Delicious and invigorating coffee is extremely popular among many connoisseurs of this drink. Over a long time, different ways of preparing it have appeared, especially with the development of electrical engineering. Among the variety of appliances, coffee makers with a large number of useful functions occupy a special place. In order to best decide how to choose a coffee maker, you need to familiarize yourself with all their types, capabilities and useful qualities in advance.
What types of coffee makers are there, their pros and cons
The classification of coffee makers is carried out in accordance with the principle of their operation. The taste and aroma of coffee depends on the specific preparation. To ensure that the coffee machine meets your expectations, familiarize yourself with the main advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Drip
One of the most popular coffee makers. The principle of operation is that boiled water is passed through a compartment with ground coffee, and from there it flows drop by drop into a coffee pot or cup.
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A drip coffee maker is perfect for a large family or office.
Carob
Many coffee connoisseurs can confidently say that a truly delicious drink can be prepared in a carob coffee maker. The basis of the work is that water is poured under pressure through a formed coffee tablet placed in a special horn (holder). Passing through ground coffee, the water is saturated with maximum taste and aroma, and at the end you get a high-quality strong drink.
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The assortment includes two types of carob-type coffee makers: steam and pump. In the first case, the water in the device is heated and passed through the tablet in the form of steam, and in the second - just water heated to 95 degrees.
Geyser
One of the most affordable devices for brewing coffee. Geyser coffee makers look like a coffee pot and consist of three parts: a reservoir for boiling water, a compartment for ground coffee and a container for the finished drink. The principle of operation is that water vapor passes from the lower container through the coffee into the upper reservoir. Along the way, the clouds of steam absorb the aroma of the coffee, and you end up with an invigorating drink.
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A geyser coffee maker is worth buying if your family has different tastes for hot drinks, as you can make both coffee and tea.
Capsule
A machine like this will save you from preparing coffee tablets. All you have to do is load the capsule into the device and press the power button. In a few minutes you will receive the finished drink.
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If you don’t have time to brew coffee and clean the machine parts, a capsule coffee maker is a great option.
Combined
They combine the functions of drip and carob coffee makers. Many models are additionally equipped with a built-in coffee grinder.
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By purchasing a combination coffee maker, you will be unlimited in preparing drinks from beans of different grinds, and you will also be able to prepare various types of coffee with the addition of milk or other ingredients.
"French Press"
A simple and convenient coffee maker for home use. Outwardly, it resembles a coffee pot made of thick glass with a metal disk and a piston inside. Does not require connection to electricity. To prepare the drink, you need to add coffee, add hot water and let the drink soak in the aroma for at least 5 minutes. Then you need to lower the piston. As a result, you will get rich coffee, the grounds of which will be pressed by the press.
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In addition to coffee, you can use a French press to brew tea or froth milk for cappuccino.
Electric Turks
Using an electric turk you can not only brew coffee, but also simply boil water. The appearance and principle of brewing the drink does not differ from its “manual” counterpart.
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Having bought an electric Turk, Turkish coffee lovers can forget about burnt copper Turks and burns on their hands.
Types of coffee
As you understand, the type of coffee you can use depends on the design of the coffee maker. This can be ground coffee, in beans, pods or capsules.
Ground
Many users like it for its accessibility, that is, it can be bought in any store. You just need to choose the grind that suits your coffee maker. Medium for drip or carob. For geyser coarse grinding, as fine grains will clog the filter.
In grains
Connoisseurs of the drink advise choosing this type of coffee. And it is suitable for coffee makers that have a grinder.
In pods
This is coffee in a tablet wrapped in paper. This packaging allows you to preserve the taste and aroma of freshly ground coffee. And preparing it becomes even easier, you just need to put the tablet in the machine and turn it on.
Another plus of the pods is that it is easier to clean the coffee maker, since there is no sediment left in the filter.
In capsules
These are also packaged coffee servings. They are used to prepare the drink in capsule coffee makers.
Material and design
Basically, all coffee makers are made of metal or plastic. The only exceptions are geyser coffee makers, which can be made of aluminum, steel, ceramics or polymers.
They are practically no different in shape. But there are practically no restrictions in the choice of color and design. You can buy either a classic-looking coffee maker or a device with an ultra-modern design.
Aluminum
Most often in the assortment of geyser coffee makers you can find the aluminum model. The material meets all standards and undergoes mandatory testing for interaction with food.
If you buy an aluminum coffee maker, the first cups of coffee you brew may have a metallic taste. To prevent this, rinse all compartments of the coffee maker thoroughly under running water before use.
If you have kidney problems, it is not recommended to use aluminum cookware, since aluminum salts are poorly excreted.
