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Coffee and Espresso Makers Buying Guide

For millions of people around the world, their morning isn’t complete until they’ve had a cup of hot coffee. While some coffee drinkers prefer to get their coffee from the local café, many people prefer to stay home and brew their own. The coffee machine or espresso maker must be the most bought household appliance in the world. Coffee enthusiasts will tell you that a home-brewed cup of coffee can offer a richer, fuller taste than what you’d get at a chain coffee shop. When you brew your own coffee, you have control over all the ingredients, so you can make the perfect cup. You’ll also save both time and money by brewing at home.

Coffee maker machine of Cuisinart DCC-1200BCH Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable
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Espresso Machine of Philips Saeco RI9737:21 Vienna Plus Automatic
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The Different Coffee Makers and Brewing Methods

With a long list of brewing methods and a huge selection of coffee makers, finding a household appliance that will make a cup suited to your personal tastes can be difficult. That’s why it’s important to be well versed in all the different brewing methods used in coffee machines today. Some of the methods have been used for hundreds of years, while other use modern innovation to bring you the perfect cup of coffee.

Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT 12-Cup Programmable CoffeemakerAutomatic Drip Coffee Makers

Used to make full pots of coffee quickly and easily, an automatic drip coffee maker pours hot water over ground coffee beans contained in a filter, which then passes through the bottom of the filter and into a coffeepot. When the water seeps through the coffee grounds it absorbs all the oils and essences of the coffee beans without require the user to do anything other than load up the machine and turn it on. Drip coffee makers operate automatically and use gravity to brew the coffee.

One of the most popular types of coffee makers, an automatic drip coffee maker is convenient and easy to use. Consisting of a water reservoir, a heating element, a filter basket, a hot pad, and a carafe, automatic drip coffee makers are relatively simple to understand. After the user fills the reservoir and the coffee maker is turned on, the water passes down through a tube to the heating element. The heated water is then siphoned to a spray head where it drips on the coffee grounds and through a filter. The filter removes any thick grinds or particles from the mixture leaving the user with pure coffee. The coffee then drips into the carafe, which is also known as a coffeepot. The coffeepot sits on a hot plate that keeps the coffee at an ideal temperature until it’s ready to be poured in your favorite mug.

DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio CoffeemakerPod Coffee Makers

One of the most recent innovations in the art of brewing coffee, pod coffee makers offer superior convenience and ease of use while making a flavorful cup of coffee. Pod machines rapidly heat water using a boiler until the water builds up enough pressure to be forced through a small pod of ground coffee beans. Typically, you will get a single serving of coffee from a coffee pod, which makes it ideal for anyone who wants to make a quick, fresh cup of coffee for one. While pods are convenient, some users don’t like buying specially designed pods for each brand of coffee maker. Also, users who drink several cups of coffee a day may prefer a type of coffee maker than can make more than one cup of coffee at once. There are coffee machines that accept several pods, so the machine is always ready to make a cup of coffee, but those models are more expensive than a typical model of pod coffee maker. Even though the user has to buy special pods, it’s still less expensive than buying coffee per cup at a café. There are many types of pods, so it’s easy to find your favorite type of brew and flavor. Whether you’re drinking coffee, espresso, or tea, there’s some form of pod available to make your favorite beverage.

Yama Glass 5 Cup Stovetop Coffee SiphonVacuum Coffee Makers

Also known as a siphon coffee maker, the vacuum method of brewing coffee has been considered one of the best ways to brew since its introduction in the 1830s. There are plenty of vintage vacuum coffee makers for sale, but there many newer models that incorporate the classic techniques with modern technology to make a great cup of coffee. Vacuum coffee makers usually have a vintage appearance and come in many shapes and sizes, but the overall design has essentially remained the same for almost 200 years. A siphon coffee maker consists of two coffeepots, a tube, a filter, and a gasket. Many models of vacuum coffee maker are designed for stovetop use, but there are some electric models. Other models come with their own hotplate, but they are priced much higher than a standard vacuum coffee maker.

