What Are Coffee Makers Called? The 6 Most for Amazing Coffee Makers in 2024

For many of us, coffee is an essential part of our daily routine. The aroma of fresh brewed coffee is a morning motivator, the ritual of preparing it helps us ease into our day. But with the dizzying array of coffee makers on the market, how do you find the best one to brew up your perfect cup?

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the types of what are coffee makers called, key features to consider, and tips for brewing up coffeehouse quality joe in the comfort of your home. Whether you’re looking for a basic drip coffee machine or want to go more high-end with an espresso maker, we’ve got you covered.

So let’s get brewing on the various options for putting some pep in your step!

What Are Coffee Makers Called?

Coffee makers go by many names, including:

• Drip coffee machines
• Automatic drip coffee machines
• Drip filter coffee machines
• Coffee brewers
• Coffee pots
• Coffee makers

The most common type found in homes is the automatic drip coffee machine which works by heating water in a reservoir and allowing it to drip onto coffee grounds placed in a filter. The coffee then brews into a heated carafe or pot below.

Drip coffee machines are relatively inexpensive ($20-$150), easy to operate, and can brew multiple cups at once. Popular brands like Mr. Coffee, Cuisinart, and Braun have become household names.

But drip machines are just one variety of coffee maker out there. Depending on your budget and coffee tastes, you may prefer a single-cup coffee maker like the Nespresso or Keurig, a pour-over cone for handcrafted flavor, a French press for robust full immersion, or even a high-end espresso machine.

Let’s explore some of the most common types of coffee makers and their distinguishing features.

Types of Coffee Makers

There are many styles of coffee maker to choose from, ranging from simple manual pour-over cones to fancy fully automatic machines.

Drip Coffee Makers

As mentioned above, drip coffee makers are the most popular type and work by heating water in a reservoir which then drips onto coffee grounds below. The extracted coffee flows into a heated carafe made of glass or thermal material to keep it warm.

Pros of drip coffee makers:

• Easy to operate with familiar and consistent results
• Can make multiple cups (typically 4-12 cups)
• Inexpensive models available ($20-$150)
• Many options and features: programmable timers, strength control, pause and serve, warming plates, large capacity carafes, and so on

Cons to consider:

• Lack finer control over brewing process
• Can produce bitter, overextracted coffee if left on warming plate too long
• Parts may need periodic replacing: filters, carafes

Overall, drip machines are a solid choice for those desiring a traditional pot of coffee with little fuss. If opting for a drip coffee maker, look for one with features like brew strength control, programmable timer, and thermal carafe.

For more on the history of drip coffee makers, check out this article on when were coffee makers invented.

Popular and reputable drip coffee maker brands include:

• Mr. Coffee – Reliable, budget-friendly models from $25-$100. 10-12 cup capacity is common. Some options like the Advanced Brew feature shower head design for optimal extraction.
• Cuisinart – Known for quality mid-range models from $70-$170. Offers programmable timers, temperature control, charcoal filters.
• Braun – German engineered models range from $100-$250. Focus on precise brewing technology. Feature LCD screens, 24-hour programmability.
• Bonavita – High-end $140-$250 drip machines praised for water temperature precision for optimal flavor. Excellent shower head distribution.
• Oxo – Moderately priced $170-$210 machines specializing in water delivery and distribution for great tasting coffee. Minimalist designs.

For most households, a decent drip coffee maker in the $70-$150 range has all the needed features for daily coffee brewing.

Single Serve Coffee Makers

Single serve coffee makers use capsules or pods to quickly brew up a fresh cup of coffee in just a minute or two. They are ideal for homes where only 1-2 cups are consumed at a time.

Benefits of single serve coffee makers:

• Fast and convenient brewing of a fresh, single cup
• Require little cleanup – just dispose of used pod
• Machine cleans itself
• Offer a wide variety of roasts and flavors with different pods
• Compact size takes up minimal counter space
• Portable mug-sized versions great for travel or small apartments

Downsides to consider:

• Ongoing cost of purchasing coffee pods
• Pods produce more waste compared to ground coffee
• Flavor affected by plastic pods compared to fresh grounds
• Limited control over brewing process

Among the most popular single serve coffee maker brands are:

• Keurig – Prolific brand offers wide range of models from budget $50 K-Slim to $200 luxury machines with features like touch screen menus. Uses their K-Cup pods.
• Nespresso – Known for delivering quality espresso and coffee using sleek, compact machines starting around $170. Utilizes their exclusive coffee capsules to make espresso drinks, americanos, coffee.
• Ninja – Appliance brand offers $100-$150 single serve machines touting custom brewing technology like fold-away frother, iced coffee setting, various cup sizes. Uses capsules or ground coffee.

Single cup coffee makers are perfect for households where one or two people drink coffee throughout the day but in separate servings. The convenience factor is unmatched.

Pour-Over Coffee Makers

Pour-over coffee makers are manual devices where you pour hot water over coffee grounds yourself, allowing you to control the brewing process completely.

Advantages of pour-over coffee:

• Total control over the extraction and brewing for optimized flavor
• Inexpensive, with some plastic models costing just $5-$15
• Portable and lightweight – great for travel or office
• Fun, hands-on experience for true coffee purists
• Produces just one or two cups at a time, so coffee stays fresh
• Equipment is simple to clean

Challenges with pour-over:

• Manual brewing method requires attention and effort
• Can have a learning curve to master proper technique
• Not ideal if you need to brew coffee for a group

Popular pour-over coffee makers:

• Chemex – Hourglass shaped glass carafe with bonded filter ($35-$45). Provides clean, refined flavor.
• Hario V60 – Ceramic or plastic cone with ridges and large single hole ($10-$25). Highlights coffee’s natural flavors.
• Kalita – Flat-bottomed Japanese dripper for even extraction ($20-30). Controls flow rate.
• Clever Dripper – Hybrid immersion and dripper brewer ($30). Steeps then releases through filter.

For patient coffee aficionados seeking to coax the optimal flavors from freshly ground beans, pour-over is rewarding. Takes experimentation to perfect the process.

French Press Coffee Makers

French press coffee makers (also called press pots or plunger pots) produce a robust, full-bodied coffee. Hot water and coarse ground coffee beans are combined in a cylindrical beaker and steeped for 4 minutes. Then a filter plunger is pressed down, separating the grounds from the brewed coffee.

Benefits of using a French press:

• Brews a very strong, intensely flavored coffee that fully captures bean oils and aromas
• Straightforward, simple manual coffee making process
• Minimal parts or equipment needed
• Affordable, with most models between $20-$50
• Can make multiple cups of coffee (typically 3-4 cups)

Potential drawbacks:

• Requires coarse grinding beans, so a burr coffee grinder is ideal
• Coffee can contain sediment and grit at the end
• Not ideal if you want cleaner, lighter coffee
• Components are more challenging to clean

Overall, French press is beloved by true coffee enthusiasts seeking a bold, intense coffee experience. It’s also great for brewing flavorful cold brew.

Top brands for French press coffee makers include:

• Bodum – Pioneer of the French press still makes exceptional models, like the Brazil ($20 for 34 oz) or Chambord ($38 for 51 oz)
• Espro – Higher end presses designed to minimize sediment and keep coffee hot, like the P3 ($70 for 20 oz)
• Frieling – German engineered double filtered stainless steel presses ($100 for 44 oz) help reduce sediment
• Veken – Budget-friendly large capacity French press ($30 for 51 oz), stainless steel filter

Be sure to use coarse ground coffee with any French press and steep for the recommended time

Check out Wikipedia for more information