A coffee maker apparently has only one task: It's supposed to make coffee. So what's the difference between a good and a bad funnel, and which coffee maker should you really choose?
The vast majority of us are not baristas, nor do we dream of becoming one. What we want is a coffee maker that makes good coffee and makes the job as easy and convenient as possible, both when it comes to the actual brewing and the cleaning afterwards.
That's why at Wilfa, we've put together a list of the different things you should look for when buying a new coffee maker.
ECBC approval
The fact that a coffee maker is approved by the European Coffee Brewing Center (ECBC) is a sign of quality in itself, and should be a minimum requirement when buying a new coffee maker.
The ECBC sets requirements for water temperature and contact time, among other things. It is essential that the coffee maker works with the right water temperature from the very first drop. At the same time, it's important that the water doesn't take too long or too short to run through the coffee powder. With small deviations here, you quickly end up with either sour or bitter coffee.
All Wilfa coffee makers are ECBC-approved.
Running out of water after every funnel
Water quality has a big impact on the taste of your coffee. A coffee maker left with coffee residue in the pot and water in the reservoir will soon start to smell and give freshly brewed coffee a taste of old coffee. Many coffee makers have approx. 1 dl of old water left in the brewing unit after brewing. Therefore, you should always start by funneling some water through the funnel, or turning the funnel upside down, to get rid of the old water residue.
Wilfa's top models eliminate this problem because they have a unique pumping technology that empties the funnel of water with every pass. This means there's never any old water left in the pipes inside the funnel and you're guaranteed fresh water from the first drop.
Removable water tank for the cleanest possible water
A coffee maker with a removable water tank makes it easy to refill with fresh water. Many people use a coffee pot to fill water, but this often means that old coffee residue from the pot will affect the water quality and taste. If you don't have a removable water container, it's recommended to use a clean water mug instead.
A water container with a deciliter measure for water, indicating how many grams of coffee you need for different amounts of water, makes it easier to get the right mixing ratio and a good cup of coffee.
The Performance and Precision coffee makers have removable water containers with water and coffee measuring indicators.
Flat bottom filter holder
A flat-bottomed filter holder is more stable on a kitchen scale or countertop when measuring and pouring coffee.
Many people pour the coffee beans into the filter holder on the kitchen scale to measure out the desired amount of coffee. All Wilfas coffee makers have filter holders with a flat bottom.
Wilfa coffee makers also have a mixing lid with a spout that goes down into the coffee pot, to ensure that the coffee has the same strength throughout the brewing process.
Drip stop prevents spills
Drip trays are both practical and almost a necessity for well-brewed coffee. First and foremost, it allows you to stop the flow of water to the flask, so there's no spillage when you take the flask out of the funnel.
At the same time, the more advanced coffee makers come with an adjustable drip stop that allows you to set the contact time by adjusting how fast the water flows through the filter holder. This way, you can easily funnel a single cup of coffee with the same result as if you had funneled a liter. Several of Wilfa's coffee makers have adjustable drip stops.
Cleaning
A final practical and useful function on a coffee maker is a warning when the funnel needs cleaning. On our coffee makers, the start button flashes when you should clean the machine.