Having a good cup of coffee in your own home is definitely a luxury that most people do not have anymore. With every passing day, more and more cafes are offering special discounts and/or free beverages if you spend enough money there!
In fact, some credit cards even reward you for spending lots of money at Starbucks by giving you an additional perk such as a free tall brewed coffee or a $10 gift card.
By staying in budget and making your lunch at home, you can still enjoy a nice morning drink just like everyone else! If you feel like getting something extra-special, then go ahead and splurge once in a while!
However, whether we’re talking about buying a new house with a fancy coffeemaker or investing in our favorite beverage, it is important to know if owning one of these appliances is worth it.
Does having a decent machine make a difference? Or are they simply unnecessary luxuries?
I have my opinions, but this article will try to be objective by looking at both sides. So let’s dive in and see what he has to say! _________________
Disclaimer: The content written here should be taken with a large grain of salt. I am no expert, nor do I profess to be one. These are only my personal experiences and conclusions that I have drawn from them.
What does a home coffee machine do?
A good quality home coffee maker will help you enjoy your morning coffee in one of two ways. Either by having them make the drink for you, or by buying pre-made beverages that it puts into its device.
The first is called automated brewing. This allows the machine to pick how long each brew cycle will be, and then when it’s done it automatically switches off until it detects that there is more liquid needed.
The second is called semi-automatic brewing where the machine makes sure there is enough water and also what kind of beverage (e.g. espresso, latte) it is before starting to mix and froth the liquid.
Both of these features are very helpful because they take away the need to prepare the drinks yourself.
Are home coffee machines good enough?
Having your morning coffee in-store or at a sponsored cafe is great, but it comes with some costs. These include buying fresh beans every few days, spending money on hot water, and paying for use of resources such as electricity to power their equipment.
Some people say that you can just make your own coffee and save money, but this isn’t always the case. When you don’t have access to clean water, you are limited in how much milk and sugar you can use to make your drink taste better, which was one of the main reasons why most people buy pre–made beverages instead of making their own.
Price is a big factor in home coffee machines
Whilst there are some great espresso makers that cost well over $500, this isn’t always the case. Some of the best budget friendly coffee equipment can make a quality cup of coffee every time!
Many people begin buying espresso making equipment at around the price of £30-50 which will last you for several weeks or months depending on how much use you put it through.
But what if I told you that you could get a very good machine at around half the price? You would probably say why not just buy the cheaper one then! Well we have 5 top pick cheap coffee gear that won’t break the bank but will definitely satisfy your craving for a nice hot drink.
Equipment to think about
There are many different types of equipment needed to make excellent espresso in your own home. This includes machines, milk froths, crema stabilizers, coffee beans, cups, spoons, and technology like timers and consistency controllers.
Having all these pieces helps ensure that you have everything you need to make the best possible espressos every time. Some people start off buying low quality gear and thinking they’ll get the same results later when it comes down to making delicious beverages.
But then they realize that their beverage tastes more watery or burnt than before! Before investing in better equipment, try using lower quality products first to see if this is the case for you.
It may take some experimenting to find the perfect balance of equipment, but don’t spend too much money until you know what works for you.
Coffee beans
The next thing to consider is what kind of coffee you want to make. There are two main types of coffees, espresso and regular. Both have different brewing methods so which one you use depends on if you like strong or weaker drinks.
With espresso, the process begins with adding water to your machine. Then it froths up and gets mixed with melted milk powder and ground high-quality coffee. This mixture then goes into a small chamber where pressure pushes the liquid through a thin layer of coffee called the filter.
The amount of time this takes varies depending on the size of the drink and how much caffeine you desire. A shorter brew time can result in too weak an espresso drink while longer ones may burn off some of the flavor due to over-extraction.
You should be able to tell when the espresso has finished because the foam will subside and the cup handle will drop down. If you wait until then to check your drink strength, you can use a tool to poke holes in the top of the mug and see whether the foam made its way through. If it didn’t, then you know there was not enough pressure put onto the coffee by the timer!
Regular brewed coffee does not require special equipment beyond a pot and a spoon.
Boiling water
The hard truth about home coffee makers is that most do not make quality espresso or good brewed tea. What they typically do very well is boil water! A popular brand of stovetop machines works by using an insulated container to contain boiling water which then drips into your cup as liquid coffee. This may be fine if you like this style of drink, but it can’t compare to the perfection that top-quality machine manufacturers achieve.
The best manual drip machines use high-quality ceramic parts to never distort temperature or flavor due to heat. These parts are also durable and easy to clean. In fact, some require only hot soapy water for proper cleaning.
These types of machines are expensive, however. To match their price, you have to know what you want out of a brewer and purchase one with excellent features and reliability. If you are just looking to get a quick morning caffeine fix, maybe don’t invest in one yet.
Another important factor to consider is how much space you have for each cup. Most professional grade brewers take up more than one surface area at a time, making them unsuitable for small spaces.
Home coffee machine temperature
While some people praise all types of machines, others believe that only one type is worth it- VIA. These typically cost around 250 dollars and work by boiling water at a very high temperature for an extended amount of time to produce liquid.
The problem with this method is that if you do not use a large volume of water then your drink will taste burnt. Or worse, if you are in a rush and don’t have enough time to let the machine soak up a good amount of water, you may end up with burned milk or watered down espresso.
Cleaning
While having a home coffee machine is great, cleaning one can sometimes feel like a hassle! Luckily, most manufacturers offer some kind of tool to make this process easier.
Most machines have a brush or whisk attachment that you use to clean the cup, spout, milk froth collection device, and carafe. Some even have an easy-to-access water reservoir so you don’t need to worry about running out quite yet!
Once all the parts are cleaned properly, simply run each piece through any available soap or beverage (for the carafe) and then rinse thoroughly. For the milk froth collector, just shake it until everything has been washed and then discard the leftover powder.
On the hard part, take time to scrape off any dried up residue which may include sugar, salt, or burnt flavorings. This will prevent future buildup and discolorations.