Manufacturers of coffee makers offer coffee gourmets a large selection of different models, with which you can quickly prepare several varieties of coffee and drinks based on it.
Among the wide range of coffee makers on store shelves, carob and drip machines are considered the most popular - they differ from each other not only in their appearance, but also in their operating principle, so choosing a suitable device must be approached with special attention.
In the article we will answer the question, which one is better, what to look for when choosing and purchasing , and also, what are the differences between them?
Page navigation:
What is a carob coffee maker?
The horn coffee maker got its name due to the presence of a special horn-shaped nest into which ground coffee beans are placed for further preparation of coffee.
The device is designed to prepare classic espresso with dense foam on the surface. There are two main types of horn-type devices: steam (boiler) and pump-type. In steam coffee makers, liquid is placed in a sealed compartment and heated to create steam. Once the steam has passed through the coffee powder, the drink is ready to drink.
In the pump model, the water is quickly heated to 90-100 degrees, and then passes through the coffee using a pump. The technology allows you to preserve all the beneficial substances and get the most intense aroma.
Important! The pressure and power of steam devices is lower than in pump models, which is why the coffee preparation time is doubled.
Basic recommendations for choosing a device
There are several tips by following which the buyer can quickly decide on the choice of a suitable device:
- It is worth buying a drip coffee maker to prepare a lot of black coffee at once;
- Horn models are suitable for lovers of variety. You can brew espresso, cappuccino, and other types of drinks in them;
- Pay attention to the power of the device. The optimal power value for quick coffee preparation is 800-1000 W.
Watch a video on how to choose a coffee maker for your home
What is a drip coffee maker?
A drip coffee maker is an electric device with a heater in which hot water passes through a coffee filter and enters a reservoir .
Preparing a delicious drink in a drip machine is quite simple: cold water is poured into the tank, and ground coffee is placed in the cone filter.
After turning on the device, the process of steam formation begins and the resulting steam condenses in the compartment of the device body located above the filter.
At a temperature of 90 degrees, drops flow through the coffee and flow into the flask . Once this process is complete, the freshly prepared coffee can be poured into cups.
Note! The rich aroma and strength of the prepared drink is achieved through the slow passage of water through the ground coffee.
Useful tips for choosing
A convenient metal tray will help keep your kitchen countertops free from additional stains.
If you delve into all the nuances of carob coffee makers in detail, you can draw some very interesting conclusions.
- It is very important that the machine has a metal tray that will collect drops. This will affect not only the good condition of the countertop, but also the convenience of the owners themselves. There will be no need to wash the table and clear the surface of plaque every time.
- It is imperative to ensure that the machine has built-in overheating protection. If you do not turn off the machine before leaving, it can easily break. Especially when it comes to a plastic case. The automatic switch will be able to independently control the heating level, which is very convenient even for corporate use.
Taking into account your needs and capabilities, as well as following useful recommendations, you can choose a convenient, reliable coffee maker and enjoy the unique coffee taste.
These are the main points that do not concern the equipment of the machine. Everything else is just a matter of taste and needs of the future owner.
Speaking about the advantages and disadvantages of carob-type coffee makers, we should also highlight the manufacturer who produced it. The main problems with these coffee makers are the power. Cheaper analogues will not be able to provide the whole family with their favorite drinks.
If there are lovers of different types of coffee in the family, it is better to buy an expensive coffee maker with many capabilities.
Many people make a number of very common mistakes when choosing this type of coffee maker:
- The owner must understand that the quality of the drink will be compensated by time. At the beginning of dating, it may take about 10 minutes to prepare one cup of coffee. In the future this will be reduced to 2-3 minutes.
- Buy cheap options in a plastic case.
In fact, such machines are not equipped with a special device for controlling heating. This can lead to the system simply burning out and the machine stopping working. Speaking about such machines, we can highlight a worthy alternative with ready-made capsules. The power and quality are enough to quickly make coffee and go about your business.
The TOP 7 best brands will help you make your final decision in choosing a coffee maker that will help you wake up in the morning.
