Are you a real coffee fanatic and do you drink just a little too many cups every day? Are you done with simple filter coffee and want something finer? Then it’s time to buy a new coffee machine. In this blog, I would like to give you a hand with finding a new machine that you can enjoy extremely well for at least the next ten years.
What types of coffee machines there are
Of course, one coffee machine is not the other, and each manufacturer and brand will market yet another completely different device. Each machine will give a completely different taste to an espresso, cappuccino or whatever other coffee drink you like. The options are endless and you could write a book about them.
Choose which coffee machine to take
Because there is such a wide variety of coffee makers, it is difficult to divide them into categories. Nevertheless, I will try to give a small overview with the existing coffee makers.
- The fully automatic coffee machine
People also call the fully automatic coffee machine the espresso bean machine. These machines come in all shapes and sizes, but generally these are machines in the more expensive segment. After all, the machine can both grind beans and brew an espresso. All you have to do is put the cup under the machine. - The semi-automatic coffee machine
This piston machine requires a number of actions from you. You will have to make coffee yourself, you will have to press it and you will have to rotate the ground coffee into the piston machine. It’s pretty simple, but you’ll spend some time doing it. It is often these machines that are used in city cafes and restaurants. - Coffee makers with filter
These are the most normal coffee makers found almost in every Dutch kitchen. It is the type of coffee where you fill up a simple filter with a few scoops of ground coffee powder and where you then run the water through the filter with one push of a button. You then pour this filter coffee into cups. More and more people are using a thermos jug instead of a glass coffee pot. If the glass coffee pot is left on the hot plate for too long, the coffee can quickly become bitter. - Cup machines and coffee pod coffee makers
Then there are the easy coffee makers that use coffee pods or cups. Consider, for example, the now widely used Senseo device where you simply put a coffee pod in and place a cup under it. Again, there are different shapes and sizes in different price categories. Although it is very simple to make coffee with these cup and pad machines, it is somewhat annoying if you don’t have coffee pods or cups in the house. Only one kind often fits in.
The alternatives – vacuum coffee machines, French press and Turkish coffee
Of course, there are dozens of other ways to brew a bakkie pleur. One of the oldest forms of brewing coffee is to make it vacuum. Such a system is not expensive and the taste of coffee is considerably better than comparable systems.
The French invented the French Press system. It is a very quick and easy way to make a cup of coffee and the contact between the water and the coffee over a period of several minutes makes the taste very rich and aromatic.
In Turkey and actually throughout the Middle East, Turkish coffee is very popular. All one needs here is a special Turkish coffee pot and very finely ground coffee. The disadvantage here is that you have to let the drink settle before you can drink it. We in the Netherlands don’t always like that.
Choosing the best coffee makers
Make sure you are well informed if you have to choose a coffee maker. If you don’t like espresso, then you especially shouldn’t invest in the big full- and semi-automatic coffeemakers. Are you more someone who likes filter coffee, then you might want to focus on looking for a bean grinder to improve the quality of your coffee. And maybe you’re just looking for a quick vending machine for early mornings, then a cup or pad machine might be better.