What is a car coffee maker?
A car coffee maker is a small portable device designed for making coffee in cars and trucks . In appearance, the device may resemble a thermos made of durable plastic or a regular drip-type model.
The case diameter is only 10 cm, which corresponds to the size of a car cup holder. The electrical appliance operates on a 12 V network and is capable of brewing a portion of a strong, invigorating drink in a few minutes .
Important! A car coffee maker is a new item on the Russian market.
The electrical device is in great demand among motorists from Europe and America, where auto tourism is developed, but most consumers from Russia are not yet familiar with this device.
About connection
In order for the coffee machine to work and prepare coffee correctly, it must be connected. After all, this is the main problem with cars. The most affordable way to solve this problem is to buy a car inverter that will convert the voltage.
However, in this case, constant operation of the car engine will be required. This is an increase in costs due to the constant operation of the motor or the need to start it before each attempt at cooking, which is unacceptable in fast trading conditions.
With this approach, you can lose all your clients, which means there will come a time when no one will bring money even in the most crowded place. Those random passers-by who are not yet familiar with the service will still be unpleasantly surprised, and the funds received will not be enough to even cover rent or investments.
To avoid this, you can use power from neighboring stationary objects. For example, a nearby store can help. In addition, this approach does not make the coffee shop mobile, therefore, the whole “trick” of the business is lost.
Therefore, there is another option - to use a generator. However, you need to be prepared for noise and the need for additional approvals for the use of such equipment.
Features of portable devices
Coffee makers for cars operate on the principle of standard electrical appliances for brewing coffee. Only the power source has been changed, because unlike the usual ones, the road model runs from the cigarette lighter .
A car cigarette lighter is characterized by low power, so the device for preparing a flavored drink in a car works slower than in a home kitchen . Power – no more than 200 W, however, this does not affect the cooking speed.
The volume of the tank may vary between models, but even the smallest one will be enough to get 50 ml of rich black coffee .
Attention! The coffee machine has a minimalistic design and has no unnecessary parts.
The design is compact and stable.
What to look for when choosing?
In order not to make a mistake with the choice and make the right decision, adhere to the following rules :
- Product size . Don't think that the small size is inconvenient to use. This is wrong. In addition, cozy coffee machines fit perfectly in the closet and in any handbag.
- Taste . A pleasant note and aroma is provided from mini coffee brewing machines. Due to small volumes, the taste becomes ideal.
- Quality of prefabricated construction materials . As a rule, small cars are made from high-quality metal materials. Such products are not afraid of high temperatures. When heated, plastic emits an unpleasant odor, and small coffee makers are absolutely odorless.
How to choose?
When choosing a car coffee maker, you need to take the following points into account::
- tank volume - the device can be designed for one or eight servings of drink. For a passenger car, there is no point in choosing a device for preparing large quantities of coffee.
- voltage - a 12 V device is suitable for the driver of a passenger car, and a 24 V product will help the owner of a truck or bus to brew coffee.
- the material from which the body is made - the structure must be durable and made of high-quality material.
- availability of additional options – not all models are equipped with an automatic shut-off function, but for convenient use it is better to purchase a coffee maker with advanced functionality.
- reliability and safety - the water container should have a sealed lid with a small hole for filling the device with coffee, so that the drink does not spill during movement.
Types
There are two types of car coffee makers: drip and espresso . Each device has its own distinctive features, advantages and disadvantages, knowing which you can easily choose the most suitable device for your vehicle.
Drip
Drip or filtration devices practically do not differ from standard drip-type devices, but are smaller in size, making them convenient to place in a car .
An important element of a drip coffee maker is a paper, nylon or “gold” filter, which is filled with coffee powder. A paper filter is required to prepare one serving of the drink .
After cooking, this device will have to be thrown away immediately, which is not very convenient, since you always need to have spare filters with you. A nylon filter is suitable for reusable use - after brewing coffee, it can be washed and reused.
The “golden” filter is made of fibers coated with titanium nitride - it is durable, does not affect the taste of the drink and is easy to clean, but it is rarely on sale.
Note! Due to its low power, heated water slowly passes through the coffee, filling it with all the flavor and aroma properties of natural crushed beans. The result is a very rich and strong drink.
Operating principle
The device works according to this principle:
- Water is poured into the reservoir.
