French Press

• A French press is traditionally a glass container, though some are stainless steel. A metal rod attaches the lid to a mesh screen. Using course ground coffee, you place the grounds in the bottom of a glass container and add boiling water. After the coffee has brewed --- about 4 minutes --- you push the screen down, pressing the grounds down to the bottom.
  
  

Automatic Drip

• With automatic drip, you add water to the tank and medium grounds to a coffee filter. Disposable filters are made with paper, but some coffee makers come with a built-in metal filter. There are settings for an automatic that range from a simple "On" to including temperature and brew strength.
  
  

Commercial

• Commercial makers have a water tank that can heat the water almost instantly. Bunn is the familiar brand for this type found in households. With this type of coffeemaker, you add the grounds to a filter and pour the desired amount of water into the tank. As soon as you place the carafe under the filter, the brewing begins.
  
  

Single Serve

• A single-serve brewer is different than a small automatic. There are special "pods" of coffee grounds that are bought already packaged in a filter, like a tea bag. You place these in the filter part of the maker and press "On." It brews directly into your coffee mug.