IDEAL TIPS FOR BUYING THE COFFEE MACHINE OF YOUR CHOICE
Coffee makers have become popular from the time when coffee was discovered. This is the main reason behind the importance of coffee making machines among coffee lovers. Normally, a good personal coffee machine is well worth the cost. Buying a coffee machine will help you save a fairly good amount of money which you may spend daily for drinking coffee from outside the shop. Moreover, coffee makers are faster and well-situated for those who love to drink a cup of instant coffee.
Owning a coffee maker not only helps you save a lot of your hard-earned money, but also furnishes an impression among others that you are giving utmost importance to your coffee drinking habit. If you have your own coffee machine, you can save both gas and time, and drink your favorite beverage at your own convenience. If you are thinking of preparing your own custom coffee for a lesser cost, then buying a coffee machine of your choice is the ideal option.
But, buying a coffee machine requires a lot of awareness and preparation. Here, we have given some valuable guidelines with an intention to help you choose the right coffee machine. If you can understand the dissimilarities between various coffee machines, it will be easier for you to find the right model coffee machine.
Coffee Machine Types
Drip coffee maker: – This model coffee machines are the most general type of grind and brew coffee makers considered for the usage among family members. They are capable of preparing several cups of coffee at a stretch ranging from 4 to 20 cups, with respect to the capacity of the appliance. These type coffee machines are provided with a built-in grinder facility. So, each time when the machine is switched on to prepare coffee, fresh grounds can be used. Drip coffee makers are also available with a built-in timer, which can be arranged to set up the machine automatically for any time as per your wish.
Single-serve coffee maker: – Single-serve coffee makers are also known by the name pod coffee machines. These models are the most modern trend in brewing coffee at your home. Single serve coffee machines are launched with a special slot in which separately pre-packed capsules or coffee pods are loaded. These coffee pods are analogous to the packed coffee grounds used in espresso coffee makers.
Once the pod is put into the chosen slot, hot water is moved through the coffee pod to prepare a single cup of coffee. Some pod coffee machines are also provided with a steam wand or milk frother to prepare cappuccinos or lattes. Pod coffee machines can brew a cup of coffee in minutes, whereas the drip coffee makers may take some time to prepare the desired coffee. Coffee pods are typically brand-specific in feature. However, some models of coffee pod makers are capable of scanning barcodes, and adjust their setting with respect to the different coffee pod brands. Single-serve coffee makers are fairly expensive for maintaining as well as purchasing.
Espresso coffee maker: - For those who love a strong coffee taste, a steam espresso machine is the great coffee maker to buy. If you want to get a cup of delectable coffee from espresso, it generally requires time and effort. By purchasing a dedicated espresso coffee maker, you can have the ideal shot of strong drip coffee by not turning it too pungent. The difference between a regular coffee maker and an espresso machine is that an espresso machine takes water to flow through coffee-filled grounds at a high pressure. At the same time, in a coffee machine with a grinder, the water obviously gets filtered through loose grounds to prepare coffee. Some espresso machines are provided with milk and steam wands, so that you can utilize your espresso shot as a support to prepare other types of coffees such as cappuccino, mocha, Americano etc.
French press: – A French press coffee machine is intended for those who desire to prepare their coffee in the outdated way. This is a manual home appliance where you can steep the roughly ground coffee beans in boiled water for a few minutes. Once the coffee has attained the desired flavor and strength, a nozzle is used to separate the grounds from the water, which is later cautiously poured out into a coffee cup. The coffee prepared by means of a French press coffee machine is strong as well as thick.
Percolators: – Percolators are available in both stove-top and electrical models. These model coffee makers are the forerunner to drip coffee machines, and can be used to prepare coffee with strong taste. Here, the method of brewing has to be administered properly. Or else, the coffee may show a tendency to turn oily and too bitter. Present percolators are launched with a warming utility, which prevents the over-steeping of the coffee grounds. Percolators do not possess the user-friendly quality like other different coffee makers. As these percolators are economical, and capable of preparing large quantities of coffee at one time, they are often chosen by the families of coffee lovers.
Factors to be considered
The type of coffee machine being chosen by you is dependent on several factors.
Brew type: – The first factor to be considered while buying a coffee machine is the type of coffee you usually prefer. If you are a coffee lover of flavorful and medium-bodied varieties, it is better for you to buy a drip coffee maker. On the other hand, if you are a strong coffee lover, then you can opt for an espresso coffee machine facilitated with a grinder. If all the family members in your household prefer coffee with different taste and strength, then the best option is to purchase a drip coffee maker with milk frother and steaming wand.
Quantity: – For purchasing a coffee maker it is essential for you to understand the number of cups of coffee required per day in your household. If you are the only person who wants only one cup of coffee in a day, then you may purchase a small coffee maker or a single-serve coffee maker with a grinder. But if several members in your family want coffee daily, look for a coffee machine model which can prepare larger quantities at a time.
Convenience: – There are coffee machines which can be arranged to automatically prepare coffee at a predetermined time every day. The type of coffee maker you will be dependent upon your daily habits, and the time you can utilize for preparing the coffee.
Temperature: - If you are a real coffee lover you can understand the importance of temperature to a fresh cup of coffee drink. When buying a fresh coffee machine, it is essential for you to give special attention to the temperature feature of the appliance. Usually, the desirable temperature for a good coffee preparation is 96 degree centigrade. If the temperature is above this, you would possibly get a burnt up taste, and if the temperature is below the desirable temperature, you can’t enjoy the real taste of the coffee drink.
Smart features: - There are also coffee machines which can be connected to your Smartphone by means of a special app. This arrangement is helpful because it can provide you real time alerts and updates regarding the maintenance of your coffee maker.
Cost: – When buying a coffee maker, you should consider not only the upfront coffee machine price but also the long-term maintenance expenses. Even though the buying cost of espresso coffee makers or drip coffee makers are expensive, their long-term maintenance costs are cheaper, whereas for pod machines, both the purchase and maintenance cost are expensive. The upfront cost of a percolator or a French press model is easily affordable, and may not cost much in the long term run. While choosing a coffee maker, you must also consider the expenses in terms of electricity consumption, reusability of coffee grounds, filter replacement etc.
Conclusion
Coffee machines are the efficient and reliable habits to kick-start your day. Anyway, if you are a coffee lover, buying a coffee machine cannot be a waste of money. So, go through the aforementioned guidelines suitably before buying the appliance. Also, plan an appropriate budget, and make the purchase of the coffee machine an absolute success.