Coffee maker for home: how to choose a good machine

The number of coffee drinkers in our country amounts to tens of millions. Some people drink only one cup of coffee a day, while others drink much more.

Some people prefer instant coffee, but they rarely call themselves true admirers of this drink. True coffee lovers prefer freshly ground and freshly brewed coffee. It is then that you can feel the real aroma and taste of this drink.

True, the procedure for preparing such a drink takes quite a lot of time, and this is precisely what we constantly lack.

Therefore, people come up with some devices to automate this process. Someone buys a coffee maker. But the coffee in it, although better than instant coffee, does not reach the quality of Turkish coffee.

But an inexpensive coffee machine for home can be compared in quality to hand-brewed coffee. And the process is completely automated and takes much less time.

Let's look at the main advantages and disadvantages of coffee machines and see which one is suitable for your home.

What is a coffee machine?

So, what is a bean coffee machine for home? This machine was created for cafes and restaurants to quickly prepare coffee for customers. These machines were quite large and cumbersome.

Machine manufacturers saw the advantage of making small machines for home use.

Such machines are quite popular in the modern world. Therefore, let's look at the main features of coffee machines that you should pay attention to when choosing them.

Carob coffee maker (holder)

Description . The most common types of coffee makers - carob - have several names. Sometimes they are called by the type of drink they prepare - espresso. Horn or holder devices are called because of the design in which coffee is poured into a special horn. This is a small ladle with a long handle, equipped with a metal mesh filter.

The primacy in the invention of carob devices is disputed by many, but still the Italian Bezzera is considered the founder of brewing coffee under pressure. The engineer forced water under pressure through ground coffee, pressed into a tablet. The Italian sought to speed up the brewing process, hence the name - espresso (fast). In addition to the speed of preparation, the new type of drink had a rich taste without the bitterness typical of coffee.

All devices with a horn are divided into two main types:

• pump-action;
• pumpless (steam).

Externally, both models are similar, but the principle of operation and the quality of the resulting drink are significantly different.

In pump models, coffee is prepared under steam pressure produced by a vibration pump. In household devices, pressures of up to 15 bar are used. This is more than enough to prepare high-quality espresso. The water in these models is at the ideal temperature for efficient extraction and preservation of flavor and aroma. Pump coffee makers served as the basis for the creation of coffee machines that are equipped with many functions and modes.

Device of a carob coffee maker.

Pumpless brewers brew a drink by simply running hot water through a horn. At the same time, the water is practically boiling. It is impossible to prepare truly delicious espresso in steam models.

Operating principle and features . Preparing the coffee maker for operation consists of placing ground coffee in a horn and installing it on the device. However, if you simply pour in the powder, you won’t get tasty coffee; the water will quickly seep through the contents of the horn and will not have time to extract the necessary substances. Proper tempering, or compaction of the powder in a carob basket, is necessary. The compacted coffee should resemble a dense tablet with a smooth surface. A little ground coffee, up to 12 g, is placed in the cone.

What kind of coffee can you get ? The main type of coffee that can be obtained from a carob coffee maker is espresso. Many carob-type devices, both pump and steam, are equipped with a cappuccino maker, a special element for frothing milk. You can use it to brew coffee and milk drinks – latte, cappuccino, etc.

Who is it suitable for ? The coffee maker will be indispensable for those who prefer espresso-based drinks - macchiato, cappuccino, Viennese, latte.

Pros of a carob coffee maker

1. High-quality drink at the end;
2. Cooking speed (30sec – 2min);
3. Numerous additional options;
4. A wide variety of coffee makers, both in form and functionality.

Cons of a carob coffee maker

1. High cost (especially for pump-action);
2. Requires a lot of space for installation;
3. Subject to regular descaling;
4. Management skills required.

What you should pay attention to when choosing a coffee machine

The first thing you should pay attention to is the rating of coffee machines for home 2021. It shows not only the popularity of machines of a particular brand among the population, but also reliability and ease of use.

You can also ask the price of various types of cars from a financial point of view.

Typically, such ratings are accompanied by reviews from users of these units, which can be quite useful when choosing your own coffee machine for your home.

The best coffee machine manufacturers

The best coffee machines are produced by well-known companies that maintain a high level of quality and provide good warranty service for the machines.

Pay attention to suitable models from manufacturers Bork (Russia), Bosch (Germany), Panasonic (Japan), De Longhi (Italy), Krups (France), Moulinex (France), Melitta (Germany), Philips (Netherlands), Saeco (Italy), Siemens (Germany).

Millstone

When choosing the best coffee machine for your home, you should first of all look at the millstones of this machine, which are responsible for grinding the beans.

