Brewed To Perfection: A Guide To Buying The Perfect Coffee Maker

By Author: Caffe Ottavo
Total Articles: 2
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In this age where everything happens at an accelerated rate, finding the time to prepare a cup of coffee the traditional way becomes hard. For an up-and-about person like you, the next-best option is to buy yourself a good coffee maker.

But the question that really needs answering is this–which coffee maker do I buy?

There isn’t such a thing as the ‘best’ coffee maker on the market. What you need is to find a coffee maker that suits you. And the way you do this is by figuring out how you’d like your coffee.

Here are the different kinds of coffee makers you can choose from.

Filter Coffee Maker

Filter coffee can be brewed from any kind of ground coffee beans. This type is generally the strongest brew available and is often richer and stronger than espresso.

You can buy your favourite brand of ground coffee and use it in these machines. The heater inside the machine boils water which flows through the ground coffee beans. This water then percolates slowly through the powder and leaves you with a thick, rich coffee-and-water solution that you can use to make any sort of coffee.

This ...
... process, however, tends to be time intensive as it can take a while for the water to filter through.

Pump Espresso Coffee Maker

If you like a nice strong cup of espresso, then a pump espresso coffee maker is the perfect machine for you.

These contain a thermostatically controlled boiler, which heats water to the ideal temperature, somewhere between 85 °C and 92 °C. As the name suggests, the steaming hot water is pumped through ground coffee at a high pressure. And if you like your coffee with milk, you can find machines that have the option of boiling milk and water. Perfect for a quick espresso or latte.

Capsule or Pod Coffee Makers

Coffee pods significantly reduce the time taken to brew a cup of coffee. These are pre-mixed packets of coffee that are used in machines which follow the Nespresso design.

These pods are preferred by coffee enthusiasts since the product retains the flavour and aroma of good quality coffee. If you’re using a pod, you just have to place it in a slot in the coffee maker. A nozzle pierces the pod and adds hot water, which instantly reacts with the contents and leaves you with a stunning cup of fresh coffee. This is the closest you can get to instant traditional coffee. If you’re a real stickler about the coffee you drink, a pod brewer is the way to go.

Since the expiration of Nescafe’s patent, you can find a lot of machines which use pods similar to the nespresso pods. You can also find many Nespresso compatible pods made by gourmet coffee producers, who might also have their own signature pod brewers. If you have ready access to the products, it’s advisable to use coffee pods in the machines recommended by their makers.

Or you can invest in a universal pod brewer which works with multiple brands of coffee pods.

French Press Coffee Maker

This kind of coffee makers requires coarsely ground coffee beans, because finely ground coffee will escape through the press filter and get into your mug. The ground coffee is left to brew with hot water in a French press, and a plunger is used to filter out the grounds.

Since coffee is brewed directly with water in these machines, the resulting drink contains more flavour than regular filter coffee. The main reason for this is that in a French press, the coffee passes through a mesh and not filter paper, which means that the brew retains the flavonoids which give coffee its distinct aroma.

Now that you know what kind of coffee you like, and what kind of machine makes it well, go ahead and buy the perfect coffee maker for yourself. Don’t forget to research brands before you step into the store. Happy brewing!

Nespresso compatible coffee pods are easy to use, all you need is a coffee machine to make a rich, relaxing cup of coffee.