While we’re typically known as a nation of tea drinkers, the UK downs 95 million cups of coffee every single day. That’s enough to fill 11 Olympic size swimming pools! Although coffee has been drunk in Britain since the 17th century, our reliance and reverence for the smoky elixir only began towards the end of the 20th century. The meteoric rise of the high-street coffee shop has spawned a generation of coffee connoisseurs. Of course, many of us want to enjoy our quality brew without leaving the house or paying coffee shop prices. Enter the coffee machine, a nifty gadget that acts as your own personal barista.
Read our guide to the 4 surprising health benefits of coffee drinking.
What is a coffee machine?
A coffee machine is an electrical appliance that brews coffee for you. But as the artisanal coffee industry has sky-rocketed, the range and types of coffeemakers available have also exploded. Generally speaking, coffee machines can be divided into four main types.
- Filter coffee machines
- Capsule or pod machines
- Bean to cup machines
- Espresso machines
What kind of coffee machine should I choose?
Whether you’re fuelled by double espresso or your day doesn’t start until you’ve had your macchiato, there’s a machine to provide you with the perfect caffeine boost.
Filter coffee machines
Sometimes known as coffee drippers, these inexpensive models work by slowly dripping hot water through ground coffee into a jug below. These are the models favoured by American diners as they can brew large quantities of black coffee at once and have a setting to keep liquid hot.
- Pros: These models are affordable and work with any kind of ground coffee.
- Cons: The beans are not freshly ground and filter coffee machines don’t have settings for different coffee drinks.
Capsule or pod coffee machines
These single-serve models have boomed in popularity in recent years with many coffee manufacturers bringing out their own models. Pod machines work by piercing a sealed capsule of ground coffee and allowing hot water to run through into the cup below. They usually have a different compartment for milk and tend to include steam functions for lattes and other creamy concoctions.
- Pros: Pod machines can create a variety of coffee drinks and the single-serve capsules are very convenient.
- Cons: Most machines only work with pods from their own company and the coffee beans aren’t freshly ground.
Bean to cup machines
These multi-purpose percolators kick off the brewing process by grinding the beans and filling your kitchen with gorgeous caramelised aromas. As with all models, hot water is then pushed through the coffee grounds and directly into your mug of choice. Some machines also have a milk reservoir for creating flat whites etc.
- Pros: Alongside creating the freshest coffee you’ll ever dunk a doughnut in, these machines also give you greater control over your brew as you can decide on the beans’ coarseness, the water temperature and coffee strength.
- Cons: Bean to cup models are very expensive and slower than some alternatives.
Espresso machines
For a shot of caffeine straight to the bloodstream, an espresso will have you ready to face the day in no time. Espresso differs from classic filtered coffee in that the water is forced through the compacted ground beans at very high pressure and temperature. This is what makes the final brew strong and unlocks the complex flavour of the grounds. Most espresso machines require you to pack your coffee beans into a special filter holder which strongly resembles an ice cream scoop and then select the amount of water accordingly.
- Pros: These machines are affordable, work quickly and you can use any kind of ground coffee with them.
- Cons: They require you to measure out your grounds which can be messy and the beans are not freshly ground.