If you know anything about coffee, you know that a brewing system can make or break a good batch of delicious beans.
Are you looking for a coffee maker that is tried and true? Something that is built to last and has the best bang for your buck?
The SCAA has got you covered!
What is the Specialty Coffee Association and why should we trust them?
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is a non-profit organization that is built of tasters, roasters, coffee shop owners andmanufacturers that are obsessed with good coffee.
They are so in love with coffee culture that they test various at home coffee makers every year to make cafe level quality available to everyone and in the comfort of your own home!
The SCA has a board of specialist that test each machine for speed, temperature, usability and taste.
Here are three coffee machines that the SCA certified! They would make perfect additions to your home.
Cuisinart PurePrecision– Easy to use and highly personable.
This coffee machine mimics pour over brewing method.
If you’re unfamiliar with the pour over style, you can hop on over to my comparison article between the simple Keurig and the precise pour over.
But let me give you the gist.
There is a lot of hub bub that goes into crafting the perfect pour over. There is equipment like a scale, a timer, a special gooseneck kettle.
You have to go through the trouble of grinding it to the perfect mid-fine level.
And there is inevitable debate on the technique involved. When making a batch of pour over coffee, you have to follow a set of guidelines that allows the complexities of the beans develop over time.
This process involves “pulse pouring” the water into the brewer (the best ones are Chemex or Kalia, in my opinion) allowing the grounds to release CO2 and infusing the flavor aka “bloom.”
Pour over advocates will argue that this method is the best way to experience the brightness and nuances of the beans and roast level.
This all sounds complex (because it is) and usually the incredible cuppa is worth the trouble.
But you couldn’t enjoy that goodness without the tools and technique until the Cuisinart PurePrecision.
So let’s talk about the details.
The PurePrecision holds 8 standard cups in its stainless steel water reservoir. Within that tank, there is a permanent filter holder.
In addition to that, there is a charcoal water filter that fits into a slate that slides into the water reservoir and ensures that the water you brew into coffee is free of extra debris.
In that tank, the purified water warms to your liking. That’s right! The PurePrecision gives you temperature control. You can have “hot” coffee or “extra hot” coffee.
As soon as the water is heated to your preference, you get to use the flavor strength control to choose mild, medium, or bold.
When that choice is programmed in, the brewing process begins.
The PurePrecision has a shower head brewing unit. It mocks the pour over style and blooms the grounds just like a barista would.
The fresh coffee brews into the 8 cup carafe. You have options here as well! There are two models available: one glass and one thermal.
An added bonus to this particular brewing system could be seen as minor, but is a big deal for those of us who simply can’t wait for the brew to be over. The PurePrecision has a Brew Pause™ feature that allows you to pull the carafe out and pour yourself a cup before cycle is complete and it’s mess free!
It’s also equipped with program settings for an alarm brew, so your morning cup of joe is waiting for you when you roll out of bed.
There is an auto-clean option you can set up as well.
Overall the CuisinArt PurePrecision is customizable and intuitive, all the bang for your buck and really doesn’t have any cons.
But to give you some options, let’s look at two brewers from Bonavita!
The Bonavita bv1900ts aka 8 Cup One-Touch
Brewing with the 8 Cup One-Touch really is as simple as its name, but there are a few steps you have to prep before that magical “push the button” moment. I highly recommend keeping the rig prepped at all times, this will make the transition from
First you have to fill the 8 cup water tank with filtered water.
Then you fill the brewing basket with fresh grounds. You’ll notice that this machine’s brewing basket is not conical like typical drip coffee makers. This machine has a flat bottom which makes more balanced, crisp batches of coffee because the grounds are laid level and the water has even contact throughout the bed.
You can “pre-infuse your coffee” if you like bold, strong cups simply hold down the brewing button down for 5 seconds.
Now you can utilize that one button operation. Just flip the switch and watch the magic happen.
As the water comes to boiling point in the SCAA certified window of 4-8 minutes, the water will come through the shower head.
You have the option to “pre-infuse” your coffee as well. If you go that route, the water will soak into your grounds and have that “first bloom” release and then continue to brew through several spouts, ensuring that the water covers the entire surface of the grounds bed.
Eventually that coffee is poured into the insulated, dishwasher safe carafe that sits underneath the filter basket. The lack of space between the brewing unit and the carafe keeps the coffee hot and full of flavour.
And once that brew is finished, your 8-Cup One Touch will shut off automatically, giving you more time with your morning cuppa.
Now let’s look at the new and improved (yet nearly identical) Bonavita 8-Cup One-Touch Digital Coffee Maker!
The water reservoir, flat-bottomed, waved filter basket, shower head and carafe have remained exactly the same because they are tried and true and perfect.
However, this new model comes with some technological updates!
You now have a digital clock and programmable auto-start function. Imagine a fresh cup of coffee greeting you first thing in the morning!
Honestly, you can’t really go wrong with SCAA certified brewers!
But I hope I helped you make an informed decision. Why wait? Click on any of the product photos and get your home brewer today!