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Trail Appliances BC:quality(75))
Coffee is big business these days. There are pods and packets and clubs everywhere. Stopping at the local café for a specialty coffee is no longer considered the extravagant indulgence it used to be. This Mother’s Day, why not bring back some of that indulgence for your mom?
A high-quality built-in or countertop coffee system for her home means no more venturing out for a specialty coffee. It’s simple to indulge herself and produce her preferred beverage from the comfort of her own home – and often at the touch of a button.
A premium coffee system is an investment
There are a variety of factors to consider, and as you start to look more into it (because maybe you want to try out a system in your home first. To make sure it’s something your mom would like), there’s a good chance of being overwhelmed at the amount of features available. A good place to start is by looking at the basic options and building on those.
Premium coffee machines come in two options: Built-in and countertop.
Built-in coffee systems fit right into the cabinetry and are plumbed-in or come with a water tank.
Plumbed-in – the water line is hooked up directly to the coffee machine. You’ll have to ensure there is a water line available, but the advantage is you have water ready for your coffee at all times.
Water Tank – the water comes in a tank you manually fill with water. A tank is easy to clean and means you’re not limited in location for your system. The downside is you might run out of water halfway through the coffee process and need to start over once you’ve refilled the water (yes, that’s experience talking).
Countertop coffee systems are similar to regular coffee makers as you just place them where they’re convenient. The premium countertop models all have a water tank that will need refilling.
Factors to Consider Before You Buy:
Type of beverages – If you’re investing in a premium coffee system, you probably want it formore than just a regular cup of coffee. Look for systems with different drink options like lattes, cappuccinos, macchiato etc. Some will dispense hot water for tea, or have more than one spout so you can make two coffees at one time.
Milk container – Is the milk container internal or external? Can you store the container in the fridge so you don’t waste milk if you don’t use it all in one session? Some systems will rinse the pipework immediately after making the beverage. Others require you to run the cleaning system.
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Wolf built-in coffee system with warming drawer
Grinder – Is there a built-in grinder and storage container for your coffee beans? Or will you need to grind your beans separately and add the ground coffee fresh for each cup?
Ease of use – The interface on the new system will determine whether or not the machine gets daily use. If it’s too difficult, it will just sit there. More common amongst the built-in models are LED touchscreens for making drinks. These tend to be user-friendly and therefore more used. Besides, who wants to have to explain how to use the machine every time someone comes over?
The little things – Is it a one touch button to generate your latte? We all want a freshly made drink from a barista, but we don’t necessarily want to perform all the steps the barista undertakes – especially first thing in the morning. A simple press of the button and your latte can be ready and waiting when you are.
– Some brands, like Miele, have a matching warming drawer for you to pair your system with. You can ensure your mugs are heated prior to the drink being dispensed so your coffee stays hot longer.
– Most premium systems even let you save your beverage specifications, so your cappuccino is made to your exact requirements every time.
There are many other features to look at, but narrowing down what you must have (we love you, custom latte), and what you can live without, will help give a clearer idea of what questions to ask when you’re ready to start talking to a salesperson.
View our selection of premium coffee systems here or visit us in-store to talk to one of our expert sales staff.
This blog post was originally published May 2016. It has been updated to ensure accuracy and relevancy.
