Filter Coffee Machines Explained

Filter Coffee Machines

Filter coffee machines come in a wide variety of volumes and are super easy to use. Water drips slowly through the basket of ground coffee to infuse in a pot. No need to boil the water first – just pour in the cold & the machine does the rest. Filter coffee machines usually have thermos pots and a hot plate to keep the coffee warm.

Models have either permanent or paper holders. Permanent filters save you money but they can be messy to clean and can taint. Paper holders are more hygienic and can be simply thrown away after use.

Some filter coffee machines use a ‘pod’ system with is really clean and easy. The pods are essentially round ‘tea bags’ that contain coffee or foil-encased pods that produce a cup of filter coffee without a mess. Percolators work the other way around. Ground coffee is put into a holder at the top, water in the bottom. Once boiled, the water is forced up a vertical tube then over and through the filter, with the brewed coffee settling in the bottom of the jug. There’s a glass dome at the top so you can see how dark the coffee is becoming. Percolators are ideal for those who want to vary the strength of their filter coffee, though some coffee aficionados consider the coffee not to be as good.