Coffeemakers.(Kitchen, Bath & Laundry: More Style, Less Money)(Buyers guide)

Most models make a good cup of coffee. Higher-priced versions usually have more convenience features and fancier styling.

The popularity of Starbucks and other specialty coffee shops seems to be driving demand for a new generation of coffeemakers that seek to replicate the coffeehouse experience at home. Customized brewing, integrated grinders, and thermal carafes are a few of the features manufacturers are hoping will encourage consumers to trade up. Truth is, virtually any model can make a good cup as long as you use decent coffee.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

You'll find manual-drip systems, coffee presses, percolators, and "pod" coffeemakers that brew individual cups using ready-to-use packets of coffee. But consumers buy more automatic-drip coffeemakers than any other small kitchen appliance: about 14 million per year. Mr. Coffee and Black & Decker are the two largest brands, along with well-known names like Braun, Cuisinart, Delonghi, Krups, Melitta, and Proctor-Silex.

Coffeemakers come in sizes from single-cup models to machines capable of brewing up to 12 cups at a time. At the low end are bare-bones models with a single switch to start the brewing process and a plain metal hotplate. Pricier models can have programmable start and stop times, a water filter, frothing capability, an automatic shutoff, and a thermal carafe. Most consumers opt for the more basic models. Black and white remain the standard colors, but some brands have added other hues. Price: $10 to more than $200.

FEATURES THAT COUNT

A removable filter basket is the easiest for loading and removing the used filter; baskets that sit inside a pullout drawer can be messy. Paper filters--usually "cupcake" or cone-shaped--absorb oil and keep sediment from creeping through. Models with a permanent mesh filter need to be cleaned after each use, but can save you money over time. Neither type of filter detracted from coffee flavor in our tests. The simplest type of water reservoir is one with a big flip-top lid and lines that mark the number of cups in large, clearly visible numbers. Some reservoirs are removable--so you can fill up at the sink--and are dishwasher safe. Transparent fill tubes with cup markings let you check the water level while pouring.