The average person spends around two hours per day in active listening or conversation situations, which is why being able to reduce background noise is so important. Unfortunately, most people don’t sound good when they talk, and that includes talking into a device such as a phone or earbud.
Many people seem to think that if something isn’t perfect, you should just get rid of it. But we can’t emphasize this enough: unless you are paid to do so, never ever throw away money!
If you feel that your smartphone or coffee machine no longer works for you, try looking online first to see whether there are any fixes or replacements out there. Sometimes things just stop working and there’s nothing you can do about it.
But here at TalkVoice, we believe that every one deserves their own personal microphone, and we’re here to make sure that everyone has access to one.
Sources of noise
When you make a coffee, there are several sources of noise that can affect how well you listen to your music or watch a movie. These include:
Clanking sounds
Turning on and off devices such as refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, washer/dryers
Making and breaking electrical contact in devices such as hairdryers and vacuum cleaners
Pulsating or throbbing noises
Intermittent sounds
Step motors in appliances such as blenders and mixers
And more!
This article will talk about some easy ways to reduce background noise while also exploring which types of machines have very loud components. Then, we’ll look into some small things you can do to prevent these parts from making noisy contacts.
Reminder: This article focuses only on the internal source of noise. External sources of sound like cars, buses, airplanes, etc., are not discussed here. You may want to read our article: Tips To Curate More Quiet At Your Home.
Effects of noise
Recent studies have shown that background noise can actually impair our ability to concentrate, and it’s very easy to make your house feel like a quiet retreat, but for people with sensitive hearing, those sounds are hurtful.
For example, if you’re trying to listen to a podcast in a noisy restaurant or bar, you may find yourself having to use louder headphones than you normally would. Or, if you’re listening to an audiobook, you may need to increase the volume because you cannot hear all the sound effects clearly.
Noise exposure is particularly harmful for individuals who suffer from auditory hypersensitivity — also known as sensorineural deafness. People with this condition have much more sensitive ears than average, which means they perceive higher levels of acoustic noise.
This article will talk about some common sources of indoor noise and how to reduce their effect on your health and daily tasks.
Ways to reduce noise
The first step in reducing coffee machine noise is to determine what kind of sound your machine makes. You will need to do some research and experimentation to find this out!
Many different brands of machines make various types of sounds. Some are very distinctive, while others are quieter. By knowing which type of music your machine creates, you can try to eliminate it by changing the settings or buying a new machine.
If you are extremely sensitive to loud noises, then there are several things that you can do to mitigate the effect that the machine has on you. These include using earmuffs, coverings, or headphones when listening to music through the speaker, limiting the amount of water per brewing cycle, and using lower quality beans or drippers (the parts that get heated up during brew time).
Some people say that having a darker roast flavor profile helps mask the harsh taste of poorly roasted espresso beans.
Know your machine
Speaking of noise, how about we take a look at some examples! Starting with something very common – every coffee maker has two noises. There is usually one that makes a clicking sound as it works to keep liquids heated or cooled. This is typically referred to as an “on” position because you are listening for it. Then there is another noise that happens once per minute or so when the carafe is lifted. This is called the “chime” position because you are hearing it more frequently.
If these sounds upset you then perhaps consider other beverages. Or try buying a newer model which has quieter settings. Some brands even have silent modes where both types of noises are absent! If you really want those chimes though then you can turn them off in the settings. Just remember to switch them back on after use otherwise they will continue to be loud for the next person who wants a drink.
Chemical or eco-friendly cleaners
There are two main types of coffee makers: manual and automatic. Manual machines require you to make your own espresso, cream and sugar for each drink, which can be time consuming if you’re making a lot of drinks.
Automatic machines do all this work for you! They froth up the milk automatically and pour it into the cup you specify.
Both have their pros and cons. Automatics usually cost more than manual ones, but they use less energy because it doesn’t need to preheat as much. And some claim that using an alkaline machine helps prevent mineral depletion in your body.
But chemical cleaning agents such as trisodium phosphate (TSP) and distilled water don’t belong in an environmentally friendly machine. That is unless you know what kind of chemicals are used in natural soap. TSP has been linked to cancer and hormone imbalance while benzine and alcohol can damage plastic parts.
Here we will discuss how to clean both types of coffee maker safely.
Fluff or vacuum
There are two main components to most coffee makers, whether it is an espresso machine, latte maker, cappuccino maker, or something else entirely!
The first component of almost every modern-day automatic brewer is what we call a fluffer or a fluff wand. This is used to add air into the product being brewed, either espresso, milk, or both. Most people know that in order to make a nice tall latte, you need to use lots of hot milk, but not everyone uses enough.
This can be tricky when making very strong beverages like espressos, because if you do not overdo it on the milk, then there will be too little flavor. The chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon may taste weak due to lack of richness. A cheapo blender probably does not have this problem, but expensive ones usually do.
A simple way to fix this is by using a spoon to stir your drink while it cools down. This adds some additional time for the liquid to mix with the air, giving more flavor and body. However, many people do not enjoy doing this so must find another solution.
Some machines have a tool called a flipper which inserts itself into the cup before drinking. This helps create an even foam layer and also allows you to see how much foam you have left. Some even have a second flap attached at the top of the tool which removes any leftover foam as well.
Washing
When your coffee maker is no longer working, it’s time to give up! Before you throw away your machine, try using it to make some more coffee. If you still get nothing but noise, it’s time to look for a new one.
Some models of coffeemakers have an automatic wash system that was designed to work while you are not. All you need to do is set it up and let it take care of the rest!
This can sometimes be tricky to figure out though. Some machines tell you to manually clean them before setting the timer, which can be confusing if you don’t see any instructions.
Luckily, there are some helpful videos online that show how to use your old coffee maker after it has finished making coffee. You should also check the manual to see what parts need to be cleaned or replaced, as some require you to perform special procedures.