Photo: 威爾家 / Flickr

The world loves coffee. This is indisputable, and widely recognized. And in this love for coffee, homes everywhere have been transitioning away from the sub-standard instant coffee, in lieu of preparing coffee in a coffee maker. However, with the wide variety of coffee makers on offer these days, sometimes it’s difficult to know what to look for. Below are 3 key coffee maker features you should keep your eyes peeled for.

Water filter

While some may think this feature is frivolous, paying the extra money for a high end coffee machine with a built in water filter will lead to superior tasting java. Not only will you do away with chlorine in the water you use, your Jo will taste even better, and the water being used has additional health beneficial.

Permanent filters

One of the critical coffee maker features you should keep your eyes peeled for is the type of filter it uses. In terms of shape, we’re bias to cone-shaped filters Permanent filters, especially, will cost you less money in the long run than paper-based filters. Gold filters have been known to give your coffee a better flavour – especially noticeable if you have a sensitive tongue. Different filter-types give off different tastes, however, and its worth experimenting to see which produces your preferred results.

Shape and form factor

As an appliance category, coffee makers have a very distinct look, often meaning they stick out like a sore thumb next to the rest of the appliances in your kitchen. As such, the shape, housing, and look of your coffee machine are critical. While some may think it’s absurd to categorise this as one of the coffee maker features, you’ll quickly change your tune if it doesn’t enhance how your kitchen looks, or struggles to snuggle into a little nook in your kitchen.

Coffee maker features make or break the purchase, and you should never compromise. Whether it is the three features mentioned here, or pause and pour and digital displays, know what you want, and do not cut corners in the interest of saving a few bucks here or there. In the long run, it will just come back to haunt you.

Tags: coffee, coffee machine, coffee maker