For the girls trying to save some money — or getting started in a gratifying new hobby — at-home coffee is exciting. It’s trial-and-error, smells fantastic, tailored to your tastes, and is somewhat scientific: coffee has something for everyone! If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the different coffee makers available—and how to get into coffee, more generally — we’ve got you covered.

Don't worry if you’re totally intimidated by the coffee realm! Here are some of the basics to help get you acquainted:

One, coffee is not the same as espresso. Espresso is produced in a pressurized brew, while regular coffee is brewed with heated water and gravity. Espresso is a concentrated, intensely flavorful shot; coffee can be made in any amount and with any ratio of coffee grounds to water. Espresso is typically stronger, so if you need a really strong wake me up, its best to use espresso shots for drinks like lattes, cappuccinos and mochas.

Second, contrary to popular belief, coffee can actually be stronger than espresso in some cases. Although espresso has a higher caffeine concentration per ounce, a serving of coffee is stronger in the long run since you would drink more ounces of coffee than espresso shots in your drink.

Third, lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos and other specialty drinks are all created with espresso. Americanos typically have the highest concentration of espresso shots, with three espresso shots added to hot water for a medium size. Lattes and cappucinos only have two and are usually mixed with milk.

Different machines fit into different verticals: ease of access, on-the-go, traditional, and experienced or hobby coffee makers.

There are so many benefits to having a coffee makers just a few steps away from bed, and to us there are there's 4 that truly stand out among the masses in order of lowest to highest pricing.

^{This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you shop through them—no extra cost to you, just extra good taste.}

Bruvi® Brewer

Our personal favorite

Pros

• Gorgeous design
• Sleek touchscreen
• Rich brew every time
• Capacity to make hot and cold brews
• Matcha pods
• Toss function to store pods
• App for ease: reorder pods, mobile brewing, personalization
• Hygenic brewing
• Sustainable pods, no microplastics
• Removable & adjustable plate

Cons

• Access to B-pods
• Price point is higher
• Single cup capacity

Cuisinart DCC 3200-PerfecTemp 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker

Pros

• Brew strength control
• 24 hour programmability
• BPA-free design
• 1-4 cup setting
• Self-cleaning feature
• Large capacity, compact feel
• Easy-to-use
• Perminant filter
• Capacity

Cons

• Glass pot
• Noisy
• Overflows reported
• Limited customizations
• Lacking modern appearance
• No pre-infusion feature

Bialetti Moka Express 6 Cup

Pros

• Price point
• Makes 6 cups
• Easy to use
• Portable
• Traditional
• Uses coffee grounds
• Stovetop

Cons

• Manual cleaning
• Does not produce espresso
• Has to be monitored
• Hot handle
• Capacity
• Aluminum make
• Hard-to-use at first

Breville Super Automatic Barista Touch

Pros

• Professional feel
• Rich, strong brew
• Automatic milk frothing
• Customizable
• Fast heat-up
• Built-in grinder
• Single and double shot espresso

Cons

• Not compact
• Learning curve
• Water reservoir size
• High cost
• High repair cost
• Prone to fingerprints