Buying guide - Coffee and Espresso makers

Coffee Maker

 

Different types of Coffee makers

 

Coffee is made from ground and brewed and then finally roasted coffee beans. The right proportion of water and coffee, the brewing technique (steeping, pressure, gravity and boiling) and temperature and how it is kept post brewing together determines the final taste of your coffee.

 

Based on the brewing method employed, there are essentially five types of commercial coffee makers –

 

Percolators: Percolator coffee has a very distinctive strong flavor and aroma. A popular way of brewing coffee since old times, percolators are usually made of aluminum or stainless steel and come in two types:

• Gravity type: These percolators contain two chambers and a vertical tube. –Boiling water from the bottom chamber rises up via a vertical tube into the upper chamber and spurts onto the ground coffee beans. Using gravity, this brew then slowly trickles down into the bottom chamber. This process is repeated until the automatic timer shuts it off.
• Pressure Type: This percolator consists of three sections – lower section that contains boiling water, middle section containing ground coffee beans and the upper section where the brew is collected. Boiling water, under pressure is forced through the coffee powder into the upper chamber, resulting in strong aromatic coffee.

 

Based on these principles, three types of percolators namely electric, stove-top and microwave are available. Armed with sophisticated controls these are devised to help you concoct a perfect brew. Microwave percolators use 42% less electricity than the other similar sized coffee makers making this an economical coffee machine.

 

French Press: Also known as coffee press or press pot, this pitcher shaped coffee maker features a plastic or a glass carafe. The pot’s lid holds a plunger to which a reusable steel or nylon mesh filter is attached.

 

The French pot makes delicious strong coffee by using a totally manual process. Simply add hot water (90 to 96 degrees Celsius) to the glass carafe containing the coarsely grounded coffee beans, stir the brew, cover with lid and let it stay for around 4 to 7 minutes. Slowly let down the plunger, so that the grounds are pressed down and the liquid remains on top ready to be poured. The coffee made by this simple and economic method retains all its natural oil and aroma.

 

Pressure-brew coffee maker: High pressure is used to force hot water in a confined cylinder that contains coffee grounds. This results in a faster brewing process and an intensely aromatic, healthy and colorful brew. Compared to drip coffee, a cup of pressure brewed coffee contains almost 30% less caffeine and almost zero tannin. Pressure-brew machines that come with an integrated grinder allows you to chose the type of beans and consistency - fine or coarse as you want. With this method you can grind and brew a single cup at a time.

 

Pod-based coffee maker: Pods or T-discs are single serve coffee packets that are inserted in a special chamber. The machine reads the barcode on the pod’s label, and automatically calculates the exact amount of water, brewing time and temperature. Hot water, under high pressure, is passed through the pod’s contents and freshly brewed beverage flows into the cup. These ready-to use pods contain the exact amount of beverage mix. A special setting lets you control the strength of the drink to suit individual preferences. Pods containing different types and strengths of coffee are readily available.

 

Automatic Drip coffee maker: Most popular, the drip coffee maker comprises of three internal parts - a water reservoir, a drip area and a vertical aluminum tube that connects both these sections and an aluminum heating element. A coffee pot made of metal, glass or heat-resistant plastic, sits on the outside under the drip area to collect the dripping brew.

 

Cold water poured into the water reservoir flows through a one-way valve into the aluminum tube due to gravity. When power is switched on the heating element gets heats up the aluminum tube to boil the water it contains. The hot bubbles that rise up are sprayed evenly through a shower-head onto the ground coffee beans in the drip area. On its way to the coffee pot, the hot flowing water picks up the essence of coffee. Some machines feature a perforated plastic disc also called the drip area, through which hot water falls onto the waiting coffee grounds. The boiling mechanism here is similar to that of the coffee percolator. Except for the one way valve, this mechanism contains no other moving parts and is thus highly reliable.

 

These machines can be programmed to automatically start at a preset time, a feature that’s extremely useful in the rushed morning hours. Some drip coffee makers also feature an integrated grinder. Depending upon your needs, you can choose between large machines and the small ones like the single cup coffee maker from Keurig.

 

Vacuum coffee maker: A popular type, this coffee maker uses either steam pressure or a vacuum force to extract the flavor from coffee beans.

 

What to look for in a coffee maker

 

Listed below are the main features you should look out for at the time of purchasing a coffee maker:

 

1. Button or touchpad controls: These are the two popular controls found on any coffee machine. However, touch pads are accompanied by digital display that keeps you informed about the process.

 

1. Coffee quantity and strength adjustment: This feature lets you customize the brew strength and quantity to suit individual preferences and also allows you to set the exact number of cups.

