Coffee Maker Types

We Drink A Lot Of Coffee
Statistics indicate that some 52 percent of US citizens are regular coffee drinkers. And with the current population number just short of 313 million (December 2011) it means that in excess of 160 million people in the US alone drink this fine beverage. So you would think that by now they would have settled on some reasonably basic means of brewing their coffee.

But Our Preferences Can Differ
But the facts are somewhat different to this. Because of the the diversity of the population there is not a lot of agreement as to what makes a good cup of coffee. Or how best to make one. However to everyone's benefit there are a quite a number of different ways that this special beverage can be brewed. Each method usually having its own type of coffee maker to suit the drinkers' preferences.

There Are A Range Of Coffee Makers
Some of the more frequently used coffee makers are Automatic Drip, French Press, Automatic Espresso, Stove-top Espresso, Vacuum Style and Percolator. Now there are pros and cons for each of these and it is planned that we make a selection for the best. Rather that we outline the characteristics of each and let you decide for yourself. Different methods have different levels of control so the end result will vary. But by and large each of the means nominated will, under normal circumstances, produce a reasonable cup of coffee. Of course one of the real secrets, apart form the method, is the coffee used. If the coffee is mediocre or has not been well kept then you must of necessity expect a mediocre cup of that magic brew.

So without further ado we will look at the characteristics of the nominated coffee makers.

Drip Coffee Maker - Automatic
It would seem that these are probably the most popular choice in the market. Many Americans choose to use this device on a daily basis. They nearly all work on the same principle of passing hot water through ground coffee that is held in place with a filter paper - often in a cone shaped holder. There is a water reservoir which needs to be topped up before starting. The unit heats the water before forcing it out so that it runs or drip onto the ground coffee in the filter paper.
This hot water then filters through both the coffee and paper with the resultant brewed coffee 'dripping' into a collection container under the filter. The container is normally a 'Pyrex' glass unit with a handle and spout to facilitate pouring. It sits on a small heated plate which then keeps the coffee hot as long as the unit is switched on.

Coffee drinkers that do not like the drip type unit say that they just do not make a good cup of coffee. But for normal daily use they certainly have their place. If the coffee maker and container are kept clean and good quality coffee is used then there is little cause for complaint. However if the brewed coffee is left to stand for any length of time then it can get 'stewed' - and that will spoil any cup of coffee.

And there are two other factors that make this unit attractive - price and automatic function. Normally they are relatively cheap so most folk can afford them. And once they are set up they function unattended until the coffee is brewed which is a time saver - especially in the morning which is often a busy time in many households.

French Press or Bodum
The French Press coffee maker comes with a variety of names such as plunger pots, a press pot or Bodum (which is really a make). They are almost invariably consist of a glass 'jug' like container wth a handle and small spout or lip that has a constant cross section - like a tube. And there is a close fitting plunger head on a rod that fits inside the tube and has a very fine mesh attached to the bottom end.

Operation is very simple. The chosen quantity of ground coffee is placed into the container without the plunger fitted. Almost boiling water is then poured over the coffee until the container is nearly full. Generally some of the coffee floats to the surface while some remains suspended in the hot water. After the desired brewing time has passed the plunger is slowly and carefully pushed to the bottom of the container. It needs to be slow and careful because of the resistance created by the coffee grounds building up against the filter mesh. Once fully pushed to the bottom of the container the coffee grounds are trapped under the filter and the brewed coffee can be poured.

It is a quick, easy and simple means of brewing several cups of coffee for immediate consumption. Cleaning up the coffee grounds is sometimes a bit of a fiddle. And of course there is no means of keeping the brewed coffee hot.

Espresso Coffee Maker - Automatic
These units come is several versions. Depending on whether they are semi-automatic or fully automatic really determines what they are capable of. Most semi-automatic units tamp the ground coffee before brewing , filling the cup and ejecting the coffee grounds. In addition to this fully automatic models normally grind the coffee as well as doing all the previous tasks. And top of the line units in this group have a wide variety of features including built in water filters.
Essentially once you have primed the unit it pretty much does it all itself.

Percolators
Coffee Percolators do just that -they percolate boiling water over ground coffee held in a filter cage in the top of the unit which has a close fitting lid. The cage is normally supported on a small hollow central tube which sits in the water in the bottom of the percolator when it is primed. This water is then heated either electrically or on a stove top until it boils, forcing the water up the tube so that it spurts out the top and percolates over the ground coffee and back into the body of the unit. Some percolators are single cup models while others can make 10 or more cups. Large coffee urns used at functions often work on the percolation principle.

Percolators are not so common these days as there are what are considered better alternatives. And for the coffee purist they violate two fundamental principles - they boil the water and pass it over the ground coffee multiple times.

Percolated coffee tends to be stronger and often more bitter tasting than coffee made by other methods.

