Coffee Maker Features
Let's take a look at coffee maker features in some detail.
The first coffee machine feature that you'll commonly see is Digital Controls, which sounds suitably high-tech. What this feature actually means is that the machine will have a number of a selection of features, which may include a timer, clock and auto-off functionality. Auto-off functionality is useful for saving damage to your favourite crockery!
Coffee pods have been increasing in popularity, largely because they are so much easier and less messy to use. You'll find that some coffee makers will highlight pod compatibility among their list of key features.
You can buy some coffee machines that have an in-built, integrated coffee grinder. You'll tend to find this functionality on high specification machines, rather than the lower cost machines that are at the bottom of the range.
Permanent coffee filters do still come as standard on a number of coffee makers, although you can actually buy them separately. It's still worth checking to see if they are included on the machine that you're interested in, as it may save you a little bit of money, which is never a bad thing!
You will also see some machines include a built-in water filter. The basic idea here is that the water filter removes impurities from the water so that you don't get anything nasty left in your coffee. This can be a useful feature, although so many people now use water filters anyway that I don't think it's the end of the world if this functionality is not available.