Coffee Maker Shopping Guide

It's hard to imagine a world without coffee. For many people, a warm cup of delicious coffee is part of their morning ritual to get the day started. Coffee makers have made it easy to access your favorite brew without having to leave the house or line up at the coffee shop. Many programmable models even allow you to program your brew in advance, and you can have your warm coffee ready for you right when you need it. The best thing about having your coffee maker is you can make your coffee exactly the way you want it-which kind of beans, the flavor you desire, the brew strength, and as much as you want. Brewing your coffee at home saves you a lot of money as well. 
 

Different types of coffee makers work on the same basic principle. Water is mixed with coffee beans to extract the flavor. Water is drained through the beans and delivered to your cup, mug, or carafe through a filter. Not all coffee makers are created equal. Water temperatures, the way the water is delivered, and other mechanisms can affect the taste and quality of the final product. Manufacturers also now offer additional features and new technologies that can make the process simpler and mess-free. When shopping for the best coffee maker, these guidelines will help you decide on the most suitable one for your personal needs and preferences.
 

Coffee Maker Types

Coffee-making machines use different methods for brewing. Once you decide on which type you prefer, it becomes easier to narrow down your choices from the models available. Some common types of coffee makers include the following: 

• Electric Drip Coffee Makers

Drip-style coffee makers are the easiest to operate. Using one of these machines, you can brew your preferred coffee blend at your desired strength by adding more or fewer grounds. Most electric drip coffee makers feature a simple on/off switch for heating the water sent through the grounds. 

• Single-Serve Machines

Single-cup coffee makers are ideal for small or single-person households. These are highly convenient for preparing one cup of brewed coffee at a time. All you need to do is insert a cup or capsule, press a button, and wait for your cup of coffee. Most single-cup machines use the same temperature for brewing, and some allow options for different cup sizes. If you prefer to grind your beans, you can look at single-cup coffee makers with a grinder.

• Espresso Machines

Espresso machines are specialty coffee makers dedicated to just making one type of coffee. Some hybrid models can also brew regular coffee, but if you’re after the best quality espresso, you’ll find many of the best espresso machines under $200 only. Espresso machines come in different styles. There are stovetop models, pod machines, espresso machines with a grinder, and models that only use ground beans.

• Cold Brew Coffee Makers

Sometimes when the weather is hot, you may want your coffee ice cold. Cold-brew coffee uses cold or ice water to extract the flavor from ground coffee beans. These may, however, require a longer steeping time.

Types of Coffee

Whether you wish to brew different types of coffee depending on your mood or have a strict preference only for espresso, there is an ideal coffee maker for you. You may opt for a machine that can make both, and you can look for a coffee and espresso maker combo. A dual coffee maker can give you the best of both worlds and more practical in terms of space. But if you don’t want to compromise the quality of your espresso, you can check out some of the best cheap espresso machine choices and see if they suit your needs. 

Brew Size

The production capacity of a coffee maker is an essential consideration if you want to minimize throwing away old coffee or don’t want to find yourself having to start another brew at an inconvenient time. Try to check single-cup small coffee machines that allow you to blend different flavors one cup at a time. If your household consumes a lot of coffee, a 10-12 cup coffee maker will suit your needs perfectly. Many of these models have customized settings for brewing lesser batches or function like a 4-cup coffee maker. 

Timing Options

Many of the featured models on our Top 10 Best Coffee Makers come available with a thermal carafe. This feature is highly effective in keeping your coffee hot for many hours. Depending on your personal and family schedule, you can opt for a machine with suitable timing features. Some models allow you to set the timer for when to start brewing. If you’re always heading out, a single-cup coffee maker or pod machine might be your best bet.

Size and Model

Aside from brew quality and timing concerns, space would also be an important factor when choosing a coffee maker for your home. Check the dimensions of a coffee maker model you plan to buy and make sure it would fit comfortably in your kitchen countertop. For single-cup machines, find out if you can use the coffee mugs you have at home or have to use only a standard-sized cup. 

Custom Brewing Options

With basic coffee machines, all you have to do is decide whether to add more or fewer coffee grounds and find your sweet spot. While there’s a lot to be said about simplicity, you can opt for models that give you more options in terms of brew strength, water temperature levels, brew sizes, and other options. You may also find dual coffee makers that can also brew tea, hot chocolate, and specific drinks. 

Additional Features

Many manufacturers have made coffee makers more attractive with amazing features that you might like. Some of the most common new features in top-selling coffee machines include thermal carafes, auto-shutoff, keep-warm, and specific timer features. You’ll also find machines that issue sound alerts or are equipped with signal lights to tell you if your coffee is ready. More expensive machines may include the espresso brewer or a coffee machine with a grinder.