Espresso Coffee Maker - Stove Top
These are essentially very simple but effective units. They can be used anywhere there is a good heat source - like a gas cook-top or even a hot camp fire. They generally consist of three parts. A bottom water boiler, a ground coffee container with filter holes and the top container pot. The boiler and top container screw together with the coffee container sealed in the middle. Water is put into the bottom boiler, the coffee container sits on top and the top container is screwed down tight. The unit is now a pressure tight whole and is place on the heat. Water in the bottom boiler gets close to boiling point and the internal pressure forces the hot water through the ground coffee up a tube into the top container. A single pass of hot water making it better than a percolator. Once most of the water in the bottom boiler has been displaced the unit is removed from the heat. Clever design normally ensures that the top container never receives more hot coffee than it can hold.

Vacuum Coffee Maker
There are not many of these units about today.And they look more like chemistry equipment than a coffee machines. There are two overlapped glass containers connected by a siphon tube with a filter in the bottom of the upper container.

Water is placed in the lower container and the ground coffee in the upper container. The whole arrangement is then put on the stove top. When the heated water boils the steam pressure forces through the siphon tube into the upper container. The brewing cycle lasts approximately three minutes after which the unit is removed from heat.

Then as the water vapor in the lower unit condenses to from a partial vacuum water in the top chamber and is forced through the filter and back into the lower container. The first automatic vacuum coffee maker was a Farberware model. Sunbeam made the first truly modern automatic one. But these days they are essentially in the antique class. Some auction sites such as eBay may still carry the traditional Silex and Sunbeam machines.

Remember
While there is a wide range of coffee makers to choose from there is one vital point that must never be over looked - your brew is only as good as the coffee bean grind that you use.

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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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How To Choose The Best Coffee Maker

You cannot get a perfect tasting cup of coffee each day without the best coffee maker for you. Finding the right coffee maker is a matter of planning for your needs ahead of time. You need to include such preferences into your coffee maker choice as how fast you need your coffee made. You may also need to decide if you want the water and coffee heated separately or at the same time. Also, you need to know if it is important for you to have a clock-set model that will make your coffee for you at a set time each day. And, don't forget to measure the prospective coffee maker space on your kitchen counter to see what dimensions the coffee maker can be.

For some, a percolator is a nice choice for a coffee maker. For those who love their old-fashioned coffee and are not into any specialized coffees, a stovetop percolator or an electric percolator does everything they need. If you go with the stovetop version, be sure not to over-boil your coffee. Most people go with the electric percolator because it will sense when the coffee has brewed and switch over to warm mode.

Over the last several decades, the automatic drip coffee maker has been about the most popular. This is the kind where you just throw in the coffee bag and some water in the machine. The machine does the rest.

For many people these days, a coffee maker without a clock and timer function is just not worth having. People have grown to love waking up to the smell of fresh coffee each morning. All you have to remember to do is put in ingredients within the 24 hours before your wake-up coffee. The timed coffee maker will take care of the rest.

If none of these coffee makers do it for you, you are probably either a coffee aficionado, impatient, or you like specialized coffees. For the aficionado or the impatient, there are other coffee maker options such as a plunger pot, manual drip, microwave, or vacuum coffee maker. For those who like specialized blends, there are cappuccino makers and espresso makers. Nonetheless, there will always be one coffee maker that suits your taste and needs. Take your time to find that best coffee maker. It is worth it!

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Electric Coffee Maker Buyers Guide

Before selecting your electric coffee makers, take a minute to check the different types of coffee brewing systems.

Drip coffee maker : Make complete pots of coffee simply and quickly with a drip coffee maker and ground coffee beans. In most cases, drop style coffee makers distribute water uniformly over ground beans to produce coffee with dramatic flavor.

Vacuum-style coffee maker : Vaccum type coffee makers have a vintage in feel, using two stacked glass boxes. Some types include modern technology, such as a timer.

Pod coffee maker : Ponder a new, convenient pod coffee machine that forces hot water thru a pod of ground coffee beans at high pressure. Typically you get a single helping of coffee in each pod and each cup takes only a short while to brew.

Percolator : Make coffee the old-fashioned way with a percolator. Many percolatorsare programmable, cordless, or offer other helpful features.

Stovetop coffee maker : Consider a stove top model coffee maker to brew for yourself or simply 2 coffee drinkers. Many would consider the style and shape more classy.

French press : A French press allows coffee and water to steep together in the same container. Then a press filters the grounds from the coffee. The French press is a quick way to make a cup or two of fresh hot coffee.

decide on the right electric coffee maker

you'll get more pleasure and satisfaction from your electric coffee maker by considering which features matter most to you before buying.

Glass carafes : Glass carafes, generally used in electric coffee makers, make it straightforward to see when coffee is prepared or running low. A hot plate or other heating unit the coffee warm. Some models come with adjustable heating units so you can stipulate the temperature of your brew.

Thermal carafes : Thermal carafes keep your java hotter longer without burning your coffee. They do not use a burner, which makes them conveyable.

twin brewing : A twin brewing station, also called a double-pot system, permits you to make two pots of coffee immediately. It makes a good option for folk who want to make regular and decaf or two different types of coffee concurrently.

Coffee pot size : keep in mind how many cups you wish to brew. If you expect to brew little batches, look for flavor-enhancing features for small pots or pod coffee makers. Single-serve coffee makers are available, as are 4-cup, 5-cup, 8-cup, 10-cup, and 12-cup models.

built in grinder : Consider the coffee you'll use. Buy an electric coffee maker with an inbuilt grinder if you intend to buy fresh coffee beans and grind them with each pot.

