Nothing beats waking up to the smell of freshly-brewed coffee in the morning. Even without sipping it yet, the smell of coffee alone perks you up and makes you look forward to the day. While there is no shortage of coffee shops today, there’s something so therapeutic about making your own coffee at home. It is not just soothing to the soul, it is convenient as well. Imagine not having to fall in line just to get a delicious cup of Joe in the morning. You can make as many batches as you want at home.
You need to have a reliable coffee maker for this purpose. When it comes to coffee makers, Nespresso and Keurig are two of the best. Read on to find out which of the coffee makers from these brands are the best ones to invest your money on.
Quick Comparison: Top Coffee Makers 2019
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**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
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Why You Should Get A Nespresso Coffee Maker
Making your own batch of coffee can be simple and straightforward if you have the right tools. It beats having to drive or walk to a coffee shop to make professionally-concocted coffee for your needs. If you are only personally making coffee for yourself or for your family, a good Nespresso coffee maker should be suitable for your needs.
What is great about Nespresso machines is they are compact and design with space in mind. They work even on smaller counter spaces so they are not very intrusive in your kitchen. In fact, they can become a design point in the kitchen with their attractive aesthetics.
These products are reliable for making all sorts of coffee – from your regular coffee to artisanal ones like cappuccinos, espressos and lattes, these products will make you feel like you are a barista.
Benefits of Getting A Keurig Coffee Maker
The Keurig brand has established itself over the years as a coffee maker brand that can be relied on for good-tasting coffee. Whether you are making a big batch of coffee for your home or for your office or just whipping up on for yourself, this should be a good coffee maker to rely on.
You can find an assortment of sizes and capacities for this coffee maker that will provide the coffee needs you are looking for. You can even make hot or cold beverages with this trusty kitchen appliance. Many coffee makers from Keurig also boasts of compact features that will make them easier to fit in smaller kitchens and limited countertop spaces.
How to Choose A Coffee Maker
With the multitude of options out there, it’s nice to be able to identify the right coffee maker for your needs with a few criteria in mind. We recommend mulling over the following factors so you can make a better decision as to which coffee maker is best for your needs:
Programmable Features
Coffee makers are equipped with programmable features but not all of them will offer the same features. One of the features you would want to look for is the ability to set the coffee maker to start brewing your coffee at a specified time. This way, if you wake up at a certain hour in the morning, you can set it up to start brewing even before you wake up so that by the time you wake up, you already have hot coffee waiting for you.
Also look for those features that will enable you to set the quantity of the coffee and the other ingredients you need in order to get precise measurements and get consistent results. Some coffee makers even have self-cleaning features programmed into it, so all the user has to do is run that cycle to get rid of limescale deposits and coffee residues inside.
Energy Consumption
Like many appliances that produce heat, your coffee maker can be costly to run. This is why it is important to check its energy consumption and determine whether it has efficiency to boast of. If you plan on using its keep warm function, which is a common feature in coffee makers that keep larger cups of coffee makers warm for a longer period of time, you would want to make sure it isn’t an energy hog.
Pause and Serve
If you are making a bigger batch of coffee and can’t wait for the machine to finish brewing so you can grab yourself a cup, you would want a pause and serve feature. This will allow you to pause the machine mid-brew, so you can pour yourself a cup of coffee and then resume the brewing process.
Ease of Cleansing and Maintaining
Check to see if the machine is easy to disassemble and clean. If it can be washed in the dishwasher, all the better. Some machines, as mentioned earlier, might have a self-cleaning function, which is ideal in getting rid of limescale deposits inside.
Usability
Make sure it comes complete with dials or panels that are easy to use and that the carafe isn’t cumbersome to use. It should be lightweight so you can easily carry it or install it in place.
Top 5 Best 4 Cup Coffee Makers
If you are looking for a premium coffee maker, this is the best choice for you. What makes this a high-end product is its Centrifusion technology that allows you to brew your cup o Joe with minimum fuss. If you have specifications when it comes to measurements or you have a specific recipe you are following, this will be a good choice because it has capsule recognition system as well as a code reading technology that ensures it follows your specifications.
It is a cinch to use, thanks to its fast capsule ejection and insertion process. It is safe to use as well because if it doesn’t detect activity in 9 minutes, it will automatically shut off.
