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What
to Look for When Buying a Coffee Maker
When looking to purchase a new coffee maker, one
should know that not all cups of coffee are created
equal. And choosing the right coffee maker can make
all the difference between a great cup of coffee and
one that is just alright. For many people, the day
doesn’t officially start until that first pot is
brewing. For millions of people, coffee has become a
mainstay of their morning routine. Coffee provides the
caffeine that some people need to wake up in the
morning or to get that extra boost as the day goes on.
Research has shown that the antioxidants in coffee may
have a variety of health benefits as well.
While any coffee maker may be capable of making a good
cup of coffee, there are some features that you can
look for to help your coffee brew right, stay fresh,
and taste delicious.
Essential Features:
Construction – When buying a coffee maker, look at the
variables that make the construction of the machine
using the following guidelines: Look at the model of
coffee maker that you’re considering buying. See how
well it’s constructed, how easy it is to use, and
whether the coffee pot is reinforced or is simply
glass. Reinforced coffee pots act like a thermos,
keeping your coffee hot and fresh for much longer.
Digital Timer – Most coffee makers come with some sort
of a digital timer and automatic start feature,
although most people do not make full use of these
features. The advantage of using this feature is it
enables you to prepare your coffee the night before,
and set it to start brewing before you are to wake up.
This actually saves you time in the morning. And is
there a better way of waking up in the morning,
smelling the scent of fresh brewed coffee?
Pause and Serve – This is one of the most useful
features that your coffee maker can have if you need a
pot of coffee. Instead of having to wait for the pot
to finish brewing or trying to swap out your cup and
the pot (and spilling coffee everywhere), the act of
removing the pot closes a valve on the maker and lets
you pour yourself a cup before resuming your brew.
Optional but Useful Features:
Water Filter – One of the most common “optional
features” on coffee makers is having an in-line water
filter. The water filter can improve the taste of your
cup of coffee by making sure there are not any
impurities in the water you brew with. Keep in mind
that this adds a little bit of extra maintenance to
your coffee maker as well, you’ll need to change the
filters regularly.
Locking Lids – A useful feature that generally comes
with coffee makers that use reinforced pots; a locking
lid enables you to screw a lid directly onto the pot
which makes it easy to take coffee to a neighbors or
other destination. Locking lids are often designed so
that you can’t have both a basket in and a lid on;
this way you won’t accidentally start brewing when the
pot is closed.
Variable Temperature – Even the cheapest coffee maker
heats water up enough to brew with, but if you have a
variable temperature gauge you can actually tweak your
brewing temperature to suit your tastes. This feature
isn’t essential, however, so if there’s a significant
price difference between two coffee makers with this
as the only difference, don’t feel bad if you choose
the one without.
Other Considerations:
Grinder – Fresh-ground coffee tastes better, and there
are some coffee makers have a coffee grinder built in.
However, you can usually save some money by buying a
separate grinder, so it’s a good idea to explore that
option as well.
Drip Type – Most coffee makers that you’ll buy will be
of the automatic drip variety. With this variety all
you need to do is fill the basket, pour in water, and
start the brewing cycle. Also note there are other
types of coffee makers, for example, manual drip,
percolators, and press pots.
Capacity – Sometimes you might only want a little
coffee, and sometimes you might want a lot. Stop to
think about exactly how much coffee you’re likely to
need, and make sure that the coffee maker that you
choose can handle that amount. If you drink a lot of
coffee, you don’t want a small coffee maker. Look for
coffee makers that feature a variable capacity, so
that you can make as much or as little as you need.
Filter Type – When it comes to filters, there are 3
options that you should consider. You can find coffee
makers that use the standard paper filters, metal
permanent filters, and even “pods” which are
pre-packaged coffee discs complete with their own
filter. Metal filters generally produce a better taste
and are compatible with makers that use paper filters,
while pods require that the maker is specifically
designed for them.
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