How to choose a coffee machine for home?

Many people have little idea of ​​a morning without a fragrant strong drink. But to brew coffee in Turk - you need time that is not always enough, and a soluble analogue does not even come close with a real custard drink made from fried beans. Therefore, in order to simplify their task and not deny pleasure, some decide to install a coffee maker. In this article, we will discuss how to choose a coffee machine for the home correctly, without spending a lot of time and effort.

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Coffee maker or coffee machine?

1. Before disassembling all the pros and cons of this technique, we will figure out what a similar device is and how to distinguish it from an ordinary coffee machine: The main difference of a coffee machine is the automation of the process of preparing this fragrant drink. As a rule, a coffee maker requires much more human involvement than a coffee machine.
2. This principle of operation significantly affects the prices of these devices. So, coffee makers are much cheaper and have less functionality.
3. But there are much more varieties of coffee makers, and if, first of all, you look at the cost, we recommend that you pay attention to them.

If you chose a coffee machine, then all the information below will help you choose a coffee machine for your home simply and without hassle.

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Varieties

Basically, coffee machines differ only in the presence of certain functions. In general, they can be divided into 3 categories:

1. Espresso combines. Their main difference is that they only prepare black coffee. This is the best option for true connoisseurs of black coffee varieties.
2. Semi-automatic coffee machines. It is typical for them to prepare different types of coffee, but you still have to whip the milk foam manually using panarello, also called a mechanical cappuccino machine.
3. Fully automatic coffee machines. These devices can do everything - from the preparation of ordinary espresso to the full preparation of a latte with the click of a button.

Important! Regardless of the device in which you will prepare the drink, its taste is directly related to the quality of the grains. To understand them and choose the kind that will provide you with a drink that is pleasant to your taste, ourreview of the best varieties of coffee.

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Choosing a coffee machine for home

Now, having an idea of ​​what to choose from, let's decide which coffee machine is best for the home. Since the market provides a huge number of models and in order not to get lost among their influx, we determine what parameters are necessary for you.

Important! There are such characteristics that are necessary for everyone, since a real espresso cannot work without them. Among them are such as:

• pump operating pressure 7-9 bar;
• brewing temperature 92-95 degrees.

Next, we define several groups of parameters that you need to pay attention to in order to choose the right coffee machine for your home:

1. External characteristics. Among them: manufacturer, device dimensions, internal device, performance.
2. Individual characteristics. This item includes all your requirements for the device’s functionality: a variety of recipes, a display, etc.
3. Price. This point is also important, and for some it will be decisive in this process.

Let us consider in more detail all the selection criteria.

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External parameters

Buying a coffee machine is a serious thing and the best coffee machine for the home should be selected. And for this you need to approach this process thoroughly.

Manufacturers

Among the manufacturers of household appliances companies that offer the right product, about a dozen. This list includes such giants as Bosch, Philips, and other lesser-known ones.

Companies that produce this device can be divided into 2 categories:

1. Manufacturers specifically "coffee" devices. All their production is focused on the development of coffee machines and bringing their functionality to the ideal. Among them are JURA, Gaggia.
2. Companies that specialize in a variety of household appliances and do not have a narrow direction. These include Bosch, Philips, Siemens, etc.

The companies presented in the first paragraph will always be “in trend” and shine with new products. But the brand also plays an important role.

Important! Still worth paying attention to product service. These are such points as high-quality warranty and post-warranty service - the availability of the very guarantee and its duration. So, the companies JURA and Philips give an extended warranty on their goods, which confirms the quality of the devices.

Dimensions

In an already small kitchen, size is not the last thing. Choosing a coffee machine by size is quite difficult, but among the products on the market there are also small-sized models. It’s worth calculating what size you need based on the understanding that the coffee machine needs not only to be located somewhere, but you will also need space to care for this equipment.

Custard mechanism

One of the main internal mechanisms is custard. It can be removable or non-removable. They differ among themselves in the cleaning process:

1. The first is cleaned manually under running water and does not require any additional cleaning agents. This saves on cleaning. But at the same time, it is practically impossible to clean the hydraulic system of the coffee machine in a quality manner. And it is simply necessary to clean it using special means.
2. The second option is easier to clean, as it does it automatically with special cleaning tablets. During this process, the previously mentioned hydraulic system is also cleaned. In such coffee machines there is a counter for the number of prepared drinks. After a certain amount, the system indicates the need for cleaning.

Important! Some coffee machines with a removable mechanism also have an automatic cleaning function.

Coffee grinder

An important aspect for the quality of the coffee machine is also a coffee grinder. Millstones in them are of two types:

1. Ceramic millstones - work quieter and do not overheat when grinding. Among the shortcomings of this material, it can be emphasized that when a foreign object enters the coffee grinder, and this happens in coffee beans, the millstones break and a replacement will be needed.
2. Steel millstones - are durable and getting anything other than grains there will not lead to breakage. Among the shortcomings, a large degree of noise, as well as overheating, can be noted. The latter affects the taste of the drink, as the grain is burned during grinding.

