Coffee is one of the most popular drinks. On a planet every day its consumption reaches over a billion cups. Imagine how tight it would be if you had to cook each one yourself. Back in 1843, the first device was invented to help coffee lovers, who eventually improved to the familiar coffee machine. A coffee machine is a kind of sophisticated coffee grinder. She automatically makes coffee, just press the button. Quite a lot of processes take place inside: grinding the grains, supplying water or steam to the tubes, maybe adding whipped milk. The user need only to fill up and pour the necessary products inside. How to buy the optimal model and what you should pay attention will tell our guide to choose.
Content:
The best manufacturers of coffee machines - which company to choose
There are many models of coffee machines on the domestic market. Almost every manufacturer of home appliances has in the range of their products of this kind of devices. The demand for them is very high, as the number of coffee lovers is growing day by day. Coffee machines are purchased for various office organizations, as well as for home use.
Anyone who for any reason does not have the opportunity to delve into the material prepared by us, we recommend to pay attention to the following brands:
- Melitta;
- Bosch;
- Saeco;
- Delonghi;
- Krups.
All listed companies have proven themselves only on the positive side, being an example of an excellent combination of quality and reliability of manufactured goods. Specific models can be found in our ranking of the best coffee machines.
The principle of operation and the device coffee machines
A coffee machine is a special automated coffee making machine for both ground and whole grains. Brewing a drink in a coffee machine requires minimal participation from a person.
The apparatus consists of several important parts: a boiler, a heating element, a heat-exchange glass, a pump, a system of valves and sensors, as well as a distributing group and a boiling water tap.
The principle of operation of the coffee machine is technologically difficult, if we go into details and subtleties. Without them, everything looks much simpler. The user falls asleep in a special compartment (horn, filter holder) portion of the product, pressing the tablet with tempera, then puts the holder in place.
Further, by pressing the button, the water is poured through the group, the coffee is poured into the cup at the outlet. Steam is discharged from the boiler, with the help of which either milk is manually whipped or the drink warms up.
In some models there is a function of heating glasses. Heated comes from the boiler or from electricity.
Types of coffee machines
Capsule
The most automated coffee machines are just capsule. In these models, ready-made pressed coffee capsule tablets are used. They must be placed in a special compartment where piercing and filling under pressure of hot water will occur.
Further, the freshly brewed beverage is distributed in cups. Capsule devices do not require setting individual parameters, such as temperature and strength, because all this is determined by the capsules that are used.
Advantages:
- low cost;
- quick and easy preparation;
- silent operation due to the absence of the grinding process;
- long shelf life of coffee capsules (1-2 years);
- small dimensions.
Disadvantages:
- immutable parameters;
- small field for experiments;
- high cost of coffee pills.
Drip
Drip coffee machines are ideal for those who like to drink weak coffee in large quantities. In the apparatus, steam is generated, it condenses and, reaching a certain temperature, the drops begin to pass through the ground coffee.
Thanks to this technology, the strength of the drink remains quite small. Most drip coffee machines have heated containers, which is very convenient in the case of brewing a pot of coffee for several people.
Advantages:
- acceptable cost;
- ease of operation and maintenance;
- a larger volume of servings;
- heating function;
- the ability to make both coffee and tea.
Disadvantages:
- the need to wash after each use;
- low temperature and strength;
- inability to make espresso and cappuccino.
Pump (Rozhkov)
The water warmed over ninety degrees passes with a certain pressure through the horn, in which coffee is filled, thus taking away the aroma, which makes the drink very tasty. The power of such devices is in the range from 1.200 to 1.900 W, and the preparation time takes only half a minute.
Advantages:
- quick cooking;
- rich and bright taste;
- the aroma of the drink.
Disadvantages:
- high price.
Steam (rozhkovy)
Unlike the previous one, this coffee machine uses steam with a temperature of about one hundred degrees. It also passes through coffee in the horn. Due to the higher temperature, steam lowers the aroma, but absorbs more caffeine, due to which the drink is stronger. Steam appliances have a capacity from 1.200 to 1.500 W, and are able to make coffee in a few minutes.
Advantages:
- low cost;
- high coffee strength.
