Drip or geyser coffee maker – which one to choose?

Coffee makers have already firmly taken their place in our kitchens. With their help, you can prepare a delicious invigorating drink without spending much effort. Different types of such devices differ in their operating principle and functionality. For beginner coffee lovers, geyser and drip coffee makers are perfect. What are their differences, and how to make the right choice? But which geyser coffee maker is the best and by what parameters you should choose it, this information will help you understand.

What is the difference in operating principle?

The names of geyser and drip coffee makers already indicate their operating principle.

The first type of machine consists of three parts: a lower container for water, a filter funnel for ground coffee and an upper bowl for the finished drink. A hollow tube runs through the center of the device.

Various types of geyser and drip coffee makers

Ground coffee is poured into the filter funnel, and water is poured into the lower container. When heated, water is converted into steam. Due to the lack of volume, the steam forces the water into the tube, which passes through the coffee funnel. Water rich in the taste and aroma of coffee splashes into the upper bowl for the finished drink.

The operating principle of a drip coffee maker differs from a geyser one. The device consists of a water container, a filter, a steam tube and a bowl for the finished drink. Before starting to brew the drink, pour water into the container and pour already ground water into the filter. When heated, water turns into steam. It moves through a special tube to the top of the coffee maker. Here the condensation process occurs: the steam cools to 90 ° C and drops onto the coffee in the filter. Then the droplets pass through the aromatic powder and flow down into a special container for the finished drink. You can read about how aromatic the coffee in a geyser coffee maker is in this article.

It is important to use only ground coffee for geyser and drip coffee makers. To obtain a rich taste and aroma, you should take freshly roasted beans and grind them immediately before preparing the drink.

But which coffee maker is better, carob or drip, and how one or the other is used, is detailed in the article at the link.

Operation of a geyser coffee maker

Here, too, everything is simple, in principle: water is poured into the lower water tank. This water is then heated (either from the kitchen stove or from the built-in heating element) until it becomes steam. The steam rises up, passes through a metal filter (where the ground coffee is located), along the way it absorbs the aroma, becomes saturated with taste and enters the upper reservoir - the coffee pot.

Electric geyser coffee maker

Due to the fact that here the aroma “along the way” is collected by steam, and not just hot water (as in a drip coffee maker), the finished coffee itself turns out to be more rich and aromatic. By the way, to obtain a portion of a drink in a geyser coffee maker, much less coffee is required than to prepare a portion in a drip coffee maker.

As for the filters, there is no need to change them - there is only one, non-replaceable.

Coffee maker that is placed on a gas stove

And one more thing: geyser coffee makers can be of two types. The first is without using the built-in heating element. These are placed on a gas stove (or electric) and heated. The second type is with a built-in heating element. They plug into the outlet. Of course, it is preferable to choose the second type, however, models without heating elements are cheaper. This is so... just a note.

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Pros and cons of drip

A drip coffee maker has many advantages. Among them are the following:

Quite affordable price.
Compact size, thanks to which the device can be placed even in a tiny kitchen.
Ease of use.
Possibility to prepare several cups at a time.
When preparing a drink in a drip coffee maker, no grounds remain in the cup.
This type of coffee maker is capable of preparing coffee of not very high quality.

The disadvantages of devices of this type include:

The need to periodically buy a filter.
During the filtration process, the water temperature drops quickly. Coffee often requires additional heating, which negatively affects its taste.
Due to the low water pressure, it is impossible to create a lush foam of the drink. For many gourmets, this is a significant drawback of the drink.
A drip coffee maker cannot make a drink with milk or whipped cream.

To keep your kitchen clean, pay attention to the presence of an anti-drip mechanism in the device.

You may also be interested in information about how exactly a geyser electric coffee maker is used.

The video shows a description of the operation of the drip cooking device:

Drip coffee maker

Drip coffee makers are widespread both in Russia and around the world. These devices are easy to use, have many additional functions and at the same time low price. True, drip coffee makers only come in one version – electric.

The operating principle of the device is quite simple. It consists of two compartments. Water is poured into the first, a filter is placed in the second, into which coffee is poured. Then, when turned on, water begins to flow into the electric heater, from where it literally drops drop by drop into the filter. Boiling water passes through a layer of ground coffee, becoming saturated with taste and aroma. And as a result, it ends up in a cup or teapot, depending on the model.

Thanks to this technology, the coffee is very aromatic, but not too strong. That is, this is not classic espresso.

However, this cooking technology allows you to equip the device with many additional functions:

Automatic heating mode. Under the coffee pot with the finished drink there is a thermocouple that prevents it from cooling down. Therefore, it always remains hot - no matter how long ago it was checked;
Overfill protection system. As soon as the coffee pot is full, the heating turns off. Thanks to this, you can pour a lot of water into the appropriate container and not worry that you will need to “refuel” the device during the day;
Setting up the fortress. A very important feature for home or office use. Thanks to it, lovers of strong and soft coffee will not have to buy two coffee makers.

