Depending on how adventurous you are, you probably have come across many different types of coffee makers.
Though many are most familiar with drip or pour-over coffee makers, there are other options, as well.
Coffee can taste incredibly different depending on how it is brewed.
Many people have only ever known the taste of coffee as it is created by one or two brewing methods, but there are so many more options.
Each option has a unique taste, and you might find that you prefer one far more than the other.
How many coffee maker types have you tried before? Have you decided yet which method you prefer the most?
Different Types of Coffee Makers
Below is a list covering the most popular types of coffee makers that people buy for their homes.
Go over each one to determine which could be the perfect choice for you.
1. Drip Coffee Maker
Drip coffee makers are among the most well-known types of coffee makers, mainly because many find them the easiest to use.
Drip coffee makers prepare coffee through this process.
First, water is added to the reservoir. You then add your choice of ground coffee to the filter. After this, the brewing process starts.
The water heats up and, once it’s reached the desired temperature, passes through the filter with ground coffee.
Next comes out the brewed coffee, which drips straight into the carafe. Lastly, the carafe, containing the freshly brewed coffee, is kept warm on a warming base.
Drip coffee makers are great for creating a lot of coffee at once.
The problem with it is that the brewing process cannot be customized or controlled very much.
2. Pour-Over Coffee Maker
Using a pour-over coffee machine is an easy brewing method. You use it to make either a single cup of coffee or a large carafe’s worth.
In this brewing method, ground coffee is put into a filter on the pour-over stand. Hot water is then added to the filter slowly so that the coffee can brew.
The coffee will then drip through the bottom of the filter into the cup or carafe.
If you live with several people who require a cup of joe at the same time, this method of brewing might not be what you’re looking for.
3. Capsule Coffee Maker
These single-serve machines work much like a drip coffee maker, but they work on a cup-by-cup basis.
It works by putting a coffee capsule, which contains coffee grounds, into the machine.
Water is kept in a water reservoir, and the machine heats up that water to brew the coffee.
The water is then pushed through the ground coffee as the machine brews. Afterward, the pod can then be disposed of.
You will also find reusable pods that you can fill with ground coffee yourself.
4. French Press Coffee Maker
French presses are among the most popular types of coffee brewing methods for both taste and convenience.
Many people like it because the coffee prepared in a French press comes out rich and flavorful.
Another reason is that it is next to impossible to burn or over-extract the coffee this way.
To brew coffee using a French press, course coffee is added as well as freshly boiled water.
The coffee is left to steep for a few minutes. Then, the plunger is pushed down to the bottom of the carafe.
The plunger is attached to a filter that keeps the coffee grounds in place while you pour the coffee into your serving mug.
5. Espresso Coffee Maker
An espresso coffee maker uses hot water, high amounts of pressure, and finely ground coffee to create espresso.
Different types of espresso machines can do different amounts of automation.
Having a full-sized espresso machine at home, however, is not as common due to the amount of pressure and hot water needed.
Some capsule machines can make a type of at-home espresso. Many people use it to create espresso-based beverages at home.
6. Stovetop Coffee Maker
A stovetop coffee maker is a brewing system put directly on a burner or cooktop to brew coffee.
You brew coffee by filling the bottom compartment with water and the filter basket with coffee. Then, you apply heat.
As the water heats up, it rises through the filter basket and up the spout, brewing coffee into the top compartment.
Compared to its counterparts, this brewing method is very budget-friendly and sustainable; it does not require capsules or paper filters.
Stovetop coffee makers are available in sizes that work for single cups of coffee or for multiple cups.
7. Automatic Coffee Makers
Automatic coffee makers are like drip coffee makers that have undergone some major upgrades to fit the needs of modern-age coffee lovers.
These coffee makers can usually do additional tasks beyond simple brewing, which include:
- Grinding coffee beans
- Frothing milk
- Heating water for tea
- Brewing different sizes
- Making cold brew
- Brewing iced coffee
Automatic coffee makers are highly customizable and programmable; the exact features depend on the specific model type.
Many people love it for the versatility it offers, but that versatility often comes at a price.
8. Percolator
Lastly, the classic percolator warrants a shout out, too.
Percolators work a lot like stovetop espresso makers. The water is heated on a direct heat source, and the coffee grounds are at the top of the carafe.
The heated water then passes through the coffee grounds repeatedly as it brews.
Percolators brew coffee very quickly, and the results come out very hot. In fact, some find that they brew so hot that the coffee tastes burnt.
Still, percolators have been a classic and well-loved brewing method for many decades because of how easy they are to use.
FAQs
1. Do different coffee makers last longer than others?
Some coffee makers are likely to be more durable than others. However, it still largely depends on how you care for your appliances.
That being said, coffee makers with fewer electrical components are less likely to fail than those that are entirely electrical.
French presses, pour-over filters, and Moka pots, for that reason, are likely to last for much longer than drip brewers.
Still, anything that is made from something fragile, like glass, runs the risk of breaking easily.
Even if a glass pour-over maker could theoretically survive for decades, it may be broken long before that lifetime is reached.
2. Are some coffee maker types easier to use than others?
Every coffee maker requires a learning curve, but different coffee makers will be easier to learn than others.
The learning curve is also dependent on what type of coffee makers you have used before.
If you have used a type of coffee maker before, then you are likely to find that specific style the most comfortable to use.
Most people are very familiar with drip coffee makers, so those are likely to be the easiest to use.
Additionally, pod coffee makers and others with many fancy programmable buttons will also be very easy to use.
Brewing methods that require more action, such as the French press, pour-over setups, or Moka pot, will take more learning to use properly.
Regardless, there aren’t many coffee makers that are truly difficult to use.
Once you take some time to learn how to use the type you’re interested in, you’ll be able to brew with ease.
4. Which type of coffee maker is best?
Determining the best and worst coffee maker is not easy. People have different values and preferences, and that makes the ranking hard.
For some, the best coffee maker is the one that is the most budget-friendly or the easiest to use.
For others, the best choice is the one that makes the most exquisite-tasting coffee.
There is no precise answer, as there are many great types of coffee brewers.
5. How do I choose a coffee maker?
If there’s no clear answer on which is the best coffee maker, how do you choose the right one for you?
Ask yourself some crucial questions, such as:
- Do you enjoy drip coffee, or do you prefer other brewing methods?
- Do you want to be able to do various brewing methods with one machine?
- Do you have free counter space for a large brewer?
- Do you want to make one cup at a time or many cups?
- Are you willing to learn a new brewing method?
- How much do you have to spend?
By answering all of these questions for yourself, you’ll have a better idea as to which type of coffee maker will suit your home best.
Coffee Maker Types
Now that you know more about the different types of coffee makers, is there a specific type or two you want to try?
Even if you aren’t sure yet, it’s a great idea to check out the many options you have when you can.
Those who have not had the chance to notice the differences that result from changing the brewing method will be surprised at how significant the differences can be.
Once you’ve tried a pour-over, French press, and drip cup, you’ll begin to notice the intricacies of differences created by the brew method.
And then, from there, you can begin to concoct your perfect cup!
