A coffee urn is as simple as it sounds. It is simply a coffee maker that makes coffee in large amounts. Not only can coffee urns often brew coffee, but they can also serve coffee. They can be found in hotels, conferences, and other social events. Coffee urns are very important components of an event where there happens to be any number of adults. Many adults thrive off of coffee and it would not make sense to hold a massive social event without having some sort of coffee urn to keep guests fueled. Coffee urns can come in a variety of prices, sizes, and styles. It all depends on what the customer’s budget is and how many people they want to serve. Unlike standard coffee makers, coffee urns do not usually require any paper filters. They usually come with either metal or plastic filters that can be washed and reused. The coffee grounds go directly into the reusable filters just like regular paper filters. When working with coffee urns, you are going to have to use larger, more coarse coffee grounds to have a successful brew.
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What to Look for When Buying
When you are looking to purchase a coffee urn, you want to make sure you know what size and capacity you want the urn to have. Coffee urns can be shaped unconventionally so you can never guess what the capacity of the urn is. It all depends on how big the reservoir is. Some reservoirs only hold 15 cups of coffee while others are able to hold up to 100 cups. It all depends on how many people you need to serve and what kind of space you have to set it up. You also have to take into consideration whether or not the coffee urn is electric. Electric coffee urns have to be plugged in, so if you are setting up at an event you have to take that into consideration. You may or may not have any available plugs. If you do not have a spot to plug in a coffee urn, you should go with a coffee urn that uses chafer fuel. Another obvious tip is to always look at the product’s ratings.
The Best Coffee Urns - Reviews
This long-lasting Chafer Urn has chrome accents and is meant to hold beverages such as tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. Its shiny, attractive appearance contributes to the overall appliance that serves as a container to hold in heat. It isn’t a plugin or electric. The urn comes with a fuel holder that contains chafing fuel. It is a popular coffee urn that is used frequently at parties and events where there are large crowds of people It is probably possible that you may have seen this coffee urn at a breakfast buffet in a hotel you were visiting at some point in your life.
Pros
This urn is highly dependable when it comes to storing hot beverages. It is made out of 18/10 stainless steel and has an elegant look to it. It holds up to 3 gallons and is able to serve 48 cups of coffee. It can be used at large gatherings like buffets and banquets for many guests to enjoy. It is also used at catered events such as weddings and professional conferences. It consists of coffee chafers that are insulated so that little heat is lost. This coffee urn is built strong and meant to last so it can be an urn that you keep for years to come.
Cons
As stated previously, this coffee urn does not plug into anything. It runs off of chafer fuel and sits on a flame. It may be dangerous if used around children with proper safety measures. Customers must make sure that the chafer fuel is safely inside of the fuel holder that comes with the urn. Another important detail is that customers can not brew in this coffee urn. This is a coffee chafer urn that was made to hold hot coffee at temperatures that are safe for serving. Brewing coffee in this urn would bring it to unsafe temperatures. It’s simply made just for serving.
Gastrorag Premium 30 Cup Coffee Urn
The Gastrorag Premium coffee urn is a great appliance to use for serving large crowds. It holds up to 30 cups of coffee and has a variety of features. It can be used as a container for hot tea, fruit punch, etc. It is a classy way to serve after-dinner drinks and can be served in conference rooms, cafes, hotels, outdoor events, or anywhere where there is a big crowd. It’s also a great appliance to have in your home to serve to your humble guests. This urn has the power to brew one 5 oz cup per minute because of its stellar 1000W heating element.
Pros
Unlike some coffee urns, the Gastrorag Premium allows customers to brew their coffee in it. Once the coffee is done brewing, it is ready to serve. It is a high-speed coffee brewer that meets the needs of a big crowd. The indicators on the urn are also very easy to read and the indicator lights let you know when the coffee is ready to be served. Not only that but the urn is easy to fill due to the design that includes embossed marks inside of it. All you have to do is fill it up to the desired level. Moreover, customers report that the urn is easy to clean and is dishwasher safe. This coffee urn is simple and its heavy-duty design that includes double-wall insulation is unbeatable.
Cons
The Gastrorag Premium is less than $100 but it may be more expensive than the cheaper options on the market. It also only brews 30 cups of coffee while some coffee urns are able to hold up to 100 cups of coffee. Some customers also complain that the urn takes about 20 minutes to heat up room temperature water. Other customers have said that it takes the urn a long time to pour one single cup of coffee.
