The coffee maker is an indispensable device in the kitchen for coffee lovers. A coffee maker significantly improves the quality of the drink and reduces the time for its preparation than a Turk, to which you need to get used to. And instant coffee has a completely different taste, and its composition is questionable. For non-professional use (for example, home or office), it is best to opt for a drip coffee maker. The fastest way to prepare a delicious espresso or Americano.
In this article, you will learn how to choose a drip coffee maker, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.
Device and principle of operation
Inside the drip coffee maker are built-in:
- container for water;
- heating elements;
- cleaning filters;
- ground coffee tank;
- a container for a finished drink;
- some models are additionally equipped with a mechanism for grinding coffee beans.
The principle of operation of a drip coffee maker is quite simple. It is necessary to connect the device to the electrical network, fill the appropriate tanks with water and ground coffee and press the start button. Water, having reached the boiling point and converted into steam, rises and settles on the walls. Then the drops fall into the filter with coffee, absorb it, and from there drops of coffee fall into the cup. Therefore, the coffee maker is called drip.
Varieties of filters
The drip coffee machine has a filter, so it is also called a filter coffee machine. Filters for a coffee maker are cone-shaped and can be disposable and reusable. The disposable filter is most popular among users, as it absorbs harmful alkaloids well. It is made of waterproof paper and is changed after every coffee. Reusable filters fall into three categories:
- Nylon - made of plastic and nylon; you need to change it every 50 brewing cycles, however, it is recommended to do it a little more often, as a filter that is standing for a long time can start to spoil the taste of the coffee.
- Gold - made of the same materials as nylon, only additionally coated with titanium nitride, which gives a golden hue; the shelf life of such a filter is higher than that of nylon.
- Metal - made of stainless steel; the most durable of all filters, but they have a pronounced metallic taste after the first prepared drink, so users do not prefer them.
Pros and cons of drip coffee makers
The main advantages of a drip coffee maker are the speed and simplicity of making coffee, as well as:
- filtration;
- warming up drinks;
- up to two liters of good coffee is prepared in one cycle;
- moderate cost - a variety of models and manufacturers will allow you to choose a device for the desired budget.
However, the coffee maker has a number of disadvantages:
- not every user will find it convenient to constantly monitor the filters and change them, and if this is not done on time, the coffee maker will stop working or even break down;
- you can brew up to two liters of a drink at once, but there is no way to prepare one portion of coffee;
- the appliance needs to be washed after every coffee preparation.
It is also worth noting that the volume of the tank for the finished drink is always less than the declared one. That is, if, for example, a volume of 2 liters is indicated, this means that only 1.8 liters can be used to avoid overflow. In addition, the device provides a minimum of liquid that should be in the container - this is about 300-500 ml, otherwise the coffee maker simply will not turn on.
What to look for when buying
The most important parameter to look for when buying is power. Unlike other household appliances, in a drip coffee maker, it is better to choose a lower power, in the range of 600-800 watts. This is due to the fact that the more powerful the coffee maker, the faster the water flows, which adversely affects the taste of the coffee, since the water does not have time to linger in the ground beans and absorb their taste. You also do not need to choose below the recommended parameter, since the taste of the drinks also deteriorates because the water heats up too slowly. The device must be equipped with:
- water level indicator;
- pull-out filter compartment;
- a recess in the case for storing the cord;
- heating function;
- filters for coffee.
The cup for the drink should be glass, not plastic; it is more durable, since when using a bowl made of plastic, after a while a specific taste will begin to appear in the drinks, which, moreover, is very harmful to the body; such a capacity will have to be changed periodically. With a glass container, there will be no such problem and it will not need to be replaced.
The quality of the brewed coffee depends in large part on the coffee beans and water. But it is also worth noting that a drip coffee maker is not suitable for professional use, that is, you can only prepare strong coffee in it, and a completely different device is needed for drinks like cappuccino or latte.
Additional functions
Some models of the coffee maker have other functions that will simplify the work with the device:
- a removable water bowl will protect the device from water ingress into the electrical components of the device;
- the timer or delayed start function will allow you to fill the tanks with water and ground coffee in advance and the drinks will be ready by the required time;
- a special sensor that will tell the user when to change the filter and when to wash the device;
- transfusion protection system;
- the water filter will be useful for those who use tap water;
- the ability to select the strength level of the brewed coffee.
On some drip coffee makers you can find the "anti-drip seal" function. This function will stop dispensing liquid if it notices that the beverage cup is not firmly in place. However, it is better to independently check whether the cup is in the right position, since with frequent use of this function, a delay in coffee in the device can disrupt the operation of the device and lead to damage.
