News

Find out what kind of coffee maker is best for you

Coffee has without doubt become one of the most popular drinks around, whether that’s at home or in a cafe, in the morning or in the evening, it’s always a good time! It is so heavily consumed that it has even become a ritual for some people, who want to make sure they can make the highest quality coffee in their own home. If this sounds like you, and you’re looking for your perfect coffee maker, then this article is for you, we’ll tell you all you need to know.

Types of coffee maker, so many to discover

⦁ Italian coffee makers / moka pots. This is the most common and most traditional, it is made up of 2 metal compartments that screw together, with a funnel-shaped filter inside. The water goes into the bottom compartment, and when it reaches boiling point, it rises to the top compartment passing through the ground coffee which infuses it.
⦁ Plunger / French press. A concept which is over 150 years old, this device is made up of a glass cylinder that has a valve covered with a filter as a lid, and when pushed down, the liquid passes through it and the solids don’t.
⦁ Filter machines. This is one of the most popular types of coffee maker in the United States and it works in the same way as the moka pots and French presses: by infusing the coffee. The only difference is that the coffee drops into the cup having passed through a thick filter.
⦁ Espresso machines. This is the leading coffee maker, or at least the most successful in recent times, used in bars and cafes. It works by heating the water until it reaches a very high pressure. Once the right temperature and pressure have been reached, the water pulls all the flavour from the coffee, resulting in a creamy, fully-bodied and intense liquid.
⦁ Aeropress machines. This modern coffee maker, invented in 2005, uses a fairly simple method, it combines the espresso and French press methods. The interesting thing about this method is that it is fully manual: when you apply the pressure, the remnants stay in the filter and the liquid pours into the cup.
⦁ Single serving / capsule coffee makers Another of the more modern coffee makers that are found in homes these days are the capsule machines. These work in the same way as the espresso machines, but the pressure required is lower so they can make coffee from one capsule and are smaller in size.

Which is the best coffee maker for you?

Now we’ve shown you the most popular and well know coffee makers, it’s down to you to decide which will best suit your taste and needs; we can help you make the decision

⦁ If you’re someone who likes flavoursome and full-bodied coffee, without missing out on the aromas and tones, then the French press is the coffee maker for you.
⦁ If you like to make coffee as fast as possible, then the best coffee makers for you are the espresso or capsule machines.
⦁ If you want to have something that’s easy to clean and maintain, then you should choose the French press, although the moka pots aren’t complicated either.
⦁ Do you like to make a lot of coffee and have it ready with time? If so, you should use a moka pot or a large French press.
⦁ Finally, if you’re the sort to look at the price over a long period of time, the most economical is the filter machine.
⦁ If you want to make the cheapest coffee, then choose a moka pot or a French press without thinking any more about it.
⦁ If you are a purist, you should go for a moka pot or an espresso machine, although some capsule machines could give you good results.
⦁ If you’re looking for a personalised coffee, then a manual espresso machine or, if you want something simpler, an automatic one will be the best for you; although don’t rule out the French press.
⦁ Do you love lattes and cappuccinos? Find a coffee machine specifically for these types of coffee, which would mean choosing the capsule or espresso machines.

Take a look at our coffee makers section where we’ve got a wide range of products for everyone. The choice is yours!

What is the best material for kitchen utensils?

When it comes to cooking, it is vital to have the appropriate materials, and we're not just talking about frying pans, saucepans or plate racks, you also have to think about kitchen utensils, because we use them every day!

In our blog, we never tire of reminding you that not everything in the world of kitchen utensils is metal, but that the best options go beyond that. There are wonderful options, each with their pros and cons, we will tell you more about them.

Wooden kitchen utensils

There must be a reason why they are the most widely used for thousands of years! With the correct type of wood, they are very hard-wearing and durable kitchen utensils; in addition, they don’t ruin your frying pans when using them.

However, you have to take special care with this material.  With use, some woods carry a significant bacteriological risk because of their porous surface, although this is a drawback that can be avoided if you opt for quality wooden utensils.  Therefore, don’t hesitate, if you choose this type of utensils, our advice is that you go for bamboo, they are hard wearing and easy to clean.

Silicone kitchen utensils

We can’t deny it, they are the best.  Lack of knowledge sometimes means that people don’t choose this material, however, silicone is very stable even at high temperatures, which ensures transference of substances and/or flavours is ruled out.  

These kitchen utensils are extremely hard wearing and BPA-free, they are also ideal for the dishwasher.  

Like everything in life, they have a disadvantage: their flexibility. Many items have the downside of not being able to support much weight, which makes them inconvenient and impractical.  The solution? Go for those that are made of a hard wearing core and finished with high quality silicone, or buy kitchen utensils made of silicone and stainless steel.

Stainless steel kitchen utensils.

The “eternal” stainless steel kitchen utensils can last a lifetime, but you have to bear in mind that they are a frying pan’s enemy, to the point of destroying them with the minimum scratch.  However, they are a very good option for the oven and for iron or stainless steel frying pans.

They are a great ally to any self-respecting chef, since they are the most hard-wearing, safe and healthy kitchen utensils. They can be placed in the dishwasher and are also ideal for “scraping” certain surfaces, such as the oven tray.  On the other hand, there are surfaces that are not at all compatible with them, so always try to put them to good use.

As you have been able to see, they all have their advantages and disadvantages, so the best material for kitchen utensils totally depends on the use you are going to make of them.  And if not, you can always try all three! The more, the better!