Coffee Maker Guide
When it comes to buying a coffeemaker, a host of factors must be considered before you can make the right choice. The most important things to keep in mind are:
Drinking needs: How many cups of coffee will you need to make, on an average day? If you just drink a cup or two a day, a single cup filter and a kettle will be a fine choice. However, if you regularly have company and make a lot of cups, a coffeemaker with a 12-cup capacity might be a good idea.
Available counter space: How much space can you provide for a coffee maker on your kitchen counter? Coffeemakers range from a few inches to over two feet wide, and the weight differs accordingly.
Price: What is your budget? Coffeemakers come in a great variety and can cost you anything from £15 to £1,500.
Choice of coffee: How do you like your coffee? Drip, percolated, filtered, plunge pot coffee or espresso? Each preference has its own variety of prices and options. For example, a good pour-over filter coffeemaker might cost you a mere £15, whereas a programmable drip unit would cost you over £75. Now, cordless percolators are also available for less than £50. If you hate the stale taste of hot-plate brew, you can buy a thermos carafe and brew right into it.
10 steps to choose the right coffee maker:
1. Consider your drinking needs. 4-cup, 10-cup and 12-cup are the most commonly available sizes.
2. Do you want a programmable unit that you can set to your own specifications? Many coffeemakers come with time-setting options, so you can have your coffee hot and ready when you wake up.
3. An automatic shutoff option is always a good idea, as it will make sure that your unit doesn’t stay on all day.
4. Do you want to grind your own beans? If so, buy a model with an integrated coffee-grinding machine.
5. If you want to buy a filter pot, consider investing in a gold filter to eliminate chemicals and the taste of paper from your coffee.
6. Do you need a built-in water-filter?
7. If you prefer your coffee grounds-free but don’t want to compromise on taste or flavour, choose French press coffeemakers.
8. Test all the parts and check to make sure that adding water and removing detachable parts is convenient and safe.
9. If you prefer espresso coffee, consider units that provide both options: drip coffee and espresso.
10. Read consumer reports and reviews to find out which products are most reliable and produce the hottest, best-tasting coffee.
Tip: Choose a coffee maker machine with auto shut-off switch, water filtration system, coffee filter, drip-stop function and hot-plate temperature control.
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