Though it would make the lives of millions of coffee drinkers a lot easier, there really is no consensus on what the world’s best coffee maker is. The problem, it seems, is that there’s simply too many nuances and personal preferences that differ in what people consider the ideal way to make coffee. Some, for instance, like to consume several cups of coffee to give their morning a jumpstart. Others only need one, and find any more than that to be a caffeine overload. As you might guess, these two types of coffee drinkers will have different priorities when looking for a coffee maker, and the ones that suit them best will likely be vastly different. It’s reasons like this that there’s such a wide variety of coffee makers available. In this article, we’ll take a look at the most popular types and brands of coffee makers, and how they may (or may not) suit you.
The Drip Brewer
The drip brewer is among the most widely recognized coffee makers in the world. Its basic setup –a water reservoir, coffee ground tray, carafe (coffee pot), and warming tray are associated with millions of kitchens and old-fashioned diners across the U.S. What’s somewhat surprising about drip brewers, though, is that despite the fact that they’re so common, they’re widely regarded as one of the best types of basic coffee makers available. When you fill the reservoir, add the grounds, and press the “on” button, drip brewers head very small amounts of water at a time (hence the drip) and mix them with the grounds before letting gravity push them through the filter and into the pot. This method has been proven to be both pretty simple and exceedingly effective at making a “classic” cup of coffee. Gourmet coffee drinkers, for example, often prefer the drip brewer because it tends to preserve delicate flavors and overtones better than other coffee makers.
Drip Brewing Brands
The best way to get that flavorful, traditional cup of coffee is to find the right brand of drip brewer. The two most popular modern brands of drip coffee brewers are Mr. Coffee and Black & Decker. The price range for these two brands generally runs between $20 and $80 (the low to mid-range for coffee makers), and they’re great for coffee drinkers who don’t pay particular attention to small flavor and body details. If you’re more of a coffee connoisseur, then brands like Delonghi and Krups might suit you better. They are higher priced, but have the same capacity (usually 10-14 cups in the pot) and maintain small details of the coffee’s flavor.
The Percolator
The percolator, which looks much like a modernized teapot, brews coffee the old fashioned way. When you place the coffee grounds in the basket and water into the reservoir, a heating element brings the water to a near boil and steeps it in the grounds. When you push the pump down and trap the grounds at the bottom, your coffee is ready to drink. While many old fashioned percolators use a stovetop as a source of heat, coffee experts recommend that you get a more modern electric percolator, as it will regulate temperature much better. The coffee from the percolator differs from other coffee makers in that it’s thicker and actually contains a few loose grounds when you drink it. Those who truly love their coffee appreciate this aspect.
Percolator Brands
Because the method of percolation isn’t as popular among coffee drinkers as other techniques, there are fewer percolator brands available on the market. On the positive side, a good quality percolator runs in the $20-$40 dollar range – considerably cheaper than drip and single cup brewers. The brands most often recommended by percolator fans are Farberware, Coleman, and Presto. All three are exceptional in the ease of use category, and provide the richness that one would expect from percolated coffee
The Single Cup Coffee Maker
Single cup coffee makers are a relatively new entrant in the coffee brewing market. Designed for people who have to get their mornings going quickly, they brew individual cups or thermoses of coffee in a speedy manner. In function, they work almost exactly like the drip coffee brewer, except that they used pre-packaged coffee “pods” for the convenience of not having to measure grounds. This is both the single cup brewer’s main advantage and biggest drawback. Though it’s very convenient and easy to clean up, the fact that they only brew with pre-packaged pods means that your options for type of coffee are severely limited.
Single Cup Brewer Brands
There are several brands, according to Consumer Reports, that produce high quality single cup coffee makers. Black & Decker, for instance, makes a single cup “Brew N’ Go” that brews coffee directly into a thermal mug, keeping it nice and hot for lengthy periods of time. Casara does the same. If you prefer to drink your coffee out of an open top mug, the brand generally recommended is Keurig, which uses its own’ “K-cup” coffee packages. On the extremely high end of the single cup coffee makers is the Nespresso brand. Its coffee makers often run into the several hundred dollar range, but some include really neat add-ons for the specialty coffee drinker – including a milk steamer for making cappuccinos and lattes.
The French Press
Among true coffee connoisseurs, the French Press is arguably the most highly regarded type of coffee maker. this is my hands down favorite. In college, Jamie and I would sit for hours at a coffee shop aptly named the french press and study. the french press is like a percolator in that it steeps the grounds and hot water together, but the overall mechanism is much easier and produces more clean (ground free) cups of coffee. As an added advantage, the process of using a French Press is exceedingly simple. You simply add coarse grounds to the press’ container, add water that’s been pre-boiled, stir them together, and let the mixture sit for about two to three minutes. Then, you press down the plunger and pour. The result is well filtered but thick coffee with tons of flavor and great texture. The only real disadvantage, as you might guess from the steeping step, is that a French press can be a real pain to clean
French Press Brands
When it comes to the French Press, the most important things to look for are the lid mechanism and the glass sides. High quality French Presses are made with shatterproof glass and have lid mechanisms that eliminate the possibility of a spill while you push the plunger. The most well known and highly regarded French Press brand is Bodum. It’s a specialty company that makes only French presses, and takes much pride in its products’ quality. Most mid-range French Presses (around $40) from Bodum have the aforementioned qualities that make for a safe and effective French Press coffee maker.
What to Take From the Information
If there’s one thing you should walk away from this article with, it’s the knowledge that there is no single perfect coffee maker. Every type and every brand has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, when looking for one, try to find the one that fits you and your lifestyle best as opposed to going solely off other people’s opinions. Putting your own personal desires in the forefront of selection priorities will pay dividends each time you wake up and enjoy the day’s first (or only) cup of coffee.
