Mini coffee maker - electric models, for the car, on the road, for the home

A portable coffee maker is very convenient for those who travel a lot, travel a lot, and do not have access to their favorite home coffee machine. And constantly buying ready-made coffee can cost more than purchasing a mini coffee maker in which you can brew your favorite espresso or Americano at any time. We tell you all about the features of the choice, present the best models and an overview of prices.

What is the difference between drip coffee makers and others?

The principle of their operation and the temperature of the brewing water are optimal for producing American-style coffee. To prepare it, you simply need to pour the required amount of water into the coffee maker and add ground coffee to a special cone-shaped filter.

After turning on the device, the water heats up and steam is formed, from which drops of condensate are formed at a certain temperature (85-90°C). These hot water droplets pass through the coffee powder in the filter and flow into the glass flask.

And from there the finished drink is poured into cups or mugs. Drip coffee makers are extremely easy to use and inexpensive . No wonder they are widespread.

How to choose a portable coffee maker

To make sure you're making the right choice for your needs, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself.

What type of coffee do you prefer? Different devices are designed for different brewing methods, and changing them usually won't work. This is perhaps the most important factor when choosing the perfect portable coffee maker.
Mini - how much is it in terms of size and weight? Lack of space is a common reality among travelers, especially frequent flyers. Sometimes it's more important to have a supply of clothes than a coffee maker. The weight and size of equipment is also very important for a hike.
Will there be access to electricity? For those who choose a mini coffee maker for home, office or on the road and move around cities, this is usually not a problem, but for those who prepare a drink in the open air, it is important.
What else could you need? How many accessories do you need to make a cup of coffee? Disposable or reusable filters (or even a fabric filter that will need to be washed and dried), a coffee grinder, a milk shaker, a container for storing ground coffee? All this affects the weight and overall cost.

Regardless of what accessories are needed, you will need to solve the issue of boiling water - in a mini-kettle or container that can be placed on an open fire, or this will be done by the coffee machine itself.

You may also need a thermal sippy cup into which you will pour the finished drink - this is important for travelers.

What to pay attention to

Power.

The speed of coffee preparation and its quantity depend on this parameter. It is logical that larger models have higher power. However, for regular drip coffee makers of the same size, the coffee strength may be higher with less powerful ones. This is because the brewing process in them takes longer. If you need a stronger drink, you should choose a model with 750-800 W.

Type of coffee filters.

Absolutely all drip coffee makers require a special filter to add ground coffee to it. But these filters may be different in different models. When choosing a coffee maker, it is important to pay attention to this.

Nylon. This type is the most common. And it is usually included with the coffee maker. Most users consider it permanent and use it until it wears out. But you need to take into account that the quality of food prepared in such a filter deteriorates after a certain time. Although it is reusable, its actual lifespan is approximately 60 brewing cycles.

"Golden" . This is a variation of the same nylon filter, but coated with a protective layer of titanium nitride. Its special feature is its slightly longer service life and ease of cleaning. However, the benefits are not particularly great, but the price may increase significantly.

Paper disposable. Such filters are rightfully considered the most practical and environmentally friendly. After each use, the paper cones containing the remaining coffee powder are simply thrown away.

Philips Saeco Xmall

A great and really small coffee machine that costs $360. This is not one model. Philips Saeco Xsmall is a whole series consisting of three models:

Steam;
Class White/Black;
Chrome.

The simplest of them is Steam. Its dimensions are 295x325x420 mm. Despite such small geometric parameters, the Philips Saeco Xsmall is a full-fledged coffee machine that prepares excellent espresso. A short video review:

Characteristics:

There is a coffee grinder;
Water tank volume 1 l;
Pump pressure 15 bar;
It is possible to adjust the portion of coffee;
Pre-wetting system;
Cooking two portions at the same time.

This model is extremely popular on the Internet - it is bought, one might say, en masse. There are a lot of reviews about this coffee machine, and almost all of them are positive. Not surprising, because the quality of the finished coffee, the quality of the materials used and workmanship are at the highest level. At the same time, the device is easy to operate, and making coffee in it is a pleasure. Yes, it is expensive, but the price is more than justified.

Characteristics

Power 350 W.
Number of cups 1.
No jug heating.
The material of the jug is glass.
The filter is replaceable.
There is a water level indicator.
There is no auto shutdown.

Pros and cons of manual portable coffee makers: help from Zuzako editors

But are manual and miniature coffee machines for one cup really that good, or is the coffee they produce not so rich and tasty? Let's look at the main advantages and disadvantages of such portable coffee makers.

