Coffee Makers and Espresso Machines

Drip, pod or espresso: the brew style decides the machine

Drip brewers make a pot of coffee from ground beans and paper or permanent filters, and suit households that drink several mugs together. Pod machines brew a single cup from a sealed capsule; the K-Cup format and other capsule systems are not interchangeable, so match the pod type to the machine. Espresso machines force hot water through fine grounds under pressure, and the pump rating on the box is a maximum rather than the working pressure, which is lower and set by the machine.

Capacity labels also mislead. A coffee maker's 'cup' is usually about 5 ounces, so a 12-cup carafe holds roughly 60 ounces, or around seven 8-ounce mugs. Reservoir size is the figure to read for pod machines, since it sets how many cups you can brew before refilling, and a removable reservoir is easier to fill at the sink.

Grind, water and wear parts: what keeps a machine working

Freshly ground beans make a bigger difference to flavor than most machine features, and grinders in the coffee and spice grinders aisle split into blade and burr types; burr grinders give a more even grind. Hard water leaves scale that slows brewing, so plan on descaling and, where the maker offers one, a water filter cartridge. Wear parts such as carafes, filter baskets, portafilters and pod holders are model-specific, so note the model number before replacing anything.

Questions about Coffee Makers and Espresso Machines

Is a 12-cup coffee maker really 12 mugs?

No. Coffee makers count a 'cup' as about 5 ounces, so 12 cups is roughly 60 ounces, enough for around seven standard mugs. If you drink large mugs, pick a carafe by ounces rather than by the cup count.

Can a pod machine use any maker's pods?

Not always. Capsule systems use different shapes, sizes and piercing methods, so a machine built for one format will not take another. Reusable filter cups exist for some systems, but check that the model name or format is listed as compatible before buying.

Does a 15 bar pump make better espresso than a 9 bar one?

Not by itself. Espresso extracts best near 9 bar at the coffee, and the bar figure on the box is a maximum pump rating that the machine regulates down. Judge a machine by its controls, temperature stability and portafilter instead.