Currently, millstones come in two varieties:

• steel, more reliable, but overheat the grains during grinding. And the smell of burnt coffee is present in the drink.
• ceramic, more fragile, but the quality of the drink is higher.

Geyser coffee maker

Description. Geyser-type coffee makers appeared almost a hundred years ago. The Italian Bialetti designed an unusual device back in 1933. At the same time, the entrepreneur founded the production of coffee pots of this type. They can be made of aluminum or stainless steel.

Traditional geyser coffee makers, which can be heated on gas stoves, have an octagonal shape. The device consists of three elements:

• lower container into which water is poured;
• the middle perforated one, where ground coffee is placed;
• the top one, where the finished drink is poured.

On sale you can find electric models that do not require the use of open flame. A heating element is built into the bottom of the lower part of the device.

Electric geyser coffee maker.

Operating principle and features.

Water is poured into the lower vessel, which is equipped with a valve, at a level slightly below the valve. The middle part is filled with ground medium-ground coffee beans. The powder layer is not heavily compacted so that the filtration pores do not become clogged. The top is then screwed on and the coffee maker is placed on the fire. During the boiling process, water passes through the powder and collects as finished coffee at the top of the coffee maker.

The process of making coffee in a geyser coffee maker

What kind of coffee can you get ? The coffee maker prepares one type of coffee, although recently manufacturers tried to introduce a geyser that makes cappuccino, but the foam is not stable. The drink is strong, does not contain sediment, and tastes like espresso.

Who is it suitable for ? For those who love the deep and rich taste of coffee.

Pros of a geyser coffee maker

1. Ease of use;
2. Acceptable price;
3. Coffee does not flood the stove and does not burn;
4. No sediment in the drink;
5. Compactness;
6. High quality coffee;
7. No scale is formed;
8. Wide range of coffee makers.

Disadvantages of a geyser coffee maker

1. One drink recipe;
2. You have to prepare the same number of servings;
3. Lack of indication of product readiness;
4. Cannot be washed in the dishwasher;
5. The model should be selected according to the type of slab.

Water heating

There are also two options for heating water:

• a boiler that heats a certain amount of water, and after preparing one serving of coffee, cold water is added to it and it needs to be heated again. As gourmets say, repeated heating of water spoils the taste of coffee.
• The thermoblock heats water exactly enough for a serving of coffee, but the heating time is longer if you need to prepare several servings of coffee at once.

Types of coffee makers for professional use and self-service

A professional and organizational approach to choosing a coffee maker takes into account not only these features. The technical characteristics, capabilities and design of the device should be taken into account.

• Geyser devices are the least common in this class; they work on the principle of displacing hot water and steam from a boiler and passing through ground coffee or a capsule. This solution is most relevant for coffee machines.
• Drip devices boil water in a boiler and direct it into a container with powder, from where the finished coffee is directed by gravity into cups or flasks.
• The coffee maker can provide the distribution of a drink and hot water to two visitors at the same time, direct coffee into the flask without interruption in portion service, and work as a boiler for boiling and maintaining the temperature of hot water.
• Devices with a permanent or replaceable filter differ in the ability to change the filter element less frequently and clean it without replacement.

When choosing a professional coffee maker, its performance is important, depending on the amount of water, the method of filling or replenishing the boiler and the final amount of coffee - cups per hour or hot water per hour.

Coffee preparation speed and quantity

Mainly depends on the power of the coffee machine, both electrically and in terms of refilling coffee and water.

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In small families, there is no point in buying powerful coffee machines as they are quite expensive and will be ineffective.

Choosing a professional coffee maker - design and features

Most professional devices are a boiler with a drip coffee function.

If you need to organize in-line service, it is convenient to use coffee makers for cafes and bars with a water supply connection. In hotels and enterprises with the possibility of self-service, machines with a flask are convenient - they create a supply of the finished drink, provide heating of the flask from below, and allow you not to distract staff for dispensing coffee, and, if there is an additional valve, for dispensing hot water.

In terms of technological standards, the equipment fully complies with the requirements of sanitation, energy efficiency and safety. This is ensured by design features:

• Stainless steel and heat-resistant glass are used to make professional coffee makers;
• automatic temperature control and heating shutdown are built into the devices;
• the electrical part is reliably isolated from water;
• control in most cases is extremely simple - it allows you to set the temperature and filling rate of the tank;
• in high-capacity coffee makers with a water supply connection and a permanent filter, the automation monitors the heating and timely replenishment of the boiler, notifies you of the need to clean the filter and remove waste from the container.

