Choosing A Coffee Maker - Tips On Finding The Right Features

Choosing a good coffee maker is not a decision to be taken for granted. If you are going to spend money on your favorite coffee, you will want to make sure the coffee maker you choose is of good quality and has the features you want. The majority of coffee makers are generally quite good and you will notice no difference in the taste of your coffee from one brand to another. There are some basic features to look for when choosing a coffee maker and some luxury features that may give you a better tasting cup of coffee

The first decision you must make in choosing a coffee maker is what type of filter you would prefer. You can choose a basket type filter or a cone shaped filter, the difference in the two being different contact times between the coffee grounds and the water. A basket type filter seems to provide a longer contact time between the water and the coffee grounds, so if a basket filter is your preference, make sure you use coffee grounds that are fairly large. Cone type filters are generally less prone to spillage. If you are considering a gold tone filter, it will give your coffee a richer taste, but the upkeep may not be worth the small difference.

The color of your coffee maker is not a major concern, but keep in mind that if you choose a color that is pleasing to you, your coffee will seem to taste better. The only real issue involved in the color of your coffee maker is to remember that white stains easily and tends to look old rapidly. A dark color will look new a lot longer than a white coffee maker. Coffee makers with a pot that has a long neck will be harder to clean. If you cannot easily wash the coffee pot with soap and water, your coffee will taste stale over time due to the build up of residue that cannot be cleaned easily. Make sure your entire hand can fit inside the coffee pot to make cleaning easy.

Other than the basic features, which include color, filter, ease of cleaning, etc., there are some additional features that you may want to consider. If you don't mind your coffee grounds being exposed to air overnight, a timer is a wonderful thing to have. Timers will allow you extra time in the mornings and if you choose a coffee maker with an attached grinder, the noise would probably eliminate your need for an alarm clock. A feature that is often overlooked is the shape of the housing around the coffee pot. Many manufacturers are making the housing larger so that the coffee in the pot stays hotter. The housing area in any good coffee maker should cover at least half of the coffee pot, the keep heat in.

In general, coffee that is freshly ground tastes better. Grinders that are attached to coffee makers are a bit of a hassle. They make the coffee maker harder to clean and the coffee beans are not always ground uniformly. If you want a coffee maker with an attached grinder, look for a burr grinder rather than a blade grinder. You may also want to look into a coffee maker with a built in water filtration system. Filtered water does tend to make the coffee taste better, but purchasing distilled or purified water can serve the purpose just as well as a built in water filtration system.

For the perfect pot of coffee, the water temperature needs to be around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. In general, the less expensive coffee makers do not reach this temperature. Most of the better brand names will advertise the temperature you can expect your coffee to reach while brewing. Choosing the right coffee maker is not easy. Make sure you purchase from well-known manufacturers. You will be able to find replacement parts and will be assured of an acceptable level of quality. Choose a coffee maker that meets your basic needs and any has additional features you desire.

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From Percolators to Espresso Machines - Finding the Right Coffee Maker

You would probably be hard pressed to find a home today that doesn't own a coffee maker. They are in practically every kitchen. Some are nothing more than stove top percolators and some are full-fledged coffee/espresso/cappuccino makers able to churn out a latte or a cup of coffee.

The coffee maker you decide on for your kitchen should be one that matches your coffee preferences. If all you are concerned with is a good cup of coffee, a simple coffee maker will suffice. However, if you are regularly making a morning trek to the local coffee shop for an espresso, you might want to consider purchasing one for your kitchen.

There are many types of coffee makers to choose from, knowing what each one is will help greatly in making your purchase.

Drip Coffee Maker

The drip coffee maker is the one you see in most kitchens. The coffee is brewed by heating and siphoning water from a reservoir. This water is then deposited slowly into a filter basket filled with coffee grounds. The resulting coffee then drips through the filter into a decanter which sits on a heating element.

Today's drip coffee makers can be found with a wide variety of options. The decanter is typically 8-12 cups in size and can be glass, ceramic, or even stainless steel. Your coffee maker can have a clock, an automatic timer to start brewing before you wake up, and can even have a built in grinder for the freshest ever. Most also have an auto-off option which turns the heating element off after a certain amount of time.

You can't get more traditional in your approach to coffee brewing than by using a drip coffee maker. Introduced for home use in the 1970s, these machines work by letting water pass through coffee grounds held in a paper filter or plastic filter. The clear, light-bodied coffee then collects in a brew pot.

Single Cup Coffee Maker

These machines are among some of the newest on the market. Some are available that use regular ground coffee in a smaller filter basket yet only brew one cup at a time, while others use specialized coffee pods to brew individual cups as needed.