The way a siphon coffee maker works is relatively simple, and the mechanism doesn’t have any moving parts making it less likely to break. Water is heated in the lower pot, which creates pressure that forces water up the siphon tube into the upper pot. On the way up to the second pot, the water passes through coffee grounds and mixes together in the second chamber. After all the water has made its way to the second chamber, the heating element is removed and vacuum pressure draws the brewed coffee back down into the lower chamber. On the way down the coffee passes through a filter that removes any coffee granules, leaving the user with a very potent cup of coffee. Vacuum coffee makers are very affordable, and even high-end models cost a lot less than a conventional coffee maker.

SterlingPro 8 Cup (4 oz each)- Durable Coffee & Espresso Maker with Stainless Steel Plunger French pressFrench Press

Also called a coffee press, this method allows coffee and water to steep together in one container, creating a strong mixture that is popular in European cafés. A modern variation of the classic French press consists of a narrow cylinder made of plastic or glass and a metal or plastic lid with a plunger. The plunger also has a fine nylon mesh filter, which is used to filter the grounds from the coffee. The French press can easily make one or two fresh cups of coffee before it needs to be refilled. The water makes full contact with the coffee grounds inside the body of the coffee press, resulting in a much fuller taste. Coarser coffee grinds are used in the press because finely grained coffee grounds will go right though the filter and wind up in the finished coffee. Coffee and espresso aficionados have used French presses for nearly 100 years, and the old style of coffee press is used at professional coffee tastings today.

Presto 02811 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker PercolatorPercolators

Percolators have been popular for over 100 years and are still widely used today. A percolator is a one-piece unit that either uses electricity or a stove to brew coffee. The coffee grounds are held in an internal filter and boiling water is then passed through the grounds several times. Many coffee drinkers like percolated coffee because it offers a stronger taste than other methods. One of the main advantages of using a percolator is the capacity. Large models can hold up to 100 cups of coffee and brew it in a short amount of time, making it great for serving large groups.

The Different Types of Espresso Machines

Differing from normal coffee makers, espresso makers can come as a separate product or in a package with a coffee maker. Espresso is made from beans that are roasted differently than regular coffee beans and is brewed slightly differently than coffee. In an espresso maker, pressure is used to force hot water through finely ground coffee, which is placed in a special portafilter. This method of making espresso is referred to as extracting instead of brewing. Espresso has such a bold flavor because the ingredients are highly concentrated and the espresso is forced directly through the coffee grounds.

Manual Espresso Machines

For an espresso enthusiast, nothing can beat a manual espresso machine. It takes some time to get the hang of using a manual lever and piston espresso machine, but the method gives you a lot of control over your espresso. The machine uses a piston to pump hot water through the coffee grounds and has a metal boiler, which heats up the water to make steam for brewing. While a manual espresso machine gives the user the most control, the process can be difficult and time consuming. An aspect that attracts many people to manual espresso machines is the price. A manual machine costs almost half of what other models of espresso makers would go for.

Semi-automatic Espresso Machines

One of the most popular models of espresso machine, the semi-automatic espresso maker still allows for control over the finished product, while streamlining the process. There are exterior adjustments for temperature, brewing pressure, and tamp, and a manual switch to turn the pump on. On a manual machine every feature has to be operated by the user, but in a semi-automatic, most of the work is done for you. Most of the machines found in coffee shops are semi-automatic, so if you’re fond of your local café’s espresso, consider getting a semi-automatic espresso maker.

Automatic Espresso Machines

Sometimes called set and forget espresso makers, automatic machines will brew a cup of espresso at the touch of a button. Automatic espresso makers use an electronic control system instead of manual controls and uses presets to extract a great cup of espresso. High-end models of automatic espresso makers come with customizable settings, but those models can be quite expensive. Usually, an automatic espresso machine comes with a built-in grinder, dual boilers, and rapid steam. Automatic espresso makers are designed so the user only has to add water and beans, and the machine will do the rest.

About the Coffee Bean

Over 6.7 metric tons of coffee is produced annually, making it one of the most consumed beverages in the world, only being surpassed by regular tap water. Coffee plants are cultivated in over seventy countries, making it an important commodity for many nations. Coffee and espresso are two of the most universally recognized beverages and have a long history with people from around the world.

How to make the best espresso

We will explain you how to make the best espresso at home. But first see in this youtube how the professionals are doing it in the Coffee cafe Joe.