Special mention should be made of machines for coffee in pods and capsules, which allow you to accurately dose the amount of powder. Some models have a built-in cup heating module. To organize service, you should consider:

• the need for the number of cups of coffee and hot water during peak times of influx of visitors;
• the possibility of self-service for visitors (for a hotel, fast food cafe, buffet);
• the need to automatically replenish the water supply or the possibility of manually replenishing the boiler;
• technical ability to connect to a water supply system - in most models, standard adapters are used for this and water purification filters are installed;
• in case of a large flow of visitors or round-the-clock use, it is possible to install a coffee maker with a permanent filter;
• the presence of a flask and a constant heating system.

Sand coffee makers are devices designed to safely heat and maintain the temperature of sand in a working container. To prepare coffee using such equipment, staff training is required - the drink is brewed by a barista who knows the techniques of its preparation and a certain artistry necessary to attract visitors.

Cleaning the brewing mechanism

The cleaning function is one of the most important in modern coffee machines. There is a manual cleaning option, but according to some coffee lovers, a residual deposit of coffee remains in the tubes of the machine, which subsequently spoils the taste of subsequent servings.

Automatic cleaners using special tablets do not have this disadvantage but are more expensive.

Drip coffee maker (filtration, Americano)

Description. This reliable and simple device has been used by coffee lovers for over 200 years. The year of creation of the drip coffee maker is considered to be 1800, when the French Archbishop de Bellois connected two containers placed on top of each other. A filter bag containing ground coffee was placed between the vessels. Hot water was poured into a vessel installed on top; the bottom one was intended to drain the finished drink. The water seeped through the bag in droplets, and the coffee fell into the lower cup. Thus, without boiling, a delicious aromatic drink was obtained.

Over time, the design has improved, and today drip coffee makers are powered. But the principle of operation remains the same.

Operating principle and features . The heated water, boiling, rises upward, where it condenses and reaches the desired temperature (85-95°C), then drops dropwise onto the brewing filter with coffee powder. The finished drink is poured into a placed bowl. Good quality is achieved by slowly passing water through the powder. Coffee can be served immediately after filling the receiver container.

To prepare the drink, take two teaspoons of ground coffee per 100 g of water, which is poured into a special container. After turning on the device, you do not need to monitor it, unless you are afraid that the prepared coffee will cool down. However, many models have heating and auto-off options, so you can safely do other things.

In addition to these functions, drip coffee makers are equipped with power indicators, timers and reusable filters. However, such filters must be washed thoroughly after each use. Using disposable ones is much easier, but more expensive.

Drip coffee maker device.

What kind of coffee can you get ? Drip coffee makers are often called “Americano”, since it was the Americans who loved this type of device the most. In addition, the drink prepared in the device tastes similar to an Americano from a coffee machine. The strength of coffee depends on the proportions of liquid and powder used.

Who is it suitable for ? Drip coffee makers are chosen by people who do not like to waste time on the brewing process.

Pros of a drip coffee maker

1. Easy controls;
2. Consistent coffee quality;
3. Ease of use (no need for constant presence);
4. Low cost (1700-2000 rubles);
5. Large selection of shapes, sizes and volumes.

Cons of a drip coffee maker

1. One type of coffee;
2. Additional costs (descaling, purchasing disposable filters);
3. Average drink quality.

Availability of a cappuccino maker

For cappuccino lovers, having a cappuccino maker is of great importance.

So, there are models with an automatic function for preparing this drink, but there are also machines with a manual cappuccino maker. And for those who do not like this drink, you can choose the option without it.

Capsule coffee makers (coffee machines)

Experience in selling pod coffee makers has shown that it is more profitable to sell consumables rather than devices. Manufacturing companies perfected this idea, and as a result, capsule coffee machines appeared on the world market. The cooking method was patented back in 1978. Since 1980, these devices and capsules for them have been produced by four well-known manufacturers: Nespresso, Cremesso, Tassimo and Dolce Gusto.

Sellers call this class of kitchen appliances coffee machines, due to the fact that their drink preparation process is even more automated than in pod coffee makers. All that remains is to manually place the capsule and pour water into the reservoir; some models have a compartment where the used coffee automatically goes in a beautiful package.

Smart machines have “learned” to read a barcode printed on sealed aluminum foil packaging and containing information about the method of brewing a specific type of capsule. Therefore, choosing a mode is reduced to pressing the “Start” button. The process of preparing morning coffee takes just a few seconds, and maintenance of the machine is kept to a minimum. For those who do not like to experiment with recipes and value predictable results, capsule coffee makers are ideal. They take up little space, are beautifully designed, fit well into a small kitchen, and their cost is even lower than traditional carob coffee makers.

