- With any style coffee maker, look for durable, high quality materials and construction.
- Make sure you know how much coffee a model can make at once, and be sure that it meets your needs.
- Decide if a particular model is convenient and easy enough to use for you. Some people are willing to put in more effort to make their coffee,
while others prefer quick and simple operation.
- Think about which special features you want in an automatic coffee maker, such as a thermal carafe, programmable timer, reusable filter, or anything else before you shop
so that you stay on target.
- If you are trying to stay within a certain budget, choose quality and performance over unnecessary special features. For example, don't buy a combo
grind and brew unit if you aren't sure you'll grind your own coffee beans. Likewise, consider whether you will actually program a
coffee maker to start automatically, or is it just as easy to wake up and turn it on.
- Consider how easy a particular model or style is to clean.
- Review appearance and size to make sure your choice will work with your kitchen.
- Check for warranties. The best coffee makers come with them.
- Consider sticking with respected and time-tested brand name products,
such as Bunn coffee makers,
Braun coffee makers,
KitchenAid coffee makers,
Bodum coffee makers,
Melitta coffee makers,
Krups coffee machines,
Cuisinart coffee makers,
and Capresso coffee makers.
If you drink coffee daily, your coffee maker will almost certainly sit permanently on your counter top. This means it should look good. Here are some
quick style tips.
- There are many styles available, from streamlined modern to retro chic, with classic and traditional choices available as well.
Choose one that matches or complements your kitchen decor.
- The most common finish choices are black, white, and silver (often stainless steel,) though you will find some colorful options, like the
Melitta pod coffee maker which comes in bright and bold hues.
- A small footprint is a good style choice, since it leaves room for more work space.
- Browse your appearance options, and pick something attractive to you.
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COFFEE MAKER SHOPPING TIPS
If you're a regular coffee drinker, buying a great coffee maker is a must. Being able to make the perfect cup at home is essential, especially if you are
trying to kick an expensive daily coffee buying habit. With the right equipment and coffee beans, you'll be drinking coffee in your pajamas and never have to wait
on line for a cup again. And with the money you save, you can invest in the perfect coffee bean grinder or espresso maker too.
There are some key considerations in choosing a coffee maker. Making some decisions up front will simplify your shopping process.
With basic electric drip coffee makers,
you add the right amount of water (almost all models include water level indicators labeled per cup) and ground coffee beans,
flip the on switch, and wait a few minutes for your coffee. These are generally affordable, practical, easy-to-use, and good at making tasty coffee,
especially if you grind your own high quality beans.
If you are looking for extra features, there are lots of choices, such as:
Programmable Timer: Programmable coffee makers let you set your unit to start at a certain time, such as first thing in the morning.
Small Batch vs. Full Batch Setting: A nice electric coffee maker feature for added flexibility, consider whether this will prove useful for your household.
Models with this feature adjust water flow so that the taste stays consistent, avoiding too strong or too weak coffee.
Pause and Serve Feature: This allows you to pour a cup while more is brewing.
Duel Brewer Coffee Makers: Duel coffee makers give you the option of making two different pots of coffee at once, such as decaf and regular.
Built-in Coffee Grinders: If you plan to grind your own beans (recommended for the best tasting coffee,) it can be nice to have your coffee grinder and coffee maker
as an all-in-one appliance. Grind and brew coffee makers are often a top choice.
Gold Tone Screen Filter: Used instead of a disposable paper coffee filter, this type of durable and effective filter should last for years and is a great extra to
have. Plus, it will save paper.
Automatic Shut Off Feature: A great safety feature during hectic mornings, an automatic shut off feature is a key and common extra.
Water Filtration Devise: A coffee maker water filter allows you to purify your coffee water. This should be unnecessary if you already have a general water filter for all
of your drinking water.
Decide which of these features appeal to you so that you know what to look for while shopping.
This is an important factor, since it will help determine what style coffee maker you need.
Multiple Cups at a Time: Your best bet is probably an electric drip coffee maker with a large carafe. The largest ones usually make 10 to 12 cups.
