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The Difference Between Coffee Machines

There are basically two types of coffee machines. While both types function by pouring hot water over grounds, percolating machines work differently from drip machines. Percolators can be electric or stove top. Stove top percolators are more difficult to find and are most often available at camping supply stores. Electric percolators aren’t as easy to find as drip coffee makers.

Drip coffee makers function similarly to espresso machines. Water is placed in a reservoir and the ground coffee is placed in a dry basket, usually with a paper or fine mesh filter. The water is heated and then slowly pumped over the coffee. The hot water drips through the coffee grounds and into a pot below. Drip coffee usually has very little sediment, since the filters prevent the grounds from escaping into the pot.

In a percolator, the water is poured directly into the pot. The ground coffee is placed in a metal basket with very fine holes and a cover. A metal tube runs from the bottom of the pot through the center of the metal basket. As the water heats it is forced up through the tube and over the basket and drips back into the pot. As this process is repeated, the coffee becomes stronger and stronger. Unlike the drip coffee machine, the percolator runs the same water through the grounds multiple times. This can make the coffee very strong if it is left to perk too long.

Perked coffee is usually stronger than drip coffee and is far more likely to have sediment or grounds in it. The metal basket is less effective at preventing the grounds from escaping than the paper or fabric filters used in drip makers.

Drip coffee machines for home use usually make no more than 10 or 12 cups of coffee at a time. Larger coffee urns are usually percolators. Commercial coffee makers that have a dedicated water source are drip machines, but home drip machines would require too large a reservoir for practicality. It takes a lot of water to make 30 or more cups of coffee.

Vending coffee machines usually don’t make good coffee because they usually aren’t drip machines or percolators, They use an instant coffee powder to make the coffee they dispense. They do the same to make the tea or hot chocolate which are often offered in the same machine. Of course, those who prefer instant coffee may like coffee from vending machines.

04.02.2010. 07:14