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A variety of coffee aromas conveniently prepared

In the morning, you look forward to the first wake-up drink after getting up. In the afternoon, you invited friends over for coffee and cake. In the evening, a cup of espresso is the crowning glory of a good meal. Coffee is many people’s favorite drink. With its spicy, aromatic scent, it not only awakens the spirits, but is also good for many other situations. Coffee machines do a good job of preparing hot drinks and ensure that coffee specialties are prepared correctly. Whether it’s a classic filter coffee machine, an espresso maker or a modern capsule machine: In this buying guide, you’ll find out which coffee machine is right for you.

For single households

For a single household or small office communities, it is often not worth buying a larger coffee machine. Alternatively, capsule machines or coffee pad machines are available. These two types of devices are easy to use and work in a similar way: pour water into the water tank, place the pad or capsule in the compartment provided and press the start button. The machine prepares your coffee within a few seconds . Depending on the manufacturer, you can even dispose of the used pad in the organic waste or on the compost heap; capsules go in the household waste. Making coffee with these devices is therefore not only child’s play, but also very clean.

Coffee pad machines

Coffee pads are made of filter paper, are filled with ground coffee and are placed in a special tray. They are available in the basic varieties mild, normal, strong, extra strong and decaffeinated. Many manufacturers offer pads for preparing specialties such as cappuccino, latte macchiato or cappuccino caramel and cappuccino chocolate. In addition to the coffee powder, the pads then contain other ingredients such as sugar and milk or cocoa powder.

In addition, some machines are designed to prepare two hot drinks at once. This is practical when you have visitors coming. Special foam chambers ensure a beautiful head of foam, as is typical of an espresso crema. Coffee pad machines are available in a price range between €65 and €210.

Capsule machines

The capsule machines work on the same principle as the coffee pad models. Boiling water is pressed through an aluminum capsule with great pressure. The result is coffee specialties such as café crème, espresso, cappuccino or caffè latte. The capsules are aroma-sealed. Since the water and machine are precisely matched to each other, the hot drink tastes almost like in an Italian café. The high pressure of the hot water creates an almost flawless crema. If you would like to enjoy additional delicious milk foam on your coffee, a separate milk frother is a good choice.

Coffee maker

An alternative to both machines is a coffee maker . If you like a particularly strong aroma, this device is a good choice, because with this method the coffee powder is in contact with hot water for a particularly long time. Since the coffee maker works with a sieve instead of a fine-pored filter, the particularly fine and aromatic particles remain in the coffee. Brewing with the so-called French press is a very quick and convenient method. 

For families

Larger quantities of coffee can be brewed with the classic filter coffee machine. For lovers of espresso, cappuccino or latte macchiato, fully automatic coffee machines are recommended .

Filter coffee machines

Many coffee drinkers swear by filter coffee because this method of preparation brings out the individual aromas of the coffee particularly well. Preparation is also simple: measure out the right amount of coffee, put it in the filter, pour water into the machine and switch it on. The coffee is then slowly poured over with hot water and drips into a pot. There are differences in the design, the materials used, the number of cups and the type of pot.

Large, powerful filter coffee machines with a glass or thermos flask are ideal for families . A hotplate ensures that the coffee stays hot and fresh. There are also small machines for a maximum of five cups and even smaller machines where the coffee runs straight into a thermos flask. 

Fully automatic coffee machines

Fully automatic coffee machines work with whole coffee beans that are freshly ground at the touch of a button. The coffee powder is then passed through with water under high pressure. This way, fewer bitter substances are released, while essential oils and aromas can develop well.

Many machines are equipped with a milk frother. This means you can make your cappuccino or Caffe latte in no time. Other extras include heated cup rests, brewing temperature selection, a powder compartment for a second type of coffee, a display with menu navigation or an automatic timer.

For passionate coffee lovers

Coffee lovers prefer to prepare the hot, aromatic drink by hand and without a machine. That’s why espresso makers are a good choice for them. But espresso machines and coffee grinders are also popular.

Espresso maker

Highly aromatic, hot coffee in the original Italian style works particularly well in an espresso maker . Preparation in the robust metal pots is simple: unscrew the lid, fill with water and ground coffee and screw it on. Then place it on the hot stove. The espresso maker does the rest and prepares a delicious espresso with gurgling and hissing.