These coffee makers are great for people who don't drink a lot of coffee or families that have only one coffee drinker. Another added benefit is that each person can brew their favorite coffee or flavor.

If you use the pod type brewers you will pay a premium price for the pods, making this type more expensive than other models.

Percolator

The stove top percolator may look like an antique to many people. For those who have used percolators they know that the coffee has a very different taste from drip coffee machines. This type coffee maker is very slow and alters the natural taste of coffee.

Espresso Machine

The espresso machine is the ultimate in coffee makers. However, unless you purchase a combination espresso-coffee maker you will only be making espresso. Espresso machines are wonderful for making coffee based drinks and are very quick. If you like espresso occasionally and you are a coffee drinker too; you might want to consider a combination coffee-espresso machine.

Your coffee maker is what you want it to be, based on your desired investment. If you are a ritualistic coffee drinker who has to have that morning cup of java to get going, spend a little more money and get a machine that is going to last and that does what you want it to do. If however you only have a coffee maker so that your guests can have coffee or you only occasionally have coffee yourself, there is no need for you to make a large investment.

Sharon V Chapman writes on the joys of coffee and provides consumer information on coffee makers for A1 Coffee Makers - your online guide to coffee makers and espresso machines.

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Finding the Best Coffee Makers in Town

For homemakers, coffee lovers, workers, and myriads of other people, finding the best coffee makers is a matter of utmost importance. Indeed, for a lot of people, perhaps including you and members of your family, there is no better way to start your day but to drink a warm cup of good, freshly brewed coffee the moment you get up.

And for this to happen, you clearly need a companion that can help you brew great coffee even at home, so a warm cup can greet you as soon as the sun does. Unfortunately, finding the best coffee makers is a challenge greater than that of having to go out of your way to head to the coffee shop on your way to work.

But having your own brewing station at home provides unsurpassed benefits, especially if you're one of those folks who can't live without coffee. That's why it's extremely important that you get your hands on a good coffee maker.

What Are Your Choices?

To find the best coffee machines, start with a crash course on the different types of coffee makers. This will help you find the specific type that will suit your needs as well as your lifestyle.

The three types of coffee makers are the drip coffee maker, the vacuum coffee maker, and the percolator. In terms of popularity, the drip coffee maker wins hands down. This specific type works by dripping hot water over ground coffee to thoroughly extract the flavor.

To make sure that your coffee comes out excellently, you have to follow exact requirements regarding the length of brewing time, the water's temperature, and the size of ground coffee you use. Due to the meticulous brewing process, the result is always great, richly flavored coffee that can bring inspiration to you whenever you need it.

And that's what made the drip coffee maker very popular. It now comes in single-serve units as well as large-capacity models, and also comes with glass carafes or thermal pots, depending on what you need.

Next on the list is the vacuum coffee maker, which is the good old coffee maker that gives justice to the real idea of brewing. It vacuums the flavor of coffee from the ground coffee, resulting to a strong, excellent cup. This type is well-loved by coffee aficionados.

Lastly, there's the percolator, which is not very popular especially among people who are particular about the taste of their coffee. Coffee aficionados have a clear dislike for this type because it does the unthinkable, which is to boil instead of brew it. Coffee that comes out of percolators are often very bitter.

Things to Take Note Of

In looking for the best coffee machines, there are several things you have to consider. You can determine the type of coffee maker you need by evaluating why you need coffee. There are people who just can't start their days without the added boost of energy provided by coffee, there are some others who just have a natural love for coffee, and there are some who needs a picker-upper during the day.

If you need your morning cup or a go-to cup of coffee during few-minute breaks, you will benefit a lot from fast-brewing drip coffee makers, especially those with programmable timers. If you have a natural love for coffee and won't mind spending some time brewing it by yourself, you'll enjoy the conservative coffee handling process of the vacuum coffee maker.

You should also consider how much coffee you need. As a homemaker, you can also get good value from a multiple-cup coffee maker that can fill several cups with one brewing cycle so everyone in your family can have great coffee together.

But if you just need coffee for yourself, often in a to-go cup, you'll love the single-serve coffee makers, and those with thermal cups. These are the things that will lead you straight to the best coffee makers that can answer your coffee needs.

You can find more detailed reviews of the best coffee makers on our coffee maker reviews website.

Copyright 2008 Coffee-maker-guide.com, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Mark is the editor Coffee-maker-guide.com which provides you with the best coffee maker reviews and ratings.

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