BettyJBakes

Hello and Welcome to BettyJBakes!  I am so happy you are here.  I truly appreciate you visiting my blog.  I am a true beginner at this and I am trying to build my audience and learn as I go.  Thank you for supporting me!

Today I want to compare the different types of coffee makers and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of different types of machines.  I remember growing up, my Mom had a big electric percolator that made 100 cups of coffee.  Everyone always wanted to borrow it for parties etc.  She also had a smaller version of a percolator which made approximately 20 cups.  I have a percolator of hers which was a travel version.  It makes about 4 cups of coffee.  It has a travel case and 2 mugs that came with it.  I haven’t seen anything like this again and that’s why I basically cherish this coffee maker especially since my Mom is no longer here with me. 

So, what should you look for when shopping for a coffee maker?  Well, you should think about what your favorite type of coffee is and what you would make the most.  Are you an espresso lover? Are you an iced coffee fanatic like me?  Do you enjoy both hot and iced coffee depending on your mood or weather?  Do you like to throw espresso into the mix along with your hot or iced coffee?  There are many great combo machines out there if you enjoy all the coffee types and want the flexibility of making all types of coffee at home.  If you are NOT an espresso fan, but do enjoy hot and iced coffee, there are machines that make both.  I am going to share with you some options available.  First, let’s look at the different types of coffee makers.

  Here are some examples:

• Drip Coffee maker – your average coffee maker which uses coffee grounds and a filter 
• Grind and Brew coffee maker – a coffee maker which has a BUILT-IN grinder to grinder your own beans
• Single serve CAPSULE machine – Keurig or Nespresso – uses capsules or pods
• Espresso Machine – uses high pressure and very finely ground, compacted coffee
• French Press – coarse grind steep method with mesh plunger
• Pour Over Coffee Maker – hot water is slowly poured over coffee grounds
• Induction Coffee Maker also called a Moka pot – uses a stainless steel base to work with magnetic hobs, offers fast brewing in under 35 seconds
• Coffee/Espresso Combo Machine – a machine which has a drip coffee maker and espresso maker 
• Cold Brew Maker – typically a pitcher with a fine mesh filter & an airtight seal, which you put in your refrigerator.  Cold brew takes 12 – 24 hours to make. It is a smooth, low acid concentrated coffee
• Iced Coffee Maker – uses a “rapid chill” method which brews a lower temperature coffee directly over ice quickly.  This is a much quicker option to cold brew.

Another great option you can find on a coffee maker or espresso machine is a built in milk frother.  This is a great addition to a machine if you enjoy creamy, cafe style foam on top of your coffee.  Cold foam has become a  very popular trend with coffee shops now offering flavored cold foam.  You can make your own flavored cold foam at home very easily with your frother by simply adding flavored syrup to the milk.  My personal favorite is chocolate cold foam.  Dunkin recently offered a banana cold foam which was delicious!  If you don’t want a built in frother on your machine, you can buy hand held frothers like this one here:

Here are some examples of good hand held frothers:

1. Zulay Kitchen Milk Frother with Lifetime Guarantee, Ultra Fast & Comes in a variety of colors!
2. Circle Joy RECHARGEABLE handheld milk frother
3. InstaWhisk Milk Frother with VARIABLE SPEED

 Another option is a frothing pitcher like this one here:

Here are some examples of Electric Milk Frothing Pitchers:

1. HAUSHOF Milk Frother & Steamer, Hot Chocolate maker, Large Capacity
2. 4 in 1 Electric Milk Frother & Steamer 
3. SimpleTaste Milk Frother 4 in 1 frother and steamer – makes cold and warm foam, & warms milk for lattes & cappucino

Let’s talk about regular drip coffee makers.  This is your basic, run of the mill, make a pot of coffee, coffee maker.  There are many good ones on the market.  There are also many different brands you can choose from.  People have brands that they like and brands that they stand by.  Maybe you love the Kitchen Aid brand, or maybe the Cuisinart brand, Hamilton Beach, or Black & Decker brands.  I personally love the NINJA brand when it comes to coffee.  I have a Ninja coffee maker which I just love and have had NO issues with it.  These machines use ground coffee.  Some of these machines offer a “programmable” option which means you can set what time you want the coffee to brew.  You can set the time before you go to bed, and have the coffee brewing the next morning when you wake up.  This is a great feature if you don’t have time in the morning to be making coffee.  You can put the filter, coffee grounds, & water in the machine in the evening, set the timer for a specific time the next morning, and have your coffee ready to go.

Here are some good examples of dependable Drip Coffee Makers:

1. Cuisinart 14 Cup Coffee Maker – You can control brew strength on this machine, control the carafe temperature, fill the water with ease with the easy to view water window
2. Black & Decker 12 Cup Digital, PROGRAMMABLE Coffee Maker – washable brew basket, sneak a cup option, auto brew, easy view water window, & keep hot plate
3. Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Coffee Maker – auto pause, on/off indicator light, & cord storage
4. Kenmore Aroma Control 12 Cup PROGRAMMABLE, Stainless Steel, pause and pour functions

Grind and brew coffee makers are machines that have a built-in coffee bean grinder.  These machines offer the freshest coffee since you are using freshly ground beans.  Here are some great examples of a Grind and Brew Coffee Maker:

1. Gevi Grind & Brew – Smart touch control, 4 hour adjustable keep warm, 4 – 10 cup brewing, 
2. Black & Decker Mill & Brew – 12 cup capacity, control brew strength,  Auto brew feature
3. Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker – Stainless Steel, Thermal Carafe, adjustable grinder

