Fight off darker days with these 7 coffee makers
As the days darken, you may need a little extra help dragging yourself into a state of alertness every morning.
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The days are getting shorter, and the mornings darker. That’s tough to take, especially in such a northern and cold country as Canada. I grew up in hot countries myself, with fewer seasonal extremes, so one way I’ve managed to come to terms with the darkness of the Canadian winter is by finding energy at the bottom of a good cup of home-brewed coffee.
If you’re a coffee drinker, you may be looking to switch up your coffee game at home. Here are seven of the best kinds we’ve found for you online.
12-Cup Drip Coffee Maker
Amazon.ca
Here’s your standard drip coffee option, particularly if you know you’ll need more than one cup through the morning or have other coffee-drinkers in your household. There’s something cozy about nursing a couple of cups of coffee on a winter Sunday morning, made smoother by this selection’s programmability, and 40-minute keep-warm function before automatic shut off.
Features:
12 cup capacity
Includes removable dishwasher-safe filter basket
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Percolator
Amazon.ca
And now for something even simpler: the simple stovetop percolator. Brews a nice hot cup or three in just about no time, and fills the kitchen with that lovely coffee scent. This version is wildly popular on Amazon.ca, and its simple design makes it ideal for camping also.
Features:
Nine cup capacity
Sturdy stainless steel construction with wooden handle
Rated 4.5 out on 5 on Amazon.ca
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Coffee Pot: Keurig K-Express
Amazon.ca
Sometimes, a single cup is all you need. There are plenty of options out there for that, and we’ll start with this single-serve gadget from Keurig. The brand took the world by storm a few years back, but using single-serve K-cup pods that were notoriously hard to recycle. That’s changing slowly, but when I used Keurig as my caffeination go-to, I ground my own and used a reusable mesh K-cup. They’re easy to use, easy to clean, and you can get some here.
Features:
Three cup sizes (up to 355 millilitres), and a 1.24 litre reservoir
Fits travel mugs for joe on the go
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Pour Over Coffee Maker With Filter
Amazon.ca
“Pour-over” coffee is just what it says: gently pour hot water over coffee grounds in a funnel with a filter above your cup, and before long, you’ll have your morning eye-opener. I was introduced to the pour-over while camping, and I can vouch for the coffee’s taste. If you’d like to try it yourself, this variety from Bodum features a stylish carafe and a stainless steel mesh designed to allow more of your coffee’s flavour to infuse itself into the brew rather than use paper filters.
Features:
Makes up to four cups
Dishwasher safe borosilicate glass with cork band (plastic versions also available)
Rated 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Bialetti Moka/Espresso Pot
Amazon.ca
If you’re into espresso, are averse to shelling out the big bucks for a full-fledged espresso machine, and have a bit of patience, there are inexpensive stovetop varieties available. Our choice, and my personal preference, is the classic Bialetti Moka pot. Set your stovetop to a slow boil, evaporating the water in the lower chamber and forcing it through the coffee chamber and gasket into the upper reservoir, ready to pour. It’s hauled me into the land of the waking many times.
Features:
This version makes enough for six cups of espresso
Easy to disassemble and hand wash with soap and water
Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
French Press Coffee Maker
Amazon.ca
I had a colleague once who’d use one of these while he was on shift. On a couple of occasions, he’d be gracious enough to share, and it was a fine, fine cup of coffee. If your tastes run to the French Press, and you know how to use it properly, we suggest this elegant design from Cafe Du Chateau. It looks great, and with its stainless steel and borosilicate glass construction, it is built to last.
Features:
Capacity for four-to-eight cups of coffee
Includes four-level filter system with two stainless steel screens, spring-loaded base, and a lid strainer
Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker
Amazon.ca
Finally, we have this relatively new design from AeroPress. It’s higher maintenance than a French Press, but it's simple to use and makes your coffee in less time. It’s also suitable for espressos, and its portable design makes it ideal for the coffee connoisseur (or caffeine addict) on the go.
Features:
Makes up to three cups
350 microfilters included
Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
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Our trusted Product Specialists recommend high-quality items that we think will enhance your experience with Canadian weather conditions. Prices and availability of items are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
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