Though it would make the lives of millions of coffee drinkers a lot easier, there really is no consensus on what the world’s best coffee maker is. The problem, it seems, is that there’s simply too many nuances and personal preferences that differ in what people consider the ideal way to make coffee. Some, for instance, like to consume several cups of coffee to give their morning a jumpstart. Others only need one, and find any more than that to be a caffeine overload. As you might guess, these two types of coffee drinkers will have different priorities when looking for a coffee maker, and the ones that suit them best will likely be vastly different. It’s reasons like this that there’s such a wide variety of coffee makers available. In this article, we’ll take a look at the most popular types and brands of coffee makers, and how they may (or may not) suit you.
The drip brewer is among the most widely recognized coffee makers in the world. Its basic setup –a water reservoir, coffee ground tray, carafe (coffee pot), and warming tray are associated with millions of kitchens and old-fashioned diners across the U.S. What’s somewhat surprising about drip brewers, though, is that despite the fact that they’re so common, they’re widely regarded as one of the best types of basic coffee makers available. When you fill the reservoir, add the grounds, and press the “on” button, drip brewers head very small amounts of water at a time (hence the drip) and mix them with the grounds before letting gravity push them through the filter and into the pot. This method has been proven to be both pretty simple and exceedingly effective at making a “classic” cup of coffee. Gourmet coffee drinkers, for example, often prefer the drip brewer because it tends to preserve delicate flavors and overtones better than other coffee makers.
The best way to get that flavorful, traditional cup of coffee is to find the right brand of drip brewer. The two most popular modern brands of drip coffee brewers are Mr. Coffee and Black & Decker. The price range for these two brands generally runs between $20 and $80 (the low to mid range for coffee makers), and they’re great for coffee drinkers who don’t pay particular attention to small flavor and body details. If you’re more of a coffee connoisseur, then brands like Delonghi and Krups might suit you better. They are higher priced, but have the same capacity (usually 10-14 cups in the pot) and maintain small details of the coffee’s flavor.