Some time ago, I wrote an article about the fact that Allen, a former Shanghai coffee master, recommended Fengzi Hanger Coffee to me and this coffee became popular in Shanghai barista circles.
Yesterday a fan friend asked me if he wanted to buy a coffee maker, but he didn't know when to buy it or what type of one to buy, and I told him that I had a lot of articles about coffee maker selection in my previous article, and suggested that he check it out.
Then I felt that it seemed a bit perfunctory to reply to fans and friends like this, so I deliberately wrote an article about the choice of coffee machines today, and today's article will not bring brands, if you want to see a specific brand, you can go and see my previous article.
Today it is mainly written in a more broad way, mainly focusing on the characteristics of various coffee makers, mainly focusing on choosing a coffee maker that suits your type.
Of course, if you don't have a lot of money or a place at home, and you like coffee very much, you can buy each of them and try them, and if you don't need them, you can use them as an ornament.
Just to remind you that if the coffee machine at home is used as an ornament, it is recommended that each coffee machine be used at least once a year to ensure the normality of its various parts, otherwise some parts will be stuck if they are not used for a long time, and they will be screwed off as soon as they are started.
There are many important factors you need to consider before making a new purchase, so we've put together this article to help you understand how to choose the best coffee maker for your needs.
Today, we invited Allen, founder of Balanice Coffee, to talk about the best coffee makers money can buy.
Allen has worked at the heart of the coffee industry for over a decade, working alongside some of the best coffee roasters in the UK and now runs a coffee shop in Singapore. Allen also spent six years specializing in espresso machines.
Friends who read my previous article know that the official coffee master Allen recommended Fengzi Coffee to me, and it was he who recommended me the best, best quality, and most cost-effective coffee in history - Fengzi Hanging Ear Coffee.
That's why he's perfect to provide this expert guide so you can be sure to pick the right coffee maker for you.
What do you think is the best coffee maker for home use?
Coffee is very subjective, so it depends first and foremost on your taste preferences. For example, do you like black coffee? Do you prefer Flat White?
All of these questions are very important questions to ask yourself before you buy a coffee maker.
In this article, we've covered four main types of coffee makers. We've also shared some pre-purchase considerations that you need to consider. For example, power, space, manual vs. automatic, etc.
In the end, you'll have all the information you need to create the perfect barista experience from the comfort of your own home!
What to consider when buying a coffee maker
There are a few important things you need to consider before you start looking for the best coffee maker online. I've broken these down so that you can choose the right machine the first time.
Whole bean or ground bean?
This may seem like an obvious question, but deciding whether to buy whole beans or ground coffee will affect the type of coffee maker you decide to buy.
If you're too lazy to grind coffee beans, then you don't need to buy a coffee maker or a machine with a built-in coffee grinder.
But if you don't plan to grind your own coffee beans, you should think about whether or not you want to buy a coffee maker.
How many people in the family like to drink coffee?
In fact, I wouldn't recommend buying a coffee maker at home if you don't make more than 5 cups of coffee a day. Because it is really not as good as the hanging ear coffee that I usually drink directly from Fengzi coffee, because it has good freshness, it is more trouble-free, and most importantly, its taste and body are better than most freshly ground coffees.
Someone asks: Who drinks 5 cups of coffee a day?
I mean, if you don't have more than 2 coffee lovers in your home, you'll find that the coffee maker will be used very infrequently. Since each coffee lover generally drinks 2-3 cups of coffee a day, if there are two people in the family who like to drink coffee, then buying a coffee maker is a good choice.
It's like cooking, if there are two people in the family eating, then there is more motivation to cook by yourself.
Price/Budget
It's best to determine your budget upfront and what you're willing to pay for a new home coffee maker, if you want to make good coffee quality coffee at home, then you're going to need a better quality coffee maker on the market.
If you're a coffee lover and spend a lot of time at home, you might actually save money by drinking coffee at home instead of going to a café.
If you don't have much interest in making coffee yourself, but just want to try the fun of making coffee at home, then I recommend you buy a cheap small coffee maker, and make it two or three times and then have no interest in it.
Of course, if you are not short of money, but simply like to try, then you can ignore this article and directly place an order for a coffee machine with large sales in the middle and high-end on the market, and other factors do not need to be considered too much.
