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No doubt that- for most of you reading this article-you've already made a beeline toward your trusty coffee maker for at least one cup of joe. In fact, The Financial Express reports that 128 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee are sold yearly. Even more stunning is a 2007 report from The National Coffee Association, which reveals that 80% of adults residing in the United States drink coffee. If you are like me, you were introduced to drinking coffee at work in your late teens, where everyone gathered around that big Bunn coffee maker.

Coffee Maker Brewing Methods

No matter how you brew it, we love our coffee and our coffee makers. There's a myriad of coffee makers to brew your morning cup, including:

-Coffee presses,

-Manual-drip systems,

-Percolators, and

-Pod and K-cup coffeemakers.

But, by far, the preferred coffee maker is the automatic drip coffee maker. And if you aren't astounded yet by the figures, get ready: over 14 million automatic drip coffee makers are sold yearly, according to Consumer Reports.

Coffee Maker Brand Names

Consumer Reports indicates Mr. Coffee and Black and Decker are the two most preferred brands of coffee makers. Other brands that are top-sellers are Braun, Cuisinart, Delonghi, Krups, Melitta, and Proctor-Silex. Determining the best coffee maker for you may hinge more on your individual preferences for specific features than on choosing the most popular brand sold.

Coffee Maker Features

Single cup brewing systems have recently become en vogue. For those of us who drink only one or two cups in the morning, their convenience and economy cannot be beat. I love my single cup brewing system made by Keurig. Using the single "K-cup" method, it brews a sumptuous cup of coffee and allows me to choose the size: 5 ounces, 7 ounces or 9 ounces. Homes with 2 coffee drinkers tend to have a coffee maker that can brew 10 or even 12 cups at a time. The Braun coffee maker in my top cabinet makes 10 cups, which is nice when I have guests.

Less expensive models have fewer features but will still make a good cup of joe. Some coffee makers have only one button to turn the maker on and off. Others have features that can be programmed in, like automatic brewing at your selected time and automatic shut-off. Some even include carafes that keep the coffee hot after it is brewed.

Also, a nice extra on some makers is a permanent filter. You never have to spend money or mess with those paper ones that are tough to separate and handle. Of course, we haven't even talked about the pricier espresso and cappuccino makers that can froth your milk!

Pricing and Coffee Maker Colors

Speaking of pricing, it ranges from $10 to $300 or more. You can buy a 4-cup coffee maker for around $10. For $129.00, Cuisinart coffee makers-like the Grind n Brew 10-Cup Thermal coffee makers-are available. Or you can go all the way with a Capresso coffee maker that makes espresso for $299.99.

In terms of colors, white used to be the standard for coffee makers. Then manufacturers began offering a choice of black also. Now, you can find coffee makers in red, orange, green, and even pink! If you prefer, stainless steel coffee makers can also be found at appliance stores.

No matter what the brewing method, brand name or price, be sure to select the coffee maker features you really want. Who knows, maybe just the sight of that perky, pink coffee maker will wake you up.

Learn more about this author, Rita Chaney.
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