Which coffee maker is better to choose for the home: capsule, carob or geyser. Drip coffee maker: pros and cons

Show content articles

Lovers of delicious fresh coffee sooner or later get bored of grinding grains on their own and brewing them in a Turk. Today, this ritual can be performed faster and easier with the help of a coffee maker. Manufacturers of such equipment offer their customers many options for this device, which differ from each other in price, appearance and working principle. Therefore, coffee lovers face a difficult choice - which model is better?

The most common question is about the type of device. There are drip and carob coffee makers, and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, before making a purchase, it is worth understanding all the characteristics in order to ultimately make the right choice.

Drip coffee makers

First of all, it is worth noting that drip coffee makers are usually used to make the simplest black coffee. To understand the approximate design of the device, it is necessary to consider the algorithm for preparing a drink:

First of all, you need to pour clean, drinking water into the tank;
Next, you need to pour coffee into a special container. The amount of powder depends on how many cups you want to make;
After all the preparations, you only need to press the button that starts the process;
The heating element provokes the boiling of water and the formation of steam;
Steam is condensed on special tubes;
The resulting condensate enters the coffee container and flows through it into a pre-prepared cup.

Advantages and disadvantages

Drip coffee makers are very popular among customers. This is due to the following advantages of this device:

Also, these devices have a number of disadvantages that you also need to pay attention to:

Not the highest quality coffee
The inability to make other types of coffee, except americano;
The need to constantly wash all the parts involved in the work so that the drink does not taste bitter;
Sufficiently large consumption of coffee powder;
The need to change filters regularly;
It is not possible to make frothy coffee or make milk foam.

Carob coffee makers

In order to be able to prepare several options for your favorite drink, it is worth purchasing carob coffee maker. If drip models brew coffee using drops of condensate, then the name of the carob devices is due to the use of plastic or metal horns instead of strainers.

The cooking algorithm is as follows:

Filtered water must be poured into the tank;
Pour coffee powder into the horn and tamp it with a special tool;
When the user presses the process start button, the water starts to heat up;
The steam obtained from the liquid, as in the case of a drip device, passes through a cone with coffee powder and pours into a mug.

It is important to know! The taste and aroma of the finished drink directly depends on the correctness of the process of compacting the powder.

Advantages and disadvantages

Customers value horn-type apparatuses due to the following benefits:

As for the shortcomings, there are few of them:

higher price;
Most models do not allow you to brew coffee in a large cup;
The need to spend a certain amount of time carefully compacting the coffee powder in the cone.

Comparison of characteristics and features of operation of drip and carob coffee makers

So that the buyer can finally make a choice, it is worth making a detailed comparison of the main characteristics of a drip and carob coffee maker.

Principle of operation and design

First of all, it is necessary to understand how the principles of operation and the device of both options differ.

drip machines

The water tank is located at the back of the coffee machine. It is connected to the heating module using a special tube through which water is supplied to it. The heating element itself is located at the bottom of the machine along with a tank for collecting coffee.

Drip coffee maker device

Interesting! Usually, 1-1.5 liters of liquid can be poured into the coffee maker. This volume should be enough for 15 small or 10 large cups.

When water boils, steam is produced. It rises through the tube system to the top of the apparatus, while being cooled by a container with cold water. Due to this, the steam condenses at the outlet, and drops are formed with a temperature of 95-98 degrees.

This condensate passes through the filter with ground coffee, acquiring its flavor and aroma along the way. The resulting solution flows into a special flask, which is heated during the operation of the machine.

Horn devices

Carob coffee makers are of two types:

The first option has a simpler design, consisting of a water tank, a heating element, a valve for releasing steam when the pressure rises.

The steam obtained by heating the liquid is fed upward at a pressure of about 3 bar. At the same time, it is cooled and then falls on the coffee in the carob filter. Passing through it, the water flows into the flask, which can be heated using an additional heating element.

Often such devices also have a device for creating milk foam. It is built into a tank with heated water. A tube with a tap and a special nozzle at the end, lowered into milk, is placed on the body of the apparatus.

Models with a pressure pump can supply water to a container with a heating element at a pressure of 9-17 bar. Such devices are considered more modern, since in them the liquid heats up faster due to the passage through the spiral heating element. This allows you to significantly speed up the heating and, accordingly, reduce the time for preparing coffee.

Carob coffee maker device

Important! Such devices have one mode of operation: espresso or steam for cappuccino, so more expensive models are equipped with an additional pump that allows you to implement these two modes at the same time.

