We have prepared important criteria for choosing the best carob coffee maker according to experts and customer reviews. We have compiled a rating of the 2021 and 2021 models. Horn coffee makers or espresso machines prepare espresso by passing water under pressure through finely ground beans placed in the so-called “horn”. This is a large class of devices that has many subtypes. You can use them to make any espresso-based drinks, such as lattes, cappuccinos or macchiatos, which is the reason why they are so popular. Carob coffee makers for ground coffee for home come in different prices, above 100,000 rubles, for example Lelit PL62, or De'Longhi ECP 33.21 for 10,000 rubles.
The nuances of brewing coffee in an espresso coffee maker, how to prepare it
A carob coffee maker is different from a coffee machine. An espresso coffee maker involves, as it were, manual preparation: you must grind the coffee beans, pour them into a horn and turn on the hot water supply. In the case of a regular coffee machine, you just need to pour in the beans, the machine itself will grind them and pour the required amount of drink.
Need to know! To get the best result, before preparing the drink, you need to warm up the coffee maker and prepare “idle” coffee, that is, simply run hot water through the horn.
After this, you can start preparing the drink.
What do they have in common?
Despite the fact that the operating principle of such designs provides for significant differences, in other components the coffee makers have much in common.
- The development and production of geyser and drip coffee makers are carried out by the largest companies that have proven themselves in the household appliances market. Among them, DeLonghi, Bialetti, Bosh, Taurus, Braun and Ufesa stand out.
- Both types of devices belong to the household class, which makes them in demand among the vast majority of consumers.
- The external design of such models is distinguished by an impeccable and practical design that will appeal to even the most demanding customers. In addition, the inherent compactness of the devices allows for trouble-free operation in the smallest spaces.
- The drink prepared in such devices always has an intense taste and rich aroma.
- The internal structure of geyser and drip coffee makers involves the use of exclusively ground coffee.
- Such systems are distinguished by decent variability of volumes. With their help, you can immediately prepare one or several servings of an invigorating drink.
- Both coffee makers require timely, gentle care. It is not recommended to use coarse abrasive substances to clean them.
Who are carob coffee makers suitable for?
Carob coffee makers are suitable for people who prefer espresso and drinks based on it. If you are a Turkish coffee lover, then a carob coffee maker will not meet your expectations. You are unlikely to be able to get out of it anything close to what you love.
However, if you are a fan of drinks like cappuccino or latte, then an espresso machine is undoubtedly the best choice for you. With its help, you can prepare all these drinks, since that is exactly what it is intended for.
Popular coffee machine manufacturers
If we analyze the top of the ranking, there are three leaders among manufacturers of quality coffee machines: DeLonghi (5 models in the top 15), Krups (5 models in the top 15) and Jura (4 models in the top 15). But when choosing, you shouldn’t blindly rely on the brand: models of the same brands are also among outsiders. As a rule, one manufacturer produces several types of coffee machines at once. In order to decide which coffee maker is best to choose for your home, the manufacturer of capsule devices indicates which capsules it uses.
Read about how we researched coffee machines HERE
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Which coffee maker is better, carob or drip?
A carob coffee maker is the optimal solution for making delicious coffee at home. Compared to drip analogues, it provides processing of ground grains with greater pressure, which allows you to “extract” the maximum taste and aroma. The result is a rich, strong, tart drink. As mentioned above, you can prepare cappuccino, macchiato, latte, and Americano in a carob maker.
A drip coffee maker (also called a lazy coffee maker) prepares only one type of coffee – Americano. This is such a highly diluted espresso. This type of coffee is drunk in large mugs at lunch. A bit like instant coffee. The strength is low. There is no bitterness. The taste of the grains is revealed by 50-65%.
Drip ones are half the price of carob ones.
The disadvantage of carob is the smaller volume of the drink at the exit. In a drip tank, this could be a one-liter jug.
Which coffee maker is better: carob or geyser?
