Choosing between drip and carob coffee makers for home

Manufacturers of coffee makers offer coffee gourmets a large selection of different models, with which you can quickly prepare several varieties of coffee and drinks based on it.

Among the wide range of coffee makers on store shelves, carob and drip machines are considered the most popular - they differ from each other not only in their appearance, but also in their operating principle, so choosing a suitable device must be approached with special attention.

In the article we will answer the question, which one is better, what to look for when choosing and purchasing , and also, what are the differences between them?

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What is a carob coffee maker?

The horn coffee maker got its name due to the presence of a special horn-shaped nest into which ground coffee beans are placed for further preparation of coffee.
The device is designed to prepare classic espresso with dense foam on the surface. There are two main types of horn-type devices: steam (boiler) and pump-type. In steam coffee makers, liquid is placed in a sealed compartment and heated to create steam. Once the steam has passed through the coffee powder, the drink is ready to drink.

In the pump model, the water is quickly heated to 90-100 degrees, and then passes through the coffee using a pump. The technology allows you to preserve all the beneficial substances and get the most intense aroma.

Important! The pressure and power of steam devices is lower than in pump models, which is why the coffee preparation time is doubled.

General recommendations for choosing a device

When you decide to purchase a home coffee making device, count the number of coffee drinkers in your family. If there are more than two of them, then consider drip or geyser coffee makers with a volume of 1.5 liters or more, or an automated carob system.

Adviсe:

1. Capsule and carob pods will save time on cleaning the system (if you use pods - tableted pressed coffee powder).
2. Electric Turks, geyser and drip systems will reduce the burden on the budget.
3. You should not purchase a system with the maximum range of functions. Determine the necessary options and select the device.
4. After choosing a device, read reviews on forums and compare it with other systems.

The main criterion when choosing is coffee preferences:

• strong black coffee without foam is prepared by steam coffee makers;
• strong espresso with foam - carob and capsule;
• Americano - drip;
• cappuccino – carob, capsule, combined.

What is a drip coffee maker?

A drip coffee maker is an electric device with a heater in which hot water passes through a coffee filter and enters a reservoir .
Preparing a delicious drink in a drip machine is quite simple: cold water is poured into the tank, and ground coffee is placed in the cone filter.

After turning on the device, the process of steam formation begins and the resulting steam condenses in the compartment of the device body located above the filter.

At a temperature of 90 degrees, drops flow through the coffee and flow into the flask . Once this process is complete, the freshly prepared coffee can be poured into cups.

Note! The rich aroma and strength of the prepared drink is achieved through the slow passage of water through the ground coffee.

Types of coffee makers for home

Espresso coffee makers brew a drink from ground beans under high pressure; a special design allows them to pour coffee raw materials into the coffee maker's horn. There are several types of these household appliances:

• A pump-action coffee maker, which uses a vibration pump, is reliable in operation and economical to maintain. Only the use of such a pump ensures uneven pressure; its rotary type analog rotates the impeller, scooping and supplying water through a hydraulic circuit at a constant speed, due to which the pressure is constant and has a positive effect on the taste of the coffee product. The second version of pumps is more expensive; they are professional. But a coffee machine with a vibration pump is suitable for home use for those who prefer strong expresso.

• Canonical carob coffee makers for home are a compromise option for lovers of Americano; their final product is similar to their geyser counterparts. The drink obtained from them does not differ in strength. The pressure in them can reach up to 9 bar.

• The lever coffee maker belongs to the premium segment and is used by professional baristas. In these home espresso drinks, the pressure is regulated by pressing on a mechanical lever. Thanks to such a special horn for a coffee machine, precise tuning of the process of obtaining an aromatic product is ensured, but it requires the experience and skills of a barista. Lever coffee makers have little automation, which is why they are not in demand.

• Boiler coffee makers are a budget option for a decent coffee machine for the home, which only produces espresso. They operate at low pressure, it can range from 2 to 4 bar, when the water in the metal boiler boils, it enters the coffee maker through the valve.

An important element by which you can determine the best carob-type coffee makers is the heating element. Each type of coffee machine has its own. The quality of the product will depend on it and the pressure of the unit, which is why temperature stability is so important. If the coffee maker does not heat the liquid to the required temperature, then decent coffee will not be produced, despite the experience and professionalism of those using it.

Carob-type coffee makers in the economy segment are equipped with a flow-through thermoblock or a small boiler, but their more expensive analogues already come with a larger boiler or have a heat exchanger built into it.

The pros and cons of each of the heating elements used will help you decide on the choice of coffee maker:

• A large boiler can provide a sufficient amount of water at a certain temperature, and after preparing one cup there will be no additional heating. But it is worth knowing that it will take some time before preparing the first cup, especially if the espresso maker has not been used for a long time.

