Which Coffeemaker is Right for Me?

Some people view coffee as just another part of their morning routine, the black jet fuel that gives them the energy to battle traffic on their morning commute to work. Others view it as a sacred ritual that takes time and precision—a holy rite of passage required to summon their creative muse. Whether you consume coffee for pleasure or productivity, finding the right coffee machine for your needs is a mix of personal preference, branding and style that takes thought and consideration. With all the different brands, styles and models on the market, it may seem difficult to find the right coffee machine for your needs. Fortunately, a little bit of knowledge is all it takes to demystify the world of coffee makers. Here’s a brief overview of the different types of coffee makers available on the market to help you answer the question: “Which Coffeemaker is Right for Me?”

Percolator

Percolators may seem a bit old fashioned, but manufacturers are still making new stainless steel versions capable of making as many as 30 cups of coffee. The basic design is a tried and true method of extracting coffee from fresh fairly coarse grounds. A percolator consists of a heat source, a bottom chamber, a vertical tube leading from the bottom to the top of the percolator and an upper perforated chamber that houses the grounds. The heat source boils water in the bottom chamber and pushes water up the vertical tube and over the perforated lid of the coffee chamber. Water seeps through the grounds and drops back into the colder water at the top of the bottom chamber. This pushes more water up the tube repeating the cycle until the perking action stops and the coffee is ready to drink.  Since this simple design doesn’t require electricity (only a heat source), the percolator is a favorite among campers and outdoorsmen. Percolators can also make some of the best tasting coffee if you know what you’re doing, however the higher temperatures do make the device prone to drawing more acids out of the grounds resulting in bitter coffee. They can be harder to clean and maintain as well. If you’re looking for a decent percolator, the Cuisinart Classic Stainless 12-Cup Percolator is a great place to start.

Pod Coffee Makers

If you have a need for speed, and only require a few cups of coffee a day a single serve pod coffee maker may be the solution you are looking for. Simply pop in the flavored pod of your choice, press a button and receive one hot cup of coffee in a couple minutes. The coffee maker has a water reservoir that you can keep filled so that you can make a cup of coffee when you need it. Keurig is the most well-known brand, but many others have popped up in recent years, most notably Nespresso which allows you to make high quality espressos at roughly 75 cents per pod. Some models like the Cuisinart SS-700 also feature a hot water button which is great for making teas, instant ramen, hot cocoa or soup. The major drawback with pod machines is that you are paying a little more per cup for that convenience.

Drip Machine

Tried and true coffee maker of the 21st century, with its ease of use and maintainability the drip coffee maker is an easy favorite among office break rooms and kitchens across the world. A drip coffee maker consists of a tempered glass pot with a hinged plastic lid, a heat source, a plastic body, a water reservoir and a filter chamber. Some models are programmable allowing you to prepare the grounds and water the night before and have a fresh pot ready the following morning. Others like the Hamilton Beach Two Way Brewer depicted above can brew both batch and single-serve brews. A built in heater below the pot can keep the coffee warm. For most people drip coffee makers offer the right mix of speed, convenience and maintainability to make it the obvious choice. Those who want to control water temperature and steep times  however may want to look at other methods.

French Press

Coffee (and even tea!) aficionados love the french press because of the ability to tailor water temperature and brewing times to different types of beans. A French press consists of a glass or stainless steel receptacle, a lid with a plunger and a filter. Coarsely ground coffee is placed into the filter, water is heated to the desired temperature (usually within 195 to 205 °F) and after roughly 4 minutes, the brewer pushes the plunger all the way down to separate the grounds from the water. The ability to tailor variables directly to different roasts and blends allows you to produce a richer, fuller flavor. The quality of the brew depends heavily on the skill of the brewer, so you’ll need practice to achieve best results.

Espresso Machine

If you like your coffee strong, like the kind served at a trattoria in Venice Italy, you’ll want to invest in an espresso machine. Espresso machines are a bit more complex than the other entries in this article, consisting of a control panel, a heat source, a portafilter, a tamper for packing finely ground coffee, a group head that determines how many shots can be produced at once, a spout and a water reservoir. Some models even include a milk frother, which uses pressure and steam to whip the milk into a froth for lattes and macchiatos. If you’re serious about gourmet European style coffee, it’s a worthwhile investment that can transform your kitchen into a cafe.