How to choose a coffee machine for your home

Modern life requires constant vigor and maximum sociability. Against this background, coffee has become almost a cult of the modern world. A person drinks from 1 to 10 cups of this aromatic drink per day. There are also adherents of other hot, invigorating drinks, but a true coffee connoisseur cannot go a day without it.

To frequently drink different types of coffee, you no longer need to go to a cafe; it is enough to have all the necessary equipment at home to prepare this unique drink. The main task in this case is to preserve the aroma of the natural gift in the form of coffee beans and the ability to turn them into a drink of pleasure.

What you need for cooking

The main thing is the coffee itself. It is purchased in whole grains, already ground or instant. The last option is maximally adapted for the simplest procedure - brewing in a mug by dissolving in boiling water with or without adding sugar and milk. This simplifies preparation and is suitable for cases when you need to quickly prepare a drink and run errands. There are quite a few fans of this species.In pursuit of lowering the price tag, manufacturers desperately skimp on the quality of the product, and as a result, the result is unpleasant.

Important! It is believed that a coffee drinker has more developed taste buds.

A more suitable option is already ground, natural coffee. But for this type you need a Turk or a coffee maker. For a whole grain product, you need a coffee machine that includes a coffee grinder function or these two household appliances separately. Despite the complexity, the last option for brewing coffee is the most natural and effective.

If preference is still given to a coffee machine, you need to figure out what it may consist of and which one is more profitable to purchase.

Which coffee machine to choose for your home

A home coffee machine should be as easy as possible to maintain and operate, be affordable, and be able to prepare a wide range of coffee without human intervention. To make the right choice you need to know:

• Is there a coffee grinder built into the coffee machine? The need to purchase an additional unit and the efficiency of the device will depend on this. The coffee grinder can be metal or ceramic. For home use, it is more practical to buy a coffee machine with a ceramic coffee grinder; it lasts longer and its knives work more reliably.
• What type of coffee machine – capsule or with the ability to load coffee beans or powder directly. This affects further use. Capsule machines for the home are not a very practical option; it is more profitable to buy coffee rather than capsules, the price of which is higher due to the packaging.
• What kind of water heating system. A boiler or thermoblock can be installed in the coffee machine. The freshness of further mugs of coffee depends on this.
• Preparing one or two mugs of coffee at a time. Some machines are equipped with a disconnected tube that conducts the finished drink into the mug. This allows you to cook 2 mugs at once.
• Is the cappuccino maker built into the machine? This affects the possibility of preparing types of coffee that require the “participation” of milk.

Coffee machine with cappuccino maker

This is a device that contains a special tube. She supplies milk under a certain pressure, shaking the substance. This creates the necessary foam in the coffee. Thanks to this spare part, the machine can make lattes, cappuccinos, etc.

Capsule coffee machine

The simplicity of such a device lies in the fact that after use the capsules can simply be removed from a special compartment. They already contain sugar or milk, which is indicated on the label. After this, the machine does not need to be disassembled and cleaned.

Pod coffee machine

It is similar to a capsule one, only a bag, like a tea bag, is placed in a special compartment, where exactly 7 grams of parashka for making coffee are packed. This pouch does not contain milk or sugar. If the machine does not have a function for adding these products, then the owner will have to add it to taste after the machine has prepared the main coffee.

Carob coffee machine for home

It belongs to the category of semi-automatic machines. The coffee powder is placed in a holder, from where boiling water under pressure is passed through it and enters the mug in the form of an already prepared drink. The machine must then be disassembled and washed. More advanced models of coffee machines themselves notify you about the degree of contamination on a special display.In horn-type machines, owners have to guess about the state of the internal components.

Important! Real coffee is usually served with a glass of water. The strength of the drink can cause a long-lasting feeling of bitterness in the mouth, which can be easily removed with ordinary distilled water.

Automatic coffee machine for home

This type of machine is based on full automation. The owner only needs to occasionally add grains (or change them to another variety) and check the condition of the water. In such machines, special attention must be paid to the brewing mechanism. If it is removable, then you will have to wash it by hand under running water. If not, such cars are cleaned with special tablets. The machine itself will indicate the need to run the cleaning agent with information on the display. Such devices have a special self-cleaning command.

Automatic machines usually have several systems built into them. You just need to press one button to get one or another type of drink. In expensive versions, a thermoblock system is installed. This allows you to heat only the required amount of water for each mug.

The boiler system, on the contrary, will heat the entire volume poured into the coffee machine each time. It uses more electricity during the cooking process. Despite the quality of the water, a liquid that has been boiled several times will be inferior to a freshly heated one.

Home grain machine

Grain coffee includes any coffee machine that can independently grind coffee into the powder needed for preparation. This means a built-in coffee grinder.

Coffee makers are also distinguished by the way they supply water into a special reservoir with ready-made coffee. There is a drip and geyser system.The drip one passes through the coffee drop by drop and enters the glass, the geyser one produces a stream from the bottom up, passing more quickly through the coffee and also ending up in a special compartment.

Important! It is recommended to drink very strong coffee in limited quantities. Excessive consumption can lead to problems with the cardiovascular system. Indicated for use by people with low blood pressure to invigorate.

Additional functions

In addition to the main function of coffee making, coffee machines have a list of additional upgrades. This mainly applies to expensive models.

• Expanded range of possibilities. Such a device is capable of preparing a fairly large range of types of coffee for the most sophisticated connoisseurs of this strong drink.
• Grinding regulator. This function is only suitable for hybrids containing a coffee grinder. It allows you to control how much the grains will be crushed.
• Liquid volume regulator. It's no secret that many types of coffee require a small volume - espresso or Americano is served in 50 ml. At home, the owner of a coffee machine with a volume adjustment function can produce the same type of product, but with a volume of up to 200–250 ml at a time.
• Strength level. This function will help in preparing especially individual coffee, because everyone has different tastes, and someone may like it a little strong, while another family member needs a strongly concentrated coffee.

Price category

There are several categories of devices, distinguished by cost. The most inexpensive are geyser coffee makers and capsule models. The price can range from 5 to 15 thousand rubles. Semi-automatic and automatic models will cost more - here the price tag is already about 20-30 thousand.Some models from well-known companies reach prices above 150,000.

Despite the huge number of functions, such devices are intended for home use. Expensive models tend to have longer warranties and more features. Every year the development of technology continues. At the moment, no one is stopping the creators of coffee machines in their pricing policy, and for special connoisseurs of a unique drink, devices are offered for about 300,000 rubles per unit.

Selection rules

When making a choice in a device for preparing high-quality coffee at home, you must base it on several basic requirements. The coffee machine should match the style if the entire appearance of the kitchen is in the same color. Embedded devices are often used. They are not so easy to operate and are relatively more expensive than other models, but they stand out favorably in the kitchen space.

The coffee machine should be convenient. If your goal is to purchase a real machine and not a surrogate substitute, it is better to purchase a device that can make coffee “from scratch” and without involving the owner in the process. These include automatic models.

If the buyer is limited in funds, you can buy a carob machine and purchase a coffee grinder separately.

Important! The law applies directly to coffee makers and coffee machines - the more expensive, the better.

All models powered by capsules are not producers of natural coffee. No matter what quality the equipment manufacturer claims, coffee that has already been ground and stored for a long time in plastic “cases” gradually loses its unique properties. This type of machine is more suitable for fast-paced office life.

Manufacturers of expensive devices justify high prices by the high quality of spare parts in the devices and uninterrupted operation for the stated number of mugs.