First, let's look at the resulting drinks. We already know about carob - classic espresso, latte, cappuccino. The taste of the grains is revealed 100%. Espresso turns out tart if the beans are robusta, and slightly sour if it is arabica. Cooking time 1.5 – 2 minutes. It's fast.
In a geyser coffee maker there is not so much pressure, and the taste of the beans is revealed by 80 percent. The drink obtained is very close to espresso from a carob coffee maker. Cooking time 5 – 8 minutes. You need to monitor the cooking process. Coffee may splash onto the stove.
We previously wrote about the 12 Best geyser coffee makers
Geyser ones are three times cheaper than carob ones.
How to choose a carob coffee maker?
Choosing a carob coffee maker is a responsible process; it is necessary to take into account a lot of technical nuances and subtleties.
In order not to buy a bad model, you should be guided by reviews from marketplaces, reviews, and expert opinions. We also included OEM models, many of which are produced under domestic brands, in the TOP. Of course, professionals and experts do not recommend buying them, but due to the increased prices, it is advisable to consider the best of these. Of course, it’s better to add a few thousand rubles (often 1-3 thousand) and get a device from a reputable company that cares about its reputation for producing quality products. Secondary factors when selecting a coffee maker are design, body materials, control principles, and the volume of the water tank. These are subjective points that do not affect the performance and quality of the drink. Often, inexpensive coffee makers are made of plastic, expensive ones are made of metal, but inside there are similar pumps, heating and operating elements.
On average, an entry-level model that allows you to brew delicious coffee will cost about 10 thousand rubles. The downside of such a purchase is the impossibility of “professional growth”; it will not allow you to experiment with the astringency and strength of the drink; preparation is carried out according to a standard algorithm. Further development is only possible with the help of an advanced device, costing about 25-30 thousand. The presence of a modified brewing group increases the indicated amount by about another 15 thousand rubles, and a coffee grinder – by another 10.
Pump and pressure
It is the pressure generated by the pump that allows you to obtain tart and rich espresso. The classic cooking recipe assumes a pressure of 8-9 bar. Many coffee makers, even in the budget segment, indicate a limit of 15 bar, but you should not believe in these numbers. This is the peak pressure directly at the outlet of the pump; in the horn it is already lower, about 8. Carob coffee makers without a boiler and pump cannot be recommended for purchase; their pressure is only about three bar, which is not at all enough for a good drink.
The pumps themselves come in several types:
- Vibrating . Installed in devices of the junior group. A small minus is the instability of pressure, which, however, has little effect on the taste of the drink;
- Rotary . Pumps for professional coffee makers. The pressure is stable, but the mechanism is more expensive, structurally more complex, more massive;
- Levered . Manual pumps where the pressure is 100% controlled by the barista. Found only in serious coffee shops.
How is water heated?
The boiler is as important a component of the coffee maker as the pump. The quality of espresso is determined not only by pressure, but also by temperature; the more accurately it matches the recipe, the tastier the drink. Heating is provided by a flow-type temperature block or a storage tank with a heating element.
The advantages and disadvantages of the options are as follows:
- Thermoblock . There is no need to preheat the water, it is immediately supplied in the required quantities, but the temperature is unstable;
- Small boiler . A compact device that supplies small volumes of “ideally” heated water. The downside is the volume, after each mug you will have to wait for it to warm up again. Small boilers are most often found in models aimed at home use;
- Large boiler . A large volume of water at the optimal temperature is immediately available, so you can prepare several cups of the drink at a time. The disadvantage is the considerable time required (20-30 minutes) required for heating, for example, after a long period of non-use;
- Heat exchanger . A network of pipes with circulating water located inside the boiler chamber. The liquid is heated as it passes through this network. The temperature is stable, but it takes time to heat up.
Some devices are equipped with a pair of heaters at once, the first is used to generate steam, the second – for coffee.
