Small Coffee Maker

How to Choose the Best Small Coffee Maker

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Each and every day millions of people wake up, walk to the kitchen and press the brew button on their coffee maker. Before doing anything else; before brushing their teeth and before getting dressed, coffee lovers must have that first sip of Java to get them going. While some of the fortunate few love their electric coffee makers and the fine cup of coffee that they brew, others are less than satisfied. This could be for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they don’t like the temperature of their coffee or maybe they don’t completely enjoy the finished cup. It could be that they’re not satisfied with the size of their machine and the counter space it takes up. Fortunately, for those concerned about the size of their machine there are many small coffee maker options that perform well and look great. Whether for the home, office or small kitchen remodel, there is a place for the small coffee maker that simply cannot be filled by the big, bulky coffee machines that most are accustomed to.

Product manufacturers are great at filling market niches and understanding the needs of their consumers, and the same holds true for producers of coffee machines. A simple search on Amazon reveals nearly 200 results for small coffee makers, from 1-cup electronic brewers to 8-cup French presses and beyond. With so many different options it can be tough to settle on a decision unless you know what to look for. Listed below are some of the most important features to consider when purchasing a small coffee maker:

1.    At what temperature does the machine brew at? This question may seem trivial, but the simple fact remains that coffee is best brewed at a temperature of around 200F, or between 195-205F. Temperatures below this will not extract the appropriate amount of flavor from the grounds and will result in a weak cup while temperatures above this will tend to produce a bitter cup due to over-extraction. I cannot stress enough how important this factor is, which is why I’ve placed it at #1.

2.    Does the coffee maker come with a carafe option to hold the finished brew at the proper serving temperature? This is important, since many glass carafes will continue to be heated by the hot plate, causing the coffee to quickly become stale and burnt. If the machine you’re interested in doesn’t feature a stainless removable carafe, one can be purchased separately. Alternatively, one can simply turn off the coffee machine once the brewing process is finished to avoid burning the coffee.

To be honest, the first 2 points listed are the most crucial. Other considerations are simply personal matters of choice such as the color of the machine and its general appearance. Without paying close attention to the brewing temperature and serving method, no machine will produce a consistently great cup of coffee. And a great cup is what we’re all after when choosing the best small coffee maker.

The Tassimo Small Coffee Maker

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When it comes to preparing coffee, most people want nothing more than to simplify the process as much as possible. As coffee aficionados, we enjoy taking the time to perfect our morning cup of Joe, though we understand that not everyone shares our love of the process. Most people simply want to press a couple of buttons and have their coffee delivered to them quick and without a lot of fuss. Fortunately, there is a solution that can have you drinking fresh brewed coffee in under a minute, without any preparation or clean up. If you think this sounds too good to be true, then you likely haven’t checked out the Tassimo small coffee maker. Developed in 2004 by the Kraft Food Company, these one cup coffee makers are now produced by Bosch, and are available in many different countries throughout the world.

The Tassimo coffee makers are well regarded for their ability to brew a variety of different coffee drinks with the press of a button through the use of coffee “discs.” These Tassimo discs, also known and T-Discs, contain a pre-measured portion of ground coffee. The coffee pod is placed inside of the small coffee machine and infused with hot water to make a freshly brewed beverage in under a minute. The cool part about these discs is that they contain a unique bar code, which the machine reads to determine such factors as the amount of water to use, the brewing temperature and the brewing duration. While it might seem that all coffee beverages are created equally, the fact is that each beverage is unique, which is why the machines are programmed to brew this way.

Tassimo small coffee makers are available from a number of different retailers, both local and online. Most machines cost around $150.00, which is quite a bit higher than the standard automatic drip coffee machine. With that said, there is really nothing “standard” about a Tassimo brewer. No other brewer can deliver cup after cup of freshly brewed coffee like the Tassimo brewers can. For those that appreciate a bit of variety in their lives, there are almost 50 different types of coffee T-Discs available, as well as many different types of tea and hot chocolate. Each T-Disc costs about $0.75, though it is possible to get Tassimo T-Discs cheap. In order to find cheap Tassimo T-Discs, it’s important to look online at sites like Amazon, and it’s also a good idea to buy in bulk when possible.

For the ultimate in convenience, there really is no better option than a Tassimo small coffee pot. These small coffee pots offer a hassle free method of brewing quality coffee, one cup at a time. So, the next time you find yourself frustrated at the your current automatic brewer, remember that a new Tassimo brewer is just a click away.

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