The taste of the finished coffee

The next thing that buyers pay attention to is the taste and aroma of the finished drink.

drip coffee maker

In this machine, you can brew the simplest black americano. You can only adjust the strength of the drink:

Also, the strength depends on the time it takes the condensate drops to pass through the filter. The faster this process occurs, the less rich and strong the coffee will be.

Because the temperature of the droplets is high enough, some coffee beans may not fully reveal their taste qualities. Also, often at the bottom of a cup of a drink brewed with a drip coffee machine, an unpleasant residue remains, which worsens the taste of the drink.

Carob coffee maker

With the help of a quality carob coffee maker, you can prepare a real espresso that will have a high foam on the surface. However, it is worth remembering that such a high-quality and delicious drink can not be brewed in every device. Often, coffee from drip and carob coffee makers do not differ much from each other.

You can make real espresso in the horn device

The advantage of this model is the ability to heat and froth milk for making cappuccino or latte. Also, carob machines leave almost no coffee residue.

Ground coffee consumption

For any type of coffee machine, you must use ground coffee powder. The quality of grinding can have a significant impact on the taste properties of the drink. If the beans are ground too coarse, the coffee will not be strong enough. And when the grind is too fine, the filters get clogged.

Depending on the coffee brewing technology, the consumption of carob machines is much lower. For cooking strong drink in a drip coffee maker you will need large quantity powder.

Interesting! Both versions can be equipped with a coffee bean grinder. However, the price of such models will be much higher.

Difficulty and preparation time

Another important point is the simplicity and speed of the brewing process.

drip coffee maker

This option is considered the most unpretentious and easy to operate. To prepare coffee, you just need to load all the ingredients into the desired compartments and press the power button. After a while, the coffee pot will be filled with the finished drink.

Simply load the ingredients into the coffee maker

The speed of the process depends on the following factors:

The volume of the device;
Power.

Usually in 1 minute a coffee maker with a power of 1000 W can brew up to 100 ml of coffee. The lower the power, the longer the process will last.

The advantage of drip devices is the ability to prepare a lot of drink at a time. The volume is limited only by the capacity for ready coffee.

Carob coffee maker

In these devices, the process of preparing coffee is more complicated. It is necessary to carefully place the powder in the carob filter and compact it to a certain extent. Then everything is simple - you just need to install the horn in the coffee machine and start it.

Coffee needs to be well tamped

The taste and aroma of the drink directly depends on the density of the rammer. If the powder is not compacted enough, then the water will pass through it very quickly and will not have time to be enriched with the taste properties of the ground grains. When the coffee is packed too tightly, it can be too strong and bitter.

The advantage is that the cooking process takes much less time. Standard portion Espresso is brewed for 20-25 seconds. However, in a carob coffee maker it is impossible to prepare a large amount of drink at once.

Functional

To attract customers, manufacturers are trying to make their products as functional as possible. This progress has not bypassed coffee makers.

drip coffee machine

Despite the fact that only one type of coffee can be prepared in a drip machine, manufacturers have added several features that increase the capabilities of these devices:

Carob coffee machine

The functionality of the carob models is more expanded due to the presence of a cappuccinatore for whipping milk or cream. This attachment allows you to make several types of coffee besides the standard espresso or americano.

Cappuccinatore allows you to prepare different drinks

Also, these devices are equipped with other functions:

Changes in the strength of the drink;
Fluid temperature control;
Cup heating.

Dimensions

Drip devices usually take up less space due to their design. Horn models are larger.

Horn model takes up more space

It is also worth noting that compression coffee makers require more free space than models with a pressure pump. The dimensions of the device mainly depend on the complexity of the device and the availability of additional functions. The more complex the design, the larger the coffee maker will be.

Ease of use

It is important to clarify this point when choosing a suitable device. In order for the coffee maker to work well and for a long time, it must be looked after.

drip coffee maker

In order for the coffee to always be tasty and aromatic, it is necessary to regularly clean the container for the finished drink and change the filters. You will also need to wash the appliance from time to time with special descaling agents.

Drip coffee maker filters can be disposable or reusable. The first option requires additional costs, but can greatly simplify the care of the device. After use, the disposable filter does not need to be washed, but can simply be thrown into the trash.

Disposable paper filter
Reusable filter

Carob coffee maker

In these appliances, the milk frother and frothers must also be cleaned regularly. There will be a need for descaling from time to time.

The carob apparatus requires careful maintenance

Worth knowing! Care is also needed for accessories from the coffee maker. The coffee tamper and pitcher will also need to be cleaned after each preparation.

