Ask 10 different coffee drinkers what brand of coffee maker they use at home, and you're likely to get 10 different answers. The fact is that coffee drinkers, besides having a fierce loyalty to their brand and roast of coffee bean, often have an affinity for a certain coffee maker as well. But is one brand really better than the other?
To find out, we put five popular coffee maker brands to a head-to-head comparison. If you haven't found your own favorite yet, this information might aid your decision when it comes time to replace or purchase your own home coffee maker.
Brand #1: Bunn
Founded in 1957, Bunn is the company that first introduced the paper coffee filter to the home-brewing market... and thus revolutionized the coffee industry. Generally known for classic designs and solid performance, Bunn coffee makers produce consistent cups of coffee every time. If you do run into someone with a brand loyalty, chances are good it will be to a Bunn. The machines aren't necessarily high-tech, but they get the job done well. Bunn is best known for their standard drip coffee makers sold under the moniker Pour-o-Matic.
Brand #2: Capresso
A lesser known brand, but still a strong contender, Capresso started out by producing high end home brewers and espresso machines. They are still known for high quality, designer brewers for the true coffee (and style) connoisseurs. Capresso coffee makers look great and produce strong, aromatic coffee. If you enjoy sophisticated style and European-based brewing philosophies, a Capresso may be the perfect choice.
Brand #3: Cuisinart
When most people hear the brand name Cuisinart, chances are they think of everything in the kitchen aside from the coffee maker. But, in fact, Cuisinart does produce coffee makers- and so far the coffee drinking population seems to approve. Cuisinart's Brew Central, which is their electronic auto drip coffee maker, features a clean stainless steel finish and is extremely reasonably priced.
It's also a solid machine that lasts through plenty of use (we wouldn't expect less from Cuisinart). And the coffee? As long as you learn how to use your machine properly and aren't afraid of brewing a few bad cups, you'll eventually get good results. Many consumers say that Cuisinart produces standard coffee but looks better on the kitchen counter than other brands that cost only slightly less. We'll take that as a positive statement.
Brand #4: DeLonghi
Unless you're truly an avid follower of the coffee maker market, you may never have heard of DeLonghi. These machines are extremely simple to use and priced in the low to middle range of comparable coffee makers, which makes them extremely attractive to the average buyer. And indeed, if you're just getting into the wide world of coffee, these coffee makers should suit you just fine.
Brand #5: Krups
Krups International is actually a very well-known maker of coffee makers and espresso machines. Prices on Krups coffee makers may be higher than on comparable machines, but most coffee drinkers agree that there's a good reason for that: these tend to be extremely high quality, solidly built coffee makers that produce consistent coffee with ease.
If you're not committed and you're unsure if you want to spend this much, the best plan is to do a taste test. If you can taste a difference, you'll likely agree that Krups is worth the price.