Water heating system

In order to choose the right coffee machine, it is also worth considering the principle of heating the water in it, because not only the taste of the prepared coffee depends on this, but also the durability of your device. There are two approaches to this issue today:

1. Boiler. Coffee machines in which this heating system is installed operate on the principle of accumulation. The water inside was heated, a certain amount of coffee was prepared, new water was added to the residues and everything was heated again. Excessive energy is consumed to heat more water than necessary. Stagnation of water occurs, scale forms. The quality of the taste is falling.
2. Thermoblock.The system is designed to heat the amount of water needed to prepare a serving.

Now, based on the above criteria, it will be much easier for you to choose the best coffee machines from the many options offered. But that's not all.

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Individual requirements

Coffee machine manufacturers offer many functional options for the consumer. To get the best coffee machine for your home, decide on the functionality that you need.

Important! Remember, the more options in the equipment, the higher the price - do not overpay for unnecessary functions that you can do without.

Among the many diverse proposals for functions, it is worth highlighting several main ones. They affect the price of the product most of all:

1. A variety of drinks that can be prepared at the touch of a button.
2. The presence of a cappuccino machine - mechanical or automatic.
3. Dialogue display.
4. The presence of two heating systems.
5. Various settings for preparing the drink: temperature, amount of water, etc.
6. Cup heating function.
7. Auto cleaning programs.

Let us consider in more detail the variety of functions that manufacturers offer us.

Cappuccinators

An important feature for most machines is the presence of an automatic cappuccino machine, because you need to learn how to beat milk foam, even with a mechanical device. Also, it is the automatic cappuccino machine that allows you to prepare latte macchiato with the click of a button, which significantly saves time for the user of this device. And often, the preparation time and the amount of effort spent is just the main reason for buying a coffee machine.

Dialog Displays

Technologies do not stand still and nowadays there is an opportunity to choose a coffee machine with a convenient user-friendly, intuitive interface. Some displays can notify the user about the operating mode using the traffic light colors:

• green means readiness for work;
• yellow is the setting mode;
• red indicates the absence of components for cooking or the need for cleaning.

One or two heating systems?

Two thermoblocks in the coffee machine are used to speed up the preparation of coffee with the presence of whipped milk. So, one of them is designed to make a drink, the second serves steam.

Important! Devices with one heating system require additional time between the transition from hot water to steam.

Cup warmer and beverage warmer

In professional cafes, the barista never pours coffee in a cold cup, this helps to maintain the temperature, aroma and taste of the drink.

There is also the function of heating the platform on which the cups stand during cooking. This is done for the same purposes as in the previous paragraph.

Coffee Grind Adjustment

Everyone knows the fact that the quality of the grinding of grains also affects the taste of the drink:

• too fine grinding can add excessive bitterness;
• large - to make the drink watery and tasteless.

Important! For the most part, this function includes a wide range of values ​​and can help you choose the perfect grinding for you.

Pre-wetting

Experts recommend moistening coffee with water for a while. This allows you to extract the maximum aroma of the drink from any kind of coffee. This function is also provided in some coffee machines on the market. Also often manufacturers offer their recipes for brewing coffee.

Ease of care

Everyone will agree with the statement that using a coffee machine should be enjoyable and not be time consuming in every way. This also applies to caring for her. So, there are devices whose cleaning is as automated as possible, but naturally, the cost of such equipment will be higher.

Water filters

The water that runs from our taps is very different from the ideal. As a result, scale appears on many household devices. Some models of coffee machines are equipped with an internal filter for water treatment. Moreover, they are very easy to use. It is enough to change the filter on time and no descaling is necessary.

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More benefits

If you want to choose a coffee machine not only for making a drink, but also you are interested in the variety of basic functionality and the presence of many additional functions, then manufacturers also tried their best in this matter.

Many brands offer a variety of additional features for their devices, including:

1. Possibility of using ground coffee in grain coffee machines.
2. Making two cups of espresso at the same time.
3. Coffee dispenser adjustment. You can drink your favorite drink with this function from your favorite cup.
4. You can easily set the temperature of the drink itself, it all depends on the taste preferences of the user.
5. Coffee dosage selection. Different coffee machines dispense portions per cup in different ways. Therefore, if you want to brew a couple cups of espresso at the same time, then the dosage should be at least 14 g.
6. Also available is the adjustment of the amount of water per cup.

For especially demanding customers, manufacturers offer the following functions:

1. Fingerprint recognition. The system contains a program that prepares coffee for you, just scan your fingerprint.
2. Illumination of cups during the cooking process.
3. Making hot chocolate.
4. Trendy and exclusive design.

Important! If you decide to choose a coffee machine, the best model will help you choose our special coffee machine rating.

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Stock footage

It is necessary to approach the choice of a coffee machine responsibly, because the price-functional ratio in this device is very noticeable. And if your family uses only varieties of black coffee, then it is better to refuse the cappuccino machine. Choosing a coffee machine for your home is quite difficult, but after reading our article you can easily determine which device is best suited specifically to your requirements.