Price

An important selection criterion is the price. Generally speaking, then Carob coffee makers are more expensive than drip coffee makers.

The cheapest drip costs from 1.2 thousand rubles. The most expensive ones are about 20 thousand. Carob coffee makers cost around 2.6-2.8 thousand rubles. Expensive models - up to 35 thousand rubles.

There are several tips, following which the buyer can quickly decide on the choice of a suitable device:

A drip coffee maker is worth buying to make a lot of black coffee at once;
Horn models are suitable for lovers of diversity. They can brew espresso, cappuccino, and other types of drink;
Pay attention to the power of the device. The optimal power value for fast food coffee - 800-1000 watts.

Watch a video on how to choose a coffee maker for your home

If you consider yourself one of the people who appreciate the fragrance natural coffee, then you can appreciate the importance of having a coffee maker in the house. In a minimum time, she is able to prepare a delicious tonic drink for you, your loved ones or friends. If you have not yet decided which coffee maker to choose for your home, the reviews and recommendations of experts will be very useful for right choice. We will compare the principle of operation of various devices, consider their features, and talk about suitable options for specific conditions.

When choosing a coffee maker, you must answer a few important questions for yourself:

how much time are you willing to spend preparing a drink;
how many cups do you expect to drink per day;
how wide is the variety of drinks that you will prepare;
how much are you willing to spend on buying a coffee maker;
How important is the usability of your device to you?

Based on these criteria, choose the right model. Coffee makers for the home, the rating of which can be studied on numerous websites of sellers of this equipment, are divided into several types, depending on the design and features of preparing a coffee drink.

french press

Such mechanisms work without electricity, which makes them indispensable on hikes, far from civilization, although some prefer to use them at home because of the simplicity of the device. The press consists of a transparent container, inside of which there is a movable piston with a filter. Ground coffee powder is poured to the bottom of the container, poured with boiling water. The container is covered with a lid with the piston raised. After 4-7 minutes, the piston descends, and the filter prevents sediment from passing through itself. The drink is poured into cups.

Advantages:

to make coffee, just boil water;
so you can also brew tea;
ideal for hiking conditions.

Disadvantages:

the taste of the resulting drink is far from ideal;
in such a device it is impossible to prepare any coffee drink other than coffee;
the finished drink cools down quickly.

drip devices

How to choose a coffee maker for your home so that it has a simple design and is affordable? Pay attention to drip models. This type of coffee maker is considered the most popular. To prepare a drink, it is enough to pour a certain amount of water into the container, and place a measured amount of ground coffee in a special mesh. The water boils and is passed drop by drop through the coffee. Through the filter, the drink flows into a glass teapot mounted on a heated stand. Cups can be filled from the kettle.

Advantages:

low cost;
after preparation, the device keeps the coffee hot;
simple operation.

Disadvantages:

the drink turns out to be of medium strength;
long time cooking;
the need for frequent filter replacement.

Note:

Power. The smaller it is, the longer the water will be in contact with the coffee, and the stronger the drink will be at the exit.
Adjusting the coffee strength will allow you to manually change the strength of the drink.
The container for the finished drink must certainly be glass.
The drip-stop function will stop the flow of coffee into the kettle if it is taken out of the coffee maker, and the overflow protection will stop the coffee making process as soon as its volume in the kettle reaches the maximum value.
An indicator of the ratio of coffee and water will be useful.
Filters are both disposable paper and reusable (nylon and gold).

Geyser coffee makers

Water is poured into the lower compartment of the apparatus, which is heated by electric current. Then it rises along a vertical tube, and passes through the coffee powder. Depending on the model, water can pass through the coffee layer from one to several times. With several passes, the drink turns out to be rich and more aromatic.

Tip: Keep in mind the amount of drink that you plan to prepare in 1 serving. If the container is designed exclusively for 6 cups, then you will not be able to prepare a smaller amount of coffee. The coffee maker simply will not be able to work if less water is poured.

Advantages:

there is the possibility of preparing not only coffee. The device can brew tea, as well as herbs;
quite rich taste of the drink;
ease of maintenance.

Disadvantages:

the need to prepare a full portion of the drink, even when it is not necessary;
long coffee preparation time (about 5 minutes).

Features when choosing:

The larger the coffee maker has, the more power the device must have.
The function of heating the finished drink will be very convenient.
The function of changing the strength of the drink will allow you to change the saturation of the coffee as you wish.
There are manual models of geyser home coffee makers that do not require an outlet. They need to be put on the stove.

