How to Choose a Coffeemaker

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (2 Ratings)

Freshly brewed coffee is only the beginning of the features available for this essential countertop appliance.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Coffee Beans
Coffees
Coffee Cups
Coffee Grinders
Coffee Makers

Step1

Consider the capacity you need. Most common are 4-cup, 10-cup and 12-cup coffeemakers.

Step2

Read Consumer Reports or other magazines to see which brands produce the best-tasting and hottest coffee.

Step3

Decide if you want to be able to program your coffeemaker. A programmable coffeemaker can be set to deliver fresh-brewed coffee whenever you want - for example, you can have your coffee ready first thing in the morning.

Step4

Look for an automatic shutoff function, which will guarantee that you don't leave the coffeemaker on all day.

Step5

If your water doesn't taste good out of the tap, consider a coffeemaker with a built-in water filter.

Step6

Determine if you want to grind your own beans. A few models come with an integrated, automatic coffee grinder.

Step7

If you don't want to wait until the whole pot is brewed before drinking some, consider a feature that pauses the coffee's dripping while you remove the carafe to pour.

Step8

Since coffee's taste deteriorates after 20 minutes on the heat, think about a coffeemaker that brews directly into an insulated carafe.

Step9

Test the handle on the carafe and see if it's comfortable. Also, look at the water reservoir and basket to see how convenient adding water and coffee will be.

Step10

If you also want an espresso machine, consider models that combine drip coffee and espresso in one unit.

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Comments

Anonymous said

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on 3/13/2006 Make sure the machine is capable of brewing at the proper temperature 200F just off the boil most home machines are not.

Make sure the filter holder is large enough to compensate for bloom. (when the water hits freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee, the coffee will expand considerably with the release of CO2.. this is called the bloom)

If you also want an espresso machine, consider models that combine drip coffee and espresso in one unit.

Those machines are not capable of making real espresso.

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