EmailCoffee makers can save you money because it costs far less to make coffee at home than it does to buy your brew at a coffee shop. These machines come in a host of designs, but most are made of plastic, and many have stainless-steel accents. In general, automatic coffee makers with thermal carafes do a better job of retaining coffee's flavor and temperature than glass carafes do, and the burners underneath glass carafes can burn coffee, damaging the flavor.
For maximum flavor, use coffee beans that have been roasted recently and grind them just before brewing. Grind-and-brew coffee makers offer convenience, but performance is average at best. Reviews say that using a separate coffee grinder (a good blade model costs as little as $20) is a better option.
Here's what experts say about coffee makers:
- Machines that brew at temperatures between 195 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit make the best coffee, according to experts. In order to hit this target, they say that you should look for a coffee maker with at least 1,250 watts of power. Unfortunately, few machines reach this standard (the Technivorm coffee makers are notable exceptions). Experts say that five to six minutes of brew time is ideal.
- Look for auto shutoff if you're the type who forgets to turn off the coffee maker. Another option is to go for a thermal-carafe coffee maker, since these turn off after brewing.
- A programmable timer lets you set up the coffee maker in advance. This way, you can instruct the coffee maker to brew coffee at a specific time. This timer strategy doesn't work as well for thermal-carafe coffee makers, which perform best when the carafe is warmed with hot water before brewing.
- A small-batch setting lets you make smaller amounts with a full-sized coffee maker. Small-batch settings adjust settings so that a small batch comes out just as flavorful as a whole pot.
- Thermal-carafe coffee makers keep coffee warm without scorching it on a hot plate. If you like to enjoy a pot of coffee all through the morning, consider a thermal-carafe coffee maker. Since the pot doesn't sit on a hot plate, coffee stays fresher.
- A pause-and-serve feature is nice. This lets you sneak a cup in mid-brew.
- Decide how strong you like your coffee. Reviews say that automatic-drip coffee makers don't let you exercise much control over coffee strength. You can make stronger coffee with vacuum pots and French presses.
- Reusable filter baskets save you money and reduce waste. They must, however, be cleaned after each use to avoid residue buildup. Some experts say reusable basket filters produce better coffee than paper filters.
- You probably don't need a water filter. The exception lies with water that has a lot of minerals and tastes bad. If that's the case, adding a whole-house or kitchen-sink filter makes more sense. Coffee maker water filters need to be changed every few months and cost $3.50 to $7 each. Of course, you can always choose not to use the filter.
If you want to ensure that your coffee doesn't scorch on a hot plate, transfer it to a thermal carafe, or turn the hot plate off the moment the coffee is finished brewing and reheat the coffee in the microwave. With the exception of specialty or designer models, thermal carafes range from $10 to $75. In order to protect their coffee from the hot plate, some owners disable the hot plate altogether or use a heat barrier.