Do you want to quickly prepare your coffee when you get up in the morning or when you come home tired in the evening? Coffee makers can help you with this.
The coffee drink has been in the history of humanity for thousands of years. Since its discovery, it has continued to become widespread and has an important place in people’s daily life. It has penetrated the cultures of societies and has become a tradition. Besides its many benefits for human health, coffee has gained a reputation for refreshing and invigorating people. This situation has also been reflected in the industrial field, and coffee makers have been developed according to the people’s demand for coffee.
When this is the case, coffee makers, which offer people a beautiful and irresistible coffee experience, attract people’s attention. Let’s take a closer look at these 4-cup coffee makers and learn about the history, benefits, and types of coffee in our article.
LIST OF BEST 4-CUP COFFEE MAKERS
#1 Best Compactness: Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Coffee Maker
Thanks to its small and compact design, it does not take up much space and fits into every corner of your kitchen.
#2 Best Filter & Carafe: Cuisinart 4-Cup Coffee Maker
Its stainless-steel carafe is unbreakable compared to glass carafes. In this way, it will not upset you in any unexpected accident.
#3 Best Grinder & Freshness: Krups 4-Cup Coffee Machine
Enjoy the pleasure of grinding your coffee yourself and experience a better taste with freshly ground coffee.
#4 Best Variation & Frother: Capresso 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
Thanks to the milk frother stick, you have the opportunity to make the type of coffee you want by adding on the espresso.
#5 Best Price & Beginning: Elite Gourmet Coffee Maker
It can be your first step into the world of coffee makers with its compact design, as well as its affordable price.
BENEFITS AND HISTORY OF COFFEE
History
There are many rumors about the discovery of coffee. The most common of these is that a shepherd found coffee thanks to his sheep. According to the legend, shepherds observed that goatherds did not get tired for a long time after eating a plant, their energy increased, and even did not sleep for a few days. The shepherds told the dervishes what happened. Later, a dervish boiled this plant and drank its water, and when he saw the same effects on himself, the results of coffee were confirmed, and people started to consume coffee. As a date, it is estimated that this event took place between 800-1000 years after Christ.
Later, coffee spread to the Ottoman Empire by merchants, and from this geography to Europe through wars and again through merchants, and became a favorite and a hobby to drink in every region it went to. After oil, it became the product with the enormous trade volume in the world.
Benefits
The ingredient called caffeine, which is abundant in coffee, quickly mixes into the blood after consumption, and reaches the brain. It increases alertness and increases energy level by blocking the substance called adenosine produced in the brain and causes sleepiness. In this way, it prevents fatigue felt during the day and improves work efficiency and concentration.
If coffee is consumed straight, it is worth 0 calories. It helps fat burning by increasing the metabolic rate significantly. For this reason, coffee is an indispensable drink in many diet lists.
It is claimed that drinking a few cups of coffee a day can reduce the development of Parkinson’s disease by one-fourth percent. Also, It can help control the movements of people with Parkinson’s.
“Coffee consumption reduces the risk of liver cancer by about 40%. Also, some of the results show that drinking three glasses a day reduces the risks by more than 50%. The benefits of coffee have been proven to be very effective, especially for the liver.” Medicalnewstoday
Coffee keeps our immune system alive, reduces our risk of getting sick, and offers us a healthier life.
In addition to the benefits of coffee, when consumed excessively and uncontrollably, it can have some harm as in everything else.
- The caffeine in its content can be addictive when consumed regularly, and when it is stopped suddenly, it can have side effects such as headaches and drowsiness.
- When consumed excessively, heart rhythm disturbances can cause.
- Women planning to become pregnant should be careful. It has been found that coffee can reduce a woman’s chances of getting pregnant.
- Coffee consumption creates an increase in blood pressure, even if it is small. This effect is especially significant for those who already have blood pressure disease because the rise in blood pressure, which is already high and controlled by medication, with coffee consumption can harm the body.
Coffee Types
Coffee has been shaped according to every taste, and therefore many types of preparation forms have emerged. Let’s take a closer look at most common coffee varieties, which you have mentioned until now but have always wondered how they differ from others.
