An electric coffee machine takes away a lot of the guesswork and adds plenty of repeatability. We still have to be consistent in how much coffee we use, and how much cold water we put into the machine, but aside from that we can trust the brewer to do its job.
However, most domestic filter coffee machines tend to make pretty bad coffee. This is primarily because they are not capable of heating the water up to the correct temperature. If you’re shopping for a new one, make sure it has been certified to reach suitable temperatures. I would recommend buying a machine endorsed by an organization such as the Specialty Coffee Association of America or the European Coffee Brewing Centre.
I would also avoid buying a machine with any sort of hot plate. Keeping a jug of coffee on a hot plate very quickly ‘cooks’ the coffee, producing some unpleasant flavours. Choose instead a machine with a thermal carafe. Most electric machines perform best when brewing larger volumes. With most machines, I would recommend brewing at least 500ml of coffee at a time, which will last around 30 minutes in a thermal carafe.
THE ELECTRIC FILTER MACHINE METHOD
Ratio: 60g/l. I recommend this as a starting point for all pour-over and filter coffee methods, but be sure to experiment to find your preference.
Grind: Medium/caster (superfine) sugar, if making between 500ml and 1l of coffee. You will need to grind the beans more coarsely if brewing large volumes (see Grind Size), as many machines can brew up to 1l at a time, if not more.
1 Grind the coffee just before you start brewing. Be sure to weigh the coffee first. 2 Put the filter paper in the brewing basket, then rinse under the hot tap. 3 Place the brewing basket in the machine, then add fresh water with a low mineral content, suitable for brewing coffee. 4 Switch on the machine and, as the brew starts, keep an eye on it. If some of the coffee is not getting wet, give it a quick stir with a spoon. 5 Allow the brew to finish. 6 Discard the paper and grounds. 7 Enjoy your coffee.
As in the pour-over cone method, adjusting the grind size is a better way to change the flavour than adjusting the amount of coffee you add if you are not happy with your cup.