Coffee Maker Comparisons - What Type Is Best For Your Kitchen?

By Laura Smyth


Contrary to popular belief, coffee doesn't always taste the same way. The beans and the type of coffee maker you use can have a huge impact on your cup's taste, strength and consistency. In fact, to an unseasoned shopper the wide range of choices that are available in today's market can be very overwhelming. From sophisticated French press brewers to contemporary pod machines, it's tough to know what type of coffee maker is right for you. Learning about the different types of popular coffee machines can help you decide on the best choice for your home, style, taste and budget.

Drip coffee machines have been the most commonplace in households for many years. Most coffee drinkers have owed at least one of these basic machines in their lifetime, and most have owned more than one. Most models are durable and efficient for basic coffee making jobs, and this is an affordable option for most people on a budget.

You will find many drip coffee machines on the market today, but they all operate in the same basic manner. A filter is placed in the machine and filled with coffee grounds. Hot water is poured into the machine and dripped into the filter. The hot water processes through the filter and drops into the coffee pot placed below. There are different coffee pot sizes and some machines have advanced features, but the overall technology is the same. This is an affordable option if you are shopping on a budget or simply do not need a more complex machine.

Another affordable option is the French press coffee machine which is also known as a cafetiere. When coffee machine designs are ranked according to popularity around the world, this type of machine makes the top five. Many coffee lovers find this style of machine charming, especially for brewing artisan or traditional coffees. The manual operation was designed in 1929 and has changed very little over the years. This is not the right machine for everyone, but it is a great option if you like older machine designs or are conscious of your budget.

To use a cafetiere, you would put coarsely ground coffee on the bottom of the glass carafe and saturate it with water, depressing the mixture with the machine's plunger after it's done steeping. While it can take you some time to learn how to use the French press to make the perfect cup of coffee, once you get it down to a science it's actually a very easy and rewarding process. After all, having complete control over every step of the brewing process is the best way to make your coffee exactly how you like it.

If you like stocking your home with the best modern conveniences or want something that will save you time in your over-scheduled life, consider a pod coffee maker like a Keurig. The pods come filled with coffee grounds, so you simply insert a pod and start the machine. This type of machine appeals to most coffee makers who don't have the time for manual operations but are not happy with the quality of coffee produced by most drip machines. The downside to this convenience is the price tag. Expect to pay more for the modern technology offered through pod machines.

Pod machines require very little maintenance, and they never make a mess because the grounds are held inside the coffee pod. The only drawback is that you have to use single-cup pods like the K-cup from Keurig, so it can get a little frustrating if you are the type of person who loves going back for a refill. The good news is that it only takes a few moments to make a fresh cup, and that also gives you the opportunity to play around with different flavors or instantly switch from caffeinated to decaf brews. All you have to do to clean up after you are done is throw the used pod into a waste basket, and you are good to go.




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