Coffee machines
This is one for all you coffee lovers – once you have one, you’ll never be able to live without it. If you can’t function without a morning coffee but you’re not a fan of clutter on the worktops, having your early morning coffee can take double the time clearing away the mess. Thankfully for you, a built-in coffee machine might be a worthwhile addition to your kitchen. Although they might seem pricey at first, many aren’t much more expensive than top-of-the-range countertop models and think of all that money you’ll save not buying a coffee on your way to work every day.
If you’re planning an appliance bank in your kitchen, then it’s worth noting that most manufacturers are designing coffee machines to match their ovens. As a result, a combination of three ovens and a coffee machine are becoming a popular configuration. Price points vary, from the very affordable semi-automatic models from Hotpoint to the pricier all-singing, all-dancing bean-to-cup coffee machine from AEG. If you can’t bear the thought of messy beans or grinds, then a Nespresso pod machine by Miele is a good option.
Wine fridges
Red, rose or white – we all know our favourite wine has an optimum temperature which it needs to be served at. And kitchens with zones for cooking, eating and especially entertaining is the perfect place for one of the latest luxury appliances – the wine cooler. What a great invention. While there might not be space for a wine cellar, the latest wine coolers are very sophisticated machines that will ensure all wines – both red and white — are kept in the optimum conditions. There is nothing worse than a warm glass of white vino.
Under counter models that can be built into your kitchen design from companies such as Liebherr, Caple and CDA vary in size, from space-saving single columns to those with room enough for up to 48 bottles and featuring several temperature zones for keeping reds and whites at exactly the right temperature. Perfectly placed on the dining side of an island so that guests can help themselves while you cook, look for coolers that also include UV protection and anti-vibration – to keep the harmful light at bay and stop the disturbance of sediments – as they’re important features to keep your wine at its best for longer. Larger models look great in a bank of appliances and many, such as those from Miele, have elegant wooden shelving, three temperature zones and even a sommelier unit for sampling your best vintages.
Hot water taps
Hot water taps are appliances which have generally been stuck in commercial kitchens up until now – and we are not referring to the standard hot water tap in your kitchen sink. A few years ago, boiling water taps weren’t a standard addition to a new kitchen design. However, as commercial models from companies such as Quooker began to show up in hi-end domestic kitchens, the benefits of having boiling water at the drop of a lever became more apparent. As a result, tap manufacturers began to develop their ranges, first with standalone taps and now the easier to include tri-flow monobloc with hot, cold and boiling water all in one, neat unit.
Not just for making tea and coffee in a flash, combined with a super-fast induction hob, a boiling water tap can help you to prepare pasta and rice dishes in a flash, as well as speedily steam veg and fish. Most models heat the water to 98° but some, like those from Quooker, reaches 100°. Try also Grohe, InSinkErator, Franke, and Zip for three-in-one monobloc models and Insinkerator and Blanco for standalone taps that are useful for prep sinks. Tanks vary in size but some are compact enough to incorporate into a small kitchen design and all designs feature child-locks to prevent accidental scalding.
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