Espresso
Espresso is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to Italian drink. Espresso is prepared with finely ground coffee beans at high temperature and pressure in an espresso machine and served in a small cup. It gets its name from its rapid preparation and consumption. It is small in quantity but very intense in content.
Americano
Americano can be called the diluted form of espresso. In World War II, American soldiers, who were used to filter coffee, met espresso coffee in Italy. But as this coffee is too strong and too little to them, they start consuming by adding boiling water on the espresso, and it gets the name Americano from here.
Filter Coffee
Filter coffee is coffee brewed by passing water over medium-ground coffee with the help of a paper or metal filter. You can choose it with milk, sugar, or cream according to your preference and add any amount you want to your cup of the size you want.
Latte
It is prepared by adding heated milk to 2 Shot espresso. Also, the milk foam is added on top (optionally). It has a soft drink. Specific images are created on the coffee according to the speed and shape of the milk pouring on the espresso, which is called “Latte Art.”
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is prepared by adding hot milk and milk foam on an espresso shot. The differences between Cappuccino and Caffe Latte are volume and presentation. While the milk layer of cappuccino is denser, there is a thinner foam in the latte. Latte is served in large glasses while cappuccino is served in cups with handles.
Mocha
It is prepared with two shots of espresso, two shots of chocolate syrup, and milk foam. Those who want a softer drink and less bitter taste of coffee prefer it.
Macchiato
“Macchiato” means speckled in Italian. Macchiato Coffee is prepared by adding a teaspoon of condensed milk foam to one or two shots of espresso, which means creating a speck in the coffee.
WHICH 4 CUP COFFEE MAKER SHOULD I CHOOSE?
Which Type of Coffee Do I Want to Drink?
One of the most important criteria when choosing a coffee machine is what type of coffee you want to make. Most coffee machines have metal or paper filters and make filter coffee. As we mentioned in our title of coffee types, espresso and filter coffee are prepared differently. Therefore, if you want to make espresso and cappuccino, be sure that the coffee maker you buy has this feature. Remember that you can also make coffees like the latte, mocha, and americano with milk or water, adding to espresso.
How Much Coffee Do You Drink?
The amount of coffee consumption can vary significantly for people. Some may drink 3 cups of coffee every day, while others may drink twice a week. Or, if you are a person who loves to serve coffee to your guests, you may need a machine that can make more coffee at once. If you love to drink coffee and consume a certain amount of coffee every day, or if you are going to use the coffee maker for more than one person, 4-cup coffee makers are best for you.
Paper Filter or Metal Filter?
There are many differences between the paper filter and metal filter in many ways. Firstly, paper filters are much better than metal filters in capturing microparticles and oils in coffee. The coffee you will brew with a paper filter will have a much brighter and clearer appearance; It also offers you a sweeter and softer drink than coffees brewed with metal filters.
Another difference is the cost. A metal filter is taken once and can be used for a long time. But paper filters are generally disposable, and you will need to buy new paper filters as you run out.
Finally, the metal filter needs cleaning after every use. But when it comes to the paper filter, you crush it and throw it away after making your coffee.
With or Without a Grinder?
When you look at the market, you will see both grinder and non-grinder coffee makers. If your coffee maker has a grinding feature, buy any coffee beans you want. However, if your coffee maker is without a grinder, you will need to take it to a place that can grind coffee and grind it as required by your coffee maker or the type of coffee you will make, or you will need to buy it directly the ground ones.
BEST 4 CUP COFFEE MAKERS
#1 Best Compactness: Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Coffee Maker
Are you looking for a small but effective coffee maker? Mr. Cofffe 4-Cup coffee maker is designed for this. With the Grab-A-Cup Auto Pause feature, when you need 1 cup of coffee immediately, it stops brewing and gives only 1 cup of coffee and continues to brew after that. This way, you don’t expect all the coffee to be made when you have an urgency. With its dual water window feature, you can easily see the water level inside and know when to pour water. Its small design makes it easy for you to position it by fitting into most parts of your home or kitchen.