It is worth noting that coffee in drip coffee makers is poured into special filters. In any case, they are consumables, but can be disposable or reusable.

Paper filters are disposable. They get wet after the first use. Synthetic (nylon) – reusable. On average they are designed for 60 uses. And “gold” ones - synthetic with metal reinforcement - will “survive” up to 250 brewings.

The cheapest in terms of “price of use” are paper ones. For a package of 100 filters you will have to pay about 250 rubles. The synthetic one costs the same, but is designed for fewer brews. And finally, the “gold” one will cost 500-700 rubles.

On the other hand, paper filters may have a slight effect on the taste of the coffee. Along with the finished drink, cellulose fibers enter the coffee pot. In addition, when wet, the paper acquires a rather unpleasant aftertaste, which can get into the coffee.

Advantages

Extremely easy to use. It is enough to pour water into the special compartment of the device, pour the powder into the filter and press the button. The equipment will do the rest itself;
Can be equipped with additional functions;
Capable of preparing a lot of coffee - for the whole family or the whole office - at one time.

Flaws

The coffee they prepare is not a classic espresso, but a very ordinary drink;
They need consumables - filters.

When choosing a drip coffee maker, it is important to pay attention to the power, since the strength of the drink depends on it. So, devices up to 600 W cook strong, but slowly. But kilowatt models cook quickly, but it turns out quite soft.

Pros and cons of geyser

The geyser attracts consumers with many advantages:

Reasonable price for a quality drink.
Compact dimensions.
Easy to use and maintain.
The coffee is strong and aromatic.
You can add spices to the drink, such as ginger and cinnamon.
The mixture from the filter does not fall into the cup for the finished drink. There will be no grounds in the cup.
You can even brew tea and medicinal herbs in a geyser coffee maker.

It is better to add sugar and milk to coffee after it has been prepared in a geyser coffee maker.

You may also be interested in information about what a carob coffee maker with a cappuccino maker for home looks like and how it is used.

The video shows the operating principle of the geyser device:

The disadvantages of devices of this type include:

The need to use only coarsely ground coffee. Fine grinding can clog filters. You will have to either carefully select the grind or grind the grains yourself before brewing the drink.
In a geyser coffee maker, you can brew only the amount of drink for which it is designed. No more, no less.
This type of device is not suitable for lovers of drinks with foam.
The coffee maker remains hot for a long time after being turned off; you can get burned if you accidentally touch it.

When washing an aluminum geyser, do not use abrasive products or metal sponges. Otherwise, the protective layer can be damaged and the coffee will have a metallic taste.

But what a vitek carob-type coffee maker looks like and how it is used can be seen in this article.

VITEK VT-1514

Our TOP carob coffee maker Vitek VT-1514 continues. It is compact in size and easy to operate. The build quality here is certainly not at the highest level, but this is compensated by the low cost for such devices. The Vitek coffee maker will allow you to prepare espresso and cappuccino at home without any hassle. The advantages of this model include the presence of a boiler, which provides less rapid heating after switching on, but the finished coffee will be really hot. And thanks to the heating element on the tray, the finished drink will remain hot for a long time. This model can also please you with an optimal pressure level of 15 bar, however, judging by user reviews, the actual indicators are at a lower level. However, the available pressure ensures excellent preparation of both espresso and milk froth. The coffee maker has 6 built-in programs that allow you to prepare small and large portions of different drinks. And the convenient control panel does not cause any difficulties even without reading the instructions. It is also worth noting that in this model, you can use cups up to 10 centimeters high to make coffee and prepare 2 cups of coffee at a time. Overall, this is an excellent multifunctional coffee maker that will allow you to enjoy delicious and aromatic coffee at home.

Type: carob.
Power: 1238 W.
Water tank: 1.65 l.
Pump pressure: 15 bar.
Heater type: boiler.
Auto power off.
Warming cups.
Cappuccino maker.
Dimensions: 290 x 220 x 280 mm.
Weight: 4.7 kg.

How to choose

When choosing between a geyser or drip coffee maker, consider how many cups of coffee you will brew. If you need the same amount of drink every day, you can take a closer look at a geyser machine. But if you are not sure how many cups you will need to brew at a time, it is better to choose a drip brewer.

For lovers of a strong drink, a geyser coffee maker is more suitable. If you prefer to add spices to your coffee, give preference to drip coffee.

