By 
Coffee makers have come a long way in recent decades. We are now in the 21st century and coffee is as popular as ever. Coffee may be more popular now than at any time in the recent past. Technology has advanced beyond anything many people could imagine just 60 years ago. And despite all our advances, coffee itself hasn’t changed much. However, the gadgets we use to make it have evolved light years beyond the wood stove and copper kettle our grandparents would have used. Such is life, constantly advancing; Why would coffee makers be different?
Today some models have their own built-in water filtration systems, such as the Cuisinart DCC 1200. The 1200 comes with its own charcoal water filter to remove any impurities from the water and provide the best tasting coffee possible. Many manufacturers design models with permanent gold coffee filters for ground coffee. They help the buyer save money on filters and help protect the environment by reducing waste because they are reusable. Today’s coffee makers can instantly heat water and be programmed 24 hours in advance. Units sold at your local large store can make iced coffee, espresso, and have multiple brewing options. Today’s modern coffee drinker is advanced and used to using highly sophisticated gadgets in his daily life. Just look at the computing power of the phones we carry. It makes sense that our coffee makers are as advanced as the rest of the technology we use.
Current models take advantage of advances in many areas, from water filtration to energy-saving settings. Look at the Keurig brand brewers, most have a power saving mode and an auto on / off feature. Today’s brands come with integrated LED displays and digital clocks. They have built-in memory and can have your brew cycle selected and programmed 24 hours in advance so that when you wake up your coffee is hot and ready for you. Like everything else, our demands and tastes have evolved and our coffee makers are just trying to keep up. Although, for those who prefer a simple, straightforward coffee maker with no bells or whistles, you can still get them. But who knows for how long?
When I buy a coffee maker, I specifically look for a programmable model. I need a model that offers the ability to schedule 24 hours in advance. Most families will find this option in a model that is worth the additional cost due to the time it saves in the morning. One thing to keep in mind when looking for a programmable model is a built-in battery backup. This is not something that, in my opinion, is emphasized enough. Most will never think about it until they have had the drive for quite some time. It’s small and seems insignificant until you need it. If you spend the extra money on a programmable drive and it doesn’t have a backup, then that money is wasted. I live in a state that is known for power surges and lightning strikes. It is not unusual for the electricity to turn off a couple of times a night for just a second or two. But, it only takes a second. You set your coffee maker for the next morning and lose energy overnight while you sleep. Most will not notice a power loss overnight because your watch most likely has a battery backup. And your cable box will reboot and re-sync, but your coffeemaker has lost its settings. Unless you have a battery backup. Then you wake up in the morning and start your day thinking that the coffee maker is doing its job, after all it is programmable. Right? As he prepares to leave the house, he notices that there is no coffee. By now it is too late to start the brew cycle. So you can stop by your local coffee shop and spend from $ 2 and up for a cup of coffee.
This is why I say that a battery backup is a very important feature that should not be overlooked when buying luxury coffee makers and setting prices. Most charts will not include it as a prominent feature of a particular model. It is up to you to think ahead and stay informed.
I can’t say I’m not happy with the progress, I am. But I can also see where it might be overwhelming for some users to find the right coffee maker in today’s market.