• The thermoblock cannot provide a constant temperature; changes are possible when using it, but it is capable of supplying hot water instantly without lengthy preheating.

• The low-volume boiler used in home boiler coffee makers is responsible for dispensing a small amount of water, and even a single cup of espresso will require additional heating.

• A heat exchanger is a whole system consisting of tubes through which water circulates; they are compactly located inside the boiler. It takes a long time to heat up, but the output is water at a stable temperature. The initial portion of water is overheated and will need to be drained; this is called “idle spillage”.

Double-lance coffee machines have two boilers, one of which is used for espresso, and the second for steam.

It is not difficult to choose which coffee maker is best for the home, taking into account the characteristics of their types, but for each type there are several models available, but purchasing one of them depends on the desired drink, the design of the device and its versatility.

Advantages and disadvantages of horn models

Carob coffee makers are in great demand among coffee connoisseurs, since such machines have many advantages. The main advantages of the device are:

• increased efficiency - the process of preparing a drink takes only 30 seconds;
• the ability to control the water level and liquid temperature;
• the presence of steam valves and an auto-shut-off function - this helps extend the life of the device and ensures safe operation;
• removable tray for collecting drops;
• absence of coffee grounds in the prepared drink;
• bifurcated nozzle for simultaneous filling of two cups;
• maintaining the temperature of the finished coffee;
• heating cups and milk;
• the ability to prepare several variants of the drink;
• tamper for compacting ground coffee;
• formation of delicate creamy foam using a cappuccino maker;
• minimum consumption of coffee beans.

Reference! Some models provide a remote control function for the coffee machine, which allows you to control the operation of the device from your smartphone.

Despite the large number of advantages, horn models also have disadvantages:

• big size;
• lack of a built-in coffee grinder;
• the need to compact the ground grains in the cone.

Advantages and disadvantages of drip models

Drip coffee makers have a number of advantages over other coffee making devices. Among them:

• simplicity and ease of maintenance;
• reliability of design;
• reasonable price;
• presence of heating pads;
• light weight and size;
• silent operation;
• absence of complex mechanisms;
• function of heating the finished drink;
• large volume glass flask;
• possibility to brew tea or prepare cocoa.

Drip-type devices are not without disadvantages that must be taken into account before purchasing. The disadvantages of such devices include the following points:

• high consumption of ground coffee;
• insufficient strength of the drink;
• additional material costs for purchasing filters;
• the need to clean the device after each use.

What are the differences and which one to choose?

In order not to make a mistake with your choice and purchase a device that meets your expectations, you should familiarize yourself with the main functions, capabilities and differences between the two types of coffee makers, and also compare them.

Operating principle and design

A drip coffee maker consists of a coffee pot and a heating element connected to a stove. There is also a water tank, a coffee filter and a control panel equipped with one or more buttons.

The device works by filtration: water poured into the tank moves to the heating element, as a result of which it becomes hot and is sent through a pipe into the compartment with ground coffee. Steam is formed in the compartment, which turns into condensate, passes through the coffee powder and gradually flows into the container. After the liquid enters the coffee pot, the heating element starts up, maintaining the temperature of the prepared drink.

Important! The heating plate is designed in such a way that without water supply the device cannot burn out.

The coffee grounds do not fall into the cups - they remain in the filter. Nylon filters are designed for long-term use. Usually they are enough for 60 brews. Paper filters are suitable for one-time use only: after making coffee, they are immediately thrown away.

Instead of standard filters, a carob coffee maker uses horns made of plastic or metal. Ground coffee beans are placed in the cone, through which the steam necessary to prepare the drink passes.

Unlike a drip device, a carob-type coffee maker has a more complex operating principle and includes not only a heating boiler and a water tank, but also elements such as:

• holder (horn);
• tray for cups with a mesh surface and an installed drip tray;
• hot water supply tap;
• steam supply lever;
• steam pipe;
• pump and boiler pressure gauge;
• cappuccino maker;
• light indication;
• power and spill buttons.

Reference! Expensive models have a dish heating function designed to maintain the optimal temperature of the cups.

Taste qualities of finished coffee

The taste of coffee prepared in different coffee makers varies significantly. Using a carob coffee maker you can prepare strong and aromatic espresso , latte or cappuccino without coffee grounds. At the same time, a stable foam will appear on the surface of the drink, which is considered a sign of high-quality, properly brewed coffee.

If there is little powder or it is not compacted enough, the water will quickly pass through the coffee and will not have time to be enriched with flavor properties. If the ground coffee beans are packed too tightly, the drink may be too strong and bitter.

A drip-type device can prepare an equally tasty drink, however, when using such a coffee maker, you can brew regular black coffee without foam .

Ground coffee consumption

The strength of the resulting drink directly depends on the quality of the coffee used and its dosage.

