Coffee Maker

A kitchen appliance for brewing coffee. There are many types of coffee makers ranging from simple percolators and French press plunger pots to technologically advanced drip maker with auto-timers, clocks and radios. The taste of any given coffee can be affected dramatically by the method and tools used to brew it.

The first coffee maker was first invented in Paris in 1818 by a gentleman named Laurens. This coffee maker was the first percolator type design. Over the next one hundred and fifty years the percolator based coffee pots continued to be developed. Many homes and restaurants had switched to the percolator based system from the old method of boiling water.

A major advancement came in the 1960’s when the modern filter type coffee maker was developed. Many companies jumped on this new design and developed it even more.

Perhaps the most well know coffee maker is the Mr. Coffee. Along with developing new more compact and efficient coffee makers the Mr. Coffee company realized the value of there brand name and advertising. Mr. Coffee made the wise move in 1974 of signing Joe DiMaggio as the spokesperson for the company. This relationship would propel sales of coffee makers to heights never seen. It was now in to drink coffee and sales of the drink went through the roof.

There are many types of coffee makers around, ranging from the prehistoric percolator to the technologically automated drip maker. Each type makes a different tasting cup of coffee. Try them and you'll taste the difference.


Percolator
Coffee percolator pots are a favorite brewing method of many, offering ease of use, convenient serving and robust coffee flavor. Water is added to the base then the reusable metal filer basket is installed and filled with medium-coarse ground coffee. As the water heats it rises through a tube showering the ground coffee, and then drips back into the base. This process is repeated until coffee brewing is complete.

Automatic Drip
Drip brew is a method for brewing coffee which involves pouring water over coffee contained in a filter. Water seeps through the coffee, absorbing its oils and essences, solely under gravity then passes through the bottom of the filter. The used coffee grounds are retained in the filter with the liquid falling (dripping) into a collecting vessel such as a carafe or pot.
French Press or Plunger
French presses create a smooth, pure coffee flavor using a simple but effective process. Simply pour hot water into the carafe, add coarse ground coffee directly into the water then install the lid/plunger assembly. After the coffee has brewed for about 3-4 minutes press down the plunger. A fine mesh screen forces the grounds to the bottom and your coffee is ready to enjoy.
Greek or Turkish Briki
The ibrik was designed to brew coffee on the hot desert sands but can now be used with a stove burner. It is a long-handled pot that contains a brass, copper, or stainless steel container. The ibrik is slender at the top with a wider base at the bottom. These dimensions are essential in the proper brewing of Turkish coffee. The pot is quiet small, although there is now a variety of ibriks that have different sizes that can be used depending on the number of people one wants to serve, and the ibrik contains a grooved lid for pouring. Still popular in the Middle East, the ibrik is an excellent way to brew Turkish coffee or Greek coffee, which is actually just a variation of Turkish coffee. The coffee made with an ibrik is renowned for its foam, which many feel is the best part of the drink.

Inside a coffee maker you can find the following elements:

A small bucket that holds the water when you pour it into the pot at the start of the coffee-making cycle

A black tube that carries the hot water to the drip area.

The drip area is where water arrives from the black hot-water tube and simply falls through the holes into the coffee grounds.

What makes the water heat is an aluminum extrusion with two parts:

1)A resistive heating element, which is a simple coiled wire that gets hot when you run electricity through it. This heating element boils the water and keeps the coffee warm when is done.

2)A tube for water to flow through

The coffee maker's switch turns power to the heating element on and off. To keep the heating element from overheating, there are three solid-state temperature sensors.

1)Remove and dispose the used coffee filter.
2)Add vinegar to the water reservoir until 1/4 full. Fill with water until full.
3)Run the coffee maker.
4)Turn off the coffee maker, let cool for about 10 minutes.
5)Run the vinegar and water mixture through the coffee maker again. Let cool for another 10 minutes.
6)Run plain water through the coffee maker; let cool for another 10 minutes, repeat.
Hand-wash the carafe and filter basket in soapy water.

While manual-drip systems, coffee presses, and percolators are available, consumers buy more automatic-drip coffeemakers than any other small kitchen appliance: 17 million per year. Mr. Coffee and Black & Decker are the two largest brands, along with well-known names such as Braun, Krups,Melitta, Proctor-Silex, Cuisinart, and Delonghi.

Coffeemakers come in sizes from single-cup models to machines capable of brewing up to 12 cups at a time. At the low end are bare-bones coffeemakers with a single switch to start the brewing process and a plain metal hotplate; pricier models can have programmable start and stop times, a water filter, frothing capability, and a thermal carafe. Most consumers opt for the more basic models. Black and white remain the standard colors, but some brands have added other hues. Price range: $15 to more than $100.

Consider how much you consume. If one cup of coffee is enough to jump-start your day, you’ll like the convenience and compactness of a single-serve drip coffeemaker. You’ll probably use (and waste) less coffee than with a full-sized machine. For coffee-to-go, consider a model that comes with an insulated mug.

If you’re a coffee junkie, or if you entertain a lot, you’ll need a bigger coffeemaker. Most large machines produce 10 to 12 cups, but be aware that a manufacturer’s cup is usually 4 or 5 ounces, not the huge mug that may come to mind--and not the 6 ounces most coffee packages use as a basis for directions.

Consider how often you refill. If you wait an hour between cups, buy a full-sized coffeemaker with a thermal carafe. Those keep coffee hot and fresh-tasting for hours. The warming plates that accompany glass carafes keep coffee hot, but flavor suffers with constant heating.

Consider convenience. Certain basic design details apply to all coffeemakers, plain or fancy: The models rated highest for convenience have clearly marked water reservoirs, easy-to-use swing-out filter baskets, and simple, intuitive controls. The more annoying models have hard-to-read water gauges, filter baskets with a high fumble factor, and carafes that are as likely to spill coffee as pour it. Extra options to look for--if any--will depend on your coffee-drinking habits.

Consider counter space. Some machines need considerable space. Those with controls on the side instead of the front can be placed sideways on a countertop so they steal less depth.

Osborne/Jenks Productions, Inc. is proud to produce the largest and most popular consumer home shows on the East Coast. This home show series is a dynamic showcase of home products and home services that will help you with all your home building, design and improvement needs.


Additional Links

River Street Gourmet
Kitchen and household appliances
Appliance Parts Depot
Kitchen Appliances and Replacement Parts
Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Kitchen Items