Owning a coffee maker can pay huge dividends, both financially and in terms of how much it adds to your life: Savings. You will save both time and gas by never having to go to that random coffee shop for a cup of coffee. You can make just about whatever kind of coffee you enjoy best at home (and often have some better options than you can find at your local coffee shop.) It also means you don’t have to get up early to the nearest coffee house for a cup of coffee.
There are different kinds of coffee makers. Some use coffee beans and water to make coffee. These machines are called “bean to cup” machines. They don’t use a grinder (because you mix up the beans and put them in the pot) so ground coffee is necessary. The disadvantage to this machine is that you cannot brew more than 4 cups at a time, and the taste can be bland.
Most people prefer to have a high-end coffee maker. High-end ones have a lot of features – such as warming trays, brew buttons, auto shut off, and the glass carafe. In addition, they usually do not require the use of ground coffee, but use a digital “Brewer” which uses a touch screen. Some of these brewers have programmable settings, such as being able to set the time and temperature that you want your coffee to be brewed at. Some high-end models even have clockwise and counter-clockwise brewing capability, so that you can make coffee whenever you please.
To maximize your enjoyment of your coffee maker, there are a few tips you should know about how to use an espresso machine. These tips are divided into two main categories: convenience and cleaning. Most of the time, convenience is achieved by simply setting the time and temperature controls, and by using the special steamer/drip coffee makers.
If you are looking for the easiest method of preparing your coffee, the drip coffeemaker is the way to go. It is extremely easy to use, and you will be surprised at how quick you are able to get your first cup under your control. However, you may find that you would rather spend a little extra money on a coffee maker with more features that offer a little bit of variety, such as the pods.
Espresso coffee makers are the next step up from the pods. Pods usually contain three tablespoons or so of coffee, whereas Espresso shots contain anywhere from four to twenty-one ounces. Pods cost almost double what Espresso maker’s cost, and you can expect to pay at least fifty cents for one ounce of espresso. The reason for the difference is because Espresso shots contain ground coffee, whereas pods use pre-ground grounds. When brewing an Espresso shot, you should only add about half a cup of water instead of all of it. This allows the grounds to soak more easily and release more quickly, allowing you to enjoy your high quality shot in much less time than if you were to make a regular cup of coffee.