Coffee is one of the most important and influential beverages known to humanity. 50% of the British population drink coffee on a daily basis. When asked, many people will downright admit that if it was not for coffee, they would not have the strength and motivation to get through the day. This is true for everybody, regardless of whether they work at an office, are construction workers, or perform any other task for a living. We love coffee and there is no way around it.
However, even just one cup of coffee a day can set you back a significant amount of money every month if you choose to buy it from coffee shops, such as Starbucks or Costa. You might not feel the impact on a daily basis, but in truth, it’s quite similar to having a cigarette habit — once you look at it objectively and pool all the money you’ve spent on coffee in the past couple of months, you’ll realize that you could have bought something much better with that sum (or deposited it in your savings account).
Being able to make high-quality coffee at home is a luxury that many take for granted, whereas others don’t seem to think that it’s possible. The truth is that you can make great coffee at home, provided that you have the right equipment. Before making a final decision regarding your coffee maker, you should check out reliable coffee machine reviews, and, if it’s your first purchase of this kind, find out what kind of a machine you’ll actually need.
If you want to dip your toe into the world of coffee makers, but don’t quite know where to start, you’re in the right place. Here, you’ll learn what to look for when buying your very first coffee maker, and much more!
Save Money by Making Coffee at Home
Buying a coffee machine might seem like an expensive idea at first, but when you consider the fact that good coffee machines can last you for a good couple of years (even longer, if you take good care of them), then you’ll soon realize that this expenditure makes a lot of sense. Especially if you’re an avid coffee drinker.
Even if you splash a lot of cash on your new coffee maker, you will end up saving it in the long run. Drinking multiple cups of premium quality coffee per day, whether it is from an espresso machine or a single-serve coffee maker, would cost you a fortune if you were to do so out in the city. These kinds of machines are quite costly but are sure to provide you with the best coffee possible, at a fraction of what you would pay at a coffee shop in your city.
Convenience
The 2020s are shaping up to be the decade when the Internet of Things may become the new normal. As the prices of programmable house appliances go down, more and more things turn “smart” every month. This includes coffee machines. If you’re constantly in a hurry and want to save precious minutes of your sleep, the most convenient option for you would be a programmable coffee maker. You can set it up to start making the perfect cup minutes before you wake up, so you can grab it as soon as you get dressed.
Another convenient option you should consider are pod machines, which have become popularized by Nescafe and their Nespresso line of products in recent years. They work on a basis of single-serving coffee pods. All you’ve got to do is pop the pod into your maker and voila — your beverage is ready within thirty seconds. No need to mess around with grains or waiting for the built-in grinder to do its job!
Types of Coffee
Some people aren’t coffee aficionados and all they want from their machine is the ability to make a regular cup of joe they can drink with their morning paper. If you’re one of those people, then a simple drip coffee maker could be the thing you’re looking for. You can either get one with a built-in grinder to use with fresh beans or opt for a cheaper version that uses ground coffee.
The above-mentioned pod machines are a good middle ground between high-quality coffee and the reliability of a drip maker, although they’re hardly the most suitable option if you’re trying to make a lot of coffee for a few people in a brief period of time.
Brew Size
The amount of coffee you can get out of each coffee maker differs from product to product, especially when you factor in the time it takes to make a single cup. Drip coffee makers are unrivaled when it comes to making sizable portions of the beverage within minutes. This is the reason why you can find them in most places.
Another to-go option if you don’t want to struggle with single-serve espresso machines is the french press. It’s probably the cheapest out of all of the types of coffee makers, but it can make a mean pot of coffee, provided that you get a good one, preferably made out of stainless steel.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve never brewed coffee before and are a little intimidated by the variety of choices, unsure of whether you will be able to use your new coffee maker properly, don’t worry! Many people have struggled with the same problem as you, but have come out victorious on the other end.
The most important thing to consider is your own preference — think about the cup of coffee you usually order and base your decision around that. If you enjoy a cafe latte or an espresso macchiato with freshly whisked cream, then you’re probably not going to have the best experience with a traditional drip maker and should go for one of the more advanced espresso machines.
If, on the other hand, you usually drink coffee at roadside diners and don’t care for all of the fanciness, then a french press or drip coffee makers should serve you just fine. Remember: the best coffee maker is the one that has the ability to make your favourite beverage without too much fuss!