French presses and vacuum models are also generally available in sizes of up to 12 cups. 12 cup coffee makers are a flexible and popular choice.
If you need massive amounts of coffee, a traditional large
urn coffee percolator is most likely the way to go, with capacities of 55 cups or even more.
One or Two Cups: Small French presses, pod coffee makers, and to-go coffee makers all are designed for small personal size batches. You'll find
many one cup coffee makers on the market.
Sometimes a Lot, Sometimes a Little: Consider a drip coffee maker with settings to let you choose your batch size. As another option, you could buy a
basic electric drip coffee maker with a large carafe for use with guests or any other big coffee day, and use a small coffee maker, such as a compact
drip model or small French press, on a daily basis.
Drip coffee makers come with carafes of varying sizes and materials. Base your size on how many cups you want to make at once; single cup coffee makers
to 12 cup options are most common. There’s more to consider for carafe material.
Glass Carafe: This is the standard choice and a generally affordable option for carafe coffee makers. A plus is that you can see your coffee as it is dripping into the
carafe. A downside is that glass carafe models use heated pads to keep the coffee warm once it is brewed. If you leave your coffee on the heated pad
for too long, it can potentially burn your coffee, making it taste bitter or lose flavor. Also, you need to exercise care when handling and washing
glass carafes. They are breakable and it can be difficult to find an exact replacement for an older model.
Stainless Steel Carafe: This is a good option for someone who wants a basic automatic coffee maker model with a heated pad, but has broken a few
too many glass carafes. Much sturdier, this is a good option with a nice appearance, especially if you are coordinating with stainless steel appliances.
Thermal Carafe: Thermal carafes eliminate the need for the heated pad, since coffee will stay hot inside them for hours without any extra heating
necessary. For someone who plans to drink coffee over a longer period of time and doesn't want to risk the loss of taste possible with a heated pad,
a thermal carafe coffee maker is a great and convenient choice. Thermal carafes also keep your coffee portable, another reason that thermal coffee makers are
popular.
There are some basic coffee maker categories. Here’s a quick guide to keep you shopping efficiently.
Drip Coffee Maker (Heated Pad and Thermal Carafe Styles): Automatic drip coffee makers are very common and can meet the needs of most coffee drinkers.
Generally available in sizes from four to 12 cups, there are two main types: ones with heated pads to keep coffee warm after brewing, and ones with
thermal carafes instead. Many coffee connoisseurs prefer thermal carafes, since heated pads can burn coffee if used for too long.
Coffee Percolators (Stove Top and Electric Styles): A traditional style that still works, these come in stove top models and electric models.
Some are programmable. This option, which includes simple stove top models that make as little as two cups to electric models that can make up to 55
cups, is a sound choice, especially if you have large batch needs that can't be met by other types of coffee makers.
Pod Style: These often attractive coffee makers force hot water through a pod of ground coffee beans at high pressure.
They generally only make one or two cups of coffee at a time, but they do it quickly.
French Press: A low tech and effective option, a French press allows coffee and already heated water to steep in one container.
After a few minutes, you manually use the press to filter the grounds out. A popular single cup coffee maker style, these are great for making flavorful
coffee. There are also French presses available in up to 12 cup sizes. Traditional French presses have carafes/beakers that are made of glass, but
stainless steel, which is better at retaining heat, as well as insulated or thermal models, are also available.
Vacuum Coffee Makers: A low tech option with a retro feel, a vacuum coffee maker has two stacked and attached glass bowls. Water boils in the bottom
bowl, either on a stove top or with its own electric heating element, then rises through a small tube and filter up to the top bowl to mix with the coffee.
Next, the coffee pours back down to the bottom bowl and your coffee is ready. In addition to making great coffee, these are fun to watch.
To-Go: To-go coffee makers brew coffee directly into an insulated mug or travel cup or, in the case of duel models, two mugs. These offer convenience for their particular purpose, but
aren't as versatile as other options. These are probably best for a household with one or two coffee drinkers who want to grab their mug and go in the morning.
In the category of single cup coffee makers, these are a top choice.
For additional information on coffee makers, please see the Coffee Makers Buying Guide at Builderssquare.com.
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