more debates as to whose turn it is to get the regular or decaffeinated!
Insulated or thermal carafes retain the heat and keep your coffee warm. The more traditional glass carafes are esthetic and interesting to view but need to sit on a hot plate to retain their heat.
A grinder enables you to use coffee beans. This grinds the beans immediately prior to the brewing process, resulting in the freshest-tasting coffee possible.
A built-in doser will add the precisely required amount of ground coffee into the filter. This is often featured in machines with built-in grinders.
A strength-selector permits you to determine the strength of the resulting coffee.
A removable drip tray located beneath the spout makes for easier clean-up.
Auto shut-off - just in case you forget!
Espresso Maker Features
While the aforementioned features may be offered with any of various coffee or espresso makers, the following are found only in espresso makers.
A frothing wand with milk dispenser produces frothed milk. You'll feel like a professional coffee maker while whipping up great-tasting lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos.
A steam wand adds steamed milk in lattes, mochas and cappuccinos. If it is a swivel wand, it allows for easy positioning over the drip tray.
Pod adapters will allow you to use coffee pods. These conveniently packed capsules of coffee grinds are neatly pre-measured. This saves valuable preparation and clean-up time as it obviates the need for you to measure out the ground coffee, an additional step which often results in spillage.
A built-in tamper presses the ground coffee down through the filter, saving you time and effort – so that you won’t have to do it.
A pre-moistening cycle brings out aromatic oils within the ground coffee, further enhancing the resultant flavor.
Some espresso makers are programmable, enabling you to program the machine to prepare the specific quantity of espresso desired.
So whether they make your coffee maker more user-friendly or diversify and enrich the resultant flavor, these special features will provide you with excellence and value in your in your quest for a quality coffee machine.
For an overview of the various types of coffee makers see our article: Coffee Maker Choices: A Quick Look at Coffee Machines.