Pros
- Comes with a milk frother
- Can brew coffee and espresso with a single push of a button
- Has capsule recognition technology
- You can program it to follow the specifications you want
- The capsule is eco-friendly
- Easy insertion and injection of the capsules
Cons
- Can be a bit difficult to clean parts
- Can be difficult to find part replacements
For people who are always on the go, get this coffee maker. It boasts of one of the fastest pre-heating times for coffee makers, which is just a mere 25 seconds. It has a 24-ounce water tank that is big enough for the needs of one or two coffee lovers at home. Don’t worry because you can also use your own tall glass if the recipe calls for it. It comes with a folding cup tray that will let you do that.
It needs capsules specifically for Nespresso. Included in this is a capsule container where you can stash up to 11 used capsules.
Pros
- Comes with easy insertion capsules
- Comes with a great manual
- Is very simple and easy to use
- It has a good energy efficiency because of its energy rating of A Class.
- Has an automatic shut off feature.
- You can use taller glasses.
Cons
- The light indicators can easily go faulty
This compact coffee maker is more ideal for those with a smaller kitchen or counter space. Like many from the Nespresso line, this makes coffee in record time, thanks to its thermoblock heating element. You can program the coffee volume as well as the quantity to get the right flavor you are looking for.
The water level detection indicator has backlighting for easier checking. It also has an auto shut off feature that can help in keeping it safe to use and preventing excess energy consumption.
Pros:
- Comes with a thermoblock heating element
- Has programmable buttons
- Has backlight indicators for water level
- Makes coffee fast
- Has a compact footprint, great for smaller kitchens
Cons
- Light indicators do not go on sometimes
- Is a bit difficult to clean
This single-serve coffee maker is a good addition to any home. It comes with a handle that houses the water filter. You can choose from different pod sizes such as 6,8 and 10 oz. If you want something with a stronger flavor, go for the smaller size of pod. You can make as much as 6 cups of coffee at a time, thereby making this a great option for those with bigger coffee needs.
Another thing that is great about this coffee maker is its descaling feature that allows it to get rid of calcium deposits. It also has an automatic shut-off feature for safety and efficiency.
Pros
- Comes with light indicators
- Is very simple and easy to use
- Has a removable filter basket
- Great for brewing large quantities of coffee
- Easy setup and assembly
- Has an auto shut off feature
- Has a descaling feature
Cons
- Can be a bit noisy
If you are looking for a personal coffee maker, get this one. It is one of the cheapest out there, but it doesn’t compromise on features and quality. What is great about this is that you can use different K-Cup pod varieties, even from other brands such as Starbucks and Green Mountain Coffee. You will never get bored with the many flavor options you have. It also allows you to make cocoa or tea. With just a push of a button, you will be able to get the drink you prefer.
This is also a nice coffee maker to have if you are looking for portability. It occupies only a small footprint, ideal for those with small counter spaces.
Pros
- Is very affordable
- Is great for creating personalized cups of coffee
- Is completely safe to use
- Compatible with different brands of coffee pods
- Is easy to use
- Has a nice design
- Isn’t complicated to use
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a reservoir
- Takes 2 minutes to brew
The Winner
If you are looking for a coffee maker that produces quality coffee similar to what you can find at coffee shops, get the Nespresso A+GCC1 VertuoLine Evoluo Deluxe Coffee & Espresso Maker. It is more expensive, but it can make your life a lot easier since you only need the capsules to make the coffee. There are 10 different coffee and 4 different espresso flavors to choose from, great for coffee aficionados out there.
The Nespresso Inissia Espresso Maker is a great choice or people looking for a speedy machine that can accommodate your coffee-on-the-go needs. It has more versatility when it comes to the type of glass or cup you can use. Nothing feels good than waking up to that freshly brewed coffee's smell. But you can only achieve that by purchasing the best coffee maker: the Nespresso Inissia Espresso Maker.
The compact features of the Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker make this more ideal for people with a limited counter space. Get this if space is an issue and you want something that is easy to store on your countertop or cabinets.
Looking for something that can make a bigger batch of brew? Try the Keurig K55 Home Brewing System. It makes a batch sufficient enough for a small family of coffee drinkers.
For a more affordable option, get the Keurig K15 Single Serve Compact K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker. It is a compact choice, great for solo coffee lovers or ideal for office use if you are only using it yourself. It can be ideal for those who also want to use pods but who want to have more brand options. It is compatible with many different brands of pods out there.
These are some of the things you need to keep in mind. Once you have decided which one to get, simply click the links of the products you prefer. Also make sure you check out our homepage for more product recommendations, reviews and buying guide so you can equip your kitchen with only the best products.
