Starbucks and other specialty shops are creating a market for coffeemakers that promise to bring home the coffeehouse experience.

Customized brewing, integrated grinders, and thermal carafes are a few of the features manufacturers are using to justify premium prices. But our tests show that virtually any model can make you a good cup as long as you use decent coffee.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

You'll find manual-drip systems, coffee presses, percolators, and "pod" coffeemakers that brew individual cups with packets of coffee. Automatic-drip coffeemakers still outsell other small kitchen appliances at roughly 14 million per year.

Mr. Coffee and Black & Decker are the two biggest brands. Others include Braun, Cuisinart, Delonghi, Krups, Melitta, and Proctor-Silex. Models range from single-cup to machines that can brew 12 cups at a time. The low end includes bare-bones models with a single switch to start the brewing process and a plain metal hotplate. Pricier models can have programmable start and stop times, a water filter, frothing capability, an automatic shutoff, and a thermal carafe. Black and white remain the standard colors, but some brands have added other hues. Price: $10 to more than $200.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

A removable filter basket is easiest for loading and removing the used filter; baskets inside a pullout drawer can be messy. Paper filters, usually "cupcake" or cone-shaped, absorb oil and keep sediment from creeping through. Permanent mesh filters must be cleaned after each use, but can save you money over time. Neither type detracted from flavor in our tests.

The simplest water reservoir is one with a big flip-top lid and lines that mark the number of cups in clearly visible numbers. Some reservoirs are removable so you can fill them up at the sink. Transparent fill tubes with cup markings let you check the water level while pouring. A thermal carafe helps retain flavor and aroma longer than a glass pot on a hotplate.

Other niceties: a small-batch setting to adjust water flow through the coffee grounds to prevent a bitter or weak brew when making one to four cups; temperature and brew-strength controls; and a pause and serve feature that lets you pour a cup before the whole pot is done. A programmable timer lets you add ground coffee and water the night before so you can wake up to a freshly brewed pot in the morning. An auto-shutoff feature turns off the heating element in case you forget. If you’re pressed for space, consider a coffeemaker with controls on the side that let you turn the machine sideways so it sticks out less on counters.

Full-sized coffeemakers can be full of features, but some don’t add much. There’s little need for a self-clean cycle, since a mix of water and white vinegar usually does the trick. A water filter is supposed to eliminate off-tastes and odors, but you must replace it after a certain number of pots to prevent bacteria buildup. If you’re concerned about water quality, consider a whole-house or faucet filter instead. A prewarm setting is supposed to keep coffee warmer longer but made little difference in our tests. Built-in bean grinders can be annoying to use and clean; a separate burr-type grinder should work better. Temperature adjustment lets you set the temperature of some hot plates from about 160 to 190 degrees, but all plates kept coffee a steamy 175 degrees in our tests.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Consider how much you drink. If one cup is enough to jump-start your day, you’ll like the convenience and compactness of a single-serve drip model. You’ll probably use less coffee than with a full-sized machine. For coffee to go, consider a model that comes with an insulated mug.

Pod coffeemakers are a newer option for those who want one cup at a time. They use pressurized water and individual packets of coffee with integral filters, or pods. On the downside, most make a relatively weak cup of coffee, though some high-rated models let you beef up your brew by using two pods at once. With pods, there’s little or no choice in the coffee brands you can use, and coffee varieties within brands can be limited. You can expect to pay about 25 to 50 cents per pod. Use two per cup, and you’ll pay about four times as much per cup as drip coffee with supermarket brands.

If you’re a coffee lover, or if you entertain a lot, you’ll need a bigger coffeemaker. Most large machines produce 10 to 12 cups. But remember that a manufacturer’s cup is usually 4 or 5 ounces, not the huge mug that may come to mind.

Consider your refills. If you wait an hour or so between cups, buy a full-sized coffeemaker with a thermal carafe, which keeps coffee hot and fresh-tasting for hours. The warming plates that accompany glass carafes keep coffee hot, but flavor suffers with constant heating.

Consider convenience. Certain basic design details apply to all coffeemakers. Models that rated highest for convenience had clearly marked water reservoirs, easy-to-use swing-out filter baskets, and simple, intuitive controls.

Copyright © 2003-2007 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

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