A year into the pandemic, all of us have had to make sweeping changes to our lives both at work and home. One of the most notable changes is the huge (and necessary) shift towards home working with an estimated 71% of us now working at home compared to 20% the previous year [1]. Now that home and flexible work has become more acceptable to many employers, there’s a good chance that this way of working will stick around.
If you’re contemplating whether to continue work at home, you might be thinking about what adjustments you can make to your home office space. After all, you might as well take the opportunity to design your office space exactly how you want it, something that you might not have had much of a say in previously.
One thing you might want to think about is a [amazon link=”B08PD572M7″ title=”coffee maker” /]. Whilst this might sound like a trivial addition to a long list of home office improvements, statistics show that the average office worker in the USA will drink around 1049 cups of coffee over a year.
We’re not just talking about instant coffee either with around 70% of the coffee consumed described as a ‘gourmet beverage’ and 32% consuming a daily espresso-based drink [2]. Even when the pandemic is (finally) over, you may not want to return to your local coffee shop as it’s estimated that drinking coffee at home can save up to $427 year compared to coffee from coffee shops, not to mention the plastic waste saved from single-use take out cups.
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If this sounds good to you, read on to discover some of the best coffee machines you can buy for home working.
Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker
Starting with a classic best seller, this is the go to coffee machine for those who are familiar (or want to become familiar!) with Keurig’s k-cup coffee pods, the dominant brand in the US. With a generous 48 Oz capacity meaning fewer trips to the faucet, this machine gives access to k-cup’s huge catalogue of over 400 drinks at the touch of a button. Brew time is swift with the whole process taking under one minute.
Another handy feature is that multiple pod sizes can be brewed (6, 8, 10 Oz) giving you control over the strength and length of your perfect cup. Given utility bills are likely to go up as we spend more time at home, the auto-off feature saves energy and money by switching off after two hours of being idle. Whilst not being the fanciest machine on the list, this is the perfect machine for reliable, everyday use.
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Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System
If you’re missing your coffeehouse style favourites, look no further than this machine from Ninja. The range of drinks you can make is huge from your classic hot brew and cold brew to over ice (without the watered down flavour!), this machine can also brew your choice of loose leaf tea.
It’s integrated milk frother lets you go even further to recreate your favourite coffeehouse style drinks from cappuccinos to lattes, all from the comfort of your own home. The patented auto IQ one touch system means that making your drinks is a breeze, delivering consistency every single time.
Doing away with the pod system gives you more control over the strength of your drink with thoughtful touches such as the integrated smart scoop making it easier to measure out exactly the right amount of coffee grounds or tea leaves that’s best for you.
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Barsetto Gevi Espresso Machine 15 Bar with Adjustable Milk Frother
If you consider yourself a connoisseur who knows their espresso from ristretto, this may be the machine for you. Sporting a powerful Italian imported pump, this espresso delivers 15 bars of pressure to extract the perfect, full flavoured espresso.
Rather than stopping at espresso alone, this machine comes with a milk frothing wand allowing you to make your favourite espresso based drinks from macchiatos to flat whites. It also features an accurate temperature dial allowing you to control the temperature of milk and water, giving you a readily customised drink with the perfect amount of crema. Ease of use has been thought of with a clear display and transparent water tank indicating when it needs to be refilled.
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Nespresso VertuoPlus with Aeroccino Milk Frother
Like the Android vs Apple debate, you may be an Nespresso person over K-cup. Favoured by the European market over Keurig’s offerings this is a versatile yet compact machine capable of making coffee in a variety of sizes from espresso (1.35 Oz) to alto (14 Oz) using Nespresso’s high quality Vertuo pods, a packet of which comes free with the machine.
This is perhaps the sleekest looking machine on the list and takes a different approach to the Keurig machine by spinning each pot at 7000 rpm to blend the coffee with water, producing a thick and luxurious crema. Even more impressively, the machine reads each pod’s barcode to achieve pod-specific brewing settings leading to consistently high-quality coffee.
This is the most expensive machine on the list but it’s clear to see why bringing more than a touch of sophistication to your home office.
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Secura French Press Coffee Maker
There’s beauty in simplicity and this French press certainly delivers on that if you are looking for a non electric coffee maker. Made from high quality stainless steel, this coffee maker is built to last with a double wall build keeping coffee hot for longer whilst you work. Unlike other French presses, this coffee maker features a triple layer filter to trap even the finest coffee grounds, allowing you to make the most of your coffee and enjoy a full bodied taste.
Added to this, a fully removable steel screen comes with the pot allowing for an even more refined and smooth drink. Keeping safety comfort in mind, the handle has ‘cool touch’ technology making for comfortable and enjoyable use. At the end of the working day, this French press can be easily disassembled and cleaned, ready for the next day.
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REFERENCES
1) https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/12/09/how-the-coronavirus-outbreak-has-and-hasnt-changed-the-way-americans-work/
2) https://myfriendscoffee.com/usa-coffee-statistics/