On the other hand, you have individuals with spacious kitchens who like the practical functionality of the under counter coffee maker especially when entertaining numerous guests.

The Advantages

These are, of course, in addition to the obvious fact that you can save on precious space in your kitchen, hence, making way for other countertop appliances.

You can brew a fresh batch of coffee without the need for adding water with each batch. The built in coffee maker, after all, is connected to the house's main plumbing system.

All you need to do is turn on the switch for the water supply, add in the coffee grounds, and switch on the unit. You add value to your home simply because a spacemaker coffee maker is generally more expensive than its countertop counterpart, feature for feature. Plus, it cannot be denied that it is a strong design statement, much like how a built-in entertainment system can be for most homeowners.

The Considerations

After all, it is meant to be constructed into the wall or cabinet, thus, it is a relatively permanent installation.

The most important considerations for built in coffee maker are the following:

• Measurement - You have to make sure that the space you will be assigning the coffee maker into has allowances for the wirings and plumbing as well as space for your coffee-making activities like grounding the coffee and pouring from the carafe into the cup. It may be a spacesaver coffee maker but you still have to make way for other coffee accessories.



• Safety - Since almost everything related to the actual operation of built-in kitchen appliances are hidden - think electrical wirings, water piping and gas lines - you have to make sure that the coffeemaker is located away from dangerous materials. For example, never position the coffee maker near a switch breaker.

The Cost

You can choose from relatively affordable coffeemakers like BE-104R-113A Black 4-Cup Programable Built-In Coffee Maker at $290 to the uber-expensive Miele CVA4075SS Built In Plumbed Coffee System at $2,999. Needless to say, you have to pay more for more features and benefits, not to mention that brand prestige also comes into the equation.

The moral: