How To Choose A Coffee Machine / Espresso Machines

The decision on how to choose a coffee machine can be a difficult one to make. Once you have made up your mind that you need more than instant coffee and you want (or perhaps need) fresh coffee at home whenever you want, odds are you will find yourself with a myriad of coffee machines from dozens of brands to choose from. Fortunately, when it comes right down to it, there are only a few critical considerations before you buy your dream coffee maker.

One of the first decisions to make is the size of the coffee machine you require. Do you want to make a single fresh cup or multiple cups? The most common size of coffee machine has the capacity to produce a dozen cups, which is fine for even the most caffeine intensive families. If you are buying for an office or business, a larger model might be better.

After you have decided on the capacity of your coffee machine, your next decision is on the type of coffee you want to make. There are a variety to choose from – drip coffee makers, espresso machines, percolators, french press and vacuum coffee makers. Another option is the pod coffee maker where you insert a sachet of ground coffee into the machine to make a single fresh cup of coffee within a matter of seconds.

Depending on the type of coffee maker you ultimately decide on, you might also have to choose between the two main types of filter: Basket or Cone. For a basket filter, you will be limited to larger ground coffee and they tend to make coffee slower than Cone filters. However, cone filters can be significantly more expensive.

The range of features available will vary from not just between different brands but also between the different coffee machines. This means you have to decide what filters are important: Do you want a coffee maker that boils the water to the optimum temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit? This makes the best tasting coffee but does cost more. Do you live in a hard water area? If so, a machine with an in-built water filtration system may be important to you. It makes the coffee taste nicer and the machine is easier to clean. Other options you may want to consider include:

Brand: For some people, buying a well-known brand is important. Major coffee machine manufacturers include Delonghi, Krups, Gaggia, Cuisinart, Melitta, Mr. Coffee, Capresso, Nespresso, Hamilton Beach, Zojirushi, Bunn, Breville, Black & Decker, Saeco, Keurig and Dualit.

Ease of cleaning: You need to clean your coffee machine on a regular basis. If you find cleaning a chore, then go for a model that requires as little maintenance as possible.

Timer capability: Some coffee machines offer a timer feature. If you want to wake up to freshly brewed coffee without the hassle of putting on the machine when you get out of bed, then a timer may be the way to go.

Grinder: Coffee drinkers know that freshly ground coffee tastes the best so if that is important to you, look for a machine with an integrated grinder. The Breville BDC600XL YouBrew should top your list if it fits your budget.

Color: Whilst it might seem frivolous to decide on your coffee machine by its color, it may be something to consider if you are fashion and style conscious. If you have a dark colored kitchen, selecting a dark coffee maker would make sense to avoid creating an eye sore.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference and budget. Decide on what you want from a coffee machine and do your research before you start pounding pavement to the nearest store. Just remember that you are doing all this work so that you can get a machine that lets you enjoy the coffee you want, how you want it whenever you want it.