Operating principle of capsule coffee makers

Extraction of aromatic substances using hot water under high pressure (built-in pump develops pressure from 15 bar). Fundamental changes affected only consumables. Capsules contain less ground coffee than pods, and their cost has increased significantly compared to the latter.

The variety of flavors of the finished drink has increased, and the buyer now has apparent freedom of choice. Before purchasing a capsule coffee machine, you should familiarize yourself with the range of each manufacturer and choose the appropriate option. Depending on the market situation, prices often change, costs rise, and switching to cheaper capsules from another brand is not always possible.

Nespresso coffee machines

The machines of this system are the brainchild of the Swiss company Nestle Nespresso SA; they appeared on the market in 1986, earlier than others. They are made by the famous companies DeLonghi and Krups.

Nespresso

Advantages:

• Consistently high build quality;
• compact, stylish design;
• a large assortment of coffee drinks: 26 types of capsules, including 6 decaffeinated;
• ready-made drinks from one type of capsule always have a familiar taste;
• the possibility of replacing original, rather expensive capsules with alternative ones. They are produced all over the world, and even domestic ones have appeared.
• Manufacturers claim that it is possible to brew regular ground coffee.

Flaws:

• Nespresso system machines are more expensive than similar ones;
• higher cost and limited sales of original capsules than competitors;
• making coffee with milk is provided only in expensive models with a cappuccino maker;
• There are no capsules with tea and chocolate in stock.

Cremesso coffee machines

Capsules for machines of this system are produced by the Swiss company Delica; coffee machines are sold under the same brand.

Cremesso

Advantages:

• stable taste of drinks, the manufacturing company controls the process of manufacturing capsules from growing and collecting raw materials to releasing finished products;
• stylish design;
• the pump develops high pressure (up to 19 bar);
• quick preparation process: it takes 15 seconds to warm up, 20–30 seconds to serve the finished drink;
• In addition to coffee, there is the possibility of brewing tea; there are 4 types of capsules in the assortment.

Flaws:

• the palette of coffee flavors is limited to classics and has only 11 types;
• machines and capsules of the Cremesso system are more difficult to find in stores;
• Only expensive car models have cappuccino makers.

Coffee machines of the Dolce Gusto system

This system was created in France by Nestle dolce gusto, RPC. Coffee machines and capsules are produced under the Krups brand. They are more affordable than products from the Swiss Nespresso system, but the quality and technical characteristics are significantly lower than those of the prototype.

Dolce Gusto

Advantages:

• the palette of flavors includes 25 different drinks, including coffee, tea and cocoa;
• the cost of capsules is lower than that of competitors;
• low price for coffee machines;
• cappuccino or latte are prepared even on machines with a minimum set of functions.

Flaws:

• the build quality of the devices leaves much to be desired;
• coffee content in capsules is only 6 grams;
• Dairy drink capsules contain milk powder, and the price of one cup is relatively high;
• The capsules from which mocha, cortado, and coffee with milk are prepared contain instant coffee instead of ground coffee with chemical additives: stabilizers and emulsifiers.

Tassimo coffee machines

The capsule coffee brewing system was developed by the American company Kraft Foods. It produces coffee machines together with the famous company Bosch.

Tassimo

The design of coffee machines has significant differences from other systems. Due to the fact that capsules for Tassimo are larger than analogues intended for other systems and are made in the form of disks, and the coffee powder in them is not compressed, the pressure developed by the built-in pump (3.3 bar) is sufficient to prepare high-quality espresso.

Tassimo machines are equipped with a Brita filter for softening and purifying water, so it is acceptable to use tap water, but bottled water is still the best option.

Advantages:

• an increased dose of coffee (capsules contain 9 grams) guarantees a rich taste and aroma;
• any, even the simplest model is suitable for preparing both classic and dairy drinks: cappuccino, latte, cocoa;
• relatively low prices for capsules and coffee machines.

Flaws:

• The range of capsules includes only 7 types of black coffee;
• you have to frequently wipe the barcode scanner;
• Quite expensive capsules for dairy drinks contain milk powder;
• in Jacobs Café au Lait (coffee with milk) capsules, natural coffee is replaced with instant coffee.

With all the advantages and obvious disadvantages, it is advisable to buy a Nespresso or Cremesso coffee machine for your home: they have a higher build quality. Experts recommend paying attention to the possibility of purchasing suitable capsules; the range of flavors and financial capabilities matter.

Choosing the best coffee machine

Still, the price of a home coffee machine plays a determining role when choosing.

If there is no need for certain functions, such as a cappuccino maker or memory, then you can choose a simpler machine, since it will cost less for your family.

Photos of coffee machines for home

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