Main Types of Coffee Makers
There are mainly four types of coffeemakers available on the market. These types include the percolator, the automatic drip, the French Press, and the espresso maker. Each unique type of brewer has its own advantages and disadvantages.
1. Percolator
The percolator is the first type of coffeemaker mass produced on the market. The first prototype appeared around 1810, and a stove-top model was patented in 1889.
Coffee technology has changed drastically over the last century, but this old-fashioned method still has a solid consumer fan base. Most modern percolators are made of stainless steel, with capacities ranging between 4-30 cups.
In general, traditional percolators are usually used on the stovetop or an open fire, while modern varieties are electric.
A percolator is composed of a lidded pot with a water chamber in the bottom, a vertical pump stem, and an internal perforated basket that holds coffee grounds above the water.
Water bubbles up through the pump stem as it is heated. Then the water comes into contact with the grounds in the basket.
Water seeps through the grounds, which then drips down into the pot below through the perforations in the metal filter.
The brewing cycle continues until the pot is removed from the heat source. You can watch the whole brewing process through the transparent lid so that you can decide when to stop brewing according to your own preferences.
Advantages of percolators:
- Vintage appearance
- Continuous brewing
- Low price
Disadvantages of percolators:
- Relatively time-consuming
- A little bit bitter
2. Automatic Drip Coffeemaker
Many people prefer using an automatic drip coffeemaker due to its convenience. Generally speaking, this type of brewer includes a carafe with a lid, a powered base with a heating element, a water reservoir, and a filter chamber or basket.
It is really simple to use an automatic drip coffeemaker. You just have to put grounds into the filter chamber along with a disposable paper or reusable filter.
A measured amount of water is poured into the reservoir, and then it’s simply a matter of flipping the switch. The coffeemaker begins its brewing process.
The water is heated rapidly by an internal heating element. Heated water pours onto the grounds, which then drips through the filter into the carafe.
Some automatic drip coffeemakers are equipped with an automatic timer. If you set the machine at night. And It makes it easy to enjoy breakfast coffee immediately.
You can also find some thermal coffee makers and some top rated coffee makers with grinder on the market.
Advantages of automatic drip coffeemakers:
- Convenient
- Programmable
- Fast
Disadvantages of automatic drip coffeemakers:
- Disposable paper or reusable filters are required
- User is unable to control the water temperature
3. French Press
The first French Press is said to have appeared in France in the 1850’s. It consists of a pot, a lid with a plunger, and an integrated screen filter.
The best results are achieved by using coarse grounds. This ensures that fewer grounds wind up in your coffee, and also ensures that the plunger/filter mechanism operates correctly.
As for the water, the optimal temperature is “a minute off the boil,” between 195F and 205F degrees.
The technique of employing a French Press to brew coffee is not complicated. Add a measured amount of coarsely ground beans to the pot.
When the water has reached the correct temperature, pour the water into the pot.
Wait one minute while the grounds “bloom,” and then stir the coffee with a chopstick or spoon.
Place the lid on without pressing down the plunger. After three additional minutes (four minutes total), the extraction is finished. Press down the plunger slowly until it reaches the bottom, and a tasty cup of coffee is ready.
Advantages of French Press:
- Brewing coffee with a rich and delicious taste
- Precise control over water temperature and brewing time
- Electricity is not necessary
Disadvantages of French Press
- Relatively precise timing and temperature measurements are required
- Not programmable
- Manual
4. Espresso maker
Espresso makers are able to brew coffee with exceedingly concentrated and robust flavor. There are commercial espresso makers, and there are those developed for home use.
Most home espresso machines usually consist of a water reservoir, a heating element, a portafilter (housing a tamped puck of coffee with its coffee basket), a spout, and a group head which decides the number of cups made at one time.
An espresso machine forces water at 90 degrees and 9 bars of pressure through a puck of finely ground coffee. This produces coffee with a rich flavor, as the process extracts and emulsifies the oils in the grounds.
It only produces coffee in small amounts called shots. And an ideal double shot of espresso will take about 25 seconds to create, timed from when the machine’s pump is first turned on.
In a word, espresso makers offer you coffee with a perfect combination of flavor, aroma, and color.
Advantages of espresso makers:
- Palatable coffee with strong and rich taste
- Making the best use of coffee beans
Disadvantages of espresso makers:
- Time-consuming
- Costly
Summary
As a whole, different coffeemakers have a wide variety of different features. Spend a little time doing research on your favorite methods. And you can choose the most suitable one for your needs when you consider each unit’s advantages and disadvantages.