Horn devices

When we decide which is better to choose a coffee maker for the home, the reviews of real coffee lovers are unanimous: it is the carob type. Only with such a machine can one appreciate all the diversity coffee drinks make them quick and easy.

With this model, you can prepare regular coffee, as well as cappuccino, espresso, latte and other types of aromatic drink. The operation of the apparatus is based on passing steam under high pressure through the coffee powder. It is possible to prepare cappuccino by adding thick milk foam to the drink.

When deciding which coffee maker to choose for a carob-type home, you need to know that such devices are divided into steam (pressure of about 4 bar), usually used in everyday life, and pump-action (pressure of 15 bar), which are more often used at a professional level, although for at home, such a coffee maker will be much better than a steam one.

Advantages:

the minimum time for preparing a drink (from 30 seconds);
many options for drinks;
the best quality of drinks;
less coffee is needed than in other types of coffee makers;
in some models, the possibility of preparing coffee in pods is provided. This will eliminate the need to free the machine from the coffee grounds.

Disadvantages:

coffee should be used finely ground;
in steam devices, water is heated to a boiling point (100 degrees), although a temperature of about 90 degrees is considered ideal. Pump-action models are free from this drawback.

Pay attention when choosing:

The function of the automatic mill will allow the machine to grind the grains laid by you, and even in the fraction necessary for brewing espresso. However, this feature makes the cost of the coffee machine higher.
The greater the power of the apparatus, the greater the pressure will be created, and the faster the drink will be prepared. For example, at a power of 1000 W, a pressure of 5 bar is generated. A cup of coffee will be prepared in about 2 minutes. With a power of 1800 W, the pressure will already be 15 bar. Coffee will be prepared in just 30 seconds.
Cappuccino lovers will appreciate the presence of a cappuccino maker.

Capsule coffee makers

According to the principle of operation, the capsule coffee maker works in exactly the same way as the carob model, but with one difference: the steam does not pass through the coffee layer, but through the capsule. Thus, there is no need to calculate right amount coffee and water.

Advantages:

applying different kinds capsules with coffee, you can get drinks of various strengths and tastes;
the device does not need regular cleaning, requires minimal maintenance;
Ease of controls.

Disadvantages:

the cost of finished capsules is high;
the composition of the capsules is not diverse;
the price of such coffee makers is still quite high.

Important: Some models of capsule devices only work with capsules from the same manufacturer that produced the coffee maker. This can be very inconvenient, so ask the seller about this nuance in advance.

Note:

Models that allow you to adjust the amount of water per 1 cup will allow you to change the strength of the coffee.
The function of automatic ejection of the capsule will facilitate the care of the coffee maker.

Features of choosing a coffee maker

What coffee makers and how to choose for the home, so as not to regret your purchase? For the right choice, you should keep in mind some features of the operation of these devices:

Consider the number of members in your family. Carob models are considered universal, capable of preparing the right amount of drink in a short time. It is also recommended to purchase a carob machine for those people who have a clear lack of time.
If you care about the absence of care for the device, choose a capsule device.
For lovers of espresso or cappuccino, you can advise the carob apparatus.
Americano coffee is more successful in drip-type machines.
if you love rich drinks, then a geyser-type device may be the most successful for you.
The most affordable are drip and geyser coffee makers.
The cost of a coffee maker depends on whether it has many functions. Some of them may turn out to be useless at all, so it's not worth paying money for them.

There are also combined coffee makers that combine the functions of carob and drip models.

Having listened to the above tips, you can easily choose the option of a coffee maker that suits you. When choosing, proceed from your desires and available opportunities.

One can only sympathize with coffee connoisseurs, who, compared to tea lovers, face enormous difficulties in preparing their favorite drink. Not only that, in many cases, you have to buy coffee beans and grind it yourself so as not to spoil palatability, devices for extracting caffeine from powder are quite expensive and are also available in several types.

To understand this variety and decide which coffee maker is better, it is useful to know the principle of operation. various types coffee machines and their distinctive features.

Drip coffee makers

This type coffee machines require the constant presence of filters

The principle of operation of drip coffee makers is the passage of water heated to a temperature close to the boiling point through the coffee powder with a filter. It passes through the coffee mass in small portions drop by drop (hence the name drip) and is collected in a flask inserted into the housing niche, located under the filter.

Design and principle of operation

A flat tank is placed in the back wall of the drip coffee maker, designed for 1 - 1.4 liters. water.

RThe size of this container is calculated by the manufacturer based on the amount of small 80 ml. (usually this value is a multiple of 15) or large 120 ml. cups (a multiple of 8 - 10 large) which can be prepared without residue.

