Drinking a cup of coffee (or several) is how most people choose to start their day. While others opt for green tea or a glass of juice, a daily cup of joe is proven to help boost energy levels as well as fine-tune your focus early in the morning. It’s no wonder why it’s a beloved beverage worldwide – not just in the morning but essentially any time they fancy a cup.
For people on the go, it’ll be a quick stop to the nearest coffee shop for their caffeine fix. Others, probably still in their pajamas, use a coffee percolator or plugin their latest coffee machine and get ready while waiting for their piping hot cup of joe to cool down. There’s this distinct allure to having your first cup at home instead of having to stand in line and/or speak to other people.
Reasons to Make Coffee at Home
In addition to what’s mentioned above, there are other reasons why people choose and should make coffee at home. Want to know what these are? Well, continue reading, and you’ll soon find out the top 3 reasons.
It helps save you money
How many are cups of coffee these days? If you’ve been buying yourself a cup or two every single day, you’ll notice that this little expense accumulates and becomes a hefty amount of money over a short amount of time. Save that money and brew your cup or cups of coffee at home instead. Sure, you may want to invest in a top-quality coffee machine and beans. But it’ll soon pay off as you’ll save money from hereon.
It takes about the same amount of time to buy and make coffee
Your reasoning behind buying coffee is to save time instead of brewing one may be valid. But if you think about it, you’ll probably be spending the same amount of time waiting in line to order and get your morning fix anyway. So, why not make your own at home? You can finish preparing or do something else while you wait for the coffee.
It is available any time you want
Not only will you be saving money, but brewing coffee at home allows you to have one whenever you want. With most people still working from home, it can get a little expensive to order every time you finish a drink and want another one. Finished your drink too soon and want another one? No need to stand in line and order again. Pick that coffee percolator or drip machine pot up and pour yourself another one.
Types of Coffee Makers
If brewing your coffee sounds good, it’s good to do a little research on the different types of coffee makers you’ll find available in the market today.
1. French Press
The oldest way of brewing coffee using the infusion method is done through the coffee brewing device called the French press. Known as a cafetière in Britain and coffee plunger in South Africa and Australia, it’s popular even among millennials thanks to its modern design variations. To use, ground coffee is placed in the empty beaker and hot water is added in and stirred. Leave the coffee to brew for four minutes (considered the ideal brewing time), slowly press down the plunger, pour the coffee and then serve.
2. Percolator
The popularity of coffee percolators saw a decline in the 70s due to drip coffee machines, but it is now making a comeback. Simple to use, the fairly coarse-ground coffee is placed in the top chamber or basket, and the desired amount of water is poured into the water chamber then placed over a stove to heat up. The hot water goes into the basket and percolates back down into the pot repeatedly until you take the coffee percolator off the stove.
3. Pour-over Coffee Makers
Designed to sit right over your coffee cup, traditional pour-over coffee makers let you brew one cup at a time. To use it, place ground coffee into the paper filter in the holder, then slowly pour boiling water. The water will seep through the coffee and filter. Then, it is collected in a container such as a coffee cup and pots or carafes for more than a single serving.
4. Automatic Drip Coffee Makers
Due to the similar method of brewing coffee, drip coffee machines superseded coffee percolators and became the preferred choice by many back in the 70s. You only need to add the grounds and water and leave the machine to brew your fresh batch of coffee.
5. Single-Serve or Pod-Based Coffee Machines
If you’re looking for another hands-free coffee maker, single-serve or pod-based machines are said to be a popular replacement for drip coffee machines. Its growing popularity is thanks to its high-quality, convenient, and fast way of coffee brewing. To use, just plug in the device, add water, insert your choice of pod flavor, and press start, then wait for your mug to be filled in with coffee. Feeling a little eco-friendly? Use reusable coffee pods and fill them up with your favorite coffee grounds.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Coffee Maker
Here are some factors to consider when scouring the internet and local shops for your machine.
Brew Size – Are you looking to brew a single cup or make coffee in large batches? If you live alone or like to try different flavors, then a single-cup brewer may be perfect for you. But if you live with other people who are heavy coffee-drinkers, look for brewers that can brew large quantities.
Machine Size – If you’ve designated a space where your machine needs to be, then make sure to find one that will fit it perfectly. Will you need to open the top to add grounds and water? Will your mug fit under the brewer?
Convenience – Do you prefer to go through the whole ritual of brewing coffee yourself? Or are you the type of person who likes a cup of coffee ready and waiting for you in the kitchen? If it’s the second one, then there are electric coffee machines you can program to start making your coffee without having to push a button.
Conclusion
Coffee, as many would say, is the perfect way to start a day. It’s fine if you prefer to get yourself one at your favorite coffee shop, but surely there are numerous benefits of brewing your own at home. With different types of coffee makers to choose from and factors to consider, it takes careful research to find the perfect one for you.
