The Best Coffee Makers For Your Airbnb Guests
Coffee has become an integral part of many people’s lives. Their days revolve around them being able to grab their favorite cup before heading off to work. The coffee industry has experienced tremendous growth in the last decade. Big brands like Starbucks have become a lifestyle choice. If you want to give your Airbnb a premium feel and if you have some spare countertop space then you should consider adding a coffee maker. The appeal of coffee is pretty unique. Those who love it swear by it. It makes sense to pander to the Starbucks loving generation if you are in the service industry. So let’s discuss what you should be getting for your Airbnb.
Why should you get one?
Coffee every day can get very expensive. Travelers would love it if they had access to their favorite beverage without shelling out a premium. If you put a coffee maker in your Airbnb then people will love you for the convenience and cost savings.
There may not be a coffee shop nearby. Not every place in the country has a Starbucks or Dunkin close by.
It is more convenient to drink a cup from the comfort of your own home before heading off to a day of adventure or work without having to wait in a line. Your guests will love you for that option.
What to look for?
First, let us understand the kind of coffee makers that you can get. You have to decide whether to get a coffee machine or an espresso machine or a hybrid. Then you have to decide whether it would be an electric or non-electric one. You have 4 options:
- Non-electric. This is a regular french press that involves a lot of work and attention to brewing a perfect cup. It has to be washed and dried after every use. If you get this one, then the guests will probably end up not using it because it is not very convenient. Consider spending a little more to get a more automated version.
- Electric Drip. This is the kind you find in most homes and offices. It is great for making coffee for multiple people at once. It is electrical but you still have to prepare the machine by loading the coffee yourself. It stores the coffee in a carafe that can be used by a single or multiple people.
- Single Cup Coffee makers. These are the Keurigs of the world which I talked about in my other blog post. They are automatic, convenient and very easy to use. They can only make a cup at a time. So it is perfect for small size Airbnbs with not many guests expected.
- Espresso Machines or Hybrids. These are expensive but if you want to make espresso then that is your only option. An espresso machine or hybrid is a premium in both cost and space taken.
Make sure to get one that can use different cups or even comes with an attachment to load your own coffee. You don’t want to rely on coffee pods exclusively as they can get expensive over time. Keurigs have a coffee pod attachment that can be used to load your own coffee. It is sold separately though.
Make sure the unit is easy to clean and maintain.
Get something which is quiet while working. Some coffee makers can make a whirring noise which can be distracting.
Decide whether you want something convenient and one-touch or whether you want the guests to work for their coffee (non-electric device)
Don’t get a large coffee maker unless you have to put one in a common area for a lot of guests. Single-cup coffee maker will work fine for most cases.
Think whether you need the thermal carafe attachment – if keeping coffee hot for a longer period of time is important for you, then you need it.
Cup and capsule machines can make hot chocolate tea and more, so that is nice to have.
Suggestions
Mr. Coffee BVMC-PSTX95: If you are looking to save some money then this a great option. It has a removable water reservoir and filter basket. So it should be easy to clean. It comes with a stainless steel thermal carafe that keeps the coffee hot for long after it is brewed.
Cuisinart DCC-3200: If you want to up your game and give your guests a programmable coffee maker then this one can be had for a little more money. You can make coffee in different amounts – for a single person or for a group through its programmable control. It comes with a heating pad below the carafe that can be kept on to keep the coffee hot.
Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker: For the ultimate in convenience, get a Keurig. It supports multiple K-Cup sizes. It has a large water reservoir so it won’t need refilling over and over. It brews in less than a minute. It can also support K Cups for tea, hot chocolate, and other drinks. It has an auto turn-off feature to save power when it has been idle for over 2 hours. For single cup convenience, this is the best choice.
Ninja Specialty Fold-Away Frother: For the ultimate choice to spoil your guests, get this coffee maker that can make lattes, macchiatos, cappuccinos, and other coffeehouse-style drinks. You can even make iced coffee in this one! It has a frother functionality that lets you make that unique coffee house style creamy froth on top of your coffee. Your guests will love this one!
Precautions:
Make sure to keep a waste bin near the machine for the discarded coffee grounds and pods. It will have to be cleared regularly.
Most importantly always keep the coffee in stock. Have milk cream and sweetener handy for those who don’t like their coffee black. Comfortable to hold coffee mugs are also a must-have.
Make sure you have a spare electric outlet to run the coffee maker. You don’t want to have an extension cord running over the kitchen just to add one.
