Reviewed.com recommends coffee, espresso makers
— -- As holiday shopping deadlines draw closer, consumers are looking for last-minute holiday gifts. For caffeine addicts young and old, a coffee or espresso maker could be the perfect fit.
Buying the wrong one, however, can lead to disappointment . To figure out which products are best for shoppers to buy, Reviewed.com tested a range of coffee and espresso makers from several major brands.
Putting all of products through a series of rigorous trials, the testers looked at how quickly the machines brew, the quality of the drink they produce, and the features they offer.
The coffee makers
After weeks of testing, two models of coffee makers bubbled to the top: a member of the popular Keurig lineup that uses the K-Cup pod coffee system and a Rancilio espresso machine that allows for lots of hands-on control.
For the casual coffee drinker, whether in a small office or home, the top overall coffee brewer tested was the $176 Keurig Platinum B70, which offers the best balance of brewing performance and features.
Highlights include five cup sizes and an easy-to-use menu, as well as the ability to set times for the machine to stop and start — a great energy saver. The large water reservoir holds enough to brew five of the largest cup sizes, and it offers all the convenience of pod coffee systems. For example, you can easily brew a single cup at a time, and there's virtually no cleanup between brews because the coffee grinds stay in the disposable K-Cup.
The only major drawback: The coffee it brews can be weak. If you prefer strong coffee you may want to go for the runner-up, the $159 Bosch Tassimo T65.
The espresso makers
If you're in the market for an espresso maker, it's best to avoid the bargain buys. Cheap espresso makers are cheap for a reason. For instance, the $140 Capresso Café produced a very-poor-quality brew, especially when compared with more-expensive models such as the testers' top pick, the $629 Rancilio Silvia.
This large espresso maker is perfect for espresso aficionados, though it does requires some practice to get the perfect cup. Once you've got it nailed, you'll be rewarded with the best espresso outside your local coffee shop.
If you're buying for someone who just wants a shot of espresso without all the requisite expertise, the top pick is the Gaggia Platinum Vision, which automatically grinds the beans, tamps them down and brews for you. All you do is press the button, and a few seconds later you get a very tasty espresso.
You pay for the privilege, though; The Platinum Vision costs $1,299. Even at that price, you'll still have to steam your own milk. For a fully automated experience, the Gaggia Accademia adds an auto milk steamer for a hefty $2,349. Both of these machines produced excellent espresso shots that can be tweaked to your personal taste.
One note of caution for all holiday shoppers
All brewers — coffee and espresso alike — that use pods rather than old-fashioned, ground coffee cost more to run. The prices range from about 40 cents a cup for coffee and 60 cents for espresso, up to a dollar a cup for the more expensive blends.
By comparison, non-pod coffee makers typically cost less than 15 cents for coffee and about 40 cents for espresso.
