Coffee is a global commodity with Britons drinking approximately 70 million cups of coffee per day. With this amount of usage, no wonder there are so many coffee machine choices out there! Coffee machines have evolved over the years with new technologies, new features, flavours and designs meeting consumer needs. The Vending Business is thriving and this has continued into the home. The latest coffee machines are designed to allow for different flavours and textures that the consumer's love such as mochas and lattes.

When it comes to choosing which coffee machine to buy, with so many features, brands, designs to choose from, the choice for the consumer if a difficult one. The first step in choosing the right coffee machine is deciding what type to buy. This ultimately depends on what kind of drinks you want and is it for the home or for the office? In terms of drink choice, your basic decision here is if you want traditional coffee or speciality drinks.

Design
Do you want a drink machine that looks cool in your home or office, perhaps you would like it to match the kitchen design? Many drink machines come in different colours and some even with interchangeable fascias so you can change its look easily. Find the design you want online by typing into Google images 'drink machine' and view all the different designs available.

Price
Price is always going to be a critical factor for anyone choosing a coffee machine. What machine can you afford in your price budget? Is it worth spending that little bit extra to get a better tasting drink? Is it for the office and therefore, will it meet demand and be price effective? You can spend anything from £30 to £300 on a drinks machine. The internet often has the cheapest prices so shop around to find the best price for the model you want.

Drink Choice
At home, families typically have differing tastes from the kids who love their hot chocolate to grandma who loves her tea. Therefore, a drinks machine that caters for all their needs will be the perfect choice. Alternatively, a couple both love coffee would be better off with a machine that specializes in gourmet coffee.

Choice of drinks will be even more important if you are buying an office drinks machine. Perhaps you want a drink machine that can make cappuccinos, latte's, mochaccino's, coffees, teas and hot chocolate. A drinks machine such as the Flavia Fusion Station can do exactly this using revolutionary technology that brews direct from pack to cup guaranteeing that every drink is completely pure and untainted by previous brews. The availability of restocking drinks should be easily accessible, either online or in local supermarkets.

Hassle Free
A coffee machine that is hassle free is as important as ever in our busy hectic lifestyles. Many people prefer a coffee machine that does not require daily cleaning so opting for a self-cleaning machine is a popular choice. Many models also offer pause and pour features that allow you to interrupt the brewing process, if you can't wait for that first cup in the morning. Timers allow you to program the machine to start brewing before you wake up in the morning. These machines are easy and convenient to use. They are great if you drink a lot of coffee or will be serving a crowd. You can brew a pot at a time, rather than just a cup or two.

History of the coffee machine
Many people love hot drinks, especially coffee. We are all aware that coffee provides a boost of energy and warm us up on those cold winter days. However, what is the history of coffee machines as without these machines, coffee drinking would not be as popular.

The early Egyptians were the first known people to use coffee though the Coffee bean originated in Africa and quickly spread to neighbouring countries such as Arabia and Egypt. The first method of preparation was to roast the beans on an open fire and then added to boiling water for consumption.

History tells us that coffee was considered as a type of wine, which was used to barter and trade with. Fermented in a similar way to grapes, coffee was a source of energy and warmth for most but some drank it because they loved the taste too.

A gentleman called Mr. Laurens invented the first coffee-making machine in 1818 which has been constantly modified thereafter to bring us to the coffee machines we see today. Endorsed by both men and women, the coffee machine over the years has become a reliable, dependable and easy to use product.

Coffee makers date all the way back to the Turks in 575 A.D but it was not until 1818 when the first coffee percolator was created. This coffee pot became known as the "cowboy pot" because so many cowboys had begun using it. between the years of 1835 to 1850, coffee makers began to completely saturate the marketplace. Everything from glass balloons, to pressure steamers, to grinders and roasters had all started to become available.

In the year of 1890, the Manning-Bowman Percolator started to get distributed in the United States. These percolators were made out of linen with a cloth that had to be cleaned after every use.

It wasn't until 1912 that a paper filter was finally introduced which helped coffee makers explode in popularity since the clean up was so much easier and in 1960, disposable filters began being used commercially.

It was 1972 when coffee makers really hit the big time with thanks to Mr Coffee and his automatic drip process with disposable filter. Today, Mr. Coffee is still the largest coffee maker in the world, mainly because the business is always adapting to the needs of the consumers.

Companies such as MyFlavia and Braun have a strong reputation of innovative drink machine designs and models. Some of the features that these companies are incorporating into coffee machines nowadays include built in water filtration systems with energy efficiency innovations.

Coffee continues to grow in popularity and demand. No matter where you are in the world, you are sure to see someone enjoying a cup of fresh coffee. Coffee machines are now found in many homes and offices with hundreds of manufacturers producing new models each year including Braun, MyFlavia, Senseo, Kitchenaid, Krups and Pod. They all have their own features, flavours and all bidding to compete with Mr. Coffee. One thing is for sure, with more competitions comes lower prices and more choice for us the consumer so happy times for the coffee lover.