From Percolators to Espresso Machines: Finding the Right Coffee Maker

You would probably be hard pressed to find a home today that doesn’t own a coffee maker. They are in practically every kitchen. Some are nothing more than stove top percolators and some are full-fledged coffee/espresso/cappuccino makers able to churn out a latte or a cup of coffee.

The coffee maker you decide on for your kitchen should be one that matches your coffee preferences. If all you are concerned with is a good cup of coffee, a simple coffee maker will suffice. However, if you are regularly making a morning trek to the local coffee shop for an espresso, you might want to consider purchasing one for your kitchen.

There are many types of coffee makers to choose from, knowing what each one is will help greatly in making your purchase.

Drip Coffee Maker

The drip coffee maker is the one you see in most kitchens. The coffee is brewed by heating and siphoning water from a reservoir. This water is then deposited slowly into a filter basket filled with coffee grounds. The resulting coffee then drips through the filter into a decanter which sits on a heating element.

Today’s drip coffee makers can be found with a wide variety of options. The decanter is typically 8-12 cups in size and can be glass, ceramic, or even stainless steel. Your coffee maker can have a clock, an automatic timer to start brewing before you wake up, and can even have a built in grinder for the freshest ever. Most also have an auto-off option which turns the heating element off after a certain amount of time.

You can’t get more traditional in your approach to coffee brewing than by using a drip coffee maker. Introduced for home use in the 1970s, these machines work by letting water pass through coffee grounds held in a paper filter or plastic filter. The clear, light-bodied coffee then collects in a brew pot.

Single Cup Coffee Maker

These machines are among some of the newest on the market. Some are available that use regular ground coffee in a smaller filter basket yet only brew one cup at a time, while others use specialized coffee pods to brew individual cups as needed.

These coffee makers are great for people who don’t drink a lot of coffee or families that have only one coffee drinker. Another added benefit is that each person can brew their favorite coffee or flavor.

If you use the pod type brewers you will pay a premium price for the pods, making this coffee maker more expensive than other models.

Percolator

The stove top percolator may look like an antique to many people. For those who have used percolators they know that the coffee has a very different taste from drip coffee makers. This type coffee maker is very slow and alters the natural taste of coffee.

Espresso Machine

The espresso machine is the ultimate in coffee makers. However, unless you purchase a combination espresso-coffee maker you will only be making espresso. Espresso machines are wonderful for making coffee based drinks and are very quick. If you like espresso occasionally and you are a coffee drinker to; you might want to consider a combination coffee-espresso machine.

Your coffee maker is what you want it to be based on your investment. If you are a ritualistic coffee drinker who has to have that morning cup of java to get going, spend a little more money and get a machine that is going to last and that does what you want it to do. If however you only have a coffee maker so that your guests can have coffee or you only occasionally have coffee yourself, there is no need for you to make a large investment.

Sharon V Chapman writes on the joys of coffee and provides consumer information on coffee makers for A1 Coffee Makers – your online guide to coffee makers and espresso machines.

Cleaning a Coffee Maker the Right Way

Cleaning a coffee maker isn’t a “maybe” task, but rather an absolute must. To get great tasting coffee, you should clean your machine on a regular basis. Your coffee drinking guests will appreciate this as well. To learn how, keep reading.

Clean It Every Time

While you don’t need to clean out the entire machine every time you make a pot of coffee, you definitely need to clean out the pot and the filter holder. If you use a reusable metal or mesh filter, it should be thoroughly washed before being used again. Otherwise, leftover residue from stale coffee will be noticeable in the next brew.

Easy Soap, But Soap

Don’t simply rinse your coffee pot out with water. Coffee contains strong oils that can only be washed away with mild soap. Refrain, however, from using too much and make sure you rinse it out thoroughly to avoid a soapy taste on your next pot of coffee.

Remember, even if you’re dumping out one pot and simply throwing on another, the leftover oils from the previous pot of coffee can taint the next brew and negatively affect the taste. So, wash your pot with gentle soap after every use.

Clean the Machine Every Few Uses

You should give your coffee machine a thorough cleaning at least periodically. Doing so will prevent the build-up of calcification, lime or other mineral deposits and keep the machine running at peak capacity.

Do a basic weekly cleaning by running a pot of water and vinegar or water and lemon juice through the machine once and following it up with a plain pot of pure water.

Then, once every few months or once a year, depending on how hard your water is, get rid of mineral deposits using a coffee machine descaler or decalcification solution.

Replace the Water Filter

If your coffee machine has a built-in water filter, be sure to replace it as needed. A dirty water filter can taint every pot of coffee and deposit dangerous molds or bacteria that have built up inside the filter unit. This caution is no different from the changes you would make on any other water filter – for instance, in your refrigerator.

Replace Your Filter

If you use a reusable metal or mesh filter, consider replacing it about once a year. While metal or screen filters are designed to be washed and reused, fine grounds residue can get stuck inside. This not only clogs the filter, but can also affect the overall taste of your coffee.

If the flavor of your coffee is important to you and you don’t want it to taste like it was made by a local auto shop, then some level of reasonable and minimal care must be given to your coffee maker.

Keeping a clean coffee machine benefits you two ways – your machine will last you much longer and your coffee will taste great pot after pot. Remember, wash it after every use, use gentle soap, rinse well, decalcify the machine regularly, and replace the water filter and your grounds filter on a systematic basis.

For additional informative details on coffee and enticing flavors that explode your taste buds, please visit http://www.coffeetryst.com, a popular site with insights on coffee options, such as flavored decaf coffee, gourmet coffee gift baskets, almond flavored coffee, and many more!

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98% top grain cowhide leather glove features our exclusive Gfom vibration-reducing internal pad covering palm. US and European safety standards do not offer a testing procedure or anti-vibration certification for any half-fingered glove, but these gloves contain the same Gfom material as our full-fingered gloves which have met the ANSI S3. 40: 2002 / ISO 10819: 1996 anti-vibration glove standard. Glove features a leather-covered foam knuckle pad for extra protec
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