Coffee makers - gourmet coffee without the high price
Here are some tips for choosing the perfect coffee maker for those who want to make gourmet coffee and coffee drinks at home, without the gourmet price.
First, decide whether you want an espresso machine or other machine, such as drip or percolator. Espresso machines are expensive and require a little more work, most machines require that you make each cup of coffee separately, however, they allow you to make a variety of coffee styles: Lattes, Cappuccino, Macchiato, etc. Regular drip coffee makers are less expensive and they allow you to simply turn the coffee "on" and let it brew two or more cups on it's own with not much work on your part. This is handy when you're serving several people at once. Many coffee makers allow you to program them to start brewing automatically, at a time you choose. You can wake to the great aroma of tasty brew. Coffee makers also allow you to use flavored coffee and to change the strength of the coffee by changing the coffee to water ratio.
Other coffee maker options include stovetop pots or "Moka" coffeepot and the French Press or plunger press pot. The stovetop pot will yield very strong, dark coffee which can be used to make styles of coffee that espresso machines make such as cappuccino. The French press allows you to control the strength of the coffee but is a little more complicated to use than a drip coffee machine. With a French press, you let the coffee grounds steep, similar to making tea. The grounds will float to the top then a plunger type device with a filter is used to push the grounds to the bottom of the pot separating them from the brew.
You'll also want to consider coffee maker accessories. A good coffee grinder allows you to buy whole coffee beans and grind them yourself at home. Grinding beans fresh before each service yields great, fresh tasting coffee. Coffee roasters allow you to roast green coffee beans in your home for a super fresh brew. Milk frothers are used to make the foamy milk topping for cappuccino and other coffee drinks.
First, decide whether you want an espresso machine or other machine, such as drip or percolator. Espresso machines are expensive and require a little more work, most machines require that you make each cup of coffee separately, however, they allow you to make a variety of coffee styles: Lattes, Cappuccino, Macchiato, etc. Regular drip coffee makers are less expensive and they allow you to simply turn the coffee "on" and let it brew two or more cups on it's own with not much work on your part. This is handy when you're serving several people at once. Many coffee makers allow you to program them to start brewing automatically, at a time you choose. You can wake to the great aroma of tasty brew. Coffee makers also allow you to use flavored coffee and to change the strength of the coffee by changing the coffee to water ratio.
Other coffee maker options include stovetop pots or "Moka" coffeepot and the French Press or plunger press pot. The stovetop pot will yield very strong, dark coffee which can be used to make styles of coffee that espresso machines make such as cappuccino. The French press allows you to control the strength of the coffee but is a little more complicated to use than a drip coffee machine. With a French press, you let the coffee grounds steep, similar to making tea. The grounds will float to the top then a plunger type device with a filter is used to push the grounds to the bottom of the pot separating them from the brew.
You'll also want to consider coffee maker accessories. A good coffee grinder allows you to buy whole coffee beans and grind them yourself at home. Grinding beans fresh before each service yields great, fresh tasting coffee. Coffee roasters allow you to roast green coffee beans in your home for a super fresh brew. Milk frothers are used to make the foamy milk topping for cappuccino and other coffee drinks.
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