While coffee might not scream “Thanksgiving” to many people, it is one of those things that many find themselves drinking in excess this time of year. After you’ve cleaned your plate and satisfied your seasonal craving for sweet potatoes and stuffing and cranberry, you’re going to be full and ready for a nap. A nice warm cup of joe is the perfect finish to a Thanksgiving feast. And come December, you’re going to be flitting from holiday parties to Christmas shopping, and what’s going to keep you going more than a piping hot latte with an extra shot? These cooler months seem to be prime time for those coffee-worshipers, and because of this, we thought we’d walk you through our favorite methods of preparing those addictive mugs of caffeine.
Folks usually fall into one of three camps — those who are partial to the traditional brew coffee maker, the smooth and rich French press, or the espresso machine, which has a little bite to it.
TRADITIONAL DRIP BREW COFFEE MAKERS (LEFT TO RIGHT):
Most are familiar with the traditional drip brew methods of these coffee makers. You add water to the reservoir, fill a filter with ground coffee beans, and let the machine heat the water to boiling then let it drip into the coffee beans and filter into the carafe. This method makes for a more mild taste, but it still ensures you get all the caffeine you’ve bargained for.
The Bunn Specialty 10-Cup Thermal Home Coffee Maker brews fast, stays warm for hours, and gets top marks across the board.
If you’re a fan of grinding your own beans, then perhaps you’ll be partial to the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffee Maker. This powerful machine freshly grinds beans for each fresh pot, ensuring you get the most authentic and bold flavor. A thermal carafe means you can keep refilling without having to worry about your brew getting cold.
The KitchenAid 14-Cup Coffee Maker features a clean design, a programmable timer, and solid marks from our reviewers. You can’t go wrong with this simple but effective drip brew coffee maker.
THE FRENCH PRESS (LEFT TO RIGHT):
If you’re looking for the most simple method for brewing your morning joe, look no further than the French press, or the steeping method. To steep your coffee, you combine coffee grinds and boiling water, and let these two parties steep together for several minutes in a glass carafe. Then, you simply press the coffee grinds from the steeped boiling water using a mesh filter, leaving you with a delicious pot of smooth, strong coffee.
We like the 8-Cup Linear French Press for its modern, linear construction and clean styling. The 6-Cup Rhone Ribbed French Press has a ribbed carafe, which makes for an elegant look, and it also features an insulated construction, keeping your brew hot longer. And finally, you can’t go wrong with the tried-and-true BonJour 8-Cup Maximus French Press.
THE ESPRESSO MACHINE (LEFT TO RIGHT):
No one is more serious about the integrity of their coffee than the espresso-lover. These folks are definitely no-nonsense when it comes to getting their daily caffeine intake, as espresso boasts the most concentrated of coffee brewing options. An espresso machine forces boiling water through a very small serving of coffee grinds, creating an almost syrupy liquid, topped with a foamy “crema.”
The DeLonghi 15-Bar Pump Driven Espresso/Cappuccino Maker gets 5 stars from our reviewers, features a removable water tank for easing cleaning and makes cappuccinos and lattes with ease. Another popular option is the DeLonghi Pump Driven Espresso/Cappuccino Maker with its anti-drip design. If you’re in the market for an espresso maker with a bit of pizazz, consider the Delonghi kMix 15 Bar Pump Espresso Maker, as it comes in eight saturated colors!
Now, who wants a latte?
Inspired is an editorial curation of products from homedepot.com and our sister site, Home Decorators Collection – along with irresistible finds from around the web.