At the bottom of the container there is a drain pipe, through which water is supplied to the heating module (heater), located in the flat bottom of the apparatus, on which a flask for collecting coffee is also installed. In different models, the power of the heating element can range from 600 to 1300 watts.

When the boiling point is reached, the steam rises up through the outlet tube to the lid of the coffee pot. The tube passes through a container filled with low temperature water, so the steam is cooled along its entire length and condenses at the outlet.

Drops with a temperature of 95 and 98 C fall on a funnel-shaped filter filled with ground coffee powder, the solution flows down the neck into the flask. The stand on which the flask is located remains heated to a temperature of about 80 ° C during and after cooking.

A small stream of water will pass through the filter with the coffee mixture and fill the glass with aromatic coffee

Depending on the manufacturer, the filling of the flask occurs in two ways: through the central hole in the lid or a perforated lining on its bow. In the second case, the flask with coffee is better sealed by the surface tension of the film on the holes of the lining.

In drip coffee pots, it is possible to adjust the strength of the resulting coffee drink. One way to achieve this effect is to change the direction in which the drops fall on the coffee powder in the filter.

To obtain a less strong drink, some of the drops fall not into the middle of the filter, but onto its walls. Another method of adjusting the strength is to control the heating power: at a higher temperature, the droplet speed increases, thereby reducing the contact time with the coffee mass - as a result, the resulting drink will be less intense.

Peculiarities

Quality. In drip types of coffee machines, the quality of coffee is the lowest - the passage of hot drops through the coffee powder is not enough to extract the maximum amount of all components from it.
Price. A drip coffee maker is the most budget option of all coffee machines.
The simplicity of the device. The devices are very easy to use.
Brewing time. The time for obtaining the finished drink varies between 5 - 10 minutes.
Functionality. In the drip filter, you can fill not only coffee powder, but also tea, herbs and other substances for brewing.
The coffee maker won't cook quality drink with espresso foam, for cappuccino you will also have to brew milk separately.
If the flask from the drip coffee machine is broken, it will be very difficult to find a replacement for it - this will not allow you to use the machine.
Filters for drip coffee makers are consumables, to save money, you can use a nylon filter for 60 brews or coated with titanium nitrate (gold), which is purchased separately.
Modern drip devices not only brew coffee, but are able to grind it.

Carob coffee makers

Carob coffee makers make it easy to make cappuccino

The method of obtaining freshly brewed coffee by treating the powder with steam or boiling water under pressure is called espresso, the technology allows you to get the highest saturation of the coffee drink.

A distinctive feature of espresso is the golden foam caused by the presence of light gelatin-like substances on the surface of the drink.

Another type of coffee drink - cappuccino, is obtained by mixing frothed milk with coffee.

The preparation of such types of coffee is fully implemented in carob types of coffee makers.

Principle of operation and design

There are two types of carob coffee makers, the simpler ones are called compression and work according to the following principle.

Inside the housing there is a reservoir with water and a heating element, closed on top with a sealing lid with a valve to release steam when the pressure rises.

When heated, the steam rises up through a wide channel under a pressure of about 3 bar and, cooling down, enters a portion of the coffee powder in the filter. Passing through it, water is saturated with coffee substances and drips into a flask mounted on a tray (it may have a heating element located inside to keep the drink hot).

Such a system will quickly boil a small portion of milk.

To implement the function of foaming milk, a tube with a tap and a special nozzle at the end, which is lowered into milk, is built into the working container with heated water.

The disadvantage of the system is the long time for preparing the drink (it is required to heat all the water in the boiler), therefore this scheme is mainly used in small-sized models with small volume tanks.

More advanced designs have a pressure pump that uses the required volume of water at a pressure of 9 - 17 bar for operation. In such devices, water from the container is supplied by a pressurized pump to a boiler with a heating element.

Steam is generated inside the boiler tank when the water is heated. Boiled water through a filter with powder, installed in the lower part of the thermoblock, is fed into the flask, and steam through the upper pipe and the control valve is diverted to the nozzle for heating and foaming milk.

Water passing through a heated coil heats up several times faster

In advanced models of coffee makers with a pressure pump, the flow method is used - water passes through the spiral of the water heating element. This allows you to significantly speed up the heating and, accordingly, reduce the time for preparing coffee. Such devices have one mode of operation: espresso or steam for cappuccino, so more expensive models are equipped with an additional pump that allows you to implement these two modes at the same time.