- Ground coffee is placed in a separate compartment.
- The coffee maker is connected to the cigarette lighter.
- The liquid begins to move through the tube to the heater, reaching 90-95 degrees.
- The water passes through the coffee powder and is discharged out, after which the finished coffee can be consumed.
Advantages
- The device brews strong and aromatic coffee;
- reliability of design;
- simple controls;
- light weight;
- optimal tank volume;
- ergonomic design;
- compactness;
- large range of models;
- price.
Flaws
- you need to dispose of coffee grounds;
- the need to regularly replace filters;
- you need to use bottled water.
average cost
A reliable drip coffee maker for preparing a coffee drink in a passenger car can be purchased for 1,400 rubles . Models for brewing several servings of coffee in trucks are much more expensive - 8,000 rubles.
Popular manufacturers
Well-known manufacturers of car drip coffee makers are:
- Koolatron is a Canadian company whose product range includes chargers, numerous car accessories, fans and tool kits;
- Waeco is a German company that produces popular products for motorists.
Espresso
A type of mobile device that allows you to prepare an exquisite drink with thick, creamy foam in 2 minutes.
Espresso coffee makers are made of high-quality ABS plastic - this material does not emit toxic substances, it is absolutely safe for health and does not absorb foreign odors.
To prepare coffee in this device, you can use both ground coffee and pods designed for one serving of drink . Once the coffee is ready, the device will notify the user by sounding a beep.
By the way! The device is small in size and matches the diameter of the cup holder hole, which allows you to store the espresso coffee maker in the glove compartment along with spare pods.
Operating principle
The coffee preparation process is carried out as follows:
- Purified water is poured into the container.
- The hermetic cover is screwed on and the device is connected to the network.
- A pod is installed in a special compartment - a filter bag with compressed ground coffee.
- After pressing the power button, water heated under steam pressure seeps through the coffee.
- After passing through the coffee, the finished drink is poured into a cup.
Advantages
- quick espresso preparation;
- automatic shutdown function;
- low consumption of ground coffee;
- the presence of creamy foam in the finished drink;
- durable body;
- pleasant appearance;
- easy maintenance of the device;
- compact design;
- almost silent operation.
Flaws
- many models can make just one cup of coffee;
- It is necessary to use only purified water;
- additional costs for purchasing pods;
- high price.
average cost
Portable car espresso coffee makers are several times more expensive than drip models. The average cost of such a device is 12,000 rubles .
Popular manufacturers
The most popular models of espresso coffee makers belong to the French brand Handpresso . There are also devices called EspressGo , however, they are the result of a collaboration between the coffee manufacturer Lavazza and the Handpresso brand.
Taste in a cup and problems
The main thing right away is that the taste is approximately the same as that obtained from 7 grams of store-bought grain on a Philips grain machine.
In fact, the result in the cup even exceeded my expectations, seriously. Of course, it’s difficult to call the drink espresso in principle, but you can drink it. And it is not so far from espresso from some Philips machine or Vitek horn, if you brew from the same gram (7-8 grams), and use store-bought or simply old grain. Another question is, who even cooks from 7 grams these days?
It is practically impossible to detect any nuances of taste; sour, berry and citrus notes are especially lost. Actually, in general, all the sour shades are lost. But if you prefer a neutral, balanced taste, then for you it will be something like “weak, cold espresso from old grains.” But it’s something like espresso, which is not bad!
Yes, the real problem, both in terms of drinking organoleptics and in terms of the correctness of the process, is temperature. After all, developing pressure is only one of the tasks. Well, yes, it can be developed manually. So what if it’s uneven, Jura has a new special technology - PEP, and Delonghi - Doppio+, where they specifically make the pumps work in jerks. And here we have spurts - Wacaco is at the forefront of progress!
To get the espresso right, you need to pour a given amount of water through the coffee under a certain pressure and temperature. And with the latter, Wacaco has an ambush. You pour water into the tank from an external vessel where it has been heated, or rather boiled. Because I can’t imagine how you will catch the moment the water reaches a temperature of 98 degrees in camping conditions. Well, let's say, say it. We pour water into the Wacaco container; by the way, it weighs 70 grams in the Minipresso version. How many degrees will the water temperature drop immediately? Below is an illustration in the photo.
