A Guide to Coffee Makers

Many people like to start their day with a nice hot cup of coffee, but waiting in a long line to get this beverage can be a bit boring and time-consuming. Because of that, some people consider buying a coffeemaker. This can be a great solution because you can experiment with this drink, brew your own coffee, use the beans you want, add different flavors, etc. Also, making your own warm drink can help you to save some money.

Whether you are a coffee enthusiast or you just want to drink it in the privacy of your home you can check out some tips on how to choose the right coffee maker that 5-Minute Crafts prepared for you.

General tips

When choosing a coffee maker there are a few things to consider:

• Convenience: you can either get a machine that you can program to brew coffee at a specific time or a manual coffee maker that will require more of your time and attention.
• Type of coffee: coffee makers and espresso machines are actually different, but having 2 coffee appliances in your kitchen can take up a lot of space. You can also get a hybrid machine that can brew both types, but you’ll be sacrificing the quality of the beverage.
• Brew size: some coffee makers can brew a single cup, and some others more. Choosing which one to get can depend mostly on how many people there are in your household.
• Timing: you can choose a carafe that will keep the coffee hot throughout the day, but the warmers in some can leave a burnt taste in the coffee that some people don’t like.
• Sizing: be sure to make space for a coffee maker before you buy it because they do take up some room on your counter. Also, be aware that the larger mugs usually don’t fit into the machine.
• Custom Brewing Options: you can choose simpler machines that don’t have many options (except just adding more coffee grounds or water), but some have a water temperature regulator or can let you choose the different types of brew sizes and brew strength. Some machines also have the option for you to make hot chocolate, tea, or some other hot drink.

Manual brewers

Manual brewers are smaller than electric coffee makers and can be put away when they’re not being used. Most of them need hot water, so you will need to prepare it beforehand. These are simple to use but need your attention and time. Here is the list of some manual coffee makers:

• French press — (another name for press pot or plunger pot) is very easy to use and clean. It has a built-in filter and a plunger that can press the hot water through the coffee grounds. The French press is portable, but you need to be careful since the pot is made from glass and is fragile.
• The AeroPress — this model is also travel-friendly, as it is small and looks like a syringe. You need to press it in order to make coffee, and it’s easy to clean and simple to use, but it can make only one cup at a time.
• Cold Brew — this maker can brew coffee that is less acidic, and you can put it in the fridge if you want to use it later. You can make ice coffee or heat it and drink it like regular coffee, but it takes 12 hours to brew.

• Vietnamese — this one is for iced coffee only and it has many parts that you need to clean. If you like your coffee cold, add condensed milk or cream with sugar and you can make unique flavors of this icy beverage.
• Moka pot (stovetop) — it makes coffee similar to espresso, which is a great alternative to a home espresso machine since it is economical. Although simple, it has many parts that need to be cleaned and it can only be used on a stove. But that can be an advantage if you like camping and drinking freshly brewed coffee.

Electric Brewers

Electric coffee makers are much more convenient and simpler to use. They can come with different features like timers or temperature regulation and you can even wake up to a coffee that has already been brewed. However, they do cost more and take up more space on the counter. Here is the list of some types of electric brewers:

• Electric drip — you can mix and make your own blend, and add more or fewer grounds to have the strength of the brew that you like. Most simple appliances have an on/off switch that lets the hot water through the grounds, but you can find more complex machines with many features. Electric drip coffee makers are affordable and durable and can make coffee for 1 to 4 people at the same time. One of the cons is that the warming plate cooks the coffee that’s in the pot all the time.
• Thermal coffee maker — works in a similar way as the previous model, but has a thermal carafe that keeps the coffee hot without “cooking” it. Although it’s a better solution, it’s also a bit pricier than the standard one.
• Espresso machine — there are many different models that you can choose from (stovetop, pod machines, or the ones that make espresso using ground beans). The price ranges can be different, you can find affordable espresso machines but also some very expensive ones. This is a great option if you are an espresso lover and are ready to spend a little bit more money than you would on some other, more basic coffee brewers.

• Percolator — has a heater that is at the bottom, while the coffee grounds are placed at the top. When the water starts to boil, it goes through a vertical tube to the top and then through the grounds and filter. This model was popular at some point, but it was replaced by some simpler coffee makers, as it has many parts that need to be cleaned and assembled. Still, it is consistent and reliable.
• Single Serve — are easy to work with. They have caps or capsules that you put into the machine and they don’t make a lot of mess. Usually, the machine sets the temperature for every brew, but on some models, you can set a custom temperature. Although it’s simple to use, this appliance creates more waste per cup.