 

1. Water filtration: Bacteria, chlorine and other undesirable elements present in the water are filtered out prior to the brewing process.

 

1. Bean grinder: This feature helps you to prepare coffee that is fresh, rich and aromatic.

 

1. Brew-through carafe: A hardened glass carafe is durable even during rough use. If you want a second cup after 30 minutes, get a coffee maker with a thermal pot. Since direct heat is not applied to a thermal pot, the coffee remains in the pot for a slightly longer time without burning. Insulated pots are used to keep the coffee hot for longer periods without burning.

 

1. Size of the coffee maker: Depending upon the family size, you can opt for large coffee makers with a capacity of nearly 12 cups or a medium sized machine that brews 4 to 6 cups. Smaller and single serve machines are great for a family of two.

 

1. Automated controls: Digital clocks with a timer preset facility automatically start the brewing process when you need it to. These clocks also feature a pause-to-serve functionality for a quick cup, and an auto shut-off facility when the brew is perfectly done.

 

1. Type of filters: Permanent gold-tone and screen filters have replaced the disposable paper filters.

 

1. 9.     Temperature settings: This allows you to set the temperature for some hot plates to keep the coffee carafe hot from about 160 to 190 degrees while you savor your first cup. A carafe pre-warm setting keeps the carafe warm for a longer time.

 

1. Filter Basket shape: Cone shaped filters have replaced the flat bottom ones, to create a more consistent brew by allowing hot water to flow evenly through the coffee grounds, especially when you are brewing a partial pot.

 

1.  Other features: A water level indicator tells you how much water to fill in the reservoir and how much is remaining. An indicator light alerts you when your brew is ready. A milk frother lets you create a light foamy brew. A self-cleaning cycle rids the machine of leftover coffee powder and odor.

 

 

 

Espresso Maker:

Espresso is a blend of different types of coffee beans from several countries. A shot of espresso is made by exerting up to 15 atmospheres (ATM) of pressure to force about 1.5 ounces of nearly boiling water through one tablespoon of densely packed, finely ground, dark and oily-looking espresso coffee beans. It takes about half a minute to brew a thick and concentrated espresso shot. A properly brewed espresso will have a layer of rich and cream, called crema, on the surface.

The espresso machine comprises of a pump, water tank, boiler and the brew head containing the portafilter.

There are five types of Espresso Machines:

Steam-driven or pressure Espresso Machines: A basic home espresso machine, here water is boiled in a chamber and steam pressure is applied to force the water through the grounded coffee to make espresso and froth milk for making cappuccino.

Manual or Lever-operated Espresso Machines: Old-fashioned, a lever is used to manually force hot water through the coffee grounds. A pressure of 8 to 10 bars gives you a strong cup of espresso while a pressure of 15 or more bars is needed to produce a control stream jet for making a cappuccino.

Semi-Automatic or Pump operated Espresso Machines: Highly popular among home users, this type of espresso maker offers a higher level of control along with reasonable pricing. Fill up porta-filter with coffee and start the pump when ready to brew. A boiler heats water up to 85-90 degrees to provide a perfect temperature for espresso brewing. A separate tank allows for a refill when the boiler is too hot to reuse. They generate around 10 bars of pressure.

Automatic Espresso Machines: Similar to the semi-automatic, this machine operates with electronic controls and is programmable it for a variety of espresso. Super Automatic or Bean-to-Cup Espresso Machines: Simply place coffee beans for grinding in the built-in coffee grinder and fill water in the tank. The beans are ground and brewed as per the preset program to produce a delicious espresso at the touch of a button. Most machines also feature an automatic milk frother to draw the required amount of milk from a jug or container straight into a cup.

Features to look out for:

Some basic models offer few simple preset controls while advanced models come with programmable buttons that allow users to set preferences. High end models also feature digital displays and internet connectivity.

1. Heated Cup warming tray: Keeps your espresso shots warm.

2. Steam wands and automatic milk frothers: Used for frothing milk for latte and cappuccino.

3. Auto-cleaning and de-scaling: Used for maintaining the espresso maker in a tip-top condition.

5. Indicator light: Alerts you when the boiler temperature has fallen below recommended levels.

6 Recovery time: It is the time taken by the espresso maker to heat back up.

Final Word

Before you buy a coffee or espresso maker, check out various models, features and prices online. Compare the different models on the basis of features offered for a range of price. There are plenty of options to choose from; some of the prominent ones include Bunn coffee makers, Keurig coffee makers, Cuisinart coffee maker, and others. Also check for after sales service and manufacturer’s warranty.