Gastrorag Premium 50 Cup Coffee Urn
Just like the previous Gastorag Premium coffee urn, this urn is made out of heavy-duty stainless steel and is able to serve a large gathering. This earn is able to quickly serve guests and has a heating element of 1100W. It is designed in a way that allows you to see the level of the beverage inside of it. All the customer has to do is fill the urn up to the desired line and they know whether or not it is full or needs to be refilled. It’s great for picnics and conferences and does not require any paper filters.
Pros
Unlike the previous coffee urn, this urn fits up to 50 cups which allows the customer to serve more guests. This is great for large conferences with 50 people or more. It comes with indicator lights that let you know when the coffee is ready to be served to the guests. It isn’t made for just coffee, though. This premium urn can serve other drinks such as fruit juice or hot chocolate. It comes with a reusable basket so that the customer doesn’t have to buy any paper filters. It is also dishwasher safe and has a lid that locks to avoid any sudden spills.
Cons
Unfortunately, the warranty information on this coffee urn is not upfront. Potential customers have to contact the company directly to learn about the warranty policies available. This may be inconvenient for some people who are in a rush to buy a coffee urn. Making that final decision may involve having some kind of information on whether or not there is a warranty and for how long. Some customers say that it is hard to clean the coffee urn after filling it with hot chocolate. Customers may want to be careful about putting hot chocolate in this urn.
Hamilton Beach 45 Cup Coffee Urn
This Hamilton Beach coffee urn brews coffee fast and makes enough for a crowd of 15 - 45 people. It’s the ideal coffee urn for business meetings and buffet-style meals. Coffee is highly favored in the adult population so it makes sense to use a high-quality coffee urn like this one. It comes with a two-way dispenser to make either a single cup or continuous filling. It’s easy to fill this coffee urn up because it has water level markings inside of it. It also comes with the standard indicator light that many coffee urns have to let you know when the coffee is ready to serve.
Pros
The beautiful metal finish of this coffee urn makes it very attractive. It can be placed on any serving table and has comfortable handles on it. If the urn falls over on accident, customers can be sure that the locking lid will keep the coffee contained. It is a common fact that Hamilton Beach Coffee Urns brew one cup per minute and come with two-way dispensers. They come with a lot of flexibility and brew anywhere between 15 and 45 cups of coffee.
Cons
While this coffee urn is said to brew up to 45 cups of coffee, the size of it may be underwhelming for some. One customer complained that the urn was smaller than they expected and claimed that the urn only held about half of what it was supposed to. The urn only considers cups that have about 4 oz of coffee which is smaller than an actual cup of coffee. Another customer also complained that the cord to this coffee urn is in an inconvenient spot that makes it hard to plug-in for serving at social events. This may be an issue if you are working an event and have to set up quickly.
Maxi-Matic 30 Cup Coffee Maker/Urn
This Elite Cuisine electric coffee urn comes in a stainless steel interior and exterior body. The cords are 36 inches long and help power an appliance that is fast brewing. Making one cup per minute, this urn comes with a simple twist-lock lid to stop spills at their tracks. It does not require a filter and it is designed to serve large parties. High volume crowds will be very pleased with the amount of time it takes to get their hands on a warm cup of joe. This appliance is high flow and has a drip-less dispenser for single servings.
Pros
Some positive facts about this coffee urn are that it is a high speed and only takes one minute to serve a cup of coffee. It is also easy to clean because it comes with a removable plastic filter. As stated previously, it is perfect for large gatherings and gives guests their desired serving amount. It comes with a heat resistant handle and a locking lid for safety when carrying it around. Its shiny exterior is appealing and looks great just about anywhere. Stainless steel is very easy to clean and looks good as new every time you have to wipe the exterior down.
Cons
Some downsides to this product are that customers have to pay to get some kind of protection in case something goes wrong. The company does not give customers a choice to have a protection plan outside of 3 or 4 years of protection. Customers also have to contact the company directly to get some kind of information about the product’s warranty. That can be inconvenient for customers who are in a hurry to decide on a coffee urn. One customer was informed by the company that the warranty on this product is very short and returns must be made quickly. They found that the coffee urn bubbled up too fast and steamed vigorously.
The Home Craft Coffee Urn is an all-purpose urn that can serve coffee, tea, hot cider, or hot chocolate. It’s a great choice for serving hot beverages at just about any social gathering you can think of. It is a fast brewing coffee urn that brews one cup of coffee every minute. It also comes with a reservoir with a capacity of 30 cups. It has the ability to keep drinks warm by automatically storing drinks at the appropriate temperature for an extended period of time. It has a pedestal base that is strong and sturdy. The lid is secure and needs to be twisted in order for it to be opened up. This coffee urn is reusable and can be washed in a dishwasher.