Advantages

The main advantage is that they do not take up much space. And some of them can be taken with you on the road, on a hike, or just to work.
More expensive models produce coffee as good as full-size and sometimes even professional coffee makers.
Small models are more convenient to wash or clean them from coffee residues. Many people know firsthand how difficult it is to clean and wash large machines, even if they have an automatic cleaning function.
It should also be noted that it is easy to use. For example, to make delicious coffee using some models, you just need to pour boiling water into a special bowl and press the button several times.
And of course, small coffee machines, as a rule, cost less, since less material is used during production.
Small, and especially manual, machines do not make noise or make any sounds at all when preparing coffee.

Flaws

Some of the models have very limited functionality, for example, Wacaco Nanopresso can only prepare espresso, and some others cannot grind beans on their own.
Manual analogues of large equipment are not particularly popular; they are only gaining popularity. And therefore, finding spare parts or sending the device for service is much more difficult, and repairs will require more time.

In fact, it is quite difficult to find any other disadvantages, since if you buy a good portable coffee maker and do not spare money on it, then the quality of the prepared drink will be the same as if you bought it in a coffee shop or made it using bulky equipment.

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In the world of technology and progress, nothing stands still. Experts have come up with a number of new products for life that make life easier for the average person.

How to choose coffee for a carob coffee maker: does grinding the coffee beans matter?

Portable coffee makers are considered very convenient equipment, which can become indispensable for a person in conditions of active recreation, work, going out into nature, as well as for the home .

This single cup portable coffee maker is unique and compact . At the same time, caring for such manual machines is completely simple. The aromatic drink can be prepared in 1 minute and will delight the user anywhere .

Attention! To ensure complete convenience, the products are made of aluminum.

This material is strong and durable. It is not afraid of corrosion, so you can use them for as long as you like.

Since the parts of the device are made of identical material, the high quality allows you to get an aromatic and tasty drink .

The only disadvantage of using a miracle machine is washing it regularly. After each serving of brewed coffee, you must rinse the device thoroughly . In this case, it is advisable to dry it well.

The operating principle of a mini-coffee maker is that hot water seeps through the crushed grains . The grains are placed in a special funnel. This method is called capsule.

The base is placed on the mug, and then the grains are poured. After this, the container is filled with boiling water. One minute and the room is filled with a wonderful aroma.

In order not to make a mistake with the choice and make the right decision, adhere to the following rules :

Product size . Don't think that the small size is inconvenient to use. This is wrong. In addition, cozy coffee machines fit perfectly in the closet and in any handbag.
Taste . A pleasant note and aroma is provided from mini coffee brewing machines. Due to small volumes, the taste becomes ideal.
Quality of prefabricated construction materials . As a rule, small cars are made from high-quality metal materials. Such products are not afraid of high temperatures. When heated, plastic emits an unpleasant odor, and small coffee makers are absolutely odorless.

Car coffee makers appeared on the Russian market relatively recently. They first developed their popularity in the countries of Western Europe and the USA, where automobile tourism developed at an accelerated pace.

The most popular is the drip or filter coffee maker . Water enters the reservoir, where it then flows through a thin tube to the heater.

When the temperature reaches 87 - 95 degrees, it enters the ground coffee and is discharged outside. The power of the heating element is limited . A low power allows the coffee to be better irrigated and allows you to absorb the whole range of aromas.

There are also car espresso coffee makers.

Important! It is worth preparing coffee slowly, then it will have a refined taste and color. It is the filtration machine that provides these properties.

The most popular car coffee makers are Handpresso auto (handpresso coffee machine), Dometic HerftctCoffee, WAECO PerfectCoffee, Alca car coffee maker.

The product looks like a device with a stand at the bottom. At the very bottom there is a heater. Turka can turn off automatically. Some models have a lid on top.

The main material of the product is stainless steel or refractory ceramics . The dimensions of the flask may also vary.

The body is made of plastic with a waterproof seal. Electric Turks can be large volumes - 1.5 liters and quite small - up to 300 ml .

Reference Information! Electric Turks with automatic shut-off have a lot of advantages. They are durable, economical, have a presentable appearance and are reasonably priced.

In stores you can find many convenient and economical models. Nevertheless , Gorenje, Beko, Kelli, Zimber ZM-10732 are considered the most popular .

Capsule coffee machines require a minimum of time to prepare an aromatic drink. With this machine you can prepare two completely different types of coffee one after another . This is a feature of capsule car models. Other products require constant care after preparing one serving.

The principle of operation is that hot water is passed through at high pressure . It passes through a coffee capsule with any filling. It can be roasted, ground or compressed coffee.