Programmable : choose a programmable coffee machine if you like the concept of having your coffee ready when you wake up.

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Choosing the Correct Coffee Maker for You

Should you choose an espresso or non-espresso coffee maker?

Coffee makers have come a long way. From yesterday's cowboy pots boiling coffee over the coals to today's sleek gourmet brewers, there's a maker to fit every taste, every lifestyle, every budget and every counter space. So where do you begin finding the maker of your dreams?

Before you head for the appliance aisle at your favorite store, do a little homework. Consider what kind of coffee you prefer, how often you drink and how much space you have for a coffee maker, how much you can afford to spend on a maker. These are the issues involved in deciding whether to purchase an espresso or a non-espresso maker.

Espresso or No Espresso?

Espresso makers are fancy. They cost more than other coffee makers (some cost thousands of dollars) and make a variety of types including cappuccino and lattes. Espresso machines often make only one cup at a time and require cleaning after each cup. The coffee is stronger than that brewed by other means.

True aficionados often prefer to use the espresso maker, especially the super automated models that do everything from grinding to pouring it into the cup.

Typical drinkers who prefer to have a pot available at all times and aren't interested in lattes or other versions of coffee tend to prefer non-espresso makers. Non-espresso makers work well for people who like to start the brewing and go on about their usual activities while it brews. They buy coffee already ground and don't bother with beans or grinding.

For drinkers needing large quantities of coffee, non-espresso is the way to go. Large percolator type urns can be used to make more than a hundred cups at one time.

They also prefer returning to the pot time after time and refilling their cup over making only a cup at a time. Non-espresso type makers are much less expensive than espresso machines.

Non-Espresso

These makers are available in drip, French press and combination models. Drip machines often make 6 to 10 cups of coffee at a time. For those who need a lesser quantity, it's better to buy a model that makes 4 cups (or less) at a time. Drip makers are inexpensive and easy to use.

There are pod makers available which use single serving pods to brew. Pod coffee makers can be inexpensive but the coffee itself costs more than standard cans of pre-ground coffee.

French Press makers are great for a few cups of coffee at a time. Combination coffee makers featuring both espresso and non-espresso coffee makers in one machine are also available. These machines give drinkers the best of both worlds.

Espresso

Espresso makers come in semi-automatic, fully automatic and super automatic models. These machines make fewer cups at a time and may require more time and attention that a standard drip maker.

The more automated an espresso maker is, the more features it will offer. Some take care of everything from grinding the beans to filling the cup with coffee and ejecting the used grounds.

The more features the espresso coffee maker offers, the higher the price tag attached to it. These makers can cost anywhere from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars.

The first decision to be made in choosing a maker is the need to determine whether an espresso coffee maker or a non-espresso maker is needed. Coffee preferences, budget and quantity of coffee to be made are factors that affect the decision making process.

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Coffee Maker Types

When we hear the term 'coffee maker' most of us think of only one type of coffee maker. Most often, the drip style coffee maker or the espresso type machine comes to mind, depending on where you live and your taste in coffee. Of course, the choices vary with the region in which people live also.

One type of coffee maker may be frowned upon in certain parts of the world, while being quite acceptable in another location. Some types of coffee makers are quite antiquated by today's standards, but are still being used by those who prefer the coffee produced.

Such is the case with the percolator style coffee makers. There are two types of percolator style coffee makers, the stove top model and the electric percolator. Both percolators work in the same fashion, which is circulating boiling water r over the coffee grounds and through a metal filter repeatedly. Some argue that this makes a good cup of coffee while others say this style coffee maker makes the worst coffee imaginable. The naysayers exclaim the percolator produces a bitter tasting coffee no matter what brand or grind of coffee you use.

The automatic drip coffee maker is by far the most recognized type of coffee maker. This coffee maker produces coffee by heating water in a reservoir which then travels up into a coffee bin holding a filter with the coffee grounds. Then hot water steeps through the coffee and the filter in the bin and drips into an awaiting pot or carafe. These coffee makers usually have a heating element to keep the brewed coffee reasonably hot until the coffee is gone or it's time to brew another pot. Some models come with a thermal style carafe which allows the coffee drinker to brew a pot of coffee right into the carafe for coffee on the go.

Automatic drip coffee makers are the most widely used coffee makers by the American consumer. This type of coffee maker also has the versatility to make from one to usually ten cups of coffee at a time. There are also specialized one cup coffee makers which make use of the automatic drip method. The automatic drip coffee maker uses disposable filters, unlike the percolator style coffee makers.

The espresso coffee maker comes in two versions for the consumer, stovetop and electric. The stove top model is of course less expensive than its electric counterpart. Another advantage to the stovetop espresso maker is that it is highly portable, unlike the electric model, which is limited in mobility by its size and need of electricity.

One drawback to the stovetop espresso coffee maker is that it may leave bits of very fine powdery granules. This makes the stovetop espresso coffee maker a device that one must master the techniques of using to get a perfect cup of coffee.

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