All-purpose: Perfect for serving coffee, tea, hot cider, hot chocolate, and more for banquets, church functions, corporate events, and parties
Pros
As a plus, the Home Craft Coffee Urn comes with water markings so that customers know whether or not they need to refill the coffee urn. The water tank is also accessible and has an interior water minimum and maximum level. The indicator lights are sure to let guests know when the coffee is ready to be served. This urn brews coffee efficiently and comes with a polished stainless steel exterior. It does not require any paper filters because it comes with a reusable coffee filter that can be cleaned out upon use. What’s more, the urn’s handle is always cool to touch and will not burn your hand when handling it.
Cons
Like many other coffee urns, customers have to contact the company directly to find out about the warranty policies that come with the product. It is always inconvenient when information is missing in the description of a product. Some companies may not respond fast due to the high volume of inquiries or due to their limited business hours. Some customers also complain that this product has an issue with its heating regulator. It doesn’t keep coffee as hot as it should and doesn’t come out warm for some customers. Another customer complained that its heating element causes some discoloration that doesn’t seem to come off.
The NESCO Professional Coffee Urn is another stainless steel coffee urn that has a simple dispenser that allows you to experience continuous pouring. It is safe to use and is cool to touch regardless of how hot the coffee is inside of it. It comes with water level markings and is great for big parties. It has a 4.5L capacity which serves 25 5.7 oz cups. Customers have the ability to troubleshoot this product using the user manual provided on Amazon. One coffee is brewed in one minute and the lid locks to keep coffee safely contained.
Pros
This coffee urn comes with a variety of exciting features such as a 950W heating element that allows customers to keep coffee hot for hours. The dispenser is also very easy to use and is drip-free and highly convenient. The urn comes with a durable plastic coffee basket that is dishwasher safe and is easy to clean. The urn’s grips and handles are heat resistant which allows room for safe handling. The switch to the appliance comes with a protective silicone cover that stops dust and liquid from seeping into it.
Cons
This coffee urn only serves 25 cups which is less than other urns that serve 50 cups and more. It may not be big enough for large gatherings with more than 25 people. Like other coffee urns mentioned previously, the warranty can only be accessed through contacting the company directly. It’s safe to say that these kinds of products may cause some problems for customers who want a simple answer right on the Amazon website about the product’s warranty. Another negative is that this product contains chemicals that are recognized in the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm.
This stainless steel coffee urn is rated 4 stars on Amazon and features hot and cold settings. Beverages are able to stay hot for 12 hours in this coffee urn and cold beverages stay chilly for up to an impressive 24 hours. This is made possible due to the urn’s advanced technology that includes double-wall insulation to lock in the temperature of the beverage. Not only that, but the taste aroma is also well preserved within the coffee urn. In terms of the outside material, this urn is constructed from stainless steel that never rusts, bends, or breaks from frequent use. The steel is reported to be high quality 18/8 stainless steel and the package comes with a free cleaning brush.
Pros
Customers can serve a variety of beverages with this coffee urn such as juice, water, tea, milk, etc. It’s simply not just a coffee urn. It’s a user-friendly urn that can be handled single-handedly and the spout opens with the press of a simple button. Customers don’t even have to worry about burning themselves because the carafe body remains cool regardless of the hot contents inside. It’s 61 oz capacity serves as a convenient size for daily use. What’s more, customers have access to a 1-year warranty with this product if they find themselves unsatisfied.
Cons
The Airpot Coffee Thermos is only 61 oz so it may not be the best urn for large gatherings. It’s a medium size that serves a small group of people. Customers only have a 30-day money-back guarantee which may not be enough time to spot any issues if the customer isn’t an avid coffee drinker. The urn only holds up to 9 cups of coffee so it may not be enough for some customers who need to store coffee for commercial purposes.
Summary
It may be difficult to choose what kind of coffee urn you want to purchase but research goes a long way. A simple solution to this chaos could be just reading the description of the products and seeing if they fit your needs. Aesthetic can also matter to you if you have a preference when it comes to furnishing your home or social event. Reading the description of products can help but it will also help to read customer reviews to avoid any unnecessary issues. Some products may not live up to what they say they are and it is important to see what real customers have to say.
