Bialetti Arte Concept Series
- another collection released in honor of the company's anniversary - covers the past century and pays tribute to outstanding artists of the 20th century, such as Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Miró, Keith Haring, Henri Matisse, Rene Magritte.
The choice of the authors is not accidental. Many artists on whom Bialetti
references in this series, sought to blur the line between the common man and art - just like Alfonso Bialetti with his
Moka Express
, a work of industrial art that is both exhibited in museums and at the same time faithfully serving people in homes around the world. Other artists in the series, even if they did not strive to join mass culture, still had a colossal influence on the formation of the culture of the entire 20th and 21st centuries (although even Kandinsky strove for understanding, writing several theoretical works).
René Francois Ghislain Magritte
(1898−1967) is a Belgian artist whose style is often called surrealistic, but the author himself insisted on the definition of “magical realism.” Magritte's works are distinguished by the deep metaphorical nature of their images, sometimes immediately understandable, and sometimes giving rise to hundreds of interpretations. At the same time, the images themselves often carry a reference to the art of illusionists (the artist even named his style accordingly), and the most common character on the canvases is a man in a bowler hat (the prototype of which is presumably Magritte himself) - inconspicuous, but mysterious. The artist himself lived a shamelessly trivial life, to the last, like a magician, trying to distract the attention of the audience from his unremarkable figure with amazing tricks-pictures.
What is the difference between drip coffee makers and others?
The principle of their operation and the temperature of the brewing water are optimal for producing American-style coffee. To prepare it, you simply need to pour the required amount of water into the coffee maker and add ground coffee to a special cone-shaped filter.
After turning on the device, the water heats up and steam is formed, from which drops of condensate are formed at a certain temperature (85-90°C). These hot water droplets pass through the coffee powder in the filter and flow into the glass flask.
And from there the finished drink is poured into cups or mugs. Drip coffee makers are extremely easy to use and inexpensive . No wonder they are widespread.
Rating
Mini
Krups KP 1201/1205/1206/1208 Mini Me
Price from 4.45 thousand rubles, power 1.5 kW, 15 bar nominal pressure, weight 2.6 kg, dimensions 375x194x305 mm, type - capsule, water volume 0.8 l. Prepares cappuccino manually with portion control, 24 month warranty, production facilities in China and Indonesia.
Quality, originality of design, attractive price, and Dolce Gusto capsules can offer a taste sensation for every taste - 23 items, you can buy in almost any grocery store in your city.
They are attractive at an affordable price, and the system allows you to prepare a variety of drinks.
Bosch TAS 3202/3203/3204/3205 SUNY
The body is made of food-grade plastic, the average cost is 4.3 thousand rubles, power 1.3 kW, pressure no more than 3.3 bar, the tank holds only 0.8 liters of water, weight 2.14 kg and modest dimensions 170x300x250 mm. Automatic decalcification, prepares 12 coffee-based drinks: cappuccino, espresso, latte and Milka cocoa, brews Twinings strong tea. Smart technology already knows the capsules by barcode and which program to turn on.
Preparation speed is no more than 30 seconds, a wide variety of drinks: in addition to coffee, it prepares milkshakes. Compactness, build quality, stylish design, simple controls. Bosch always pleases users with high-quality equipment.
Bodum Coffee Press & Travel Tea
Uniquely small dimensions 88.9x88.9x231 mm, finished product yield 15 ounces or 425 grams, price from 1280 rubles. The case is made with double walls, stainless steel coated with silicone, does not slip in your hands. The preparation method is simple: add coarsely ground coffee, add hot water, close the lid tightly. Wait 4 minutes, and the invigorating drink is ready.
Quickly brews any type of coffee and tea, convenient to use on long trips and while walking in the forest. A unique thermos keeps drinks hot for a long time. Great for outdoor enthusiasts and travelers. It is unpretentious in maintenance, all the parts need to be washed with running water, and it is ready for preparing the next portion.
Bosch TKA 3A031/3A034
The average cost is 2.5 thousand ₽, the volume of a tempered glass coffee pot is 1.25 l, there is a scale with gradation of filling level, type - drip, power 1.1 kW. Dimensions 170x340x250 mm, weight 1.5 kg, designed for brewing classic coffee - Americano. The finished drink is collected by dripping into a container; you don’t have to wait for it to be completely filled—as soon as it’s enough to fill one mug, you can pour it and enjoy hot coffee.
The strength is regulated by the ratio of the powder and water poured in, coffee is prepared with one press of the start button, it is very convenient - you can wash and get dressed, freeing up a lot of time in the morning. The product is not equipped with disposable filters, but buying them is not a problem - 100 pieces for 150 rubles.
Makes 2 cups
KitchenAid 5KES2102
The American brand can be purchased at an average price of 95 thousand rubles, two separate boilers, one of which pumps out rapid steam for cappuccino with a pressure of 15 bar, the carob type uses only ground beans. Power 1.3 kW, water tank holds 2 liters, weight 11.8 kg, dimensions 320x400x310 mm. A measuring spoon, a 255 ml milk frothing jug, a brush for cleaning the mesh, and two spare filters are supplied separately.
A very unusual design of the body, brews excellent coffee with persistent foam, various functional qualities allow you to prepare latte, espresso or cappuccino. The drink does not cool down due to the constant heating of the containers from below.
Nuova Simonelli Oscar
The Italian company has released a decent model with an average cost of 46 thousand rubles, a water volume of 2.3 liters, a horn made of metal, a power of 1.2 kW, and uses only ground powder. Dimensions 300x408x400 mm, weight 13 kg, prepares two cups of aromatic drink at once.
