What Makes A Good Coffee Maker?
We can easily see the difference in pricing of coffee makers once we start comparing; some of those price differences are influenced by what the brand is (how popular, reliable or reputable it is.) So price and brand – off the bat – are relatively large in impacting how we perceive what is required for a coffee maker to be “good”.
Barring those two influencers – what is it really that makes a specific coffee maker “good” or “bad”? The answers might surprise you – this is the furthest thing from a “black and white” definition.
What Is The Best Coffee Maker?
Your first thought might be “Jura” – and I don’t blame you. We’ve seen the name pop up everywhere – from blogs, video reviews and even on a few episodes of Modern Family (in the kitchen of Gloria and Jay’s home – I mean – if it’s good enough for them – it must be the best, right?).
But you’d be wrong. The best coffee maker is the one which suits YOUR specific needs. I might think a capsule coffee maker is the best thing since sliced bread – but my best friend could rigorously disagree, because her drip coffee maker wakes her up with a freshly brewed pot of coffee each morning.
If your coffee maker fills a certain need – then it’s the best coffee one (for you).
Period!
What Are The Best Types of Coffee Makers?
Again, this is relative. I’m going to walk you through which type of machine might be your best fit, depending on your coffee preference; I’ve compiled this in such a way that we will begin with the smallest, cheapest coffee machine type, and work our way up the ladder.
Best Coffee Maker: French Press
The most basic of all “coffee maker” types. A simple glass jar fitted with a removable mesh filter, used to isolate and compress the coffee grounds at the bottom of the jar once the coffee has brewed. Uses ground beans (AKA filter coffee)
– Usually makes a maximum of two cups – great for those who are the only coffee drinkers.
– No fancy features – coffee should be drunk within a few minutes of brewing to keep it from getting cold.
– Will not provide you with cappuccino’s and fancy coffee drinks
– Retails from $10 – $50.
– Best for: One or two people, who can drink their coffee quickly and enjoy it “as it is”.
Best Coffee Maker: Drip Coffee
The next step-up on the French Press is the beloved drip coffee maker . This coffee maker type has stood the test of time.
– Can make up to 12 cups per pot brewed (usually). It’s essentially a French Press that does all the work for you.
– Usually fitted with heating plates to ensure your coffee stays hot after it’s been brewed.
– It makes exactly the same type of coffee you’d expect from a French Press – plain filter coffee.
– Two main types of filter coffee makers– commercial and industrial
– Retails between $ 40 (commercial purchase) and $ 450 (industrial purchase)
– Best for: Those who enjoy plain coffee, perhaps in larger quantities, or those who enjoy the convenience of the machine.
Best Coffee Maker: Capsule Coffee Maker
The ideal home-application coffee maker.
– Same filter coffee type, but in a compressed and easy-to-use capsule form.
– Some machines have milk frothers, or make use of powdered milk capsules. Adaptable in the sense that you can get cappuccino’s from these types of machines, but you are essentially still drinking filter coffee.
– Easy to use machine with little maintenance required.
– Retails between $ 100 for non-milk-frother types, all the way up to $ 500+ for the higher-end capsule coffee maker variants.
– Best for: Those who enjoy good coffee, sometimes a speciality milk drink and will be using the machine for a maximum of 5 people.
Best Coffee Maker: Bean to Cup / Automatic Coffee Makers
The high-end range of coffee makers that gives you uncompromised quality coffee.
– Freshest possible coffee guaranteed – roasted beans are ground up inside the machine and extracted from immediately.
– Capable of making speciality milk-based coffee drinks, at the touch of one or two buttons.
– Requires slightly more maintenance than other coffee maker types, and may be considerable yore costly.
– Retails between $ 700 – $2 000 for outright purchase.
– Best for: Those who want café quality coffee on demand and don’t mind the associated price tag.
In conclusion – it’s easy to see that there is no definitive “Best Coffee Maker” – only the one that suits your needs as best as it can!