are coffee drinkers. This translates to more than 100 million people who drink
coffee daily. Americans are a diverse population and far from unanimously
agreeing on what makes a good cup of coffee. Fortunately, there are several
different styles of coffee makers available today. Coffee lovers can choose the
brewing machine that fits their preferences. Common coffee maker styles include
Automatic Drip, Automatic Espresso, French Press, Percolator, Stovetop Espresso,
and Vacuum style. Each has its own pros and cons and gives the user varying
control over the end result. Automatic Drip Coffee MakerAutomatic drip coffee
makers are probably the most popular choice for Americans. They are easy to use
and are inexpensive to purchase. Most operate on the same principle. Inside the
coffee pot is a filter basket where a paper filter holds the coffee grounds.
Cold water is poured into the reservoir where it is heated before being poured
over the grounds. The resulting coffee flows into a carafe. The brewed coffee is
kept warm by the hot surface beneath the carafe. Those who don't like to use
automatic drip coffee makers complain that they do not make a good cup of
coffee. Keeping the coffee maker and carafe clean, using quality coffee and
disposable paper filters will help ensure a better result.Automatic Espresso
Coffee MakerAutomatic espresso coffee makers come in semi-automatic, fully
automatic and super automatic versions. Semi-automatic models tamp the coffee
grounds, brew the coffee, fill the cup and eject grounds. Fully automatic models
also grind the coffee. Super models offer a wide variety of features, including
built in water filters.French Press Coffee MakerFrench Press coffee makers are
also known as press pots or plunger pots. The pot is a glass or porcelain
cylinder which contains a stainless, mesh plunger that works as a filter. The
user measures coffee grounds into the pot and adds nearly boiling water. The
plunger is put in place but not pushed until the coffee has steeped a few
minutes. After steeping, the plunger is pushed and the coffee is ready. There is
no hot surface to maintain coffee temperature so the coffee must be served
immediately or placed into a thermal carafe of some sort. Percolator Coffee
MakerPercolator coffee makers are available in stove top styles and in electric
styles. Most modern ones are both electric and can be programmed. Some models
make only one cup of coffee, others can make 12 cups at a time. The large coffee
urns used by many organizations work on the percolation principle but brew more
than 100 cups of coffee at a time.Percolator coffee makers are not used as often
as they used to be. These machines continuously run the water over the grounds
and the water is boiled. Many coffee lovers claim that both actions violate the
laws of making good coffee. Coffee made via percolator tends to be stronger and
often bitter tasting than coffee made with other brewing methods.Stovetop
Espresso Coffee MakerStovetop espresso coffee makers are simple to use and can
be made anywhere there is heat, whether on a stove or over a campfire. Water is
put inside the bottom boiler. The funnel filter is then placed in the boiler and
filled with coffee. The top is screwed on lightly and the unit is placed over
the heat source.Once the top of the boiler is filled with brewed coffee, the
coffee maker is removed from the heat source and the coffee is served. Vacuum
Coffee MakerVacuum coffee makers look more like chemistry lab equipment than
coffee machines. This type consists of two overlapped containers that are
connected by a syphon tube. There is a filter in the bottom of the upper
container. The user places water in the lower container and coffee grounds in
the upper container. The machine is then put on top of the stove where the
heated water vaporizes and passes through the syphon tube into the upper
container.A brewing cycle lasts approximately three minutes. When the unit is
removed from heat, the vapor turns back to water and is forced through the
filter and back into the lower container. Farberware created the first automatic
vacuum coffee maker model while Sunbeam made the first truly automatic modern
one.There are few companies making vacuum coffee makers these days. Antique
stores and auction sites such as eBay carry the traditional Silex and Sunbeam
machines.Coffee lovers can choose from a wide variety of coffee makers. From
inexpensive stove top coffee pots to high end super automated coffee makers,
there's a coffee maker for every preference as well as every budget.