DeLonghi EC251vsMelitta 1012

'Output' denotes how much coffee the machine is capable of brewing and delivering at once, measured in cups. This is specifically important for cafetieres or drip-filter machines - however some larger coffee makers can churn out an extremely high level of coffee (in the thousands) while others concentrate on a single very high-quality cup.

A larger output means that the coffee maker can produce more coffee at once, though the amount of coffee created is nowhere near as important as the *quality* of the cup!

'Timer' indicates whether the coffee maker allows you to pre-fill the machine and set a timer, so that it automatically starts making coffee at a certain point.

This is extremely helpful for first thing in the morning - you can fill the machine before bed, set a timer and wake up to freshly-brewed coffee!

'Dishwasher-Proof Parts' denotes whether parts of the coffee maker are designed to be easily removed and cleaned in the dishwasher.

Dishwasher-proof parts make it far easier to clean your coffee maker and keep it in peak working order.

'Built-In Grinder' denotes whether the coffee maker has a built in grinder to automatically grind a fresh batch of coffee grounds as needed.

Coffee is best when freshly ground, before it's had a chance to dry out and lose flavour - a built in grinder means you'll always be using the freshest grinds for your drinks.

'Water Tank Capacity' is a measurement of how much water the coffee maker can hold at once.

A bigger water capacity means that the coffee maker will need refilling less frequently.

'Adjustable Coffee Strength' indicates whether the you can modify the strength of the coffee produced by the machine, making it stronger or weaker. This is normally done by adding or subtracting 'shots' of espresso from the drink.

Adjustable strength means you can tailor the coffee to personal preferences - not everyone wants their coffee to be rocket fuel!

'Built-In Display' denotes whether the coffee maker has a screen displaying the coffee choices, current coffee brewing, any errors, etc.

A display allows you to quickly see the status of the coffee machine, choose drinks, etc.