The fact that the Filter Basket can be removed allows you to have less difficulty while cleaning it. However, its small design makes it a little challenging to clean as it gets harder to touch inside. Customers stated that the device produced less than 4 cups of coffee. Also, it can get a little loud during brewing. Finally, don’t forget to turn it off when you are done, due to it doesn’t have an auto shut-off feature.
What We Like:
What We Don’t Like:
#2 Best Filter & Carafe: Cuisinart 4-Cup Coffee Maker
Have you always wanted a coffee maker with a metal carafe? Cuisinart has listened to you and designed this model. Its carafe is metal, which means unbreakable, unlike glass carafes. If you are a forgetful person, this product provides you security thanks to the automatic shutdown after 30 minutes. If you want only 1 cup of coffee, it will stop brewing and spill only 1 cup of coffee thanks to the brew-pause feature.
Nevertheless, it is reported that the machine turns off itself quickly, which means you can’t drink your coffee comfortably because if you want to continue drinking, you may need to turn the turned off device back on. Besides, customers noted that the carafe did not retain heat well, and the device had a cup size of 5oz, lower by usual standards (typically 1 cup is about 8oz), and makes 3 cups of coffee compared to expected. Its instructions are difficult to understand and implement.
What We Like:
What We Don’t Like:
#3 Best Grinder & Freshness: Krups 4-Cup Coffee Machine
If you want to grind your coffee yourself, the KRUPS coffee maker is for you. This coffee maker has a coffee grinder. Moreover, you can even adjust the grind size. Compared to most coffee makers, its filter is a metal filter. This saves you the cost of getting filters frequently. The product comes with a cleaning brush and a coffee spoon. This is one of the features that increase satisfaction. If you do not want to wash your coffee maker by hand, this coffee maker can be disassembled and washed in the dishwasher.
To mention about negative points, customers stated that you might have difficulty while trying to pour coffee into the cup due to the carafe is too full. Also, the brew tap can be poured after taking the carafe. Whereas the metal filter provides you with prolonged use, it requires a difficult cleaning after each use.
What We Like:
What We Don’t Like:
#4 Best Variation & Frother: Capresso Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
Want to drink an espresso or the type of coffee you want when you wake up in the morning? The Capresso Espresso Machine comes to help you. Thanks to its adjustable strength feature, you can determine the hardness of your coffee according to your taste. As you have read in the previous section of our article, most coffee is derived from espresso. You can make latte or cappuccino with the additions you will make with the milk frother stick by making espresso with this machine.
If you read the instructions carefully and follow them correctly, you won’t have trouble using and cleaning. However, if you do not like your coffee hot, the espresso prepared by this machine may not be at the temperature you want. Also, the foaming bar may not work the way you want at times.
What We Like:
What We Don’t Like:
#5 Best Price & Beginning: Elite Gourmet Coffee Maker
Are you going to buy a coffee maker for the first time and don’t want to pay too much? This coffee maker was made for this. Thanks to the semi-visible water tank, you can easily see if there is any water left in it. The power indicator light shows you whether the device is turned on, so you are not in doubt. The fact that it is dishwasher safe ensures you won’t have any trouble cleaning it. You do not need to buy filters frequently thanks to its reusable filter, which saves you a high cost. Being very cheap compared to other products is one of the features that make it attractive.
However, it cannot be said that the material quality is good. During brewing, you can smell the plastic with the smell of coffee. Heating may not work well sometimes. If you are sensitive about hot coffee, it may not please you. In addition to being reusable, the filter is not as effective as either a metal filter or a paper filter.
What We Like:
What We Don’t Like:
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN
In conclusion, we have learned the history of coffee, the features that distinguish coffee types from each other, the essential points to be considered when buying a 4-cup coffee maker in this article. Now, in any conversation, you can tell where the names of coffees come from and surprise the people around you. In addition to the five products we recommend, you can also consider other products yourself and compare them with the five products recommended in this article.
Is there a little known fact you know about coffee?
Do you think there are other points to consider when buying a coffee maker? If so, what are these?
According to you, what are the components that determine the quality of the coffee?
We would be glad to share your ideas, corrections, or additions by leaving a comment below.
I have the Capresso Espresso and Cappuccino Machine and I just love it