Single serve capsule machines like Keurig or Nespresso, offer fast  and consistent coffee in under one minute.  They use pre-packaged pods which come in many varieties.  A few good examples of these are:

1. Keurig K-Express Single Serve K-cup Pod Coffee Maker – 3 brew sizes, strong brew button, 420z. removable reservoir, travel mug friendly, removable reservoir, variety of colors
2. Nespresso Vertuo Up – 6 cup sizes,  bold iced coffee, fast start, coffee customization from an app

3. Warriors 1 Mini Coffee Maker for Keurig K Cup, Espresso Machine for Nespresso Original -Dolce Gusto Pods, Ground Coffee, 20 Bar Coffee Machine fits kitchens, apartments, dorms, RVs, 28 oz Reservoir

ESPRESSO MACHINES – Espresso machines are specialized devices that force hot water through tightly packed coffee grounds at high pressure—typically 9 bars to create a concentrated, café-quality shot topped with crema or foam.  Some good examples of espresso machines are:

1. Espresso Machine with built in milk frother – removable tank, stainless steel
2. Casabrews Espresso machine with built in frother – stainless steel with removable water tank, comes in a variety of colors

3. Ninja Luxe Café Premier 3-in-1 Espresso Machine, Drip Coffee, & Rapid Cold Brew – Built-in Coffee Grinder, Hands-Free Milk Frother, Assisted Tamper for Cappuccinos & Lattes ,Stainless Steel 

4. Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine –  features a built in grinder and milk frother

French Press Coffee – manual coffee brewing device with a plunger and stainless steel mesh filter.  Here are some good French Press examples:

1. Belwares French Press – Extra large capacity, double wall insulated,  4 level filtration for smooth, ground free coffee
2. Veken French Press – thickened glass stainless steel brewer, cold brew compatible, great for traveling
3. Utopia Kitchen French Press – also makes tea, thickened glass,  great for travel

Pour Over Coffee Makers – manual brewing by pouring hot water over grounds in a filter.  This process takes approximately 4 minutes.  Here are some examples of pour over makers:

1. Kismile Pour Over Coffee Brew – adjustable flow, deep cold brew, keep warm for 40 minutes, easy clean
2. Bodum 34oz Pour Over maker. – high heat glass, stainless steel filter, cork top
3. asobu Pour over – double wall vacuum, stainless steel filter, stays hot up to 12 hours

Induction Coffee Makers – (MOKA Pot) – have a magnetic stainless steel base, the magnetic fields heat the boiler faster.  Some good examples of these are:

1. Coletti Induction Coffee Maker – Percolator, brews 3 ways, 9 cup capacity, no aluminum or plastic, easy clean, great for travel
2. Grosche Moka Pot – easy to use, made in Italy, makes 3 different size cups, make espresso like a barista, comes in a variety of colors

Coffee/Espresso Combo Machines – these machines have the ability to make both 

1. Ninja Espresso & Coffee Maker – 3 espresso brew styles, k-cup & nespresso capsule compatible, built-in frother, adjustable cup tray, used capsule storage
2. DeLonghi UPGRADED All in one Coffee & Espresso – advanced adjustable milk frother, dual heating system, Italian 15 bar pressure pump, programmable timer, digital touchscreen
3. Cuisinart Coffee Center Barista Bar – single serve pod compatible, fully automatic and programmable, keep warm up to 4 hours, and brew pause option

Cold Brew Maker – steeps coarse coffee grounds in cold water for 12-24 hours, makes smooth and low acid coffee concentrate.  Cold brew is stronger than regular coffee.  It is typically a pitcher that you put in your refrigerator so the coffee can seep 12-24 hours.    Some good examples of Cold Brew coffee makers are:

1. James Bentley Cold Brew coffee SET – makes hot or cold coffee, refrigerator friendly, stainless steel infuser, includes 2 double walled cups
2. Cold Brew Coffee Maker – 64 oz. mason jar pitcher with stainless steel filter, heavy duty, leak proof, airtight, also makes tea, lemonade, & iced coffee
3. 1 Gallon Cold Brew Maker – fine mesh filter, stainless steel spigot, extra thick glass, also can be used as a sun tea pitcher

Iced Coffee Makers – designed to create bold coffee right over ice.  Machines have rapid cooling technology so you don’t have watered down coffee.  A lot of hot coffee makers offer an “over ice” feature which makes iced coffee.  You can also use the above cold brew makers to make a lighter version.  If you are an iced coffee lover, I suggest buying a machine that has the “over ice” feature or buying a cold brew maker and adjusting the amount of coffee you use.

***For keeping your machine clean and making the best tasting coffee, i recommend trying this TikTok viral coffee maker cleaner. ***

A high quality coffee maker which has all the features you want and love is a great addition to any kitchen or coffee bar.  It should be easy for you to operate, easy to clean,  and convenient.  It shouldn’t be a hassle or make you aggravated.  The smell coming from the coffee beans grinding just makes me feel so relaxed.  It is definitely a calming aroma.  Check out the different options available on the different machines I shared and see what best fits what you want in a coffee maker.  Check out this page on Amazon which has the best coffee makers of 2026 so far.  

I hope you find the coffee maker of your dreams, and you enjoy the wonderful aroma of freshly ground beans, enjoy a rich tasting coffee with the additions you love, whether it’s cream, cold foam, whipped cream or whatever your heart desires.  Don’t forget the flavoring if you are a flavored coffee lover or a topping like mocha or caramel.  Happy brewing and thank you again for visiting!