Best Coffee Maker

Coffee Machine Reviews - Home And Commercial Coffee Machines

What could be better than a freshly brewed cup of coffee in the comfort of your own home?Well, if that's something you love, a coffee machine could just be the perfect addition to your kitchen.However, the job of finding the best coffee machine for your needs can be difficult with so many brands out there.The following coffee machine reviews will help you make the right choice for you.

What could be better than a freshly brewed cup of coffee in the comfort of your own home?
Well, if that's something you love, a coffee machine could just be the perfect addition to your kitchen.
However, the job of finding the bestcoffee machine for your needs can be difficult with so many brands out there.

From famous names like Tassimo and De'Longhi, top-end brands names like Jura, to less well known names like Ascaso and Francis Francis.
Not only that, each brand offers a plethora of models and types. You can choose from traditional espresso machines, the new breed of pod and capsule machines, or more expensive automatic bean-to-cup machines. Not forgetting the good old filter machine of course.

After deciding the type of machine you want you then have the issue of finding a model in your price range.

With such a lot to consider let's see if we can clarify things and look at some of the main brands and machine types in more detail in the following coffee machine reviews.

Espresso coffee machines have been around for a long time now and are still very popular. These machines use ground coffee which allows you to use your favourite coffee to brew an espresso just the way you like it and to the standard you would generally find in a coffee shop.

The downside of this is the work involved, as you need to measure out the correct quantity to put into the machine and to tamp down the coffee just the right amount to get the desired result, not to mention having to clean up after every use. It's a case of how important having full control over the brewing process is to you - if you want to be able to adjust how much flavour is extracted from the coffee by pressuring the precise amount of water through the coffee to get the perfect espresso, then an espresso machine is for you.

It should be noted here that modern espresso machines can often handle coffee pods, which contain pre-packed coffee grounds that you can simply insert into the machine. While this simplifies some of the issues above it does narrow the choice of coffee you have and the control over the brewing process.

Most coffee machine companies produce espresso machines, such as the De'Longhi Icona ECO310. In terms of price it really depends on what you're looking for. The Krups XP5240 might be a good choice if you're simply looking for a no-frills machine that delivers a good espresso. If build quality is key the Cuisinart EM200U is a good choice - it'll go forever and produce great coffee. Design is the key factor for you? Then the beautiful Francis Francis range or Ascaso Dream might just get your pulse racing - but you'll pay extra for those looks.

If you're looking for something easier, and quicker, for your morning coffee, a pod or capsule system could be the answer.
These machines are becoming increasingly popular and offer good quality coffee in the simplest and cheapest way, making them ideal for the busy modern home.

They also often offer a lot of choice as you can buy capsules that can produce an array of different drinks, from lattes and cappuccinos to teas and hot chocolate.
Pod and Capsule machines have their own specific range of capsules which are not compatible with other machines.

The capsules contain a sealed amount of ground coffee and are simply inserted into the machine which usually reads a bar-code on the capsule and automatically performs the necessary steps to produce that specific beverage. All very clever, simple, and clean.

Each capsule is simply removed from the machine after use and disposed of.
There are many well known producers of this type of machine such as Tassimo (Bosch), Dolce Gusto (Krups), and Senseo (Philips). Compared to the last type of machine we'll look at - the automatic bean-to-cup machine - they all offer a more affordable option.

Automatic bean-to-cup machines are pretty self-explanatory, they produce coffee directly from coffee beans. Also, as the name suggests, all this is taken care of by the machine. All you have to do is load the hopper on top of the machine with the coffee beans of your choice, program the machine with your personal preferences, and the machine does the rest - from grinding the beans, measuring the correct amount of grounds, tamping the grounds, extracting the beverage with a professional 15 bar (or higher) pressure, and even frothing milk if necessary.

The beauty of this type of machine is that you get the same amount of convenience as a capsule machine AND the quality of an espresso machine all in the same package.

The downside is the cost. Top of the range models such as the Jura S will put a dent in your wallet, while the popular De'Longhi Prima Donna and Magnifica models are also expensive. The Krups Espresseria EA8080 offers great value at a similar price to a top of the range espresso maker.

So you pay your money and take your choice, but with so much choice in the market there really is something for every taste and every pocket.

For more in-depth reviews of all the major brands, models, and types go to CoffeeMachineExpert.co.uk where you can compare prices, functionality, and aesthetics to come to an informed decision about the right machine for you, and get links to the best online deals out there for both domestic and commercial coffee machines.