Coffee Maker Buying Guide
There's nothing like a perfect cup of java to start the morning off right. However, more and more people are choosing to brew their coffee at home, rather than splurge on an expensive daily latte. There is a wide variety of coffee makers available. They range from the basic percolator to the sophisticated espresso machine. If you're interested in buying a coffee maker for your home, follow this basic guide to find the coffee maker that best fits your needs.
Explore the different types of coffee makers available.
1. Single Cup Coffee Makers
For those who don't like waiting for a full pot of coffee to brew, single cup coffee makers (also known as pod coffee makers) are a good choice. These coffee machines use a sealed coffee pod or container to brew coffee and are becoming increasingly popular because of their no-fuss, no-mess operation and the wide assortment of coffee pod flavors and K-cups available.
How do they work? Simply insert coffee pods or K-cups into the basket and the coffee maker passes heated water through the pod to brew a single cup of coffee. K-cups are available in all kinds of flavors, from the Green Mountain Breakfast Blend to the Keurig French Vanilla, so you're never bored with your cup of Joe.
2. Drip Coffee Makers
Drip coffee makers are probably the most ubiquitous of all coffee makers. Their ease of use has made them a common fixture in most households and workplaces. In an automatic drip coffee maker, water is heated in a reservoir and is poured over coffee grounds via a filter and into a carafe. Typically, automatic drip coffee makers can brew between 10 to 12 cups of coffee. When buying a drip coffee maker, look for convenient features such as programmable brewing so you can set the coffeemaker to brew at a convenient time, pause functionality that lets you pour yourself a cup before the brewing cycle has completed, and automatic shutoff to turn the coffee maker off on its own.
3. French Press Coffee Makers
For coffee aficionados who enjoy robust flavor, a French press is a good buy. In French press coffee makers, coarsely ground coffee beans are steeped in hot water. Then a plunger is used to press the filter down to separate the grounds from the flavorful coffee extract.
4. Espresso Machines
If you make daily cappuccino runs to your neighborhood coffee shop, it might be time to invest in an espresso machine. There are various types of espresso machines available, but most brew espresso by forcing water under high pressure through coffee grounds.
While you don't need the skills of a barista to use an espresso machine at home, espresso machines differ in their level of complexity, so choose one depending on the level of effort you want to put into brewing your coffee. If you are a fan of espresso or gourmet drinks like lattes or cappuccinos, an espresso machine is a good choice for you.
4. Percolators
For those who like their coffee hot, the percolator is a good choice. This classic coffee maker pushes boiling water through coffee grounds, using higher temperatures than other coffee makers. So if you want to make a quick, hot cup of coffee, the percolator should do the job.
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