Coffee Machine Buyers Guide
July 19, 2007
Coffee is starting to give competition to the cherished loyal cuppa. Though tea hasn’t lost its reigning seat, coffee has become a favourite flavour that is tempting many Brits to add a coffee machine to their kitchen repertoire. The terms coffee machine or coffee maker refers to a broad variety of products, from filtered coffee makers to espresso machines. Manuals are usually only referred to as coffee makers, whereas automatics can be referred to as coffee makers or coffee machines. Usually coffee machines are of commercial variety with lots of bells and whistles.
Filtered Coffee Makers
Filtered coffee makers usually consist of a heat source, a jug to catch the coffee, a place for the filter and coffee grinds, and a tank to hold water. Non-electric versions must have their water heated from an independent heat source. The most simple of these coffee makers is a simple funnel which fits a filter, has a hole in the bottom, and is placed over a container supplied by the user. Electric versions heat the water and can come with a keep warm feature. Automatics come with a variety of features, from simple models with only on/off switches, to complex models that have timers, delayed start, automatic shut off, digital displays, and a variety of temperature settings. Some come with milk foamers as well.
Espresso Machines
Espresso is made by forcing hot water under pressure through ground coffee, where the product ends directly in the consumer’s cup. This can be done either through a pump, which heats the water, and then forces it through the coffee grounds, or high pressure steam. This pressure is measured in bars. For example, the indicator may say that the maximum pressure is 15 bars. Most espresso machines are commercial in grade, though they are working their way into the domestic front.
• Nespressos: Nespresso machines are designed to make espressos easy for the non baristas who love espressos. They are simplified with one spout and mug receptor.
• Cappuccino Machine: Cappuccino is 1/3 espresso with 1/3 warm milk and 1/3 frothy milk foam added to it. Cappuccino machines are essentially espresso machines with the capacity to add warm milk and milk froth. Like espresso machines, cappuccino machines are usually commercial in grade and complexity, though they are being brought into homes for domestic use.
• Bean to Cup - a coffee maker in which coffee beans are loaded instead of coffee grounds. When it is time to brew, the machine freshly grinds the beans. This is available in manual and electric form. It is also known as a grind and brew coffee machine.
• Percolator - has a sieve like basket for coffee grounds. Boiling water is poured in, which is forced up a stem or other mechanics into the basket. The coffee soaks the water which then drips back down into the pot, and voila! Coffee. It can be manual or electric. Manuals join the ranks of stove coffee pots. A variation on percolators is the mocha pot which is Italian by design.
• Turkish coffee pot: simple silver or stainless steel pot used to make Turkish coffee or warm milk with no accoutrements. This is usually a stovetop or campfire coffee pot.
• Cafetieres coffee presses: They are clear Pyrex cylinder jars with a sieve press at the bottom of a stem. The coffee grinds are placed in the bottom, boiling water is poured in, and the sieve is hand pressed to force the grinds to the bottom, leaving the coffee to be poured from the container. A new variation of this is an air pressure press which uses air pressure to ease the coffee making experience.
• Vac Pots: consist of two glass containers stacked on top of each other. At the joint there is a filter containing the coffee. Water in the lower pot is heated which infuses up the filter into the upper pot. When it is cooled, the coffee returns to the lower chamber ready to drink. Some vac pots come with a heat source; others require you to provide your own.
• Stove Top - a non electric coffee maker that requires an independent heat source such as a stove (or sometimes campfire).
• Pod Coffee maker: A pod is similar to a tea bag for the coffee drinker who doesn’t want to deal with grinds. Pods are placed in the coffee maker (in a variety of ways depending on the machine). Water is infused through the pod. Coffee comes out the other end into the jug or mug.
• Lever coffee machine: A lever is used to force hot water through coffee grinds. The user has control over each individual cup of coffee. It is for serious connoisseurs.
Combination Machines
Combination machines can do more than one task. For example, some machines do filtered coffee and cappuccino. Espresso/cappuccino coffee makers are essentially cappuccino machines with milk foamers (called froth attachments) added, and can generally do espresso.
Features
There are other important features to consider such as the number of cups per brew. Some coffee pots only make one, while others make 6, 10, or 20. Larger machines have two jugs, or bigger coffee grounds and water containers.
The control panel (if it has one) may be digital or sturdy buttons or dials. It could come with a timer for delayed start or timed brewing. You can get an aroma switch, built in grinder, cup filler, sugar and cream dispensers, plate warmers, brew strength selectors and more.
As always, consider ease of cleaning and safety features such as automatic shut off.
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