When shopping for a brand new coffee maker, the last thing on your mind is the type of pitcher that comes with the machine. The features, functions, and fancy LED display often take precedence over the simple container that holds the brewed coffee.
The pitchers aren't exciting or flashy and may seem like they really aren't that important in the grand scheme of things.
But don't underestimate the importance of a good coffee jug, and choosing a glass or thermal jug can make a significant difference to your coffee experience.
Therefore, before you decide on a new coffee machine, take a few moments to read this article. I will compare the #glass and #thermal #jug and highlight the pros and cons of each.
When you reach the end, you will learn everything you need to know.
Armed with this new knowledge, you can make an informed decision when choosing the new filter coffee machine you have your eye on.
What is Carafe?
If you're fascinated by flashy pitches and marketing and you're not even sure what a pitcher is or its purpose, it's probably best not to skip this section.
The coffee jug is the glass or metal container into which the coffee is poured when it comes out of the drip coffee maker; effectively, it is where the brewed coffee is collected for service.
Even if they're made of glass or metal, most coffee jugs have some kind of handle, a drain, and you can find cup portion sizes on the side.
It's safe to say that most coffee jugs will have a handle and a spout. But when it comes to materials used in manufacturing, you will usually find ones made of glass or metal.
While the basic jug serves the same function, whether it's a glass or thermal jug will affect how hot your coffee stays.
Let's take a look at both types along with their pros and cons.
A Closer Look at the Glass Jug
The glass style of the coffee jug is the most common and is the model you will most likely encounter when purchasing a new machine.
As the name suggests, this type of pitcher is made of glass and typically comes with a plastic handle and flip lid.
Glass is heat resistant, so it won't break when hot coffee is added. However, since it is glass, it will break if accidentally hit or dropped.
Most coffee makers that come with a glass carafe also have a heating plate that sits on the bottom of the carafe.
Ideally, you shouldn't leave your freshly brewed coffee in the jug on the hot plate for too long, as prolonged heating will almost guarantee your brewed coffee will taste bitter.
But the hot plate isn't all that bad. This is a great feature if you want to keep your coffee hot for a little longer than usual, such as in an office environment or those who wake up early in the morning.
But if you plan on keeping the brewed coffee in the warming plate for a long time, don't expect it to taste fresh when you finally start drinking it.
So why is glass so popular? After all, it is incredibly fragile.
You've probably noticed that glass is a common material in the kitchen, and for good reason.
One of the main reasons for this is that glass is non-porous; this means that flavors and odor will not leach into the glass and affect other food or drink that will later be stored in the same glass jar or container.
The last point to be touched is aesthetics.
Glass carafe can be produced in a wide variety of fancy designs. Thermal stainless steel jugs, on the other hand, don't have this luxury and tend to look very similar.
You'll also often find that cheaper coffee machines will come with a glass jug as standard, with the option to upgrade to a thermal jug.
Pros;
Cost: Cheaper than thermal coffee jugs.
Glass is non-porous, so it does not retain any taste or odor.
It is easier to produce glass in ornate designs.
Serving coffee in a glass jug seems more elegant, especially in a formal setting.
Cons;
It is fragile and can easily break during cleaning or accidentally hit.
Glass does not provide insulation, so your coffee will cool quickly without a warming plate.
Disadvantage of using a hot plate: Your coffee will turn bitter and even burn if kept in heat for a long time.
A Closer Look at the Thermal Jug
As I mentioned, thermal jugs are often bundled with a high-end thermal jug coffee maker. They are often touted as a premium jug due to their insulating properties.
This type of jug is made of stainless steel and has a double-walled design with a vacuum of compressed air in between.
The vacuum prevents heat from being transferred from the inside of the jug to the outside. Essentially, it keeps the heat locked inside the jug and prevents cold or hot air from getting into the jug.
This double-walled design can keep your coffee hot for hours instead of minutes with a glass carafe.
The vacuum design is pretty neat and is used in a wide variety of applications, from coffee thermoses to the cooler boxes you take to the beach.
A little history. Be the first to design this vacuum arak was invented by Scottish chemist Sir James Dewar, who needed a container to keep cryogenic material cold for a long time.
Today, you can expect a quality double-walled thermal carafe to keep your coffee warm for up to seven hours after brewing.
Because the thermal carafe is so efficient, almost all the machines that feed them do not have a hot plate in the coffee machine because they are not needed.
Office or corporate environments are where the thermal carafe stands out with its ability to keep coffee warm for hours. With coffee that doesn't taste burnt or bitter, entire departments can be caffeinated all day long.
So far, a thermal jug sounds great, right? However, the biggest disadvantage of thermal jugs is that they are significantly more expensive than their glass counterparts.
It's also worth noting that if you need to replace one, the cost can often be a large fraction of the original price of the coffee maker.
Besides the ability to keep your coffee hot for hours, thermal carafe is much more durable than glass and accidental drops or bumps are no problem.
Chances are, once you buy a coffee maker with a thermal jug, you'll never have to replace it, and it's not unheard of for a metal thermal jug to outlast the machine.
The aesthetics of thermal metal jugs aren't the most appealing, and for some people, how the jug looks can be a deal breaker.
Due to the double-wall design and the materials used, most thermal jugs look the same and are either multi-pipe or square in appearance.
If you often serve coffee from your dinner table or host a party, a glass carafe often looks more stylish than a thermal one. This is just something to keep in mind.
Pros;
Without a heating element or external heat source, it can keep dripping coffee piping hot for hours.
It is much more durable than glass and can withstand accidental knocks.
The brewed coffee stays fresh even after hours and does not burn or turn rancid.
Cons;
The initial cost of the thermal coffee jug will be more than the glass.
Design options are limited and they all tend to look the same.
Some people say that a stainless steel thermal carafe can give coffee a metallic taste.
Thermal Carafe or Glass Carafe is Best?
Choosing whether the best is a thermal or glass jug ultimately comes down to personal preference.
The thermal carafe is perfect if you're a large home owner and need fresh coffee to keep warm for a few hours in the morning. Even in an office setting, the thermal jug is a clear winner.
Glass carafes also have advantages such as cost and aesthetic appearance as we mentioned. However, they are prone to breakage and need a hot plate to keep the coffee hot for a long time.
If you can't decide on one or the other, don't worry, you're not stuck.
If you buy a new #coffee machine and it comes with a thermal jug, you can buy an aftermarket glass jug to use in your machine or vice versa.
Then, depending on your needs, you can pick and choose the pitcher you want to use.