Gourmets prefer freshly brewed coffee in Turk, but this process does not endure haste, and in the morning there is always not enough time. Thanks to the development of the technical process, coffee makers or coffee machines can prepare a fragrant, strong drink no worse in quality, and cappuccino and espresso - like a professional barista.
Many users are worried about a long-standing question - what are the differences between these devices, which one is better to use for use at home, because the main functions are almost the same, only the methods of brewing coffee are different. To find out all the nuances of this technique, we recommend reading this article.
Content
Principle of work, types of coffee makers
A coffee maker is a special mechanical device that has been designed to make coffee. First you need to grind the grains, preferably in a hand mill, to achieve a special aroma, then pour it into a special compartment, calculating its amount per volume of water. These products have different designs, small functional features, as well as affordable cost.
Control
Manual
There are products that, after adding water and ground coffee, are installed on the stove, because they do not have TEN, for example, geyser analogues. For electrical devices, after basic preparation, they must be connected to a current source.
Semi-automatic
More complex products have partially automated functions, for example, espresso can independently measure the required volume of water, and turns off after preparing a serving of the drink, as well as the carob version. They can heat the flask to maintain the desired temperature. Such coffee makers erase the differences between them and automated systems a little.
Cooking principle
Each type of these devices has individual characteristics, the preparation of a drink occurs in different ways:
- drip type is based on passing small doses of hot water through ground coffee, at the same time it is saturated with aroma and oils, then the drink is collected in a flask made of durable glass, and then bottled in individual containers;
- the geyser version first heats the water, then feeds it to the container where the ground powder is located;
- in espresso, this process occurs under a certain pressure, only then the prepared drink is served in the cups;
- the capsule version presses water through sealed capsules containing compressed ground powder.
In the latter version, it is no longer possible to change the taste or strength, the coffee is hermetically pressed and ready for use.
Recipes
Drip and geyser versions of coffee makers can prepare only one type of tonic drink, and its strength depends on the volume of powdered powder. In espresso, the fortress can be changed, as well as the volume of water passed through. For example, if a carob type coffee maker has a cappuccino, then you can experiment with whipped milk to make a cappuccino, latte.
Settings
Simple coffee makers do not have special settings, even the semi-automatic model is quite easy to use.
Price
The cost of coffee makers is relatively lower, the difference is only in the principle of operation and equipment:
- a geyser version for two cups can be bought from 1 thousand rubles;
- a drip will cost from 1.2 thousand, and if it is a well-known brand, the price rises to 2.6-2.8 thousand ₽;
- semi-automatic type increases in value: if the pressure is low, then the price will be 2.7-2.9 thousand.rubles, and pump-action pumps from 15 bar are suitable for making professional espresso, so their price is not lower than 5.0-5.5 thousand ₽;
- capsule varieties have a cost in the range of 3.0-5.0 thousand rubles.
In the latter species, the value of pressure on the price has no special effect.
Taste associations
Espresso of excellent quality is prepared in the carob version, while the pressure should be at least 15 bar, using special roasting of grain or special blends of coffee. A drink brewed in a geyser device will have excellent taste and aroma if you use a variety of grains with medium roasting to get a finer shade of taste.
A drip coffee maker will prepare coffee from high-quality varieties of beans, while the whole bouquet is fully opened, since water slowly penetrates through the ground powder.
Principles of work, features, types of coffee machines
Compared to a coffee maker, the coffee machine has great functionality, it is much more difficult to manage them, but they cost more. Household options are smaller than their professional counterparts, but the main characteristics have remained unchanged.
How to manage
Semi-automatic control will be practically no different from coffee makers, the difference is only in the volume of water and the amount of ground coffee.
Machines with an automatic control option do not require constant user participation in the cooking process - just pour water, pour grain into a container, the smart technique does the rest on its own. They can have dozens of options in the preparation of coffee of different recipes, independently heat the flask with the drink so that it is always hot, grind the grains, while the grinding can be set separately.
Recipes
The main difference between coffee grinders and machines is the variety of cooking options, for example, on the basis of espresso, only varying the strength, duration of the whole process, as well as the proportion of water and ground grains. You can cook such masterpieces: Lungo - it takes about a minute to prepare, volume 50 ml; Americano; Risteretto - the volume is less than a standard espresso, so it has a large strength.
To prepare the desired drink, the user just needs to press a button, and a machine equipped with a cappuccino machine will delight you with excellent coffee with milk: latte, cappuccino, macchiato - this is espresso + milk whipped to a dense foam or Flat White - double espresso with the addition of milk heated with steam and froth.
To properly use such an unusual device as a cappuccino machine, you need skills - this applies to coffee machines of the younger generation, but the machines of the latest models are equipped with an automatic type of device for whipping milk into foam, so there are no problems with use.
Settings
Having advanced functionality, the machines are even in the factory settings for a certain type of water - or rather, the degree of its hardness, in addition, there are such settings:
- grinding quality;
- change in strength and saturation;
- the volume of the final product is 1 cup or 2 servings in milliliters;
- heating the flask or the entire pan;
- original recipes up to 18 pcs.
Advanced models synchronize their work with the “smart home” system or can make coffee at a set time using the delayed start system. The complexity and variety of functionality is the main difference between machines and simple models of coffee makers.
Price policy
The cost of coffee machines is much higher, because they have many functions. For example, the pod units prepare an amazing drink using capsules with compressed coffee and a special branded filter. Machines for domestic use have a price of 20 thousand rubles, for example, PHILIPS with a built-in coffee grinder, a cappuccino machine with two spouts to prepare two cups at once.
The average cost of coffee machines with software is in the range of 40-60 thousand.₽, and professional-grade units that are used in a large modern kitchen in improved planning houses, as well as in large offices, bars, restaurants, have a price tag of up to 200 thousand rubles.
Advantages and disadvantages of a coffee maker in front of a coffee machine
On the shelves of stores there are various models of coffee makers that have significant differences among themselves, each of them has individual characteristics, as well as personal advantages. Therefore, it is not possible to say exactly which species is better.
One of the common types is the drip version, where the water is heated in a separate tank, and then fed under pressure to the powder container, where the welding process is carried out. The finished product by gravity falls into the flask. The differences between a coffee machine and a machine can be as follows:
- To make a drink in a coffee maker, you need to grind the coffee, pour it inside before pouring water, you need to clean it, and almost all machine models do it themselves.
- The cost of the devices is very different: the machine requires more care and is very noisy when working.
- Coffee grinder models have different ways of making a drink, and with machines it is almost the same.
- The first product is quite compact, and the machines are large, they need to free up a separate place.
A coffee maker costs much less than machines, and therefore is in great demand among the average Russian consumer.
Pros and cons of a coffee machine
Its functional capabilities are greater in comparison with models of coffee grinders, all processes are automated, it brews in the full sense, and does not make coffee. The water temperature is brought to a boil, and then the vapors pass through special pipelines, where they are cooled to the optimum temperature for preparing classic coffee.
By passing vapor under a certain pressure through the ground grains, the unit as a result receives a more saturated drink, which is much more aromatic and stronger than that of a coffee maker. And the use of an automatic cappuccino machine allows you to expand the recipes of an invigorating drink. Before using the coffee machine, it must be set up in a certain way, and the operation of the coffee makers is much simpler.
findings
To solve such a difficult question of which model to buy - a new generation automatic machine with advanced features or a simple but convenient coffee maker, analyze all their pros and cons. The main condition is to purchase products only from trusted manufacturers, so that the device delights you with a fragrant drink and lasts for many years without breakdowns.