Brew group and horn
Contact of ground grains with water supplied under pressure, squeezing out aromatic substances occurs in the brewing group. It is formed by a horn, a filter and additional components. Inexpensive horns are made of polymers, advanced models are made of metal. It is better to choose a metal horn.
The quality of the finished drink is largely determined by the filter. The simplest option is a mesh with small cells. To get a decent result, you need to correctly select the degree of grinding and form a coffee “tablet” of suitable density. This requires experience and qualifications, so many manufacturers equip brewing groups with “improvers” that allow even a beginner to brew good espresso without extra effort and hassle. There are many options here - filters with different meshes, spring mechanisms that open the supply of the drink only after the pressure in the cone has reached the desired level. “Improvers” really help a beginner and eliminate the possibility of mistakes, but for an experienced coffee drinker they are excesses that do not allow them to fully realize their skills.
When choosing a filter, you need to focus on models made without polymer, elastic components; they wear out quickly due to constant temperature fluctuations. Double-bottom filters are quite difficult to clean; finely ground coffee gets stuck in the gap. However, all filters, including single ones, need cleaning, so this is more of a drawback.
The rule for selecting the diameter of the horn is as simple as possible: the larger the better. Professionals use horns with a diameter of 5.8 centimeters; it is easy to select additional accessories and filters for it. Home devices often have 5 and 5.4 centimeter horns installed; finding auxiliary accessories for them is quite difficult.
Coffee grinder: is it necessary?
The better the coffee maker, the more “picky” it is about quality and degree of grinding. Even middle-class devices simply will not be able to unlock the potential of the grains if they are ground incorrectly, too coarsely or too finely. Simply put, those who own a good coffee maker definitely need an appropriate coffee grinder.
Precise grinding control is possible with millstone-type devices. Rotary analogues, with a rotating knife, are not suitable for coffee, as are pseudo-millstone devices, which differ in working elements with recognizable teeth. They do not grind the grains; processing is based more on crushing and breaking. Budget burr coffee grinders are suitable for simple tasks, but are not capable of grinding beans into a fine powder. If your budget is limited, purchasing them is a rational decision.
The best option for precise control of the degree of grinding and realizing the potential of the coffee maker is to buy an expensive burr coffee grinder. Their price is about 16 thousand rubles. It would seem like a large amount, but if you pay attention to professional models, they are characterized by much higher values.
We previously wrote about
- 11 Best Electric Coffee Grinders
- 11 Best coffee machines with cappuccino maker for home
Rating of carob coffee makers without pump
These coffee makers do not have a device that increases water pressure. Pressure is created by steam, which appears during the boiling process of water in the boiler. The maximum pressure in such devices is 2-4 bar, because of this the coffee turns out less rich and becomes similar to a strong Americano, but there are specimens with a pressure of 15 bar, for example Delonghi ECO 31.
1
Polaris PCM 4008AL
Rating:5.0
- for ground coffee
- pressure 4 bar
- making cappuccino
- metal case
Average price: RUB 4,775
Compact espresso machine from Polaris. The design is slightly different, since the Thermoblock system is replaced with a boiler, so the characteristics are worse than those of previously reviewed models - power 800 W and pressure 4 bar. It can only make ground coffee, it doesn't brew two cups at once, and it doesn't have many other features, but in its price range, this coffee maker is the best.
Peculiarities:
- boiler room;
- power 800 W;
- pressure 4 bar.
Cezva (Turkish)
Cezve (the name comes from the Turkish Cezve) is a thick-walled, conical-shaped container with a wide bottom and a narrow neck, on a long handle, made of copper, steel or ceramics. A mixture of ground coffee, sugar, various spices, salt (depending on the recipe) is poured with water and heated on a stove or in a tray with fine sand, without allowing it to boil.
For brewing in Turkish coffee, the finest grind coffee is used. This type of coffee maker produces Turkish or Arabic coffee best. Nowadays there is a large selection of such coffee makers in stores. Along with them, they sell models with electric heating, and there are also special ones designed for stoves with an induction operating principle.
Cezve
