Grey mornings got you yawning? A good coffee maker might be the answer. Many of today's coffeemakers tout fancy features and high price tags to match. But what you really have to pay to get the best home brew?
Lots of people wouldn't think of giving up coffee - but a lot fewer people are buying their coffee out these days. In fact sales at Starbucks are down six per cent. Sales of coffeemakers are up five per cent. So which are the best to buy?
Consumer Reports just tested more than 50 coffeemakers to find ones that do a good job and save you money.
"Our brew test measures a coffeemakers ability to reach 195 to 205 degrees. That's the temperature you need to extract the most flavour from the coffee," said John Macchia of Consumer Reports.
Testers looked at traditional drip coffee makers and brew stations, too, which let you fill your cup directly from the machine. Prices ranged from $20 all the way to $265 for a Technivorm, heavily touted by coffee connoisseurs. But do you need to spend a lot to get a good coffeemaker?
The Technivorm did ace Consumer Reports brew tests. But it's not all that easy to use.
"The Technivorm has a lot of parts and takes some patience to put together. And then you have to slide the carafe in the right spot or else it won't brew," Macchia said.
And while the $165 Bunn BTX-B was fast, its brew performance was just mediocre. However, of the dozens of coffeemakers Consumer Reports tested, there were several very good, less expensive ones. The top-rated $120 Cuisinart Brew Central is easy to use and rated excellent in Consumer Reports brew tests.
And if you are brewing small amounts, a French press can get the water to the critical near boiling temperature and give you a great cup for less.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen.
