Making coffee can be a tedious task. One of the most frustrating parts of making coffee is filling the reservoir with water. This doesn’t seem like a difficult task, and it really isn’t, but it can be a pain you just aren’t ready for, first thing in the morning.
The easiest way to eliminate the annoyance and frustration that comes with filling your coffee maker with water is to invest in a plumbed coffee maker. These great coffee makers are tied into your plumbing and automatically deliver water in the proper amount for making coffee.
You may think that plumbed coffee makers are only for commercial or office break rooms, but they can be a great investment for the individual or family that loves coffee.
In this article, we’ll give you some hints for shopping for a plumbed coffee maker, and we’ll give you five great options that you may want to consider.
How to Choose the Best Plumbed Coffee Maker
There aren’t too many plumed coffee makers out there, it’s a relatively narrow market. This can make shopping for a plumbed coffee maker easy or it can add to the challenge.
Before we dive into our buying guide, we thought it would be helpful to clearly define what a plumbed coffee maker is. Plumbed coffee makers have traditionally been used in commercial or business applications.
Their water reservoirs are tied directly to the water line in a break room or kitchen. This allows your coffee maker to fill with water automatically and in the proper amount for a particular amount of brewed coffee.
Many of the options you’ll find on the market are intended to be for commercial use. However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t a great option for your home coffee bar as well.
Below, we offer some product features that will allow you to select the perfect plumbed coffee maker for your needs.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Plumbed Coffee Maker
Connection Type
As you are shopping for a plumbed coffee maker, you’ll notice that they come in two specific types; water line connection and water line connection with filter.
Water Line Connection
Your first option is a basic water line connection. For this type of plumbed coffee maker, you’ll need a dedicated water line connection. This connection type is best for spaces that have good quality tap water or are in a place where the home or building has a larger filtration or water purifying system.
Built-in Water Filtration System
Your other option is the water line connection with a water filtration system. These are a bit more complicated to install, but they provide you with much better water quality for a delicious cup of coffee. These kinds of connections will require additional maintenance as the filters will need to be replaced from time to time.
Either connection type may require you to bring a plumber in to help you install the water line. In many cases, you can use a tee from an existing water line, but if you don’t know how to do this without making a huge mess, you’re better off having a professional come and help you with the plumbing.
Type of Coffee Maker
Now that you’ve figured out the connection type you need, you’ll now need to select the proper type of coffee maker. There are three options out there: drip, espresso, and single-serve.
1. Drip Coffee Makers
This is the most common type of plumbed coffee maker. Plumbed drip coffee makers are also typically made for commercial or high-output locations.
There are some nice options for home use, but these are a bit larger than other drip machines, so you’ll want to make sure you have the space.
2. Single-Serve Machines
Think of these as super-sized Keurigs. These plumbed coffee makers allow you to make one cup at a time. The nice thing about this type of coffee maker being plumbed is that you never have to worry about the water reservoir going empty.
These are also a nice option for home brewing if you’ve got more than one coffee lover in your house and you all like different styles of coffee.
3. Espresso Machines
Plumbed espresso machines are some of the more expensive options out there. These allow you to enjoy delicious espresso without having to worry about filling a coffee reservoir.
Plumbed espresso machines typically use a pump to provide the necessary pressure instead of using steam to create pressure for brewing and frothing milk.
Capacity
Like with non-plumbed coffee makers, plumbed coffee makers come in a range of capacities. To determine the capacity that is best for you, you’ll want to think about how much coffee you drink in a day.
If you just need a single cup of coffee in the morning, you’ll want a single-serve machine. Single-serve coffee makers are also great if you want a morning coffee and then an afternoon coffee.
If you drink multiple cups of coffee or are making coffee for more than one person, look for larger-capacity machines. In general, most plumbed coffee makers top out at around 12 to 14 cups of coffee.
Coffee Filter
You’ll find that most plumbed coffee makers, like regular coffee makers, come with two filter options. The most common is the paper filter. Like most other coffee makers, this type of plumbed coffee maker requires you to install a fresh paper filter each time you brew.
The other filter type that plumbed coffee makers use is reusable mesh coffee filters. These fine screen filters hold your grounds and are then emptied when your brewing cycle is done.
There’s no waste with these filters, and they can last for many months or even years. We would not recommend this type of filter for an office or commercial plumbed coffee maker.
Brew Time
Brew time refers to the length of time that grounds are in contact with hot water. The longer the brewing time, particularly with drip coffee makers, the more robust the flavor of your coffee.
Espresso machines generally have much shorter brewing times, but they use pressure from steam or a pump to push water through the grounds. This creates a very intense and strong-flavored coffee.
Plumbing Kit
If you want a plumbed coffee maker you will need to also purchase a plumbing kit. This is the equipment that you will need to install your coffee maker and attach it to your home or office plumbing.
Kits come with a hose, adapters and either a compression fitting or a quick connect fitting. You can check out an easy guide here on how to set it up.
The 5 Best Plumbed Coffee Makers
Final Thoughts
Plumbed coffee makers used to be just for commercial or office applications. However, many people today want to enjoy the convenience of a plumbed coffee maker at home.
The options available today range from simple single-serve machines for home and office to the traditional large-capacity commercial machines found in restaurants and other places where a lot of coffee is served.
Our favorite plumbed coffee maker, the Keurig K-3500 is a versatile option that allows for customizable coffee brewing at the touch of a button.
It makes a single cup at a time and is compatible with a wide variety of coffee pods. This machine is perfect for both home and commercial use. This versatility and easy operation make this our pick for the best plumbed coffee maker.