To make coffee in a drip coffee maker, you will need more ground material than in the case of a carob model. The consumption of ground coffee per serving of a drink brewed in a carob-type coffee machine is 6-8 g, in a drip machine - 10-12 g.

Difficulty and time to prepare

Drip machines are considered the easiest to use , since to obtain an aromatic drink you just need to load the necessary ingredients into the device and turn it on. The preparation time for one serving of coffee in such a device is on average 2 minutes, however, the lower the power of the model, the longer the brewing process will take.

It is more difficult to prepare a drink in a carob coffee maker , since you first need to carefully fill the holder with ground coffee, compact the raw materials well, install the coffee horn in the connector, and only then turn on the device. The preparation time for coffee without preliminary preparation of components is only 20-30 seconds.

A significant advantage of the drip device is the ability to prepare a large volume of drink at a time.

Functional

The functionality of carob and drip coffee makers is constantly being improved, which makes the device easier to use.
The key functions of drip models are:

• anti-drip system, the presence of which prevents liquid from splashing outside the device;
• filtration system for purifying tap water;
• automatic heating of the flask to maintain the optimal temperature of the drink for three hours;
• timer – the function allows the user to program the time to turn on the device and prepare a specific drink;
• turning off heating upon completion of work.

Among the main functionalities of carob coffee makers are:

• automatic shutdown of the device, extending the service life of the device;
• the presence of a display or light indicators indicating the water level;
• high level of steam pressure to obtain rich and aromatic coffee;
• automatic decalcification – this function ensures high-quality self-cleaning of the device from various contaminants.

Important! When choosing a coffee maker, you should pay attention to the power of the device. To quickly prepare coffee, it is recommended to choose devices with a power of 800-1000 W.

Dimensions

Drip coffee makers are compact in size , they do not take up much space in the kitchen and are easy to move. However, horn-type devices can hardly be called too large - their dimensions depend on the presence of additional functions and the complexity of the device.

Ease of use

And using drip models is much easier. Such devices do not require special care, because nothing gets dirty except the replaceable filters and the container for the finished coffee. After making coffee, the disposable filter should be thrown away and a new one installed in its place.

Horn devices, in turn, are less convenient. In order to clean the device, it must be disassembled and washed thoroughly. Care is also required for the accessories that come with the device.

Price

Drip coffee makers are cheaper than carob coffee makers. The cost of drip models varies from 1,500 to 10,000 rubles, the price of carob models - from 5,000 to 50,000 rubles .

How to choose a good model

The main parameter that you should pay attention to when choosing is the power of the device. And here balance is important - a powerful coffee maker will prepare coffee very quickly, but due to the high brewing speed, some of its taste and aroma qualities will be lost. A weak model will brew a rich drink, but will spend a lot of time on it. The optimal power indicator is about 750-800 W. But which ground coffee is best for a coffee maker and how to choose the best one for yourself is described in great detail in the article at the link.

Other parameters do not particularly affect the taste and smell of the drink, but make using the coffee machine simpler and more convenient:

1. The built-in water filter eliminates the need to filter it in advance.
2. The anti-drip system keeps coffee drops inside the device when the cup or flask is removed from the coffee maker platform.
3. Adjusting the strength will allow you to experiment with the richness of the finished coffee without changing the proportion of ground beans poured into the device.
4. The ability to customize the number of servings of coffee prepared is especially valuable for large coffee makers.
5. The built-in coffee grinder allows you to use the freshest ground beans, preserving their taste and smell as much as possible.
6. Remote control and a timer to turn the device on/off make it possible to prepare coffee for a specific moment, for example, when you wake up or return from work.
7. The temperature indicator indicates whether the coffee in the container is hot or needs to be warmed up.

It is also worth paying attention to how the coffee maker for bean coffee is used at home.

Video on how to choose a good coffee maker:

But which geyser-type coffee maker for a gas stove is the best and most often used is indicated in detail here.

Reviews

Below are some customer reviews. If you have something to say, leave your feedback in the comments below the article, it will be useful to our readers.

I've been using a drip coffee maker for about three years. The device is inexpensive, convenient, I quickly figured out how to use it, and the taste is quite satisfactory. The volume is only 0.6 liters, so coffee is brewed in minutes. But there are some nuances that I would like to change: the coffee turns out warm, not hot, you have to change filters often and there is no foam on the surface. You also need to use filtered water, otherwise scale will form, which is difficult to get rid of.

I recently purchased a new carob coffee maker. The old one served for almost 6 years and, unfortunately, broke. As a big connoisseur of quality coffee, I can say with confidence that it is impossible to make espresso or latte better than a coffee maker. The coffee is brewed instantly and turns out rich, with a pronounced aroma and dense creamy foam. There is only one downside: you can only prepare two servings of the drink at a time.