Steel
A steel device is considered reliable and durable. Thanks to the thick bottom, the water in such a coffee maker will boil faster, which means the coffee preparation will speed up. The steel appliance can be washed in the dishwasher and heated on an induction hob. The steel coating will ensure the absence of rust on the components and long service life.
Ceramics
Ceramic geyser-type coffee makers can be a great decoration for your kitchen. A definite plus is the internal ceramic coating, which will not affect the taste and aroma of coffee. The device is also easy to care for and wash its components. However, such coffee makers must be used very carefully, since ceramics are very fragile and unstable to mechanical damage.
Polymers
Modern polymer materials have a number of advantages. Geyser coffee makers made of polymers are durable, but at the same time lightweight. They withstand high temperatures and mechanical loads well. High-quality polymer materials do not affect the taste of coffee.
Purover
The pour-over method of making coffee is compared to the tea ceremony in terms of entertainment. Medium grind coffee is used for brewing. You will need equipment from Hario: a pour-over funnel, into which a filter made of paper, fabric or fine metal mesh is placed and coffee is poured. Water is heated in a kettle with a long and narrow spout. In a thin stream, moving in a circle, pour coffee powder onto the filter. The finished drink is collected in a container on which a filter is installed.
Purover
Another type of pourover is Kalita Wave. Having passed through a corrugated filter placed in a container with transverse grooves, the drink acquires a richer taste and aroma than that obtained from Hario pourover.
Kalita Wave
What to look for when choosing a coffee maker
Before buying a coffee maker for home use, analyze which selection criterion is your priority.
Coffee quality
Decide what kind of invigorating drink you want to drink in the morning. If you like espresso or other drinks based on it, give preference to carob or capsule machines. If you want to drink Turkish coffee, pay attention to electric Turks. For fans of Americano, geyser or drip coffee makers are suitable. Those who cannot make a specific choice should pay attention to combined coffee machines.
Design
What is important here is the presence of certain abilities and how much time you are willing to devote to the process of brewing the drink. For example, the design of a carob coffee machine can be intended both for a beginner with a minimum amount of tasks and automatic functions, and for a professional, where he will need to set the grind coarseness, water temperature and other parameters, as well as monitor the work process.
If you are a beginner coffee drinker, give preference to machines with automatic adjustment or capsule machines.
Material and design
All types of coffee makers can be made from several types of materials.
| Coffee maker type | Materials |
| Capsule | There are metal and plastic. Experience shows that stainless steel machines last longer. |
| Drip | You can find glass or plastic models. It is better to give preference to glass, since in a plastic case the coffee may have a plastic taste. |
| Carob | The case material does not play a big role and only affects the durability of the device. Here special attention should be paid to the brewing group. Which can be made of stainless steel or plastic. Plastic parts will negatively affect the taste and quality of the drink, so it is better to give preference to a metal device. |
| Electric Turks | The best option for an electric Turk is a stainless steel body. |
You will be unlimited in the variety of designs and will be able to choose a coffee maker that suits you in size and appearance in accordance with the interior.
Price
The cost of coffee makers varies depending on the operating principle of the device, manufacturer, body materials and main parts.
Average price range for coffee makers depending on type.
| Coffee machine type | Price |
| Drip | From 500 rub. up to 22000 rub. |
| Carob | From 5000 to 24000 rub. |
| Geyser | From 500 to 18,000 rub. |
| Capsule | From 2300 to 10500 rub. |
| "French Press" | From 150 to 13,000 rub. |
| Electric Turks | From 750 to 3000 rub. |
Before you make a purchase, decide how much you want to spend on a coffee maker for your home. You shouldn't take the cheapest model. Most often, such devices are made from low-quality materials, which negatively affects the taste of the drink and the service life of the device.
Manufacturer rating
In the range of household appliances for the kitchen you can find coffee machines of various brands. By choosing a trusted manufacturer, you will be confident in the high-quality and long-lasting operation of the device.
If you want to buy an expensive coffee machine, pay attention to the brands: Guggia, Delonghi, Melitta, Krups, Blazer, Saeco.
From the average, but fairly reliable segment of manufacturers of coffee machines, we can highlight Siemens, Bosch, Electrolux.
The best coffee makers from popular manufacturers
In the ranking of the most popular and best-selling coffee makers for home, there are 5 models from different manufacturers.
Top 5 best coffee makers:
- Drip – Melitta Optima Glass Timer. The model is equipped with all possible functions, such as: delayed start, auto shut-off, cleaning indicator and water hardness regulator. Control is carried out using buttons and a display on a plastic case. The water tank has a capacity of 1.1 liters, which allows you to prepare from 2 to 8 cups at a time. The disadvantage is the lack of a built-in coffee grinder.
