If you’re a mini espresso or just an occasional drinker, you know that not all cups of coffee are made the same way. While the quality of the coffee is highly dependent on the coffee itself, the taste of the coffee will vary depending on the type of manual or automatic coffee machine.
The ingredients are the same: coffee and hot water, but the method and type of machine will greatly affect how much you will enjoy that cup of coffee. These are some of the most popular ways and machines to brew your cup of coffee.
Let Your Fingers Stir – The cheapest way to make coffee is to simply put mini espresso in hot water and stir your hands. However, the quality of the coffee is at the bottom of the scale.
Manual filter coffee maker: This type of coffee maker has the coffee in a basket at the top of the pot. Water that is just below boiling temperature flows through the coffee and takes four to five minutes to set. This type is portable and popular with campers.
French Press – This type is also called a coffee plunger. With this type, coffee grounds are added to the French Press container, and water just below boiling point is slowly and evenly poured over the coffee grounds.
After a few minutes of leakage, the plunger is pushed down firmly and slowly in a controlled manner. The result is excellent coffee. This type of coffee maker is popular with “coffee addicts” in the workplace.
Automatic Drip Coffee Maker – This is the most common type on the market today. The cold water is heated slightly below boiling temperature and is evenly distributed over the coffee grounds and the coffee falls into a container underneath.
Most of these are programmable so you can sync the prep time with your alarm clock. The models vary widely and include settings for adjusting the brewing power, built-in coffee grounds, self-cleaning, and cup capacity. Costs range from tens to thousands of dollars.
Capsule Coffee Maker – These are usually single-serving machines where the process is similar to that of an automatic filter coffee maker but takes the guesswork out of measuring coffee.
One capsule is used to brew a cup of coffee. This is also easy to clean as the pod is thrown away in the trash. However, these are more expensive than their automatic dropper pairs.
Espresso machines – These machines quickly press hot water through the coffee using a pump, piston, or steam. The result of this pressurized coffee is espresso – strong, thick black coffee with a small amount of foam or crema on top.
The costs for espresso machines also vary depending on the method used to produce the pressure and the characteristics.
If you’re considering buying a manual or automatic coffee machine, your taste preference and the amount you’re willing to spend will determine which type you buy.
They can be as cheap as $ 35 for a UK press or the Hamilton Beach, or $ 2,500 for a fancy machine like Delonghi’s Grand Lady Super-Automatic espresso machine. The Nespresso Essenza machine is also a cheap espresso machine for around $ 260, as it has some features only found on more expensive machines.