Advantages and disadvantages of horn models
Carob coffee makers are in great demand among coffee connoisseurs, since such machines have many advantages. The main advantages of the device are:
- increased efficiency - the process of preparing a drink takes only 30 seconds;
- the ability to control the water level and liquid temperature;
- the presence of steam valves and an auto-shut-off function - this helps extend the life of the device and ensures safe operation;
- removable tray for collecting drops;
- absence of coffee grounds in the prepared drink;
- bifurcated nozzle for simultaneous filling of two cups;
- maintaining the temperature of the finished coffee;
- heating cups and milk;
- the ability to prepare several variants of the drink;
- tamper for compacting ground coffee;
- formation of delicate creamy foam using a cappuccino maker;
- minimum consumption of coffee beans.
Reference! Some models provide a remote control function for the coffee machine, which allows you to control the operation of the device from your smartphone.
Despite the large number of advantages, horn models also have disadvantages:
- big size;
- lack of a built-in coffee grinder;
- the need to compact the ground grains in the cone.
How to choose a good model
The main parameter that you should pay attention to when choosing is the power of the device. And here balance is important - a powerful coffee maker will prepare coffee very quickly, but due to the high brewing speed, some of its taste and aroma qualities will be lost. A weak model will brew a rich drink, but will spend a lot of time on it. The optimal power indicator is about 750-800 W. But which ground coffee is best for a coffee maker and how to choose the best one for yourself is described in great detail in the article at the link.
Other parameters do not particularly affect the taste and smell of the drink, but make using the coffee machine simpler and more convenient:
- The built-in water filter eliminates the need to filter it in advance.
- The anti-drip system keeps coffee drops inside the device when the cup or flask is removed from the coffee maker platform.
- Adjusting the strength will allow you to experiment with the richness of the finished coffee without changing the proportion of ground beans poured into the device.
- The ability to customize the number of servings of coffee prepared is especially valuable for large coffee makers.
- The built-in coffee grinder allows you to use the freshest ground beans, preserving their taste and smell as much as possible.
- Remote control and a timer to turn the device on/off make it possible to prepare coffee for a specific moment, for example, when you wake up or return from work.
- The temperature indicator indicates whether the coffee in the container is hot or needs to be warmed up.
It is also worth paying attention to how the coffee maker for bean coffee is used at home.
Video on how to choose a good coffee maker:
But which geyser-type coffee maker for a gas stove is the best and most often used is indicated in detail here.
Advantages and disadvantages of drip models
Drip coffee makers have a number of advantages over other coffee making devices. Among them:
- simplicity and ease of maintenance;
- reliability of design;
- reasonable price;
- presence of heating pads;
- light weight and size;
- silent operation;
- absence of complex mechanisms;
- function of heating the finished drink;
- large volume glass flask;
- possibility to brew tea or prepare cocoa.
Drip-type devices are not without disadvantages that must be taken into account before purchasing. The disadvantages of such devices include the following points:
- high consumption of ground coffee;
- insufficient strength of the drink;
- additional material costs for purchasing filters;
- the need to clean the device after each use.
Models with manual coffee preparation
Mechanical coffee makers transfer responsibility for the taste of the drink to the user. These models are the choice of experienced coffee lovers and anyone who wants to turn the process into a ritual. A review of the devices will help you decide which coffee maker is best.
Scarlett SC-037 – The most inexpensive coffee maker
Scarlett SC-037 is the best model among budget coffee makers. The device is housed in a plastic case and takes up very little space.
4 bar pressure allows you to prepare aromatic cappuccino; a measuring spoon is included. The setting is made by a mechanical switch on the body; the machine has few functions.
The flask is made of tempered glass; transparent walls allow you to regulate the amount of liquid inside.
When the Scarlett SC-037 has finished making coffee, it must be turned off manually. The status of the device is indicated by a light indicator.
Pros:
- affordable price;
- compact model;
- simple controls.
Minuses:
- cheap assembly materials;
- heats up during operation.
Polaris PCM 1527E Adore Crema – Brews 2 servings of perfect coffee at the same time
Polaris PCM 1527E Adore Crema is included in the middle category, but its characteristics are not inferior to expensive models. This is the best option for connoisseurs of the real taste of coffee.