Disadvantages:
- relatively low cooking rate;
- drink less fragrant.
Coffee machine selection options
Productivity (volume)
This parameter is responsible for how much drink can be prepared in one working cycle. When choosing a coffee machine, consider the place where it will be installed.
1. For office organizations, cafes and bars needed devices with a large volume of two liters.
2. For home use suitable coffee machines from one liter, as this is enough for a large family.
Heater Type
Usually there are boilers or thermoblocks. Thermoblocks in the form of a thin metal tube heat the water fairly quickly and to the extent that is needed. Boilers heat all available water until its temperature reaches the desired value.
1. Those who are looking for a coffee machine with high speed and energy saving should choose the first option.
2. Devices with an additional boiler will suit cappuccino and espresso lovers.
Type of millstone
Millstones are made from steel or ceramics.
1. Steel able to withstand maximum loads, so these machines are better to buy for restaurants, cafes and other institutions with a large cross-country people.
2. Silent ceramic, on the contrary, it is desirable to buy for small offices and home use, since there the device will not be used in such quantities as it does in a restaurant.
Dosage and mode of grinding
Coffee machines can make coffee according to different recipes. This means that for different drinks you will need your own dosage and grinding mode.
Espresso will require the smallest grinding, and for the American - a larger grind, and so on. On the dial, the grinding mode is indicated by numbers, where the smallest will be under the smallest number, and the largest - under the largest.
The dosage usually ranges from 5 to 15 grams. Choosing a small dosage, get a stronger drink at the outlet and, accordingly, vice versa.
Availability of milk tank
Be sure to have such capacity in the models of coffee machines for making cappuccino. There are special devices with cappuccinator. Milk in automatic mode reaches the desired temperature and then whipped and added directly to the drink.It is important in such coffee machines to monitor the freshness of milk, not allowing souring.
Power saving mode
A coffee machine with such a function turns off the boiler on its own if it is idle longer than the time allotted for this than saves energy. This feature will be useful for everyone.
Simultaneous cooking of two servings
The simultaneous preparation of two cups of coffee is very useful in conditions when the drink is brewed for several at once. Due to the proximity of the taps to each other, this will allow pouring a double portion into one glass, which will appeal to amateurs to drink a lot of coffee at a time.
Platform heating function for cups
Some models of coffee machines are equipped with the function of heating the cups and maintaining the required temperature for a long time. Especially this parameter should interest those who prefer espresso, since it is served only in hot dishes.
Display
The display will be a useful option because it allows you to read service information, for example, the installed program, temperature, grinding mode or warnings about the water intake, grain loading, equipment cleaning, and so on. Automatic adjustment of parameters will help to avoid mistakes in the process of using the coffee machine.
What kind of coffee machine to choose
1. Capsule type machines are the best choice for the office. Such coffee machines do not need constant washing and are distinguished by ease of maintenance. But it should be borne in mind that the high cost of coffee capsules will require significant financial expenditures. Device performance must be at least two liters. Millstone is better to prefer steel, they will last much longer.
2. Drip devices should be chosen by those who prefer to drink weak coffee. It is best to purchase a similar coffee machine for home use, as it will have to be cleaned immediately after cooking. Productivity may not exceed one liter, this is quite enough even for a rather big family. Ceramic millstones will provide noiselessness and will perfectly cope with small loading.
3. Espresso coffee machines will be a profitable acquisition for both home and office. They allow you to prepare a drink at high speed, while saving energy and consumables. Here, as nowhere else, the function of heating the cups is useful, as well as a container for milk.
How much is a coffee machine
1. A good capsular coffee machine can be bought, stacked in 10 thousand rubles. A good choice would be such a device for an office with a small number of employees.
2. Over 10 and up to 50 thousand rubles will cost a drip type coffee machine or espresso. Such devices will significantly save on coffee compared to the capsule. Get home a horn, as it often has a capacity for milk, heated cups and many other features that allow you to enjoy great drinks.
3. From 50 to 200 thousand rubles you can buy a coffee machine with a high resource, additional functions such as display, grinding adjustment, simultaneous cooking of two servings and auto-cleaning of equipment.
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