Coffee has been around for centuries now – it was first used in the Middle East as a beverage to aid concentration. Fast forward to the present; we see people starting their day with – “but first, coffee”!
Studies state that coffee has a lot of benefits like – it boosts your performance, helps improve energy levels, burns fat, and assists you in staying alert and focussed.
It is no secret that coffee is the second most popular drink in the world after water, with about 64% of American adults consuming a cup of coffee every day. With the beverage being such an indispensable part of our lives, the best coffee does need the best coffee maker!
An advantage to owning a coffee machine is that you can save some extra bucks from an everyday trip to a coffee shop. Making your coffee at home is flexible; it allows you to be demanding, experimental and hence customize your perfect brew without spending on fixed café options.
The advancement in technology offers a wide variety of coffee brewing appliances to choose from. This article discusses the types of coffee makers available in the market, the desirable features, and some general queries regarding the same.
Deciding the best coffee maker for yourself can be a difficult task. That’s why we are here to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type, with a list of additional features to help you decide the best coffee maker for yourself!
Types of Coffee Makers
Different brews need different coffee makers, and hence there is no single best coffee maker for you unless you narrow down what you actually want. There are three major types of coffee makers categorized majorly according to the quantity, quality, and preference of coffee you need –
Drip Coffee Machine
Drip Coffee Machine is one of the most common coffee brewers found at home or cafes, usually used in situations where you want to brew several cups of coffee at once. This is the oldest, most common, and easiest machine to use. Maybe that is the reason why most people consider this as the best coffee maker for themselves!
Specific factors to consider while buying –
- Size of the Carafe – The normal carafe usually holds up to 12 to 14 cups of coffee, but smaller ones are available. Choose a holder according to your priorities – larger ones are more convenient, but the smaller ones are affordable and take up less space.
- Type of Carafe – These machines sometimes use a hot plate to keep the coffee warm, but some also use a thermal carafe. The only disadvantage to the latter is that the amount of coffee left is not visible as thermal carafes are metal.
Popular Brands – Bunn, Cuisinart, Capresso.
Pour Over Coffee Makers
Pour-over coffee makers are generally cheaper than the traditional drip coffee makers and still make some good quality of the coffee. They are easy to operate, and the varieties available compel both the experts and beginners in coffee brewing. This might make But are all the pour-over coffee makers the same? Surely not! Remember that there does not exist any specific ‘best coffee maker’ that can suffice the needs of everyone, so the definition of the Best Pour-Over Coffee Maker can vary from person to person.
Specific factors to consider while buying –
- Material – The Pour-Over Coffee maker can come with a wide range of different build materials. Glass, metal, ceramic as well as plastic. Some of them allow for reheating while coffee is still inside the brewer, while some can keep the coffee stored longer inside them.
- Holes – The number of holes, as well as their size in the pour-over coffee makers, determine how quickly the coffee will pass through the filter. Smaller holes mean the coffee will take a more extended amount of time to drip. Longer brewing time is more suited for people with little to no experience of coffee brewing. Larger holes allow better control which experts tend to favor. Such coffee makers have more room for error hence not suitable for beginners.
- Insulation – Insulation is another important factor you should consider when you look for the best pour-over coffee maker for you. Insulated pour-over coffee makers can keep the coffee warm for a longer time due to their double-walled designs but add to the cost, become heavier to carry and thicker.
Popular Brands – Hario, Bodum, Maranello.
Interested in Pour Over Coffee Makers? Check out our buying guide here: 8 Best Dual Brew Coffee Makers and How to Choose!
Single-Serve Pod Coffee Brewer
Single-Server Pod Coffee Brewer is also known as the one-cup coffee maker, and they are used in places where individual preference is prioritized over quantity. Thus if you live alone or everyone around you needs their coffee brewed according to their taste, this might be the best coffee maker for you.
You can buy pods according to your requirements, drop them into the machine, add water, and your coffee will be ready in minutes!
Specific factors to consider while buying –
- Speed of Preparation– Usually, these coffee makers are used at commercial places like an office or a shop. The most important factor for a pod-brewer is hence the speed at which it delivers your beverage. Select your brand correspondingly.
- Pods – The machines mostly allow the user to choose one particular brand of coffee. But the newer models also allow a variety of brand options to choose from. So, if you are really picky about the coffee you drink, ensure that your machine permits the relevant brand.
Side Note: The coffee pods in use are not biodegradable and hence produce a lot of waste. Consider using brands that provide recyclable or biodegradable K-cup/pod options. Some of these companies are San Francisco Bay, Camerons Coffee, Green Mountain Breakfast Blend, Nespresso, etc.
Popular Brands – Keurig, Hamilton.
Espresso Machine
These machines are the best coffee maker for gourmet coffee lovers – the connoisseurs who make drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, and macchiatos. These machines are usually expensive, but they are the perfect investment for enthusiasts who love their daily cup of morning joe and joy over everything else.
Specific factors to consider before buying –
- Amount of Work – You can choose between automatic, semi-automatic, or a manual/hands-on machine. Making a perfectly authentic coffee shot every day is a grind. If you want to skip all that, you can trust the machine to automate the process.
- Frequency of Use – If you use the expresso machine only for single morning drinks, then a single boiler should be sufficient. If not, then consider purchasing an appliance that has a large dual boiler. You can also choose between a double-shot and a single-shot maker machine.
Popular Brands – Breville, Nespresso.
What You Should Consider While Choosing the Best Coffee Maker for Yourself
Apart from these specifications that you should consider for the above-mentioned coffee makers, there are some additional features that you should look out for to hunt for the best coffee maker for you –
- Programmable Settings – If you like your coffee a certain way every day, you might like the machine to remember the relevant settings and automate the entire process of preparing your brew. Look for a device that does that for you.
- Integrated Filter – Though this isn’t a must-have characteristic for the best coffee maker, it is certainly convenient. If you don’t have a water faucet with a filter, this is useful as it filters the water independently.
- Built-In Grinder – They say that freshly ground beans produce a better-tasting drink. Having a grinder within your machine saves the cost of buying a separate one.
- Automatic Shutdown – There are times when we forget to switch off the button while doing our daily chores. To ensure that the machine doesn’t keep running all day long, this feature is extremely thoughtful. Another similar feature to look out for is the ability to pause midway. If you want to stop brewing midway due to some interruption, this quality is certainly desirable. In our opinion, the best coffee maker should have automatic shutdown as well as pause feature if budget allows!
- Ease of Cleaning – No matter how efficient a tool is, it is a nuisance if it cannot be cleaned and maintained easily. Some coffee-makers can be taken apart and washed, do lookout for those.
Conclusion
Honestly, there is no single answer for which is the best coffee maker.
The best coffee maker is the one that suits your preferences, budget, and space. The variety of alternatives available today ensure that you will definitely find one that suits your demands.
If you have any questions about coffee machines or still need suggestions for best coffee maker for you, please let us know in the comments section!
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