Summary: Great coffee makers are not difficult to buy if you follow these rules.
Finding the best home coffee maker is not all that difficult, once you know what to look for. In fact, even an inexpensive coffee maker can brew great quality. A more expensive coffee maker may not make any better tasting coffee, but it will have more conveniences.
A good way to start your search is to narrow your choices and compare features available on some of the better machines.
Popular Features for Coffee Maker
Most people start with an automatic drip coffee maker. They are easy to use, easy to clean up and make a full pot of coffee. Most people use paper filters, because they prevent any coffee grounds from getting into the brewed coffee. However, generally the gold tone metal coffee filters will give a better flavor although with just a touch of grounds.
Brew size is important to consider as well. If you want a great cup of coffee with the least amount of trouble, go for a single serve coffee maker. Unlike the automatic drip coffee maker, a single size brewer like the Keurig brewers will make just one cup of coffee with pre-packaged coffee. If you want to brew a pot of coffee, you should chose an automatic drip coffee maker again. Even the automatic drip coffee makers have different size carafes and brew capacity, so consider how much coffee you want to make at once.
If you sometimes want 12 cups of coffee but other times only want 4 cups, look for a coffee maker that has a small batch setting. The time the hot water is in contact with the grounds has a lot to do with the coffee flavor, and so the small batch setting can allow you to adjust the way the grounds and the hot water interact.
If you like a cup of coffee in the morning, a built in timer is handy. That way you can add coffee and water at night, and wake up to a fresh brewed cup of coffee. Similarly, be sure to get a coffee maker that turns off automatically, if you don't want to have to worry about whether or not you left the coffee maker on when you left the house or went to bed.
I suggest looking at a coffee maker with a thermal carafe that keeps the coffee hot without sitting on a heating pad in the typical glass carafe. If you like to drink several cups of coffee, or most of a pot, throughout the morning instead of all of the coffee right away, you will greatly enjoy the carafe.
Another feature that lets you brew very fresh coffee is a built in grinder. These grind-and-brew coffee makers let you place whole coffee beans into the to, and then touch a button to start the grind process and brew your coffee. This can also be done with a separate coffee grinder but you may enjoy this convenience of not having to transfer your ground coffee from the grinder to the maker. One disadvantage of grind and brew coffee makers is that they can be a bit harder to clean than a regular drip coffee maker.
Besides want to have a coffee maker that makes great tasting coffee, you should also consider whether the coffee maker fits on your countertop. What size it is? Consider not only the footprint of the coffee maker but also how high it will be. And of course you should think about whether you like how it looks. If looks are important to you, then seek out the coffee makers with the style and colors you'll enjoy seeing every time you enter your kitchen. Some coffee makers come in colors other than white and black, so check them out.
Where to Find the Best Coffee Maker
The best way to find a great coffee maker is to research the coffee makers that others have used and enjoyed. Or find out which ones you should avoid. Sites like this one at CoffeeMakerRatings.com provide helpful ratings on coffee makers that you can even buy online.
You should also think about whether you've had a coffee maker before that you liked to use. Some people like to try something new, and press pots (also called French Presses) and the Aerobie AeroPress are very popular. Your family and friends may also have opinions to share.
The key is to buy the coffee maker that fits your lifestyle and budget the best. Look around CoffeeMakerRatings.com to find helpful tips about finding the best machine for your money.
There are other consumers reviews available to, so you should be able to find the coffee maker that is right for you.
If you don't let yourself get overwhelmed by the large number of coffee makers available for sale, you will find one that is just right for you. Compare brands, compare features, and compare price. Then buy the one you like the best and can afford, and start enjoying great coffee. I hope that I've helped you get the best coffee maker for your own personal needs.
