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A fresh cup of coffee makes it much easier to start—and go through—the day. It’s a fairly simple process: in most cases, hot water is poured over ground coffee beans and you can enjoy the result in a few minutes. But there are also many variables—such as water temperature, extraction method, or, of course, the type of coffee bean you use—that could fundamentally alter the taste. That’s why knowing how you like your cup brewed, and then investing in a good coffee maker, is so important.
“Ultimately, the customer or drinker is the arbiter of quality,” said Shawn Steiman, who has a Ph.D. in coffee studies from the University of Hawai‘i-Manoa and is the author of multiple books about coffee. “Once they know that [what they like to taste], they can backtrack to find the coffees and brew methods that are most likely to produce those flavor experiences.”
Related: The Best Espresso Machines for the At-Home Barista
He explains that a machine that uses the full immersion and agitation methods such as a French press or a Solden Softbrew pot, would produce the most flavor if the water temperature and coffee-to-water ratio are equal.
“The reason is that the water and coffee will interact more and thus the chemical extraction will be more efficient,” he added.
”Full immersion [method] that uses a metal filter permits more sediment and oils to make it in the brew, thus giving a heavier body as well as a more rounded—some folks might say muddied—taste experience.”
Related: The Secret to Make Amazing Coffee at Home
And gravity-fed brewers such as pour-over or drip coffee makers with paper filters give the sharpest and cleanest experiences, according to Steiman.
To make it easier for you, we rounded up the best coffee makers that will brew you the tastiest, most aromatic cup of coffee you’ve ever had.
