Automatic Coffee Makers and The Perfect Cup of Coffee

As the first coffee maker, the Turkish Ibrik was fairly basic but it did a fantastic job of producing strong, aromatic coffee.  The Ibrik was a simple design, a copper container with a long handle and grooved tongue.  Coffee is still served this was in many parts of the Middle East today.

If really strong coffee is not really your thing, then you may be interested in some of the more modern automatic coffee makers.  When deciding which coffee maker to buy there are few things you need to consider...

The most common type of automatic coffee makers are the drip models.  It works by heating water via an electric element that is poured into the top of the machine.  The water then passes through the coffee grounds and then gathers in a glass pot that sits on a hot plate at the base of the machine.

These features are basic.  There are many other features you may like to consider.

Controls have proliferated to the level that many machines look like a modern stereo. LCD screens display the time, the time to brew, temperature, a timer and several options even more unmentionable.

If you have ever been in the unfortunate position of having coffee pouring all over your kitchen bench because you forgot to shut off the coffee machine or you could not wait until the coffee finished brewing and you removed the glass pot just to take a quick cup of coffee, only to have the coffee drip all over the hote plate, then you will understand the importance of the Auto shut-off feature.  Basically as soon as you remove the coffee pot from the hot plate the machine stops brewing the coffee.  This may not be one of the most fancy options but it is certainly one of the most useful!

Today you can control every aspect of your brewing experience.  Many modern machines let you select the strength of the coffee you desire, along with what time you want the brew to start, so it can be ready when you wake-up, presuming you remember to set it up the night before!

Everyone loves the smell of coffee, and it is very comforting to come down into your kitchen on a dark, cold morning and smell the fresh brewing coffee as well as seeing the little illuminated display telling you your coffee is ready.

Cleaning your coffee machine can be a real pain.  It is just another job to add to your ever growing list of things to do.  But a new development within the coffee world, the coffee 'pod', has made coffee brewing and cleaning your coffee machine a lot easier.  The coffee pod is a small, pre-measured paper container of coffee.  You put the pod into your machine, the water filters through the coffee, the same as normal coffee machines, and your coffee is ready.  However, once the pod has cooled you can take it out of the machine and throw it into the bin.  That is it.  The cleaning of your machine is complete.  Perefect for the harassed coffee drinker who hates cleaning.

Several models are available with water filters, essential for the urban dweller where the city supply often tastes like the community swimming pool. The filters are pricey but a good cup of coffee is priceless.

Although traditional coffee filter styles are still popular, machines with pods are becoming more available.  Some people question what effect the pods have on the enviroment and also if they alter the quality of the coffee.  Only you can decide.

Choosing your coffee machine may feel like an impossible choice due to the vast array available.  But once you have finally chosen you will be able to relax and enjoy the perfect cup of coffee at any time.