Peculiarities

Price. Horn devices have the most complex design, so their cost is several times higher than that of other types.
Taste qualities. Perfectly retain the taste of coffee, the drink is absent coffee grounds and weigh. The technology for preparing a drink with the maximum extraction of components from coffee powder also saves coffee.
Cooking time. It takes 1-2 minutes depending on the type.
Carob machines allow you to get types of coffee that are not available to others.

Capsule coffee makers

Capsule coffee makers are not expensive, but with their help, rich and tasty coffee

They are among the simplest devices. Water from the tank of the device at a pressure of 15 - 20 bar enters the thermoblock, where it is heated, and then fed to a needle with a built-in channel that pierces the protective foil on top of the capsule. Passing through the layer of pressed coffee, water is saturated with its components and enters the container for collecting the drink through the filter on the back of the capsule. The used capsules are dumped in the built-in removable container.

Peculiarities

Price. The coffee machines themselves have a low price, but the price of capsules is quite high, some of their types are quite difficult to get.
Taste qualities. Capsule coffee turns out to be very tasty due to the high sealing of capsules, in which coffee powder can be stored for about 2 years without losing its taste.
The disadvantages of capsule machines include some restrictions on the types of drinks used - only capsules from this coffee machine manufacturer with its product line are suitable.
Cooking speed. Capsule coffee machines allow you to prepare a portion of coffee in 45 seconds, they are faster coffee machines in this respect. No need to grind your own coffee, measure portions, then change or clean the filters.
Ease of use. The process of obtaining a coffee drink is very simple: you need to install a coffee tank in the niche of the machine, insert the capsule into the machine, press the “start” button and after a few tens of seconds the portion will be ready. The machine requires minimal maintenance, the used capsules are placed in the machine itself and then disposed of.
Compactness. They take up a little more space than a standard electric kettle.
Expensive models of capsule machines have the additional function of a cappuccino machine for making coffee drinks with the addition of milk.

REDMOND SkyCoffee M1505S

The drip model in an aesthetic stylish black plastic case, at a low price, has a very high functionality - it is remotely controlled from a smartphone. ($150)

Peculiarities

type of coffee: grain;
coffee grinder;
grinding: adjustable;
filtering: constant;
power consumption: 600 W.;
coffee pot volume: 0.5 l.;
auto power off;
indication: water level, work;
heating plate.

Krups KP 2208 Dolce Gusto

For those who have not decided whether a capsule or grain coffee maker is better, it is worth considering this capsule machine for the cheapest and most affordable capsules. Krups is equipped with an aesthetic black plastic housing with a transparent water tank. (150 c.u.)

Peculiarities

type of capsules: Dolce Gusto;
power consumption: 1500 W;
capacity: volume 1.3 l.;
steam: pressure 15 bar;
auto power off;
portion adjustment;
flask heating;
thermoblock;
indicators: connection and water level.

Delonghi EC 680 M/R/BK

One of the cheapest coffee makers in its class from an Italian manufacturer, made in a stylish metal case, designed for two cups, there is a manual cappuccino preparation function. ($160)

Peculiarities

type: horn;
raw materials: ground coffee, capsules;
energy consumption: 1450 W;
steam: pressure 15 bar;
heating dishes;
tray under the flask: removable;
indicators of work, water level;
weight: 4 kg.

There are many types of coffee makers and coffee machines. "Expert Price" included in its rating models for every taste, size and budget, which in 2017 - 2018 deserved the maximum number of positive feedback from buyers. Which coffee maker or coffee machine to prefer, decide after reading our rating.

What coffee makers and coffee machines are there, and how did we choose the best ones?

drip coffee maker. A simple and inexpensive coffee maker with a flask. The operating principle is that hot water drop by drop flows into the filter, passes through the ground grains, taking away their taste and aroma, and enters the flask.

Geyser coffee maker. The principle of operation of a geyser coffee maker is the opposite of a drip one: water rises from the bottom up in the form of a geyser, pouring coffee. Further, it also enters a special flask. As a rule, the volume of a geyser coffee maker is small, as well as the price.

Carob coffee maker. In this coffee maker, coffee is pressed under pressure (usually 10-15 bar).

Capsule coffee machine. The principle of operation of the capsule coffee machine is similar to the carob one, but the first one uses coffee in special capsules. This has both pros and cons. So, after the capsules, the coffee machine is easier to wash, there are no traces of coffee left, but not everyone likes the taste of the drink.

Coffee makers are automatic and semi-automatic. Automatic they will do everything - from grinding grains to dosed filling into a cup for you, semi-automatic need some additional action on your part.

When choosing, we were based on customer reviews and the characteristics of coffee makers and coffee machines. The rating includes both models for offices and for home use, including for a small family.