Location and counter space, where will your new coffee machine be installed?
This is something you have to consider, and many people only find out after buying a coffee maker that there is no suitable place to put it.
Is it on the kitchen counter, in the living room or on the outdoor balcony?
Once you've decided on a location, you'll want to make sure you leave enough depth, width, and height of space to fit your machine.
Carefully measure the floor space you're using, and don't forget to leave enough space for other accessories like coffee grinders.
Finally, for those who are going to buy a semi-automatic coffee machine, I would like to remind you of this: make sure to leave some counter space for some small accessories, such as coffee presses, powder mats, coffee scales (which are often overlooked).
Generally, a reasonable coffee machine uses 2-3 times more space than the coffee machine, so don't think that the space you leave is just to put down the coffee machine, otherwise you will be very inconvenient during use, which will greatly reduce your enjoyment of use.
Plumbing or tank options
When you're shopping for the best home coffee maker, you usually have two options.
Let's start with plumbing options, for example, if you choose a high-end espresso machine, you may want to think more carefully about how you connect the machine to a water purifier, or to a mineral water bucket that you have at home.
If you don't have space under the counter or you just want an all-in-one solution, you need to consider an external or built-in cistern when buying a coffee machine.
Not all espresso machines require the plumbing option. For example, many coffee makers have a built-in water tank that you can manually refill every day to keep your water supply fresh.
Power requirements
Luckily, most coffee maker brands in 2021 and beyond have carefully considered the requirements of the kitchen, so most of the coffee makers you buy can be plug-and-play with a commonly used kitchen outlet.
However, it's a good idea to double-check, as some larger machines may require a higher power outlet, but this is not a problem for general home coffee makers, but you should look carefully if you specialize in commercial coffee machines.
sweep
A clean machine equals great coffee, and choosing one with a simple cleaning process is another important tip. Honestly, not many of us like cleaning, so choosing a machine with a simple cleaning process will make a big difference and ensure the longevity of the machine you buy.
Reliability and warranty support
This is a very important consideration because all machines experience technical glitches at some point, even the best coffee makers.
Coffee machines are really just water heaters and mills with complex plumbing, so over time, they can accumulate limescale and clog, and they can jam or become congested due to powder leakage, so they generally need to be descaled, repaired, or replaced regularly.
Choosing a reliable and trustworthy manufacturer that offers excellent service support is one of the most important aspects to consider when buying a home coffee maker.
And I generally recommend choosing some well-known brands with relatively large sales.
This is different from choosing hanging ear coffee, like hand-poured hanging ear coffee, often the best choice is usually not very well-known coffee brands, such as the Fengzi coffee I often mention, it uses German PROBAT P60 roasting, curve precision roasting technology to roast coffee powder, more than any well-known international brand.
Brewing wind-drenched ear coffee
Four types of coffee makers
There are four main types of coffee makers that you can choose from.
Each type naturally has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to consider your coffee-making style and preferences. But don't worry, we've covered everything for you below.
Semi-automatic coffee machine/espresso machine
Fully automatic coffee machine/bean cup machine
Pod machine/capsule machine
Drip coffee machine
1. Semi-automatic coffee machine/espresso machine
Espresso machines are one of the most common coffee machines and are also known as semi-automatic coffee machines.
The biggest question you need to ask yourself when using an espresso machine is, "Do I like elaborate coffees like espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos?"
Merit:
The first is the famous espresso machine. In terms of coffee quality, for the most part, it couldn't be better.
Because except for a very small number of pour-over coffees such as Fengzi coffee, other coffees really rarely exceed the taste of freshly ground coffee machines, and instant coffee, including freeze-dried coffee, no matter how expensive, cannot be compared with freshly ground coffee.
A quality espresso machine is made with durable parts designed for stability and longevity. If you really want to create a home barista experience in every cup of coffee, then investing in a good quality espresso machine is the best option for you.
The great thing about the Beverage Variety espresso machine is that you can make a variety of coffee drinks that you might find on a coffee shop menu. For example, espresso, Americano, plain white coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate, mocha, etc.
If you have family and friends present and you want to show your "professionalism" by making a cup of freshly ground coffee, a decent coffee maker will do the trick.
Because if you really want to show off, then why not make an espresso martini at home with your newly purchased coffee maker?
