A Guide to How Coffee Makers Work

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www.thebestdripcoffeemaker.com/

• A Guide to How Coffee Makers Work

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COMPONENTS OF A COFFEE MAKER
Most people can't get started in the morning
without a good swift kick to the pants. Well,
that or a nice strong cup of coffee! But how does
your coffee maker take regular cold tap water and
turn it into a cup of steaming, rich, black
deliciousness? The inner workings of a coffee
maker are really not that mind blowing at all.
The typical coffee maker features an on/off
switch, a heating element, a warming plate, a
chamber for holding the cold water and a rubber
tube for delivering the hot water to be dripped
through the grounds and a glass carafe.
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HOW A COFFEE MAKER WORKS
When you make a pot of coffee, the first thing
you do is fill the holding chamber with cold
water. Inside the chamber, you will see a piece
of rubber tubing stretching from the bottom of
the chamber to the top. At the bottom of the
holding chamber, you will see a hole.When you
turn the coffee maker on, water is drawn into the
hole at the bottom of the chamber. At the same
time, electric is delivered to the heating
element and the warming plate begins to heat. The
water travels through a one-way valve into an
aluminum tube which wraps around the base of the
warming pad. Inside the tube, the water is boiled
using the same heat that is making the warming
pad hot. Once heated, the water travels back up
through the black rubber tube and drips onto and
through the grounds of coffee.The coffee maker
has a number of temperature sensors designed to
cut the power to the coil if it starts getting
too hot.
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POTENTIAL COFFEE MAKER PROBLEMS
While the coffee maker is a relatively simple and
trouble-free appliance, there are still a few
things that can go wrong with it. One of the most
common problems is that the aluminum tube can get
clogged with calcium. This is remedied by running
white vinegar through the machine. Just be sure
to run two more cycles of clean water through it
before making another pot of coffee.Another
problem is that the one-way valve can get stuck
in the open position. Usually, something got into
the coffee pot's holding chamber and obstructed
it. It can usually be cleared out by using a
toothpick.On the electrical end, your coffee
maker's on/off switch or power cord can
ultimately go bad. While these are relatively
easy to fix, with the price of coffee machines so
low, it may be better just to purchase a new one.
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The Coffee Making Process

• And now for the important part - making coffee!
  You know how to add grounds and a filter, and
  then fill the reservoir with water. But here's
  where the magic comes into play with coffee
  makers
• After pouring water into the reservoir, it flows
  through the hole and into the aluminum tube in
  the heating element.
• Once you've hit the switch, the heating element
  heats the aluminum tube, eventually boiling the
  water.
• The water bubbles, caused by it boiling, rise up
  into the second tube. Being smaller, this tube
  allows for some water to ride upwards on the
  boiling bubbles.

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The Coffee Making Process
4. The boiling water flows up into the drip area,
where it is spread out in order to drip evenly on
coffee grounds. 5.Hot water flows through the
grounds, creating the wonderful coffee we all
know and love, and then finishes its journey in
the coffee pot. One of the biggest advantages of
a simple drip coffee maker is that the machines
are designed to make a large amount of coffee at
one time. Normally, these coffee machines can
make as many as 12 cups of coffee in a single
cycle. Additionally, drip coffeemakers allow for
you to plan ahead. Since the coffee making system
is closed, you can add water and set up the
machine the night before without worrying about
the water or the coffee beans being contaminated
overnight. This way, you're a simple button push
away from a great cup of coffee in the morning.
With no real mechanical pump and almost no moving
parts at all, drip coffee makers are almost as
simple as French press pots, and just as
reliable. Some coffee machines have more advanced
features, including programmable timers and
strength controllers. These coffee machines still
utilize the same basic process, however, ensuring
they remain reliable and virtually
maintenance-free.
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Potential Coffee Maker Problems
Despite how reliable coffee makers are today,
there are still a few potential issues that can
arise over their lifetime. Some of the most
common problems that occur in coffee machines
include Issues with the power cord or switch.
Like most electrical appliances, sometimes the
power cord just quits on you. The same can happen
with the switch, however it still is somewhat
rare. If this happens, your best bet is to either
let a pro check it out or go shopping for a new
coffee maker. Clogged valves. A simple problem
to fix, occasionally the valve that works in
conjunction with tube connecting the hot water to
the drip area can become clogged. In this
instance, excess debris causing the clog can
usually be removed by hand. Clogged tubes. In
the case of clogged tubes within your coffee
maker, excess calcium is usually the culprit.
This can particularly be a problem with the tube
on the heating element. As with other home
appliances, usually just a simple run of vinegar
through the machine can clean it out and dislodge
any calcium buildups.
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Potential Coffee Maker Problems
Heating element failure. Regardless of whether
it's the switch in the heating element or the
coil itself, this is a tough - though rare. In
this case, your only real option is to start
shopping for a new coffee machine.
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Get the Grind Right to Speed Up Brewing Time

• Coffee gets its flavor and aroma during a process
  called extraction when the hot water passes
  through the ground up beans. If this happens too
  quickly, the coffee will be weak if it happens
  too slowly, it will be bitter. The speed of this
  is decided by how fine the grind of the coffee
  is.
• For most auto drip coffee makers you want a fine
  or medium grind depending on the type of filter
  your coffee maker uses. Here's an estimation of
  how fine to grind it
• Flat Bottom Filters Medium (close to the texture
  of sand).
• Cone Shaped Filters Medium/Fine (A little finer
  than granulated sugar).
• Gold/Plastic Permanent Filters Medium.
• It might take a little experimenting to get the
  right grind. If your coffee is too bitter, try a
  coarser grind. If it's lacking flavor, try a
  finer grind.