Coffee is considered essential by a lot of people. To them, it is not simply a beverage but a caffeine boost to be able to get through the day. But, a daily dose of java bought from stores can be heavy on the financials.
It is more practical to make your own coffee to drink at home, or take with you in a to-go cup. If you're a regular coffee drinker, it's advisable to buy a coffee machine, but which one? What type? What to consider when you want to purchase your own coffee maker?
Types of Coffee Makers: Pros and Cons
There are many types of coffee makers that originate from many cultures and vary in use. Before you choose to buy your coffee maker, you have to consider a lot of factors according to Kitchn.
Think about how much coffee you actually drink per day. How much time can you allot into brewing your cup of joe? What kind of coffee do you want to drink? Will you drink it at home or will you bring it with you to work?
You can choose from a regular drip coffee maker, a pour-over coffee maker, a coffee maker that requires capsules, a French press, an espresso machine, or other means that are less popular than the mainstream means of making your caffeinated drink.
Drip Coffee Maker
This type of coffee maker is one of the most used machines to make coffee, and it is easy to operate. Since it is popular among people who buy coffee makers, it is widely available and offers more choices in sizes and styles.
The downside to this is that the way in which you can make coffee is very limited. You can only brew your coffee according to the setting that the machine is programmed with and not much else.
Pour-Over Coffee Maker
This is a much simpler way to make coffee. All you'll need is hot water and a paper filter to put your coffee grounds in. You pour the hot water into the cone, the coffee will drip into the cup.
If you are in a hurry most of the time, this is not the choice for you. Pour-over coffee requires you to gradually pour the hot water into the paper filter funnel, which will take time.
Capsule Coffee Maker
The capsule coffee maker is a good choice for someone who requires a quicker way to get coffee and only requires one cup. There are several flavored capsules that can be bought which provides you with a lot of choices.
You do have to prepare your pocket for the cost since capsules can be expensive and can only be used once. The cost will also depend on how many times a day you make coffee.
French Press Coffee Maker
If you take into account how rich your coffee should be, the French press coffee maker is the way to go. The brew you can make from this can be very rich and flavorful. Just mix your coffee grounds and hot water into the carafe and let it brew for four minutes and then press the grounds to the bottom.
The only disadvantage to this is that you have to heat the carafe first to keep the coffee hot, and even after that, the coffee still gets cold quickly.
Espresso Coffee Maker
The machine will allow you to make espresso shots, which you can then make into other types of caffeinated beverages like lattes and cappuccinos. Most models come with a frother to make your milk thicker if that's what you prefer.
There is a learning curve to this, and the machine could prove to be costly. It might take a lot of practice to master the art of using the espresso machine, but it is worth it when you want to make a variety of coffee drinks.
There are other options you can explore on goodhousekeeping.com aside from the coffee makers mentioned above if those don't feel like something you would want to buy.
