How to Choose the Best Drip Coffee Maker in 2020?
- 17.6.2018
- Coffee Preparation
There are so, so many ways you can prepare a coffee. Old brew, single cup brew, espresso, there is a choice for everyone! But what about good old fashioned filtered coffee? Are you considering getting a manual drip coffee maker, or do you want to jump straight to electrical one? What are the advantages of both?
Content
A Little Taste of History
Filtered coffee is not new. However, the leftover sediments were often a source of headache. And it is this particular headache that brings us to the story of Melitta Benz, a German entrepreneur born in the late 19th century.
Melitta loved coffee but did not enjoy how the old fashioned percolators often overbrew it. The espresso machines of the time left ground coffee in a drink, which she didn’t find enjoyable either.
She experimented and ended up using her son’s schoolbook sheet punctured with nails as a prototype for a paper filter. The result was met with fierce enthusiasm, and Melitta decided to pursue her business ambitions. She patented her invention in 1908, and today, more than a hundred years later, the Melitta Group employs over 3300 employees in more than 50 countries. The invention of the paper filter for dripped coffee has kickstarted the popularity of the filters for decades to come.
How does it Work?
Filtered coffee is prepared by running hot water through the ground coffee. It utilizes a similar principle to espresso; however, it uses gravity instead of pressure. Hot water is slowly poured over the grounded beans, resulting in rich, delicious tasting brew. Without the pressure, it takes more time to produce a delicious mug of coffee, but the wait is surely worth it.
Filtered coffee is going through a renaissance, Hario V60, Chemex, Wilfa Svart Manuell, Chomka, Melitta, Kalita, all of these brands are becoming increasingly popular as the demand for filtered coffee skyrockets.
Taste of the Drip
Each coffee grower will tell you precisely how to prepare their coffee to achieve the best result. As luck would have it, one of the most expensive coffee in the world, the famed Jamaican Blue Mountain is recommended to be prepared using the drip method. You can read tips on how to prepare the best cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain in over article here.
What to Look For
If you have decided that you would like to purchase a percolator for filtered coffee, there are several things you want to consider. Probably the most important one is the quantity of the coffee you wish to prepare. If you plan to have filtered coffee occasionally for yourself, or with your family, manual percolator can be enough. If you’re searching for an office equipment to satisfy your colleagues, you might want to consider an electric equivalent, that is capable of producing a great quantities of coffee and can keep the brew warm for a long period of time.
Manual Drip Coffee Makers
This category includes all coffee making facilities that let coffee drip using the help of gravity. All you need is ground coffee, a filter, and hot water. Preparation is extremely simple; just pour water 93 degrees Celsius and wait until all of the water drips through the filter. Some of the brands of manual percolators are Hario V60, Chemex, and of course, the Vacuum pot.
The manual percolators are perfect for preparing a cold brew as well. Simply put some ice cubes into the mug before pouring the filtered brew over it. Delicious for hot summer afternoons!
The manual percolators come in various materials, from cheaper plastic , through glass and steel, with prices varying accordingly.
Tips for Preparation
- Use filtered water. Hard water is not recommended for filtered coffee.
- When using a paper filter, rinse it with hot water first.
- The coffee should be fresh and one kind. The ideal ratio of coffee to water is 7g to 125ml.
- The coffee must be ground in the correct grinder. If the coffee is too coarse or soft, the taste of the coffee will be affected.
- The water should be heated to precisely 93 degrees Celsius.
- The water should be in the funnel for about 30 seconds (until you see bubbles forming). Then start to swirl the water in a circular motion.
Electric Drip Coffee Makers
The coffee brewer, sometimes called an automatic drip coffee maker, is probably the most commonly found in office break rooms. It is capable of preparing more coffee at once and it keep the coffee constantly warm. The more expensive once also come with programmable timer, built in water filter and are able to shut down after a period of inactivity all by themselves. The electric percolators are extremely easy to use, making it a popular choice between office managers.
