Buying Advice
Coffee Makers is a loose term for equipment whose main purpose is to provide some form of coffee. They range from simple filter coffee makers which can be purchased for under £50.00, to relatively large, fashionable and complex machines which can be purchased for several hundred pounds. We have used a wide range of properties to cover most aspects of most coffee makers. Please keep in mind that very few will be relevant to all types. Some properties will only be relevant to percolaters while others will only be relevant to filter coffee makers etc.
Type
1. Percolator: Water is heated in the central body of the percolater. It is then forced up a tube in the center of the percolater into a basket at the top which contains the coffee and then back down into the central body.
2. Filter Coffee Maker: There are many variations in the design of filter coffee makers. The main idea, however, is that hot water is placed over ground coffee into a container.
3. Espresso/Cappuccino Maker: An espresso maker has the ability to use pressure to push water or steam through tightly compacted ground coffee. For it to qualify as a espresso/cuppaccino maker as opposed to just an espresso maker it has to have the ability to heat and froth milk which is poured into an espresso to create a cappuccino.
4. Combination Coffee Maker: This refers to a machine that can make both filter coffee and espresso.
Removable drip tray (relevant to Espresso Makers & Coffee machines)
This just simply makes cleaning easier.
Filter Type (relevant to Filter coffee makers only)
Permanent Filters: These are normally made of mesh and are washable
Disposable: Paper filters
Older coffee machines used changeable paper filters that are thrown away after they have been used. Most new coffee makers have a permanent filter making them more economical to use.
Power indicator light
A light to indicate whether the coffee maker is on or not.
Machine Capacity(L)
This refers to the water tank capacity of a coffee machine in litres.
Capacity (cups)
The most common method of determing the size of a percolator or filter coffee makers (which include a jug) is by the number of cups of coffee the actual jug or percolater can hold
Pressure (‘bar’)
Espresso is made under pressure, the higher the pressure the better the flavour of the espresso. Pressure is measured in bar, the higher the number the higher the pressure. Espresso machines come in two varieties, there are those that create pressure through the use of a pump and others which create pressure by steam. Espresso machines that use the pump method tend to be more expensive and are able to produce higher pressure, up to 15 bar, than their steam counterparts, which will only create 3 – 4 bar.
Milk frother
In order to produce a good cappuccino, frothed milk is required so a milk frother is needed to produce light creamy milk for the top of the drink.
Number of brewing spouts
This feature refers to the number of filter adapters that can be placed in the machine. This does not, however, represent the number of cups of coffee that can be made simultaneously since filter adapters with one or two spouts are available. Where a dispenser method is used, this filter refers to the number of cups of coffee that can be made simultaneously using a coffee machine.
Anti-drip device
This is relevant when a jug is used to hold coffee which has been filtered or dispensed. This adds safety to the coffee making process since it prevents the liquid from dripping onto the hotplate.
Strength control
This allows you to increase the strength of the coffee therefore catering for varying tastes.
Automatic switch-off
This is a safety feature, so there will be no need to worry that you’ve left it switched on as the machine will turn its self off after a period of time.
Hot plate
This helps to keep made coffee hot and fresh for longer.
Water level gauge
An indication of how much water there is in the machine so that you know when it needs to be filled or emptied.
Cord storage
A device designed to store the cord away neatly when not in use.
