Different Types of Coffee Machines – Which is Right for You?

Your choices when buying a new coffee maker have, over the last few years, become increasingly complex. As you start to search, you’ll find there are a huge number of machines, offering everything from built-in water filters, timers, automatic cleaning and milk frothier.

The old days of just buying a simple filter coffee maker are long gone and you’ve now got options of coffee containers from pods to pumps to percolators.

11 Different Types of Coffee Machines

There are hundreds of different types of coffee machines from dozens of different brands, but all fall into one of a half-dozen groups. These are the different types of coffee machines among the main options:

1- Filter Coffee Machine

The ‘traditional’ coffee maker that you’ll find in more kitchens than any other. You fill a container at the top of the machine with cold water in the top of the machine; the water’s then heated and drips into a filter filled with ground coffee and into a carafe or jug below. The carafe is normally kept warm with a hot plate. You’ll find a range of extra features, such as a programmable timer, permanent filter, water filter and more. Best of all, you can use any ground coffee.

2- Pod or Capsule Coffee Machines

A newer arrival and one that’s caused a storm, simply because it’s so easy to use and produces good, consistent coffee. The ground coffee is provided in a small, pre packaged capsule which you load into the coffee machine. The machine has a container that you fill with water; the maker pierces a hole in the capsule, heats the water and passes the hot water through the capsule and into a coffee cup. You then throw away the capsule – no mess, no cleaning required. You are limited to the range of coffee provided by the manufacturer of the coffee capsule system (there are several, including Nespresso and K-cup).

3- Percolators Coffee Machines

A very traditional, low-tech solution to brewing coffee. The original versions are made of metal and have three parts: you fill the bottom with water, put the ground coffee into the middle and then screw on the top. The whole percolator is then heated on a stove (or you can now get electric versions).

The stove boils the water at the bottom which turns to steam and passes up through the coffee. The coffee-flavoured steam then cools and condenses as coffee in the top part of the percolator. Very simple, effective and can be used anywhere from a camping stove to your kitchen.

4- Pump Espresso Maker

This is a home version of the espresso makers you find in a coffee shop. They feature a high pressure water heater that passes the hot water or steam through the ground coffee at both the perfect temperature and perfect pressure to extract the most flavor from the ground coffee.

This then produces one or two small espresso cup-fulls of coffee. Normally these makers also include a steam milk heater and frother so they can double as a capuccinno or latte maker.

You Might Love to Read: Espresso Machines Under $100 

5- Bean-to-Cup Maker

This type of coffee machine includes a container at the top filled with whole coffee beans. It automatically grinds the right amount of beans for your coffee, then brews a great cup from the freshly-ground coffee beans. so your cup of coffee is completely fresh and tastes at its best.

The strength and length of your cup can be personalized for your tastes, and for whatever drink you may be making.

6- Cold Brew Coffee Machine

Cold brew coffee makers brew a coffee concentrate over a period of 12-24 hours. They’re basically big holding tanks with spouts to make it easy to decant the coffee off the grounds. You can store the concentrate for up to two weeks and add hot or cold water to taste.

7- Vacuum Coffee Machine

A version of stovetop coffee makers, vacuum coffee makers are one of the most interesting applications of physics.

These units generally come with two stackable chambers. The bottom chamber is basically a stovetop carafe for boiling water. The top chamber is a glass container with a stem and is for coffee grounds. There’s a filter where the stem connects to the bowl-portion of the glass container.

8- Thermal Coffee Machine

Thermal coffee maker is directly related to the insulated carafe. The main difference between the Coffee maker and Thermal coffee maker is that the coffee is straightly directed in the Thermal carafe which helps to maintain the temperature of coffee for a long time without losing its aroma and taste.

Whereas in normal Coffee Maker the coffee leaded directly to the cup or glass carafe which sooner or later will make your coffee cool and not eligible for drinking. It’s always better to choose thermal coffee makers. They will help to protect the aroma and bliss of your brewed coffee.

9- French Press Coffee Machine

French press is the simplest way to get a good cup of coffee. Hot water is poured into it with the coarsely grounded coffee for brewing. Then the combination is stirred and marinated for 3 to 5 minutes before slowly stabbing the plunger affixed with wire mash which filters the residue.

You will find small amount of sediment remaining as paper filter is not used in it but will fill you up with a great, dark coffee. I personally use it as it offers me a strong character of coffee.

10- Moka pot Coffee Maker

This technique receives excellence of creating the widest customers and becoming the most popular stove top espresso maker in the world. Moka pot is widely used in Italy and was founded in 1933.

Moka pot merge the uniqueness of Espresso and percolator coffee. It mainly consists of three bedded chambers for water, grounded coffee and for finished brewed coffee.

11- Aeropress Coffee Machine

The same principle as a french press with some tweaks. It’s small, lightweight, durable coffee maker.

In Aeropress mix coffee grounds and water in whatever ratios and for however long you prefer — but when extraction is done you push down on the plunger which pushes the coffee downward and into your cup, leaving the grounds behind.

What kind of coffee you like to take? Must share your selection in the comment box.