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One sip of coffee in the morning can set the right start of the day. So, choosing the right coffee maker is important for caffeine lovers. Should you buy a $40 drip brewer or a full-size espresso machine? Let's find out!
Coffee Maker On The Go
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To be completely honest, neither of those might satisfy your coffee maker's desires. Choosing one depends on several consumer demands, including the price and the speed of brewing. “There are so many romantic parts to coffee that keep me coming back, but there’s also a lot of science and knowledge to be had,” said Dathan Denton, a lab technician for specialty coffee brand Red Fox Coffee Merchants and a former barista. And the first type of machine is a drip coffee maker. One of the most recognizable and popular at-home makers, the drip coffee machine will automatically make the caffeinated drink for the owner. While they are busy with the usual morning routine, the user needs to press a few buttons and go on about their day. In a few minutes, coffee will be ready!
Just as quick and simple as the drip coffee maker, the single-serve capsule system is based on plastic cartridges of pre-measured coffee grounds (with or without added components for fancy drinks). The owner needs to get the cartridge, put it into the machine, and push one button. One cartridge equals one cup of coffee. Some machines come with one serving, and bigger ones take up more space and brew more coffee. Sadly, it creates a lot of waste. Every cartridge and even the machine is disposable – eventually, the professional can't take it apart for cleaning measures.
Indulging In Meticulous Coffee Brewing
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The next one is a pour-over coffee system. The owner of a pour-over should be eager to learn how to brew coffee because it requires a lot more time and skill than the drip coffee maker. Although pouring hot water over the coffee grounds in a filter sounds easy, it has a certain learning curve – you will make mistakes and waste some material at first. All in all, it takes around 15 minutes to make a cup of coffee. Moreover, you’ll need a kettle, a grinder, filters, and a mug. That said, there's an easier way to make a pour-over – buy a French press! Denton called it incredible as there's no need to buy any complicated materials. Just pour hot water over coffee and then pass it through the built-in filter. It’ll be faster, too. The brewing time is around 5-10 minutes in total.
Moka pots are known to be the most efficient for dark and strong coffee. Yet, they also require some time and attention every morning. Also called stovetop coffee makers, these are some of the oldest ways of making coffee. First, the owner loads ground coffee into the base, then fills the bottom with water. Fire urges the water to boil out – and flavorful coffee is in the moka pot. Denton explains that espresso with a small yield comes out of stovetop makers. The drink won’t be sweet at all.
Here’s one more tip: Whether you buy a drip or a pour-over coffee maker, remember that any coffee shop should be able to grind coffee beans for you. It’s free!
Sources: Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, The Takeout