The container was previously heated with almost boiling water. Immediately after pouring boiling water (not 98 degrees, but just boiling water), the thermometer in the container showed 92.8. And this would be quite good, but then comes the pump - the main part of the Wacaco, which is basically impossible to warm up. It weighs approximately 200 grams. And while you pump and build up pressure, the water will continue to cool.
And here is the final temperature of the espresso in the cup:
And keep in mind that the water tank, the cup, and the filter with the dispenser holder were all spilled with boiling water before starting cooking, that is, heated up as much as possible. Another thing is that plastic is, in principle, not the best material for maintaining temperature. Therefore, in reality, it is impossible to prepare the perfect espresso in Wakako due to temperature rather than pressure.
Actually, the time has come to show how the coffee preparation cycle generally works on a Wacaco Nanopresso or Minipresso coffee maker (in terms of the process of actions on the part of the user, they are 100% the same). By the way, I used a 1Zpresso manual coffee grinder for grinding, and it fits perfectly with the Wakako “for traveling.”
As you can see, there are a lot of manual manipulations, so calling it a mini-coffee machine is disingenuous. The correct designation in my opinion: manual camping portable coffee maker.
Waeco car coffee makers
The German brand Waeco, founded in the 70s of the last century, specializes in the production of equipment intended for home, transport and travel .
The manufacturer produces portable compressor car refrigerators, cooling modules, coffee makers, car kettles, minibars and repair equipment.
Waeco's innovative products have proven themselves well in the global market, surprising with their high quality and winning the trust of many customers.
The manufacturer offers a wide range of products and gives consumers the opportunity to purchase equipment at affordable prices.
Important! Waeco coffee makers captivate users with their stylish design, optimal volume and stand out for their technical characteristics.
To date, the best models are :
- PerfectCoffee MC 052 is a compact drip-type device for preparing five servings of the drink. The body of the coffee maker is made of durable material, and there is also a transparent container with measuring divisions. The device is equipped with reliable fastenings, so it can be fixed in any convenient place.
- PerfectCoffee MC 01 is a drip coffee maker with an automatic shutdown function if there is no water in the tank, an LED indicator and a cup for the finished drink. The capacity of the coffee pot is 150 ml, which allows you to quickly and effortlessly prepare a portion of aromatic coffee during a long trip.
WHY HE?
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We guarantee that the products comply with the descriptions and characteristics given in our catalogue. The warranty period for each type of product is indicated in the product documentation. The warranty period is calculated from the moment the goods are transferred to the buyer.
If the purchased product is of good quality and does not suit you for any reason, you have the right to refuse it and demand a refund of its cost. To do this, the following conditions must be met:
1. You have the right to contact the seller and make a demand to refuse the goods within seven days after its delivery;
2. The product you purchased must be of good quality, i.e. not have any defects (cracks, scratches, chips, mechanical damage), with the exception of hidden manufacturing defects;
3. The product must not have traces of use, its presentation, consumer properties, complete set, seals and factory (production) packaging must be preserved;
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Please review the procedure for submitting waiver requests:
You must call us by phone, or inform us of your desire by email [email protected] . If we delivered the goods to you, a store employee will pick it up from you within three days. If the item was delivered to you by mail, you pay the cost of return shipping. At the same time, the packaging for shipping the goods must be reliable enough to prevent damage to both the goods and its original packaging. Within ten calendar days from the date of submission of the request, if you comply with the above conditions, we will make a decision and pay you the cost of the goods minus the costs of its delivery.
If during the warranty period any defects in the product are discovered, you must contact us for subsequent warranty repairs.
If a defect is discovered within 14 days from the date of sale of the product, we will replace it free of charge. If a defect is discovered after 14 days from the date of purchase, then such product will be accepted by us for warranty repair. Replacement or repair under warranty is possible only if you comply with the rules for using the product.
If you have questions about warranty and service, please call us by phone or write to [email protected]
Useful video
From this video you will learn how one of the car coffee maker models works:
A car coffee maker will become a faithful companion for every traveler and motorist, because it is indispensable not only on the road, but also on picnics, hunting or fishing .
Experts recommend that truck owners choose drip-type devices - they are capable of preparing an excellent drink, are easy to operate and are inexpensive. For lovers of delicious coffee who drive a car, an espresso coffee maker, characterized by its small size and ease of use, will be more suitable.