The drink enters the cup under a pressure of 15 bar, and the cappuccino machine whips the milk into a thick foam. 2 servings are prepared at the same time. The device's warm-up function sets the ideal liquid temperature.
It is worth noting a good filter. It has a double bottom: the first with small holes, the second with one hole.
This creates stable pressure, which has a positive effect on the taste of the drink. As a pleasant surprise, the manufacturer added stencils for drawings on the foam.
Pros:
- high pressure;
- necessary functions for preparing the perfect espresso;
- double filter bottom;
- price-quality ratio.
Minuses:
- The aluminum pan rattles during operation.
Kenwood ES 020 – Quickly warms up the drink to 95 degrees
The Kenwood brand produces the best models in its category, and the ES 020 is another confirmation. It develops a pressure of 15 bar and heats water up to 95 degrees. In the process, a thick foam is formed.
The coffee machine uses ground coffee and can prepare several servings at the same time.
It is suitable for the office, where not only the taste of the drink is important, but also speed. And while the employee is absent, the cup warming function will maintain the temperature.
Pros:
- simultaneous preparation of 2 servings;
- high pressure;
- speed of the process;
- maintaining the temperature of the drink.
Minuses:
- easily soiled body;
- Inconvenient dispensing spoon included.
What are the differences and which one to choose?
In order not to make a mistake with your choice and purchase a device that meets your expectations, you should familiarize yourself with the main functions, capabilities and differences between the two types of coffee makers, and also compare them.
Operating principle and design
A drip coffee maker consists of a coffee pot and a heating element connected to a stove. There is also a water tank, a coffee filter and a control panel equipped with one or more buttons.
The device works by filtration: water poured into the tank moves to the heating element, as a result of which it becomes hot and is sent through a pipe into the compartment with ground coffee. Steam is formed in the compartment, which turns into condensate, passes through the coffee powder and gradually flows into the container. After the liquid enters the coffee pot, the heating element starts up, maintaining the temperature of the prepared drink.
Important! The heating plate is designed in such a way that without water supply the device cannot burn out.
The coffee grounds do not fall into the cups - they remain in the filter. Nylon filters are designed for long-term use. Usually they are enough for 60 brews. Paper filters are suitable for one-time use only: after making coffee, they are immediately thrown away.
Instead of standard filters, a carob coffee maker uses horns made of plastic or metal. Ground coffee beans are placed in the cone, through which the steam necessary to prepare the drink passes.
Unlike a drip device, a carob-type coffee maker has a more complex operating principle and includes not only a heating boiler and a water tank, but also elements such as:
- holder (horn);
- tray for cups with a mesh surface and an installed drip tray;
- hot water supply tap;
- steam supply lever;
- steam pipe;
- pump and boiler pressure gauge;
- cappuccino maker;
- light indication;
- power and spill buttons.
Reference! Expensive models have a dish heating function designed to maintain the optimal temperature of the cups.
Taste qualities of finished coffee
The taste of coffee prepared in different coffee makers varies significantly. Using a carob coffee maker you can prepare strong and aromatic espresso , latte or cappuccino without coffee grounds. At the same time, a stable foam will appear on the surface of the drink, which is considered a sign of high-quality, properly brewed coffee.
If there is little powder or it is not compacted enough, the water will quickly pass through the coffee and will not have time to be enriched with flavor properties. If the ground coffee beans are packed too tightly, the drink may be too strong and bitter.
A drip-type device can prepare an equally tasty drink, however, when using such a coffee maker, you can brew regular black coffee without foam .
Ground coffee consumption
The strength of the resulting drink directly depends on the quality of the coffee used and its dosage.
To make coffee in a drip coffee maker, you will need more ground material than in the case of a carob model. The consumption of ground coffee per serving of a drink brewed in a carob-type coffee machine is 6-8 g, in a drip machine - 10-12 g.
Difficulty and time to prepare
Drip machines are considered the easiest to use , since to obtain an aromatic drink you just need to load the necessary ingredients into the device and turn it on. The preparation time for one serving of coffee in such a device is on average 2 minutes, however, the lower the power of the model, the longer the brewing process will take.
