A big topic of discussion between American coffee lovers: drip coffee or espresso? It’s a complicated subject.
On the one hand, you’ve got filter coffee machines or “drip” coffee machines, which have been traditionally loved in the US since the 1950s – and then there’s espresso, which is loved the world over for its fragrant aroma and intense flavor.
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In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of each type of machine – and see which is best depending on these pros and cons.
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Pros and cons of filter coffee machines
Pros
Filter coffee machines are easy to use
When compared to espresso machines, drip coffee makers are just so much easier to use.
A drip coffee maker involves pouring in the coffee and the water, and pushing a button. That’s all there is to it: a button.
But espresso machines need you to develop some skill, tamping, pulling the perfect shot with the perfect timing, and so on and so forth. It’s quite a hassle.
They are good for making a lot of coffee
Typically, a filter coffee machine will come with a carafe. They are designed toward making big batches of coffee, which can hold usually between eight and twelve cups at a time.
With an espresso machine, you can make one, maybe two shots of espresso at a time. It is a very time-consuming operation, and for some people it is just not worth it at all when you can make 10x times the coffee with 10x times less effort.
This also makes filter coffee machines better for other settings, like big households and the office.
Less expensive
The machinery involved in making drip coffee is way less complicated than that of an espresso machine. Espresso machines need pistons to generate water pressure – all a drip coffee machine needs to do is pour coffee over the grounds.
At most, it will have a showerhead to pour water evenly.
This makes them comically cheap for what they are able to deliver, making them one of America’s favorite coffee makers.
According to Disturbmenot.co, 45% of all US coffee consumers brew their coffee fix with drip coffee makers.
They are programmable
One big feature that still makes drip coffee machines super attractive to coffee drinkers of all ages is that they are programmable. What does this mean, exactly? Well, you can set your machine to start brewing coffee at the programmed time.
So you just pour coffee, water, program it and you can now wake up to freshly brewed coffee. And that is an amazing feature that no other type of coffee machine can top yet – except for super automatic machines, but that’s beyond the point.
Cons
Not versatile
With an espresso machine, you can make espresso. And from espresso, you can make a dozen different drinks. But a filter coffee machine will make black coffee, and that’s it. You aren’t drinking anything other than black coffee if you own one of these.
Boring to use
A drip coffee maker doesn’t offer any sort of experience or challenge to it. It is easy to get bored with them, and this can make you feel bored or not as excited about your coffee as you probably used to be.
Espresso machines, on the other hand, offer all sorts of experiences and challenges and things to try that keep it fun and exciting.
Espresso machines: pros and cons
Pros
They make great coffee
It is impossible to argue with this point! …right? Right! Espresso is better coffee, by all accounts, than black coffee. Yes, it is.
And it is particularly better than filter coffee machine black coffee!
For those coffee lovers that just need really good savory coffee, then it’s probably a no-brainer: an espresso machine is a must-have.
Espresso machines are adaptable
Espresso is great coffee per se but it also serves as the base for countless other drinks.
Having an espresso machine also means being able to make a latte if you feel like it. Or a cappuccino. Or any other drink!
Cons
Has a steep learning curve
With a filter coffee machine you buy it, you press a button, and that’s it.
With an espresso machine, that’s a little more complicated: you need to understand that the first few months you’re not gonna be able to make good coffee.
In fact, whatever coffee you manage to make might be near undrinkable.
Espresso machines are more expensive
Espresso machines need very complicated machinery, they need to heat up water for espresso, heat up water to make steam for the steam wand…
There’s a host of things that espresso machines do that other machines don’t.
Which is why they are so very expensive.
Getting a low-end espresso machine might be a bad investment, so people usually only consider the more expensive ones, and they can take you back more than a thousand dollars.
Conclusion
So which is better? Espresso machine or filter coffee machine? That answer will vary from person to person.
What we do know is that each of these machines has a different way of working and they deliver a different coffee in a different way.
When it comes to coffee, it’s all about personal preference.
So trust your instincts and choose what feels right for you!
Photos by TeaCoffee99 and Karolina Grabowska
