Automatic drip coffee makers enable you to simply hit the brew button and then let the machine do its magic for a steaming pot of Joe in just a matter of minutes, which makes them a favorite among many coffee drinkers for their convenience.
It’s also probably one of the first types of coffee makers that many people have become accustomed to when it comes to brewing coffee at home because it is also one of the most traditional methods.
But as convenient and time-tested automatic drip brewing is, it also has its share of cons that should also be considered when determining the best coffee maker for you,
which we will go over in more depth later. However, for now, let’s start with the pros.
Pros:
- Auto drip coffee makers are fairly easy to set up. In fact, all you need to do is add coffee grounds to the filter, fill the reservoir with water, and then activate the machine.
- You can also control the brew strength using the machine’s settings as compared to other coffee makers.
- Being able to add your own coffee and water to the machine also enables you to add more or less of both to the coffee maker, which also allows you to control the brew strength.
- Adding your own coffee and water to the coffee maker also enables you to control the quality of both. For instance, instead of simply adding tap water to the coffee maker, you can simply add filtered water, spring water, distilled water, or more for a better-tasting brew.
- Auto drip coffee makers also enable you to make a lot of coffee. In fact, some machines enable you to brew up to 12 cups or more at a time, which is just perfect for large families or if you are entertaining a crowd.
- Some models even enable you to program the machine to begin brewing in the morning before you wake up.
- Because the machine automatically drip brews your coffee, you can set it and then go about performing other tasks as it does.
- It also keeps your pot of brewed coffee warm until you are ready to pour a cup.
- Auto drip coffee machines also heat your water for you, hence, eliminating the need to boil your own water on a stove or broiler to make coffee for one less hassle.
- Some models also include other drink features, such as a hot water dispenser to make tea, a single-serve K-cup coffee maker, or a latte or cappuccino maker for greater variety.
- They also make it easy to brew a fresh pot of coffee. To do so, you simply throw out the used filter, and then you are ready to start fresh.
- Auto drip brewers are great for beginners because they don’t require lots of steps, which makes them easy to learn to use.
- They also range in costs to suit various budgets, and they offer a more budget-friendly choice over K-cup coffee makers.
Cons:
- Auto drip coffee brewers can produce an off-taste that can’t be remedied even with the perfect combination of water and coffee.
- Some models require you to use a paper filter, which can contain chlorine, depending on the type you use.
- Paper filters can also strain out most of the coffee’s oils, which can lead to an inferior tasting brew.
- An automatic drip coffee maker may not be recommended for brewing quality coffee grounds because you can’t control the water temperature, which can affect the flavor.
- Some drip machines use an aluminum rod to heat the water; however, it may not get the water hot enough to activate all the oils from the coffee, which can prevent you from getting the full flavor of the beans.
- Used coffee grounds left in the filter or old coffee left in the bottom of the pot can produce mold after a few days.
- When using an auto drip coffee machine, you may be stuck with a large pot of coffee when all you wanted was a single cup, which can lead to waste.
- Though the machine keeps your pot of coffee warm, the longer the coffee sits on the warmer, the more it can begin to affect its taste.
