1. Pods vs coffee grinds: Pods are small packets of coffee with an aluminium lid. These pods can be put into machines that use Pods to get a quick, hassle free and standard cup of coffee. However, Pods can be expensive, and a constant expenditure on pods may not be what you are looking for. Coffee grinds on the other hand, can be made from beans of your own liking.
Machines like the Nespresso use only Nespresso pods, which again, are very expensive. This factor hence becomes important in figuring out what coffee maker to purchase.
2. K cups: K cup coffee machines affect the environment adversely and can also reduce the quality of the coffee. However, they provide a variety of coffee styles, with a lot of convenience. All of this, however, comes at an immense cost to the environment.
K cups also tend to be expensive, and hence become an important factor to consider when purchasing a coffee machine.
3. Usage factor: Filtering can be done electrically, through percolates or through pumps. Pumps are useful when trying to brew coffee outdoors. Percolators are good to use on a stove, and electric machines are useful in office spaces.
The location and usage of the machines then becomes a factor in considering what the best choice of a coffee machine may be.
4. Temperature and flavor control: To get a good brew, coffee machines should maintain a water temperature between 165 degrees to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Should temperatures fall below this level, the coffee may come out tasting very flat. This is because the temperature is not high enough for the coffee grounds to release their flavors.
5. Water jet range: As a buyer, one must always ensure that the water jet is of a wider range, so that all of the coffee grounds ca be evenly soaked. If the water jet is too narrow, then the coffee may not be as strong since not all the powder gets used.
6. Auto off mode: The auto off mode has become a standard in single serve coffee machines of today. Electric coffee machines generally consume about 1300-1500 watts of power. This is a lot of energy which can be wasted if a user forgets to switch off the machine.
Auto off mode is ecofriendly, and if one wants to buy a coffee machine which is so, this factor must be considered.
7. Drip tray: A removable drip tray will go a long way to save time and effort in cleaning and maintenance. Coffee brewing can sometimes be a messy job, and some spillage once in a while is inevitable. A good ay to remedy this arduous process is the inclusion of a removable drip tray.
The drip tray can be removed and cleaned with vinegar or just rinsed with water. It is convenient to have a drip tray on the coffee machine, especially when using in an office space.