It is more difficult to prepare a drink in a carob coffee maker , since you first need to carefully fill the holder with ground coffee, compact the raw materials well, install the coffee horn in the connector, and only then turn on the device. The preparation time for coffee without preliminary preparation of components is only 20-30 seconds.
A significant advantage of the drip device is the ability to prepare a large volume of drink at a time.
Functional
The functionality of carob and drip coffee makers is constantly being improved, which makes the device easier to use.
The key functions of drip models are:
- anti-drip system, the presence of which prevents liquid from splashing outside the device;
- filtration system for purifying tap water;
- automatic heating of the flask to maintain the optimal temperature of the drink for three hours;
- timer – the function allows the user to program the time to turn on the device and prepare a specific drink;
- turning off heating upon completion of work.
Among the main functionalities of carob coffee makers are:
- automatic shutdown of the device, extending the service life of the device;
- the presence of a display or light indicators indicating the water level;
- high level of steam pressure to obtain rich and aromatic coffee;
- automatic decalcification – this function ensures high-quality self-cleaning of the device from various contaminants.
Important! When choosing a coffee maker, you should pay attention to the power of the device. To quickly prepare coffee, it is recommended to choose devices with a power of 800-1000 W.
Dimensions
Drip coffee makers are compact in size , they do not take up much space in the kitchen and are easy to move. However, horn-type devices can hardly be called too large - their dimensions depend on the presence of additional functions and the complexity of the device.
Ease of use
And using drip models is much easier. Such devices do not require special care, because nothing gets dirty except the replaceable filters and the container for the finished coffee. After making coffee, the disposable filter should be thrown away and a new one installed in its place.
Horn devices, in turn, are less convenient. In order to clean the device, it must be disassembled and washed thoroughly. Care is also required for the accessories that come with the device.
Price
Drip coffee makers are cheaper than carob coffee makers. The cost of drip models varies from 1,500 to 10,000 rubles, the price of carob models - from 5,000 to 50,000 rubles .
Which coffee maker is easier to use?
How do appliances behave at home, and which coffee maker is easier to maintain?
Drip coffee maker
In it you will have to wash the tank for the finished coffee and clean the filter. Periodically you need to descale it with a special product. You can take the simplest thing - a drip coffee maker is not capricious.
There will be no additional costs unless you use disposable filters. They will have to be purchased separately. But you will save time on caring for the device. You simply throw away the used disposable filter and there is no need to wash anything.
A drip coffee maker requires space. The larger its volume, the more space it will take up.
Carob coffee maker
You need to clean the filter in it, and if there is a cappuccino maker, then take care of it - wash it and clean it from milk foam, which clogs the slots. The carob coffee maker needs to be descaled regularly. For branded models, manufacturers recommend using special products, but you can also use universal ones, which are much cheaper and have the same effectiveness.
You may want to buy accessories for your pump coffee maker: a tamper and a pitcher. The standard configuration of a carob coffee maker usually comes with a plastic tamper. Pitchers are not included.
A coffee maker takes up a lot of space in the kitchen. The pump type requires more space than the steam type. The more complex the model, the more operational space it will have to provide.
Our result
- A drip coffee maker is less troublesome to operate than a carob coffee maker.
- Both take up quite a bit of space, but an automated espresso machine will require the most space.
Reviews
Below are some customer reviews. If you have something to say, leave your feedback in the comments below the article, it will be useful to our readers.
I've been using a drip coffee maker for about three years. The device is inexpensive, convenient, I quickly figured out how to use it, and the taste is quite satisfactory. The volume is only 0.6 liters, so coffee is brewed in minutes. But there are some nuances that I would like to change: the coffee turns out warm, not hot, you have to change filters often and there is no foam on the surface. You also need to use filtered water, otherwise scale will form, which is difficult to get rid of.
