Coffee Maker Buying Guide

Coffee vs. espresso: You probably know what coffee is and most likely know what an espresso is; but for those who may not this will define the difference between the two beverages.

• Coffee: Derived from the Italian word "caff?," coffee is made from roasted beans, which are ground and then brewed. There are several brewing processes: boiling, gravity, steeping or pressure, each resulting in a beverage containing little or no coffee bean particles.
• Espresso: A form of "esprimere," an Italian word meaning "to force out," espresso is also made from roasted and ground coffee beans. Although espresso beans are roasted differently, the main difference is in the brewing process. Very hot (but not boiling), pressurized water is forced through very finely ground coffee, resulting in a thicker consistency and a higher amount of dissolved coffee grounds. This process makes for an espresso serving size that is measured in shots; each shot is about one ounce of liquid.

So what does this mean for you, the consumer? There are coffee machines and espresso machines. There are also combination coffee/espresso machines. Determining which beverage you want will determine which coffee maker or espresso machine you should buy.

Coffee makers

Believe it or not, there are a lot of different coffee makers. The various brewing techniques (boiling, gravity, steeping, or pressure) give the consumer many choices. Despite their differences, all coffee makers are essentially one of three types: percolators, filters and "pod" systems.

• Percolators: Percolators use the pressure of the boiling water to force it to a chamber above the grounds, but relies on gravity to pass the water down through the grounds, where it then repeats the process until shut off by an internal timer. There are electric percolators and stove-top percolators.
• Coffee press: The coffee press, also known as a French press, uses a total immersion technique. Ground coffee and hot water are combined in the cylinder for about four to seven minutes. Then the plunger, in the form of a metal foil, is depressed, filtering out the grounds and leaving the coffee at the top ready to be poured. Pay attention to the size of the grind; a coarser grind is considered ideal.
• Pressure-brew coffee maker: Hot water is passed through the ground beans and dispensed into your cup. These coffee makers typically have digital settings, a water reservoir and a removable used-grounds reservoir. Some pressure-brew coffee makers grind and brew the beans. Grind and brew coffee makers offer the benefit of choice: you decide the bean type and ground size.
• Drip coffee makers: Drip coffee makers are the most popular type of coffee maker. Although some may grind the beans, most require a separate coffee grinder or pre-ground beans. Heated water is passed through the coffee grounds, through a filter (either disposable paper or fine wire mesh), then into a waiting coffee pot, which sits atop a heated plate. Coffee pots can be made from metal, glass or heat resistant plastics. These coffee makers can be programmed to automatically start brewing at a certain time, which makes them great coffee makers for those who cannot officially wake up in the morning until they've had their coffee. Drip coffee makers are available in many different sizes, capable of making a large pot of coffee or a small amount--enough for one or two cups.
• Pod-based coffee maker: Pod-based coffee makers employ pressure to pass hot water through a pod of packed ground coffee. Typically, these coffee makers are single-serve, although they have a water reservoir. Pods can be purchased separately.

Espresso machines

Espresso machines are becoming increasingly popular for home use. To make espresso, the espresso beans are first ground between extremely fine and almost powder. Espresso machines then use pressure to force very hot water through the grounds. Most espresso machines are capable of making single or double shot portions at a time. Because of espresso's intense flavor and high concentration of caffeine, espresso shots can then be mixed in with milk, water or flavor syrups to create drinks such as lattes, cappuccini (cappuccino), macchiati (macchiato) and mochas.

Coffee maker and espresso machine buying tips

Regardless of which type of machine you choose, there are a few important things to consider.

• How many people will be served daily?
• Which coffee maker or espresso machine will give you the beverage you want?
• How long does the coffee machine need to last?

Look for a machine that has great reviews and fulfills your needs. For example, if you don't feel confident with programming your machine, consider a machine that provides the same functions without the extra buttons. Or, if you like to have both coffee and espresso, look for a combination coffee maker/espresso machine.