Espresso machines

The alternative to an espresso maker is an espresso machine with a portafilter. Unlike a fully automatic machine, the coffee beans are first ground in a grinder. The ground coffee is then filled into the portafilter. In addition, some models allow you to manually adjust the temperature, water quantity and brewing pressure. The manual work is worth it: the finished espresso tastes very aromatic and has a great crema. 

Coffee grinders

Coffee powder is very sensitive. Aromas evaporate and the quality quickly deteriorates if the powder is exposed to air for a long time. That’s why it’s worth grinding the beans yourself. Today, however, you no longer need to struggle with a crank to turn the beans into coffee powder. An electric coffee grinder does this work for you. When buying, make sure that the grinding level can be adjusted – from fine for espresso to coarse for filter coffee.

Checklist: What matters when it comes to coffee machines

To ensure that you can enjoy your coffee machine for a long time, you should pay attention to a few quality features when purchasing it. The following points will help you make your selection.

consumption

Which coffee machine you choose depends not least on how much coffee you drink and what you value most when enjoying coffee. If you drink a lot of coffee, a filter machine is a good choice. In terms of running costs, you can also go for a fully automatic machine. This is more expensive to buy than a filter machine, but the freshly ground beans ensure consistent freshness and a consistently high-quality aroma. Coffee pad and capsule machines, on the other hand, are well suited for people who drink little coffee. The coffee in the capsules stays fresh for a long time thanks to the aroma seal.

timer

An integrated timer helps you enjoy your coffee at exactly the time you want. For example, you can prepare and program the machine in the evening. In the morning, you will be woken up by the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Some fully automatic machines also have a timer. Then the machine is already preheated at the selected time and ready for use.

Milk frother

With a built-in milk frother, you can easily make milk foam for cappuccino or latte macchiato. However, it takes a bit of skill to get the foam loose and creamy by hand on the steam nozzle. That’s why some coffee machines have an automatic frothing device. This sucks the milk out of the tank, froths it and lets the heated milk foam mixture flow directly into the cup. The device should be cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis. If that’s too much effort for you, you can use a separate milk frother.

Tip: If you want to make milk foam like in a café, we recommend the instructions and tips in the UPDATED guide ” How to make the perfect milk foam at home “.

Rinsing and descaling programs

It is important to rinse the coffee machine regularly after use. Many machines have an integrated program for this. At the push of a button, the device carries out a fully automatic rinsing process . This also applies to the milk frother. If there is no such program, you should clean the steam nozzle and the other accessories thoroughly by hand after each use.

Descaling the coffee machine is also very important. Most fully automatic coffee machines have an automatic cleaning program for this. This automatically recommends starting a descaling process after a certain number of brewing processes. Make sure to use the descaling agent recommended by the manufacturer and to run a complete water tank with clean water through the machine after the descaling process. This removes the remains of the descaling solution.

Tip: Detailed information on caring for a coffee machine can be found in the guide “ Cleaning a filter coffee machine – instructions and tips ” on the UPDATED portal.

Grinder

The grinder of a coffee machine ensures that the coffee beans are freshly ground evenly. There are three types of grinder: conical grinder, impact grinder and disc grinder. The impact grinder works in a similar way to a blender. This creates a slightly uneven grinding pattern. With a disc grinder, one disc rotates over another. The ground material is distributed outwards by centrifugal force. This creates a very even, fine grinding pattern. The conical grinder works in a similar way. However, here a conical grinder (cone) rotates over the disc.

Brewing or pump pressure

The brewing pressure is the pressure with which the ground coffee is pressed through the coffee machine’s sieve. This is an important figure, especially for fully automatic coffee machines and espresso machines, because the pressure is responsible for oils and important components being able to be released from the powder. This gives the coffee its special aroma. In general, a machine should be able to generate a pump pressure of at least 15 bar .

Conclusion: Prepare coffee specialties comfortably

Coffee awakens the spirits and is the favorite drink for many people. Coffee machines are helpful in preparing a really good coffee. Depending on how often you want to enjoy the aromatic hot drink and what is important to you, different devices and methods are recommended.