There are many different types of coffee makers on the market today. If you’re looking to buy one, it might even seem overwhelming. Since coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, it’s no surprise, really, that there are so many different ways to make it and enjoy it.
Coffee makers and machines allow us to enjoy our favorite freshly brewed coffee at home any time we want. But making the decision about which coffee maker to buy may seem daunting. Here, we will go over some of the different types of coffee makers and how they work, to help take some of the mystery out of the buying process for you.
In the broad sense of the question, there are two types of coffee makers: automatic and manual. Below that, you will find several different types of each. We’re going to cover the basics of each one here in this post. Then you’ll be better prepared for making your own coffee maker purchase.
What Kind of Coffee Maker is the Best?
To answer the question “what kind of coffee maker is the best?” we have to look at your specific needs (single serve, anyone? and wants. The best coffee maker for you is:
- One that makes the coffee style you like
- One that fits your budget
- One that matches your needs for care and cleaning
Are All Coffee Makers the Same?
As you’re going to see further down in this post, all coffee makers are NOT the same. Some are designed for specialty drinks, whereas some are made for brewing just plain black coffee. Some are manual and some are electric, some are made to be used easily on the go, and there are combo machines as well.
How to Choose the Best Coffee Maker for You
Choosing the best coffee maker for you starts with understanding your needs when it comes to coffee, and also what types of coffee makers are out there. The more you learn about the coffee machines that are on the market, the more you can compare those to your list of needs.
We can’t tell you exactly which coffee maker will be the best for you. However, we can give you some detailed information about each type of coffee maker and we believe that will help you to make your decision.
10 Different Types of Coffee Makers
Now that you know more, let’s look at the top 10 common types of coffee makers:
1. Drip Coffee Maker (Electric)
A drip coffee maker is the type that people are most familiar with these days. They are quite common and have become a staple in most American households. They’re easy to use, affordable, and very durable. One downside is that the warming plate cooks the coffee if it’s left sitting in the pot and this creates a burnt flavor if you leave coffee sitting on it.
2. Espresso Machine (Electric)
An espresso machine is one of the more expensive types of coffee makers on the market today, but they are growing in popularity due to more people wanting to be able to make specialty coffee drinks at home. These machines can produce amazing-tasting espresso at home, and they can froth milk.
3. Pod Coffee Maker/ Single Serve (Electric)
Keurig really rules the market when it comes to the pod coffee maker but there are now other brands that make them as well. These machines are designed for quick, easy, single-use coffee. They use K-pods (or some other brands have their own version) to make one single cup of coffee at a time. They can also be used for hot chocolate, teas, and other hot drinks.
4. Percolator (Electric)
Percolators, different from Moka Pots, used to be more common in households before they were replaced by drip coffee makers, but some people still like them. It can also be fun to watch as the percolator steams during the brewing process. They are consistent and reliable, but they do have multiple parts that need to be assembled and cleaned regularly.
5. French Press Coffee Maker (Manual)
A French press is a fun little tool that is sometimes also called a “press pot” or a “plunger pot”. It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and very portable for when you travel. The glass pots are fragile, but that’s the only downside to a French press. Some people are intimidated by it because they don’t know to use it but it’s very easy to learn.
6. Siphon Coffee Maker (Electric)
Some people call these “vacuum pot coffee makers” because they work like a vacuum with their siphon. It’s probably not practical for most people for daily use but it can be a neat novelty item for the coffee lover. It has many fragile parts, and it takes a lot of time and effort to brew a pot. That said, it makes very flavorful coffee that coffee connoisseurs can appreciate.
7. AeroPress (Manual)
The AeroPress is another manual option for you. It looks kind of like a big syringe and it works similarly. It makes very smooth espresso-like coffee by hand. You don’t need an expensive, technical machine to make espresso drinks when you have an AeroPress. It’s also easy to travel with you; just toss it in your bag. We discuss manual options like aeropress here.
8. Cold Brew Coffee Maker (Manual)
When you love delicious cold brew coffee, you can benefit from this manual cold brew maker. It’s easy and reliable and it produces a smooth brew that is low in acidity. The downside is that it takes 12 hours to brew, but this is standard for cold brew at home. Learn more about cold brew vs hot brew here.
9. Thermal Coffee Maker (Electric)
Thermal coffee makers work like your basic drip coffee maker, with one different. It brews the coffee directly into a thermal carafe for you. This removes the issue of burnt taste from coffee left sitting on a warming plate. It will be a bit more expensive than your traditional drip coffee maker.
10. Pour Over Coffee Makers (Both)
Pour-over coffee makers use conical filters, but some models have a flat bottom instead. The cone shape gives the benefit of all the water being passed toward the bottom of the cone and completely through the coffee grounds, which gives you a stronger flavor from the coffee.
These are not all of the coffee makers on the market, but they are the most common ones.
Conclusions of Different Types of CoffeeMakers
There are other types of coffee makers on the market today, including combo machines and travel or camping coffee makers. It’s all about choosing the best one for your needs. Many people who love coffee find that they have different machines for different needs.
Now that you know what’s available, you can make an informed decision for yourself. Enjoy!
