Coffeemaker facts for kids
A coffeemaker is a kitchen tool used to make coffee. There are many kinds, but most work in two main ways: using gravity or using pressure.
In the most common type, called a drip coffeemaker, you put coffee grounds into a filter. This filter sits over a glass or ceramic coffee pot. Cold water goes into a separate part. This water gets hot and then drips over the coffee grounds. Gravity pulls the hot water through the grounds, making coffee that collects in the pot below.
Other coffeemakers, like espresso machines, use pressure. They force hot water through very finely ground coffee. This makes a strong, concentrated coffee called espresso.
Contents
Types of Coffeemakers
Vacuum Coffeemakers
A special type of coffeemaker is the vacuum brewer. It uses a unique process where water is heated in a lower chamber, then pushed up into an upper chamber where the coffee grounds are. After brewing, the coffee flows back down into the lower chamber.
On August 27, 1930, a woman named Inez H. Peirce from Chicago, Illinois, got a patent for the first vacuum coffeemaker that worked automatically. This meant people didn't need to use a stove or special fuel to brew coffee with it.
Cafetiere (French Press)
A cafetiere, also known as a French press, makes coffee in a different way. For this method, you need coffee grounds that are a bit coarser than what you'd use for a drip coffeemaker. If the grounds are too fine, they might slip through the press filter.
With a cafetiere, the coffee grounds stay in direct contact with the hot water while brewing. Instead of a paper filter, a mesh screen is used to separate the grounds from the coffee. This method often gives coffee a richer, fuller flavor because more of the coffee's natural oils stay in the drink.
You can make the coffee as strong as you like by changing how much ground coffee you use. Some people like to drink French press coffee right away. If the used coffee grounds stay in the drink for too long after brewing, some people find the coffee can become a bit bitter.
Single-Serve Coffeemakers
Single-serve coffeemakers became very popular in the 2000s. These machines are designed to make just one cup of coffee at a time. They often use pre-packaged coffee pods or capsules, making it quick and easy to brew a fresh cup.
Images for kids
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A 2016-model electric coffeemaker
See also
In Spanish: Cafetera para niños
