There are few better ways to start your day off right than with a great cup of coffee. In fact, 50 percent of all Americans make coffee a regular part of their day – that’s more than 150 million daily coffee drinkers.
The only question is whether or not you’re going to make your coffee at home – or if you’ll be stopping off at one of the 50,000 coffee shops across the United States. With the wide variety of coffee makers available today, there are no reasons you have to leave your home to get a great brew.

With countless brands of coffee makers out there, some rise to the top in terms of sophistication and variety of features. Cuisinart makes more than three dozen models, Breville makes more than two dozen coffeemakers and Krups makes an even dozen. So what sets them apart and how do you judge the one that will start your day off right? Start by considering their features:

Grind and Brew

The Cuisinart DGB-300BK Automatic Grind and Brew 10-cup coffee maker gives you one of the freshest cups of coffee around. It automatically grinds and then brews the coffee beans. It makes a maximum of 10 cups of coffee, but also has a brew/pause feature that allows you to brew one cup at a time. Its brewing system is the same one used in commercial coffee makers. This model has an easy-to-read LCD display that makes programming easy and the heater plate has several settings.

Krups makes another model to consider, the Krups KM7000 Grind-and-Brew 10-cup coffee maker. It features a conical burr grinder with five grind levels. It can be programmed for two, four, six, eight or ten cups of coffee – and a choice of three coffee strengths. It also has a built-in water filtration system and a brew/pause feature.

Thermoflask

Before you go to bed, set up your morning coffee using the Cuisinart DCC-1400 Brew Central 10-cup Thermal Coffee Maker. You set the time for it to go on and the thermoflask will keep it warm until you’re up and moving. An audible tone will let you know when the brew cycle is complete. A charcoal filter clears up the water and a goldtone filter means there are no messy filters involved.

Esppreso/Coffee Maker

For a different brew, Krups offers the XP7260 Automatic Espresso and Cappuccino Machine. Right there in your kitchen, you can turn out a fresh cup of espresso, cappuccino or coffee. All you have to do is add the water, espresso beans and then hit the button. The machine will automatically grind, brew and tamp the beans. When it’s finished, it dispenses the grounds into a container for easy disposal.For tight spaces, consider the gorgeous red Nespresso Citiz C110RE Espresso Maker.  It’s got an urban look and is designed to fit in small spaces.

Single-Serve

If you live alone – or maybe you’re the only coffee lover in your house – single-service coffee makers can be a great option. With the Krups KP2102VP Nescafe Dolce Gusto Single Serve Coffee Machine, you can brew one cup in under a minute. You use coffee capsules – one for coffee and two for cappuccino – so there’s no grinding involved. It has a 15-bar pump and a control lever so you can adjust the strength of your brew.

Stovetop Percolator

When all you want is a basic cup of coffee, a machine may be more technology than you need. A glass, eight-cup Stovetop Percolator lets you brew a pot of coffee on the stove – and the heat-tolerant handle won’t burn you. This percolator can go right from the heat source to the table without cracking.

Stainless Steel

Some people swear by their stainless steel percolators for the best and easiest cup of coffee. The Farberware Millenium Automatic 4-cup Percolator will brew two to four cups in two to four minutes (a minute per cup). When it’s finished brewing, it will automatically change to a warming mode. The handle and cover knob stay cool and the cord detaches for easy cleanup. The durable stainless steel will stay bright for years to come.

Party-Size

When you’re serving coffee to the masses – maybe a dinner party or an office event – there’s nothing like the mega-cup coffee makers. Some brew up to 42 cups of coffee, such as the Hamilton Beach 40515 42-cup Coffee Urn. It can also brew as few as 12 cups of coffee at the rate of one cup per minute. It’s easy to fill, with a clear water level indicator. The cord is removable and the twist-off lid and the brew basket can be thrown in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.

Colors

Some people want their appliances to match the décor of the kitchen – something that is easy to do with the different colors of coffee makers available – like white, red and even a black-and-white cow print.Few luxuries in life are as simple and satisfying as a good cup of coffee. Get yours every morning with one of these fantastic coffee makers.

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