Using any other coffee roast will result to a substandard coffee taste. The drip machine is not very meticulous; any other coffee roast can be brewed on it. A steam wand is a great treasure in the kitchen. It can produce froth out of milk for cappuccinos and lattes and even for pastries. It can also be used to reheat coffee instead of a microwave oven. Some consumers feel uneasy asking about those kind of information and some simply do not care. By making your own drink, you are able to improve your kitchen skills and enhance your taste buds. When you are just starting out to learn the kitchen techniques, you work at your own pace. If you feel confident enough, you can entertain your guests to a cup of heart-warming coffee. Ease of Cleaning You need to clean your coffee maker every now and then, don t you? Since this is a way to extend the machine s service life, you have to make sure that its key components are washable so you ll be able to remove the coffee that sticks on them. So before purchasing a coffee maker, ensure first that cleaning its pot and reservoir with water and soap won t be a complicated task. So if you don t want to end up disappointed of your purchase, better go for more expensive yet high quality larger brewers. Here are some of the common problems you ll encounter with cheaper, substandard alternatives: 1. Pillage This is among the most common problems people encounter with their coffee machines. There are various levels of coffee grinding which result to different flavours. Too coarse may not be great for a French press, too fine is not good for a Columbia roast and an espresso maker. Coffee packages provide grinding and brewing instruction so make sure to read before discarding it, or better yet, keep the label. In March 2008, Howard D. Schultz, the chief executive of Starbucks announced that as part of their effort to sell better tasting coffee, the corporation had purchased the Seattle-based Coffee Equipment Company to have all future clover coffee makers appear only in Starbucks. This business decision had stunned the coffee industry and many coffee connoisseurs.