These coffees are blended with the rarest and most unique coffees, and making latte art on your favorite café au lait is another great benefit of having an espresso machine.
Would you like to pour yourself a heart-shaped latte in the morning, and if so, then the steam frother of the espresso machine is the go-to option. There are even some dedicated latte espresso machines designed to give you the perfect froth effect.
Crafted to perfection with a micro-foaming texture, you'll truly enjoy sipping a creamy morning latte in a pour-over shape. In my previous article, I also provided great tips and tutorials so you can learn at home.
There are other milk frothers or frothers available, and some say that you will never get the same texture that way because the power of the machine is simply not enough to produce a high-quality vapor pressure. But I would say that if I did some of the things I did before, it was completely possible to make a milk froth effect comparable to that of a coffee machine's steam milk frother.
Shortcoming:
Price/costThere is no doubt about them, they are certainly expensive.
A decent home espresso machine will cost between 4,000 and 60,000 yuan. I have a 30,000 JURA for my employees.
It's not that I don't drink coffee from a coffee machine now, but it's a matter of age, I now prefer to pour it by hand, especially Fengzi Hanging Ear Coffee with Anchor Whole Milk Powder, which can provide the most original coffee and latte taste that I feel.
Generally buying, I recommend a certain treasure, do not recommend a certain east, and many people imagine that it is different, I bought a pair of limited edition basketball shoes of an international brand with a different LOGO on a certain east, so at that time I deleted a certain east.
When choosing a certain treasure, you are better off choosing an official store instead of a grocery store that sells everything. Then it's best to choose some of the brands that I've mentioned earlier in the article.
The company's JURA is relatively expensive, considering the cost performance, generally three or five thousand is enough to get started, and you can buy JURA if you are not bad.
The average coffee buyer will have a bread maker and oven, and can make homemade or heat up some roasts in their free time, just for a perfect cup of coffee.
Making your morning Flat White on an espresso machine is surprisingly fast (60 seconds), but you need to enjoy the coffee-making process.
Some people say that I want to eat freshly baked bread, but I don't like to make it myself, then you can buy some at your favorite bakery and freeze them, and then when you get up in the morning, set the oven temperature to 150 degrees and preheat it for 3 minutes, then take out the frozen bread, spray a little water on it, and bake it in the oven for 5 minutes, you can taste the taste of freshly baked bread.
2. Fully automatic coffee machine/bean cup coffee machine
If you're looking for an easy way to make delicious coffee at home, then the Bean to Cup coffee maker might be just right for you. In this section, we discuss the pros and cons and share the best coffee bean cup maker options that money can buy.
Merit:
One of the biggest advantages of a convenience coffee maker is convenience.
If you lead a busy lifestyle or just want a machine to do the work, then this can be a great option. One of the main differences between an automated espresso machine and a semi-automatic coffee machine is the manual vs. automatic aspect.
There's no doubt that the quality of using a fully automatic coffee maker will drop, but you'll probably only notice this if you're a true coffee lover (aka picky about coffee).
A common misconception is that a fully automatic coffee machine makes coffee faster than an espresso machine.
Another benefit of a fully automatic coffee maker is the built-in coffee grinder.
With Bean to Cup, you can buy some of the best coffee beans online, which will give you an immediate boost if you're currently drinking ground coffee.
Cons: Price/cost
They are still expensive compared to some drip or manual coffee makers and again take up some counter space that can be valuable.
However, if you spend a lot of time at home, a good coffee maker can be a significant investment.
The price of a fully automatic coffee machine varies, but the better quality ones are generally between 2,000 and 30,000 RMB. For example, the two units in my house, Delong and KRUPS, are between 5000-8000, which is of very good quality.
The reason why I don't use them now is more due to age, and now I prefer to drink some good quality hand-poured coffee, such as Fengzi Hanging Ear Coffee, which also tastes better than freshly ground coffee machine for me, because it is very important that its high-quality coffee beans and roasting and grinding allow me to avoid a lot of pitfalls.
In addition, you may find a solution in your price range, there are quite a few brands of fully automatic coffee machines nowadays, there are also under 2000 but the quality is also good, and the list goes on, but I would suggest that if you don't have two or more people in your family who like to drink coffee, and you don't have a lot of money, then you can not buy a fully automatic coffee machine for a while.