Which manufacturer is the best?

Melitta coffee machines and coffee makers (Germany) have established themselves as reliable and high-quality appliances. Basically, the brand produces premium coffee machines, but there are also budget options. The German company Bosch - a specialist in the field of household appliances - is also considered a good manufacturer coffee makers. Buyers prefer its budget models. In addition, such well-known manufacturers as Panasonic (Japan), Moulinex (France), Krups (Germany), Saeco (Italy) were included in the rating.

Sep 25, 2016

Imagine the situation: you come to the store and ask the seller which coffee maker is the best available. Despite the huge selection, he recommends that you purchase ... the most expensive one.

And if it was only a matter of price! The coffee maker is different for the coffee maker, so the seller should definitely ask what you expect from your purchase, what kind of coffee and how much you plan to cook, whether it is important that the unit is equipped with a built-in coffee grinder.

Not the fact that the most expensive equipment will meet your needs. How then to be? Try to act as an expert yourself.

Which coffee maker for home to choose

What are the types of coffee makers? Drip, carob, geyser, capsule, electric Turks, "French press". Which one is yours?

Drip coffee maker - for a large family

The principle of operation of this coffee maker is that the boiled water passes into the compartment filled with coffee and drips (already as a finished drink) into a special container. If you have a large family or you are purchasing a unit for the office, such a coffee maker will suit you perfectly:

you can immediately prepare a lot of drink;
any type of ground coffee is fine.

Some users don't like that coffee is brewing rather slowly, however, if the appliance is equipped with heating, the process can be made almost continuous by adding water and pouring new coffee from time to time.

Among the shortcomings noted need to change filters regularly, as well as fully load the machine– it is not designed to prepare one or two cups and may malfunction.

Another “but” is noted by coffee gourmets: “drip” technology does not allow extracting all the richness of their aroma from ground beans, and the drink is less strong than you would like.

Panasonic NC-ZF1HTQ, Philips HD 7457 brands are popular among drip coffee makers. You can find the full rating of drip coffee makers for home at the link.

Carob or drip: which is better to buy a gourmet

Real connoisseurs will give preference to carob: the producers have taken care that you can quickly get a great flavored drink with seductive creamy lather. The principle of operation of this device is that water under high pressure passes into a special horn filled with ground coffee.

There is two types of carob coffee makers. In steam coffee makers, water heated to a temperature of one hundred degrees becomes steam and is passed through the coffee under pressure. In pump pumps, water heated to 95 degrees is driven by a pump through a coffee horn filled with coffee. According to gourmets, it is this water temperature that is ideal for preparing a fragrant drink.

Some models of carob coffee makers are produced with a cappuccinator (a device for frothing milk into foam), this makes it possible to cook very good espresso and cappuccino. You can purchase a model designed to prepare just one or a couple of cups.

As an advantage of a coffee maker, many users note that its very easy to wash. And one more thing: the device can use for quite some time without compromising the quality of the finished product.

The disadvantages include the need to buy specific grind coffee specified in the characteristics of the device, this narrows the ability to try different variants, and there are so many tempting coffee bags in specialized stores!

But with such a device, it is possible to load coffee pods, that is, the use of disposable packages in which coffee is in a compressed state.

Famous brands: Kenwood ES020, Delonghi EC 155. Pay attention to the material from which the horn is made, it is better if it is metal. Which carob coffee maker is better to choose for home read.

Geyser: not only for coffee, but also for tea

One of the most popular today due to its low price and excellent quality geyser coffee maker can smooth out the conflict of interest in the family, when one likes coffee, another likes tea, and the third doctor prescribed herbal infusion. All these types of drinks can be prepared using one machine.

How to use it to make coffee? Pour water into the lower compartment, pour coffee into the middle one. Ready coffee will appear in the third, upper compartment.

The principle of operation of the device is that the boiled and turned into steam water rises and, having passed through a layer of ground coffee, condenses in the upper container of the device.

The main advantages of such a coffee maker are called:

opportunity to cook a large number of coffee at a time
use it to make other drinks.

Disadvantages - less fragrant than when using other models, coffee; as well as maintenance difficulties machine (there are many parts that need to be disassembled and washed thoroughly).

It should also be borne in mind that only coarse coffee grinding is recommended for this type of coffee maker. In more detail about that, we wrote here.

One of the popular brands: Delonghi EMK 9 Alicia.

Capsule

Home appliances - on the verge of fantasy. All that is required of a person is to load a capsule filled with coffee into a special compartment and press the start button.

