The coffee machine dilema - which one makes the tastiest cup?

 Coffee has been an integral part of society for hundreds of years. Certainly in some areas it would seem hard to avoid, with the aroma of freshly made espresso coffee's drifting from one corner to the next.

 With the rise of the espresso revolution, so to have our expectations of a good cup. Although there are still a few die hard instant coffee lovers, many of us quickly ditched the powdered stuff for our at home fixes, and have hit the shops in search of a coffee maker that can brew a cup like a bought one.

But where to start? There are drips, percolators, plungers, stove tops - and an aray of fancy looking espresso machines with buttons, dials and levers that surely make it important. When staring at store shelf with dozens to choose from, and with so much riding on the resulting cup, how can one possibly know which method to pick?

 1. The drip.

Coffee grounds are placed in a filter basket inside the machine, and the internal reservoir is filled with water. The machine heats the water and the hot water drips through the grounds into a glass carafe to produce brewed coffee. It's fairly simple, quick and the machines are inexpensive. It's the preferred method for many people because the entire process is automatic and requires no skill on your part. Often there is a hot plate which will keep the coffee warm which appeals to some people.

2.  The plunger - or French press

A favourite for it's simplicity and ease of use. The plunger is warmed before adding the required dose of coffee and filling it with hot water. After a few minutes and the coffee has steeped, you press down a plunger inside the pot to strain the grounds to the bottom of the pot. This method can make a fine tasting cup and is perfect for those looking for a low maintenance coffee maker that is easy to clean and doesn't take up kitchen bench space.

3. The stove top

This is a traditional Italian brewing method and one of my personal favourites. The bottom of the pot is filled with water and the coffee grounds sit above it. The top is screwed on and placed on a stove top and brought to boil. The water boils and a build up of pressure pushes it up through the coffee grounds. This pressure allows you to to get more flavour out the grounds, producing a more fuller flavoured cup. Like the plunger these come in a variety of sizes depending on many cups you would usually make at one time.

4. The percolator

You don't se so many of these nowadays but they are still available. A basket of grounds is placed in a kettle, and the water is boiled. The boiling water bubbles up through the grounds, where you can see it in a glass bubble at the top of the percolator. When it gets to the right darkness to your taste, it's ready.

5. The Espresso machine

There are so many espresso machines on the market nowadays, they have almost become a status symbol. However, many people end up spending a lot of money and end up disappointed when it fails to measure up to the latte they get down the road. The big difference is water pressure - espresso coffee's require 9 bars of water pressure to get maximum flavour out of the coffee. Most home espresso machines are not plumbed in and work with over half that kind of pressure. The first tip with espresso machines, is don't expect too much.

Before jumping in and buying the biggest and shiniest machine on the shelf, think about how much you will use it. Espresso machines can often be more work than a standard plunger for instance, and require more cleaning and overall maintenance. Ask yourself if this extra effort is worth it for what is often minimal (if notable at all) taste difference.

The big draw card with an espresso machine is of course the milk steamer - although again, without the high water pressure, it's not as easy to produce the silky cappuccinos like your local cafe.

6.  The coffee maker's best friend

The most important factor in achieving a great tasting cup. is quality and freshness. Choose a bean that best suits your taste preference and opt for whole beans rather than pre ground. Instead of forking out a lot of cash on the latest model of coffee machine, splash out on a mini coffee grinder - grinding your beans fresh will always maximise the flavour output of any brewing method.

published 3 years ago

schmeidi

641 points