I recently purchased a new carob coffee maker. The old one served for almost 6 years and, unfortunately, broke. As a big connoisseur of quality coffee, I can say with confidence that it is impossible to make espresso or latte better than a coffee maker. The coffee is brewed instantly and turns out rich, with a pronounced aroma and dense creamy foam. There is only one downside: you can only prepare two servings of the drink at a time.
Models with automatic coffee preparation
Carob coffee makers with cappuccino makers are divided into 2 types: automatic and manual. The first ones whip the milk themselves and turn it into foam. It is then served in a cup. Below are the best models with automatic coffee preparation.
REDMOND RCM-1512 – Best value for money
Under a pressure of 15 bar, REDMOND RCM-1512 produces aromatic coffee with foam, which is close in quality to professional equipment. The machine copes well with espresso, classic cappuccino, Americano and soft latte.
She can brew two cups of drink at the same time. The electrical control method allows you to program the device to the desired mode in a few touches. The settings are saved in memory; over time, REDMOND RCM-1512 will learn to predict the correct cup size.
The automatic cappuccino maker froths milk in seconds. The user only adjusts the ratio of water and foam with a special lever.
Gourmets will appreciate the ability to warm up the cup before brewing coffee, because this is how the drink gets its deep flavor. Caring for the coffee maker is easy: most parts are detachable and can be washed in the dishwasher.
Pros:
- high pressure;
- authentic coffee taste;
- convenient control;
- ease of maintenance.
Minuses:
- inconvenient stand for small cups.
VITEK VT-1514 – Thoughtful functionality, suitable for tall glasses
The 2021 rating of carob coffee makers would be incomplete without a popular model from a domestic manufacturer. VITEK VT-1514 with a pressure of 15 bar will quickly prepare espresso, cappuccino or latte. Or it will simply serve hot water and brew tea.
The automatic cappuccino maker whips up the foam, the density is adjusted with a lever. The milk container is easily removed and washed in the dishwasher.
The cup warming function will keep the drink at the correct temperature. VITEK VT-1514 is treated with a special dirt-repellent coating; just wipe off the stains with a cloth.
The coffee maker can accommodate tall glasses and the tray is adjustable to 3 positions. The water tray is removable, so you can see the amount of liquid at any time. With VITEK VT-1514, even a beginner will get coffee like in the advertising picture.
Pros:
- high pressure;
- warming the cup;
- dirt-repellent coating;
- removable milk bowl;
- adjustable tray.
Minuses:
- makes noise during operation;
- You need to wait 5 minutes between making coffee.
Kitfort KT-703 – Quick preparation of large volumes of coffee
Kitfort KT-703 immediately attracts attention. Stylish and technologically advanced, the coffee machine has two liquid reservoirs and 6 buttons on the body. Surprisingly, the settings are easy to understand and the controls are intuitive.
The model accommodates cups up to 13.5 mm high, and small cups can be raised on the adjustable tray. The volume of the drink can be changed by pressing a button. The drip tray grid is made of stainless steel. It does not absorb odors and lasts longer than plastic.
This model is recommended to buy for a large family. It prepares 2 drinks at the same time, and milk and water in large removable tanks can be stored in the refrigerator.
The device has an automatic shutdown function after 15 minutes of inactivity. Just press any button and it’s ready to go again.
Pros:
- 2 liquid reservoirs;
- clear controls;
- adjustable tray;
- high quality materials.
Minuses:
- takes up more space than analogues;
- makes noise while frothing milk.
De'Longhi EC 850 M – The most technologically advanced coffee maker with auto-cappuccino function
The rating of coffee makers would not be complete without the Italian brand De'Longhi, which knows everything about real coffee. The model is made of stainless steel, the carob filter works with ground grains and pods.
A unique feature is the patented auto-cappuccino system. The settings have already been set by the brand so that everyone can brew the perfect espresso, cappuccino or latte. The user will only have to choose the density of the foam.
Reviews of the De'Longhi EC 850 M are full of enthusiastic comments about the machine's manufacturability.
The cup can be left on the tray, the heating system will maintain the ideal temperature. The coffee maker can go into sleep mode, saving energy.
Pros:
- build quality;
- technological features;
- authentic coffee taste;
- ease of use.
Minuses:
- high price.