What happens in the "smart" device while we patiently wait for a cup fragrant coffee? A special needle pierces the capsule, heated water enters the coffee through the needle, which absorbs all the aromatic components of the ground beans. Ready drink enters the cup, and the used capsule goes into the compartment for further disposal.

Recently, models with a self-cleaning mode have been on sale, which further simplifies the operation of the device.

Important information for those who like coffee with milk: if you buy capsules with powdered milk (or, alternatively, concentrated milk), the machine will prepare your favorite drink by itself.

Does “smart” technology have disadvantages? Unfortunately, there is. This is:

the high cost of capsules(they cost significantly more than ground coffee or its beans);
limited choice(it may turn out that the capsule manufacturer has ignored your favorite coffees).

Famous brands of capsule coffee makers: Krups KP 1201/1205/1206/1208 Mini Me, Bosch TAS 4011/4012/4013/4014 EETassimo. You will learn how and which capsule coffee maker to choose.

Combined

The combined coffee maker combines the functions of carob and drip.

They can make Americano and espresso.

For them, both ground coffee (and different grinding) and beans are suitable.

This means that the unit has a built-in coffee grinder.

What consumers don't like:

high price coffee makers;
difficulties in care.

The most famous brand: DeLonghi BCO 420.

"French press"

It is convenient to use such a coffee maker, besides, it provides a good result - the drink turns out to be tasty, fragrant.

Outwardly, it resembles a coffee pot, only its body is transparent, made of heat-resistant glass. Inside the body there is a piston with a lid and a metal mesh filter facing the bottom of the vessel.

Coffee is prepared like this: pour coffee into a vessel, pour water heated to about the boiling point, close the lid with a piston, let it brew for five minutes, and then lower the piston. Coffee, from which the water has taken all its best substances, is pressed by a metal filter to the very bottom, and the vessel is filled with the finished drink.

Many families use this machine with pleasure, because absolutely any coffee is suitable for it, with different coffee grinds and there is no need to buy expensive consumables such as filters. In addition, no electrical energy is required, which also reduces family expenses.

Disadvantages of the "French press":

the need for "manual labor", while most people are spoiled for automation;
inability to prepare espresso and cappuccino;
you can’t trust the preparation of coffee to children, as you have to pour boiling water into the vessel.

Popular brand: Vitesse.

Read more about the French press device and recipes for brewing tea and coffee.

Electric Turks

The famous Turkish coffee is perfectly prepared in an electric cezve. It looks like an electric kettle. Its platform is a heating device, the kettle itself is a container into which coffee is poured and water is poured.

The disadvantage of this device is lack of automatic shutdown function when the beverage preparation process is completed. To prevent your coffee from running away, you need to look both ways, just like when using a traditional Turk.

Advice. If you have purchased a high power device, you need to be especially vigilant so as not to miss the moment when the coffee starts to run out of the container.

The most common volume of electric Turks is 0.25 or 0.4 liters.

Popular brand: Kromax Endever KR-220. Read more about electric Turks for coffee at.

The most important thing is to decide which coffee is the most favorite in your family, and based on this, make a choice:

love americano - buy a drip coffee maker;
espresso and cappuccino - carob;
very strong coffee- geyser;
like experiments - capsule.

Be sure to be interested in the power of the device. Here the principle applies: the less, the better.

Advice: a powerful technique will provide you with a cup of hot drink very quickly, but a less powerful one (up to 800 W) will work more slowly and extract from coffee all that valuable and tasty that this product is famous for.

As for filters, out of three options (gold, disposable and nylon), stop at the last one. Gold ones are too expensive. Disposables are troublesome, you have to change them every time you prepare a new serving of drink. Nylon affordable and easy to use.

If you need additional features, please consider before making a purchase. Here short review options that may interest you. Today, for example, you can buy equipment with a built-in coffee grinder, and you can get coffee of exactly the grinding that you need.

The “drip-stop” function stops the workflow as soon as you remove the container into which the already prepared drink falls from the unit.

Put the container back - the coffee brewing process resumes.

There is also a keep warm function (to get the drink at the right temperature), there is a timer that will automatically provide you with a cup of coffee exactly when you want it.

And another important point: after deciding which coffee maker you need, give preference to branded models and manufacturers specializing in the manufacture of just such equipment - they have more experience, better technology, more competent specialists.

Among the leaders in this market are the Italian company Saeco and its "subsidiary" - Spidem, as well as the company Gaggia. The products of non-core companies have also earned great consumer confidence: Panasonic, Delonghi, Kenwood, Moulinex, WMF.