Excellent design, many users note high reliability - in 8 years they only changed a small heating element. High performance of the heat exchanger - in 10-20 seconds milk is whipped to a dense foam, a copper boiler and pipelines, a portafilter ensure the stability of long-term heat retention. Disadvantages: the body is made of plastic, there is no anti-vacuum and OPV valves.
Philips HD 8649
This model is assembled in Romania, its average price is 17.99 thousand rubles, power is 1.4 kW, pressure is created in the boiler up to 15 bar, dimensions are 295x420x325 mm, weight is 7 kg. There is automatic decalcification, the body material is plastic, it makes cappuccino, your favorite recipe can be added to the recipe program. The container capacity for used coffee is 8 servings, the brew group is removable.
Quite compact, smart technology that fits harmoniously into any interior, as it takes up little space. Prepares two cups of strong coffee at the same time, there are all standard adjustments, for example, grinding quality - 5 options, 2-year warranty. There is a level indicator in the removable water tank.
De'Longhi ECAM 22.110 Magnifica S
An original type coffee machine priced from 20.8 thousand ₽, water volume 1.8 l, power 1.45 kW, 15 bar pressure, dimensions 240x350x430 mm, weight 9 kg, uses grain and ground coffee. The bean container holds 250 g, there is adjustment of the degree of grinding, hot water portions, pre-wetting, and quick steam.
Excellent value for money, makes coffee quickly, lots of personal settings for recipes, simple controls, takes up a modest space, good cappuccino maker, impressive number of drinks and simple maintenance.
What to pay attention to
Power.
The speed of coffee preparation and its quantity depend on this parameter. It is logical that larger models have higher power. However, for regular drip coffee makers of the same size, the coffee strength may be higher with less powerful ones. This is because the brewing process in them takes longer. If you need a stronger drink, you should choose a model with 750-800 W.
Type of coffee filters.
Absolutely all drip coffee makers require a special filter to add ground coffee to it. But these filters may be different in different models. When choosing a coffee maker, it is important to pay attention to this.
Nylon. This type is the most common. And it is usually included with the coffee maker. Most users consider it permanent and use it until it wears out. But you need to take into account that the quality of food prepared in such a filter deteriorates after a certain time. Although it is reusable, its actual lifespan is approximately 60 brewing cycles.
"Golden" . This is a variation of the same nylon filter, but coated with a protective layer of titanium nitride. Its special feature is its slightly longer service life and ease of cleaning. However, the benefits are not particularly great, but the price may increase significantly.
Paper disposable. Such filters are rightfully considered the most practical and environmentally friendly. After each use, the paper cones containing the remaining coffee powder are simply thrown away.
Characteristics and Features
These parameters for mini-products are similar to standard ones, they differ only in the volume of the prepared tonic drink:
- type of coffee maker - capsule, drip, geyser or carob;
- the type of coffee used - ground powder, pods, capsules, in this they are also not much different from standard products;
- the presence of a cappuccino maker - some models have a built-in such device, others are designed without it, the capsule version practically does not need it, since the abundance of recipes here depends on the contents of the capsules;
- preparing espresso/cappuccino - both manually and automatically, depending on the model;
- built-in coffee grinder - used in some standard versions for two cups, mini-models are based on ground powder, pods or capsules;
- control of coffee strength - if the model is geyser, then only by the amount of coffee poured;
- type of capsules - different companies produce a large number of capsules with various flavoring additives, some only for their models, they even install a special mechanism that renders competitors’ products unusable;
- volume - small: from one to two cups maximum;
- possibility of embedding - this function is not used due to its small dimensions;
- self-cleaning descaling - some branded products are equipped with this function for ease of maintenance; just add a special tablet at the right time.
Minimalist models are a smaller copy of their larger counterparts, designed for a small volume of the finished drink, so they simply do not need some functional features due to the specifics of their use.
Characteristics
- Power 350 W.
- Number of cups 1.
- No jug heating.
- The material of the jug is glass.
- The filter is replaceable.
- There is a water level indicator.
- There is no auto shutdown.
Flaws
There is nothing absolutely perfect in this world.
- Filters must be replaced periodically. Even if they seem permanent, their resource is limited;
- you need to wash the device after each use;
- Not very strong and sometimes not hot enough freshly prepared coffee.
- You won’t be able to achieve that creamy crema that is typical for espresso coffee makers. And making cappuccino by frothing milk with steam is not possible.
- The cord is short - only 70 cm (either there should be an outlet very close by, or an extension cord).
How to choose a portable coffee maker
To make sure you're making the right choice for your needs, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself.
- What type of coffee do you prefer? Different devices are designed for different brewing methods, and changing them usually won't work. This is perhaps the most important factor when choosing the perfect portable coffee maker.
- Mini - how much is it in terms of size and weight? Lack of space is a common reality among travelers, especially frequent flyers. Sometimes it's more important to have a supply of clothes than a coffee maker. The weight and size of equipment is also very important for a hike.
- Will there be access to electricity? For those who choose a mini coffee maker for home, office or on the road and move around cities, this is usually not a problem, but for those who prepare a drink in the open air, it is important.
- What else could you need? How many accessories do you need to make a cup of coffee? Disposable or reusable filters (or even a fabric filter that will need to be washed and dried), a coffee grinder, a milk shaker, a container for storing ground coffee? All this affects the weight and overall cost.
Regardless of what accessories are needed, you will need to solve the issue of boiling water - in a mini-kettle or container that can be placed on an open fire, or this will be done by the coffee machine itself.
You may also need a thermal sippy cup into which you will pour the finished drink - this is important for travelers.