- Automatic horn - Delonghi ECAM 22.360. The body of the model is made of high quality plastic. On the external panel there are control buttons, a brew group and a cappuccino maker. Equipped with maximum functionality. Here you can adjust the hardness, volume and temperature of the water, control the strength of the coffee and prepare drinks with the addition of milk foam in automatic mode. Equipped with a built-in coffee grinder with adjustable grind size, as well as a self-cleaning option.
- Capsule - Krups KP 2201/2205/2208/2209 Dolce Gusto. Attractive design, ease of operation and fast coffee preparation speed attracted everyone's attention to the coffee maker. All you need to do is insert the capsule into a special compartment and press the start button. The machine can prepare 20 types of coffee and other hot or cold drinks in just a few minutes. The kit includes 6 trial capsules.
- Geyser - KitchenAid 5KCM0812EOB. Externally it looks very stylish, thanks to the glass body. Powered by mains power. You can prepare up to 8 cups of coffee at a time, since the tank capacity is 1 liter, which is also equipped with a measuring scale and an ergonomic handle. The kit includes fabric and steel filters, a measuring spoon and a cleaning brush.
- Electric Turk - SINBO SCM-2916. The body is made of stainless steel and equipped with a plastic handle. Control is carried out using the power button, and the device will automatically turn off after cooking. The 0.4 liter capacity is enough to prepare 4 small cups of coffee at a time. The coffee maker is also equipped with a double protection system against overheating and operation without water.
Which coffee maker is suitable for home
When choosing a coffee maker for your home, you should consider the following recommendations:
- First of all, consider the number of coffee lovers in your family. If more than 2 people treat themselves to an invigorating drink in the morning, pay attention to an automatic coffee maker that can prepare coffee without your participation in a couple of minutes. Also take a closer look at drip or geyser coffee makers with a capacity of 1.5 liters or more.
- If you don’t want to bother with cleaning the device, a capsule coffee machine will be an excellent option.
- If you are on a budget, take a look at drip coffee makers, geyser coffee makers, or an electric turk.
- There is no need to buy a machine with the maximum number of functions. Think about which options you will use and make your choice based on your preferences.
Having chosen the model you like, compare it with others and read reviews on coffee lovers’ forums.
A heating element
The coffee maker may have a boiler or thermoblock as a heating element.
Boiler
Boiler
A more popular heater. In it, the water warms up at the same time. A good option if you plan to often make several servings of coffee at once.
Thermoblock
Thermoblock
Looks like a spiral through which water passes in portions, heating up. This way, the water heats up faster, but it’s better to cook one cup at a time.
Which coffee maker to choose for the office
Before installing a coffee machine in your office, please note that:
- the machine will need to prepare a large volume of coffee in a short time;
- workers will not treat the machine with care;
- the device cannot be installed in close proximity to a water supply, which means a water tank will be required;
- Automation of the process is important, since there will be no opportunity to be distracted from work by other things.
Based on the listed criteria, you can purchase one of several types of coffee machines for your office:
- capsule - does not require maintenance, and minimal human intervention is required to prepare the drink;
- automatic carob - prepares various hot drinks, but requires cleaning from time to time;
- drip - takes up little space, does not require special cleaning, but can only cook Americano.
It is also worth considering the number of people in the office and the personal preferences of each employee.
Chemex
The method of brewing a Chemex is similar to a pour-over. In 1941, this idea came to the mind of an American chemist. He installed a glass funnel on the flask with spouts, and secured both parts with a leather strip. The hourglass-shaped decanter looks impressive, but is very fragile and easy to break.
Due to the fact that the filter fits tightly to the smooth walls of the funnel, the contact of hot water with ground coffee is short-lived. The drink turns out more watery and less aromatic than in pour over.
Chemex
The Arabica variety is most suitable for brewing coffee in Turkish coffee, French press, pour over and Chemex: the drink has a velvety taste, without unnecessary bitterness.
How to use and care for your coffee maker
All coffee makers and coffee machines differ in their operating principle and method of operation, however, take into account the basic recommendations for using any type of coffee machine:
- Before use, be sure to read the instructions and watch training videos online.
- Use only filtered or boiled water, otherwise the brewing group will quickly become unusable.
- Do not put anything other than coffee into the bean dispenser.
- Observe safety precautions when preparing the drink.
- Unplug the device when not in use.
Also follow simple rules for caring for your coffee maker:
- read the instructions to know which parts of the coffee maker can be removed and washed;
- remove coffee grounds promptly;
- do not leave milk residues in the cappuccino maker;
- After washing, dry the components of the device thoroughly;
- Clean thoroughly from time to time.
In the assortment of coffee makers for home, you will find a huge variety of models that differ in operating principle, end result, additional functionality and price. Choose a coffee maker based on your preferences, the number of coffee lovers in the family and financial capabilities.