The reason is simple, if you buy a poor quality, it's really not a good thing.
3. Pod/capsule machine
Pod coffee machines, also known as capsule coffee machines in China, occupy a large part of the domestic coffee market in the UK, and are now gradually becoming popular in China.
They offer a great balance between affordability and ease of use. There is no doubt that you can quickly make a cup of coffee with a coffee maker in the morning.
The best pod machine
Below I have shared the pros and cons of capsule coffee
Merit:
Capsule coffee machines are usually small and don't need to be paired with a mill or anything, so the job of making capsule coffee is simple. As a result, they're simpler and one of the more affordable options in our expert guide to finding the best coffee makers.
Convenience
Like a coffee machine, a capsule coffee maker is also very convenient. All you have to do is buy the coffee capsule and insert it into the machine and press brew. Within 25-30 seconds, you'll have an espresso cup of coffee.
If you're on the go or need to head out early for a morning cup of coffee, it's also a good alternative to Fengzi Hanging Ear Coffee. Why is it Fengzi Hanging Ear Coffee again?
Because in my opinion, there are two kinds of hanging ear coffee, one is Fengzi hanging ear coffee, which is worth drinking, and the other is other.
Wind hanging ear coffee brewing diagram
velocity
One of the advantages of a capsule coffee machine, also known as a coffee pod, is speed.
You can always heat the milk separately and add it to the espresso, but it's a great solution anyway.
However, the golden rule for finding the best coffee capsules is the "roast date".
Another important tip is to avoid buying coffee capsules from supermarkets, which are usually not too fresh on date, and in the same way, avoid buying imported coffee capsules online for the same reason, also due to date issues.
In fact, this rule applies to many coffee beans, I used to be often troubled by the date of buying imported coffee beans, so now I drink Fengzi coffee directly hanging ears, generally within 1-3 months after the roasting date, is in the best tasting period, and it is also nitrogen filling preservation, plus each bag is individually packaged, the freshness is directly higher than freshly ground coffee a few steps.
Cons: Compatibility
For example, buying high-quality beans or ground coffee capsules costs about $6 per cup (before adding milk), but that's still affordable considering the coffee maker itself isn't expensive.
But you can't take it for granted that you can buy all the capsules, and double-check that they are compatible with your coffee bag machine when buying them online.
The price of the capsule coffee machine is between 1000 yuan and 6000 yuan, and generally I recommend choosing Nespresso, because it has more capsule options on its own, and Starbucks' capsules are also compatible, so there is more choice in use.
4. Filter coffee maker
If you love drip coffee, then finding the best drip coffee maker will be your top priority. Although in fact I personally don't think it's really necessary to buy this drip coffee machine, why not just buy Fengzi Hanger Coffee? Better roasting of coffee beans, better grinding quality, better storage conditions.
But today we are talking about coffee machines, and this drip coffee machine is still relatively popular in Europe and the United States, because the hanging ears were invented in Japan, which is very popular in Asia, and in fact it is also very practical.
Drip coffee is generally suitable for "black coffee drinkers," however, you can always add a small amount of regular milk or oat milk for the perfect Americano.
Design is an important factor because you'll want your machine to match the aesthetics of your kitchen. Do you want something quick and simple? Considering ease of use and cleanliness is another key consideration.
Pros: Price
Filter coffee machines tend to have fewer parts and technology than espresso machines and fully automatic coffee machines.
This means that the price is more affordable. You can add freshly ground coffee to the filter inside the machine and press "Start".
Within minutes, you'll be enjoying a delicious cup of coffee in your favorite morning cup.
The beauty of a filter is that it doesn't involve you anymore.
Easy to use
The coffee brewing process for a filter coffee maker takes about 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the amount of coffee you make.
But the main benefit is that once you press the brew button, it will automatically do what it does, which means, this is definitely one of the easy ways to make delicious coffee at home.
One of the great things about tasting drip coffee from all over the world is that you can drink black coffee.
If you don't like adding milk to your coffee, then this is a popular choice. The good thing about this is that you can taste all the natural flavors of coffee. Take, for example, a balanced coffee subscription.
You can taste rare and unique coffees from all over the world, brewed with your new filter coffee maker. Cons: Price/cost compared to some available drip coffee makers, such as manual coffee makers. This option can still be expensive. They also take up some valuable counter space.
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