Coffeemakers are devices or cooking appliances used to brew coffee. An appliance can also be referred to as a coffee machine.
There are many different types of coffeemakers using a number of different brewing principles. With most common devices, coffee grounds are placed in a paper or metal filter inside a funnel. The filter or funnel is set over a glass or ceramic coffee pot. Cold water is poured into a separate chamber, which is then heated up to the boiling point, and directed into the funnel.
A coffee maker can be an electrical appliance in which case it will automate most of the brewing steps. Or it can be a simple manual brewing device, such a pour over, or a dripper, used with hand drip technique.
Other coffee makers include French press, AeroPress, and even espresso machines.
Manual Drip Coffee Maker
A coffee dripper, also called a pour over device, is a a manual coffee maker for preparing drip coffee. The coffee dripper is a cone made of ceramics, glass, or plastic. The cone is the support for a coffee filter.
The method of brewing with a pour over device is completely manual, and it gives the barista control over the brewing process. When brewing coffee with a hand dripper, ground coffee is placed in the filter, and hot water is then poured over the grounds in a gradual, controlled manner. The method is not as inexpensive as it might seem since for great results, brewing requires a well-balanced kettle, for greater pouring control.
The dripper can be a simple cone, or it can be a flask with a conical funnel-like neck, like the Chemex, that serves as a filter support.
Cold Brew Coffee Maker
A cold brew coffee maker is a device, and sometimes an appliance, used for preparing cold brew coffee.
Since cold brew coffee making can use various brewing methods, the brewer can be totally different. A cold brew coffee maker is a device with minimum a recipient and a filter.The filter can be made of fabric, or plastic or metal mesh. Some commercially available cold brew coffeemakers have felt, or ceramic filters. The filter type can alter the body of your final cup.
The most popular types of cold brew coffee makers are immersion and cold drip. They are available on the market in various forms and sizes, the most popular ones being the large batch immersion coffee makers, due to the low cost and convenience. Some popular cold brew coffee maker brands are Toddy, Filtron, Oxo, and Hario.
Immersion cold brew coffee makers are very useful since preparing a batch of immersion cold brew coffee takes between 8 and 72 hours, depending on the used recipe.
In the last years, newer coffee makers appeared on the market, using different brewing methods, such as vacuum, agitation/stirring, etc… These new cold brew coffee makers can prepare cold brew in 15 to 45 minutes.