Making coffee is very simple: the capsule is placed inside the product, a cup is placed under the machine and the button is pressed .

If previously people were scared by the cost of capsule products, now the range of offered models has grown significantly. There are expensive and cheap products on the market. Any buyer will be able to find the right car for himself.

For your information! The types of capsules most popular among consumers are the following: Nespresso, Dolce Gusto, Lavazza Sweety Bialeti, CF 80.

This type of device has a special horn on the device. That is why the coffee maker is called that. There is a round filter holder on the handle. A coffee tablet is placed in it.

Depending on the pressure developed and the method of achieving it, carob coffee makers are divided into classes :

Pumpless or boiler . This type is based on the production of espresso coffee.
Pump-action . The pressure in them is ensured by the operation of the water pump and pump.
Levered . The most expensive and equipped models. The pressure is adjusted manually using a special switch.

Inexpensive and proven carob-type coffee makers are as follows: Delonghi ECP, Gaggia Viva, Delonghi EC685.

Geyser-type coffee makers prepare a drink in a matter of seconds. They are very easy to use and do not require complex manipulations during operation . They have the ability to pre-set the amount of drink per cup. The coffee in such a machine is aromatic, without sediment or impurities.

Reference! Electric geyser coffee machines cannot grind beans, so they need to be refilled only with special crushed varieties. However, strong coffee is not prepared in such a device.

The best models are Bialetti, Elettricа, Moka Express, Brikka.

Drip models prepare only filtered coffee, but in fact, it makes an excellent “Americano”. The finer the grind, the more water required and fewer portions of coffee .

Drip coffee makers spill all the water poured into the tank through the coffee until they are manually turned off.

There are volumetric models. They are more expensive and better quality. Their tank capacity is from 600 to 900 ml. The most popular is Philips HD7434 . He always comes with a 600 ml reusable nylon filter. We can recommend Redmond RCM-M1507. This machine also has a reusable filter, which makes it convenient to use.

For your information! Also considered good models are Bosch TKA 3A031 / 3A034, Philips HD 7447 or HD 7457, Vitek VT-1503 BK, Polaris PCM 1211.

This video provides an overview of one of the models of manual coffee machines:

Portable coffee machines are a great help for those who do not like to spend time preparing drinks..

These devices can easily be taken with you on a long journey and used for as long as you like for their intended purpose. Coffee lovers should definitely purchase a miracle device with which they can even go outdoors.

Author: Alena Rogozinskaya

Flaws

There is nothing absolutely perfect in this world.

Filters must be replaced periodically. Even if they seem permanent, their resource is limited;
you need to wash the device after each use;
Not very strong and sometimes not hot enough freshly prepared coffee.
You won’t be able to achieve that creamy crema that is typical for espresso coffee makers. And making cappuccino by frothing milk with steam is not possible.
The cord is short - only 70 cm (either there should be an outlet very close by, or an extension cord).

The best compact small coffee machines for home: bean or capsule?

Often, buyers are forced to choose a coffee machine not even by budget or taste preferences, but by size. The fact is that any grain machine has quite impressive dimensions, and buyers are often surprised by the space required to install the unit when they see such equipment in person.

The typical dimensions of a grain machine are 25 x 45 x 40 cm (W x D x H), plus the machine usually requires space on the sides and top for pouring grains, adding water, access to the cake container and the infuser. A compact small coffee machine for grain coffee is a rather rare beast in principle.

Capsule coffee makers are available separately. The thing is that I don’t consider them coffee machines because they don’t work with beans. But in light of the fact that manufacturers and sellers often call them that way, I’ll highlight this point right away:

The smallest coffee machine is a capsule one. Any capsule machine will be many times more compact than a grain machine

And the most compact capsule coffee makers, taking into account what I consider the best Nespresso capsule system, are these: Delonghi EN 85 (review), Delonghi EN 80 (review), Delonghi Pixie (review). It would seem that the situation is a little simpler with narrow grain coffee machines; there are models with a width of 19 cm! But this, as a rule, entails an even greater depth of the unit. As a result, finding a really small coffee machine for the home, and not only for the home, is a real problem. There are few options and I tried to remember them all in this collection.

All small coffee machines have small tanks: for beans, for water, for coffee grounds. It is necessary to understand that it may be uncomfortable for more than 3-4 people to operate it. You will have to add/refill/pour/throw away frequently.

In this rating, I will briefly discuss the characteristic features, pros and cons of specific compact coffee machines from all popular brands. By tradition, we’ll start with the most common one in Russia – Delonghi. The name of each car in the text is a link to its detailed review. Position in the ranking is not a sorting from best to worst, it is simply a serial number.