When purchasing geyser models, pay attention to the following characteristics:

Power . The higher this indicator, the faster the drink is prepared.
Type of heating . Geyser devices can be electric or gas. Electric ones are more practical, but also more expensive.
Bowl volume . The peculiarity of geyser coffee makers is that only the amount of drink specified by the manufacturer can be prepared at a time. Choose only the volume that you will need each time you brew coffee.
Material . You can purchase a model made of steel or aluminum. The latter material requires careful care so as not to scratch the walls of the bowl. Steel is more practical to use.
Additional functionality . You can choose a coffee maker with pre-grinding, a timer, an off indicator and other functions.

But how to choose a carob coffee maker for your home and what the rating is, you can find out by clicking on the link.

Video shows how to choose the right coffee maker:

Those who decide to purchase a drip coffee maker should consider the following criteria:

Heating element power . For those who love strong coffee, machines with a power of 700 W are suitable. However, in this case, the drink will take longer to prepare than at a higher power.
Material of the bowl for the finished drink . Cheap models have plastic containers. This material has a bad effect on the taste of coffee. It is better to choose glass containers.
Filter . There are paper, nylon, metal and “gold” filters. The most popular are paper ones, which are the cheapest and filter the drink well. These filters are disposable. The remaining types are reusable. The longest service life of “gold” filters, which are coated with titanium nitrite. But they are also the most expensive.
Additional functionality . Drip-type coffee makers can be equipped with the following functions: automatic heating of the stand, overflow protection, strength selection, temperature indicator, timer.

But which geyser coffee maker is better, aluminum or stainless steel, and what parameters should be used to select it, is detailed in the article at the link.

The more additional functions a coffee maker has, the higher its cost. Before purchasing, you should decide which functionality you really need and which you can refuse. This will save money on the purchase and make it possible to use the device comfortably.

When choosing between a drip and geyser coffee maker, focus on what kind of coffee you like. Consider how much time you are willing to devote to preparing the drink. Also consider whether you can regularly change filters if you use a drip machine. Pay attention to the method of heating the geyser coffee maker.

But what the Veko coffee maker for Turkish coffee looks like and how to use it is described in great detail here.

Geysernaya

This device looks like a regular coffee pot. There are stove-top and electric devices, but their operating principle is the same. The coffee maker is a steel tank divided into 2 compartments (this is necessary to separate coffee and water). The water, boiling, rises through the tube and passes through the ground coffee, then returning back to the lower compartment. It turns out a small model of a natural geyser.

Important! There are models in which the cycle repeats. But in order for the drink to be of high quality, only one cycle is enough.

When choosing a geyser coffee maker, you need to pay attention to the following:

Dimensions - so that the drink brewed at one time is enough for the whole family.
Case material. It can be plastic, grilamid, aluminum or stainless steel. Grilamid or stainless steel are preferable, but they are more expensive. The inner coating can be made of ceramics.
It is necessary that the handle be made of a non-heating material.
Water filling level control. For geyser-type coffee makers, this option is invaluable.
Lid. It is desirable that it opens easily and it is imperative that it be made of a material with poor thermal conductivity.

Important! When choosing the dimensions of a geyser coffee maker, consider how many cups of coffee you want to prepare at one time. For example, if the device is designed for 6 cups, and you fill it with less water, it simply will not function.

Advantages:

A geyser coffee maker is suitable for brewing not only coffee, but also tea and herbal infusions.
A good, rich drink.
Easy to care for.

Minuses:

The need to prepare coffee exactly as much as the coffee maker is designed for. Even if it's not necessary.
Relatively long brewing time.

Important! The principle of caring for all geyser devices is the same. The upper flask is washed with running water and detergent. The lower part cannot be washed under water (this does not apply to plate models). Clean the lower compartment using wet and dry wipes.

We hope that from the information provided regarding the differences between these systems, it has become clear to you which coffee maker is better - drip or geyser.

Important! For those who have decided to buy a coffee machine, our separate article will be useful, which contains detailed information about this device - “Rating of coffee machines and the best models.”

Reviews

Marina : “A geyser gas coffee maker is my option. I can't imagine my day without coffee. Therefore, a coffee maker is very helpful on hikes and forays into nature. It’s nice to drink freshly brewed coffee on the river bank or in the forest.”
Sasha : “I’m not very comfortable with complex technology, but I still decided to buy a drip coffee maker. And I was satisfied. The coffee maker is very easy to use and produces delicious coffee. Simply and easily."
Olga: “I really like coffee, but I hate the grounds. Previously, when I brewed in a Turkish coffee pot, I always suffered, trying to carefully pour coffee without grounds into a cup. After I bought a geyser coffee maker, the problem disappeared. Now I drink coffee with pleasure, and I’m not afraid of the “creaking” of the grounds on my teeth.”