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An elegant new version of the original French press designed by Bodum in the 1950's, our Chambord coffee maker is still the simplest and best way to brew the perfect cup of coffee. Its sophisticated design features a shiny copper-plated steel frame and lid.
ime was when making a coffee involved putting the kettle on and unscrewing a jar of Red Mountain, but the boom in outlets selling freshly ground brews has made us a bit more particular. Sales of coffee machines have been growing with a fifth of homes now owning one, according to Mintel. Whether you're about to join them, or your existing machine needs replacing, here's a guide to your options and how much you can expect to pay.
The choices
There are more ways to make coffee than you might realise, but these are the main options:
Filter coffee machines You pour cold water in the top of the machine where it is warmed by a heating element before dripping down through a basket of coffee into a jug below, which is kept warm by a hot plate. You can use any ground coffee.
Pod or capsule coffee machines The coffee is in a pre-packaged capsule which you put into the machine. When you press a button the pod is pierced and hot water is sent through it and into a waiting mug. These are typically easy to clean, but you tend to be limited to the type of capsule or pod sold by your machine manufacturer.
Percolators Ground coffee is inserted above a water chamber. As the water boils it is forced up a tube and down through the coffee back into the compartment below. You can get stove-top versions or electric versions which contain a heating element.
Pump espresso maker These use a thermostatically controlled boiler which heats the water to its optimum temperature for coffee (between 85C and 92C). When this is reached the water passes through the ground coffee at the correct bar pressure. They usually include a tool for steaming milk so can be used for lattes and cappucinos.
Bean-to-cup This machine will grind the coffee beans and then run hot water through them before dispensing your drink. It is essentially a pump espresso maker with a built-in grinder.
Other considerations
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If you are buying a machine without an integrated grinder and you want to use beans, there is one major consideration. As Elizabeth Plummer, senior buyer for Whittard, says: "Making good quality coffee is all about getting the grind right. You should spend more on the grinder than any other piece of equipment. You want to achieve an accurate and consistent grind so that you get the best extraction of liquid."
There are plenty of grinders to choose from, but two that receive good customer reviews are the Dualit 75015 priced at £61.99 with O'Gormans, and theKitchenAid Artisan Burr with Harts of Stur for £149.95.
Crema, the foam on your espresso, is one of the main indicators of a good cup, Plummer says. "Freshly roasted coffee produces the best crema. To achieve this you need to use a high quality blend of coffee and ensure your machine is set to the right water pressure and correct pour time (18-24 seconds)." Here are more details on making the perfect Espresso.
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