A coffee maker is pretty much an essential piece of kitchen equipment, even if you prefer to stop at your local coffee shop in the mornings. But if you don't have one, there are a few things to consider before picking one up.
How Much do You Brew?
If you are only making coffee for yourself or one other person, then why get a big machine that can brew up enough for a crowd. Think about how much coffee you really need to make on a regular basis, and chose your machine accordingly.
What Features do You Need?
Now, these are all the bells and whistles that you may find on some models of coffee maker. If you've never owned a coffee maker before, you might not even know what features you could be looking for.
What About Making Espresso too?
One particular feature that you might find appealing, is a machine that makes espresso and regular coffee, all in one. These combo machines saves space in the kitchen and are easier on the pocketbook than buying 2 separate machines. Most of these machines will brew a larger quantity of coffee (8 or more cups).
Check Out Some Models
Well, you've thought about your options and now you can take a look at some details on specific models. The basics are usually the same, but you can find out the feature for different makes of brewers.
Additional Equipment
If you're embarking into the world of coffee brewing, you might want to consider getting some items while you're at it. The more processing you do yourself, the fresher your final cup is going to be. You can roast or grind your own beans without that much additional work.
Other Brewing Methods
I've mostly been talking about traditional drip brewing coffee makers, but there certainly are other ways to make a cup of coffee. Check out some other methods, and see if they pique your interest.
