Menu
 

Best Coffee Makers

Updated November 2023
Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Cuisinart 12-Cup Brew Central Coffee Maker
Cuisinart
12-Cup Brew Central Coffee Maker
Check Price
Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

This traditional drip coffee maker offers flexibility, convenience, and high quality.

Pros

Built with 12-cup carafe with ergonomic handle, dripless spout, and knuckle guard. Has a brew pause feature so you can enjoy a cup before brewing has finished. Includes time-to-clean monitor with indicator light, programmable brew for up to 24 hours in advance, and programmable auto shutoff from 0-4 hours after brew. Comes with a charcoal water filter and a measuring scoop.

Cons

Some customers note design issues with the carafe.

Best Bang for the Buck
BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker
BLACK+DECKER
12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker
Check Price
Thoughtful Design
Bottom Line

This standard, well-designed coffee maker offers multiple options for brewing a full pot of joe.

Pros

Built with white stainless steel, glass carafe, washable brew basket, and large rubberized button controls. Has programmable 24-hour advanced brew and 2-hour auto shutoff. Provides sneak-a-cup feature so you can enjoy a cup before brewing is complete. Boasts an easy-view front-facing water window and easy-to-read screen that displays clock, brew time, and programming options.

Cons

A few customers note design issues with the filter.

Keurig K-Classic Single Serve
Keurig
K-Classic Single Serve
Check Price
Fan Favorite
Bottom Line

A convenient single-serve coffee maker with plenty of fans that performed efficiently in our testing.

Pros

Extremely convenient for individuals and simple to use. Accepts pods with any type of ground coffee in the most popular K-Cup sizes. Auto-off feature turns the coffee maker off after 2 hours without use. Large water reservoir lets you brew 6-plus cups before needing to be refilled. Worth the price.

Cons

Not ideal for large coffee batches. Difficult to diagnose and repair problems due to closed design.

Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer Coffee Maker
Hamilton Beach
2-Way Brewer Coffee Maker
Check Price
Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

This coffee brewer can brew anything from a single serving to a full pot, depending on your need for caffeine.

Pros

Built with black stainless steel and 12-cup glass carafe. Designed with programmable advanced brew options and automatically shuts off after 2 hours. Provides 2 brewing strengths (regular and bold.) Accommodates travel cups and mugs. Includes a mesh filter and scoop.

Cons

A few customers observe that brewing can be slow.

Cuisinart PerfecTemp 14-Cup Coffeemaker
Cuisinart
PerfecTemp 14-Cup Coffeemaker
Check Price
Best for Large Groups
Bottom Line

A quality product by one of the top brands in the industry. Cuisinart focuses on taste and temperature to render an excellent cup of coffee.

Pros

Classic, reliable design appreciated by coffee maker traditionalists. Cuisinart has included just about every feature you might want. Brews quickly and has great water filtration. Fully programmable and automatic, with 1-to 4-cup setting options and auto shut-off. Permanent filter.

Cons

Carafe is a bit awkward to fill and cleaning the machine can be somewhat challenging.

HOW WE TESTED

After going through an intensive research process to narrow down our short list of top products in this space, we tested Bialetti Moka Pot 3-Cup to be sure that it’s worthy of our recommendation. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter and test to verify manufacturer claims.

54
Models
Considered
88
Consumers
Consulted
8
Hours
Researched
Category cover

Buying guide for Best coffee makers

Nothing sets your day up for success like that first cup of coffee. While some folks prefer to make their regular coffee run to a coffee shop, these days, it’s easier than ever to brew your own java at home. Home-brewed coffee is an excellent way to save money, and you can learn to brew your coffee just the way you like it.

Before you decide on a coffee maker, however, you must know that there are multiple kinds to choose from: espresso makers, drip coffee makers, single-serving makers, and pour-over makers, for example. You also want to consider a coffee maker’s brew strength, capacity, ease of use, speed, and durability. Our reviews cover all these points along with affordability.

Best Coffee Maker Review
If you’re getting ready to purchase a new coffee maker, it helps to learn about top-notch products and the excellent features they offer.

Types of coffee makers

The first decision to make is what type of coffee maker is right for you. Let's examine the most common varieties.

Drip coffee makers

A drip coffee maker brews a standard cup of black coffee by mixing ground coffee with hot water, then dripping it through a filter or filter basket.

Pros:

  • Drip coffee makers can make large quantities of coffee at a time.
  • You can find decent drip coffee makers for a relatively low cost, particularly when compared to the cost of espresso machines.
  • Drip coffee makers are convenient and easy to use.

Cons:

  • If you make a large pot and keep the coffee warm on the hotplate, it will scorch and turn bitter.
  • You don't always get the best flavor from a drip coffee maker.
  • Inexpensive models may be lacking when it comes to durability.

Espresso makers

Espresso makers work by forcing pressurized water, heated nearly to its boiling point, through densely packed ground coffee. This results in a small, intensely flavored shot of joe. Many models have a built-in milk frother that imparts a flavor that rivals what you’d find at trendy coffee shops.

Pros:

  • You can drink your espresso straight or use it to make drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, or even iced coffees and frappuccinos.
  • Espresso makers can produce extremely tasty coffee.
  • You can usually customize the strength of your brew.

Cons:

  • A good espresso machine can be fairly costly.
  • Some models consume quite a bit of counter space.
  • It can take some time and practice to perfect making specialty drinks.

Single-serving coffee makers

Single-serving coffee makers use coffee pods or K-Cups of ground coffee (and sometimes milk powder or flavorings) to produce a varied range of drinks. Quality models feature removable water tanks that can produce multiple cups of coffee before needing to be refilled.

Pros:

  • Single-serving coffee makers are extremely convenient and easy to use.
  • If you live alone or are the only coffee drinker in the home, a single-serving machine is an economical choice because you won't make more coffee than you need.
  • You can buy pods that produce cappuccinos, lattes, flavored coffees, tea, hot chocolate, and more.

Cons:

  • Using a plastic pod for each serving of coffee isn't environmentally friendly.
  • While some models allow you to make your own pods by adding your choice of ground coffee, many only let you use their choices of coffee, so your selection is limited.
  • Coffee connoisseurs tend to criticize the flavor and quality of coffee from pods.
coffee makers
Testing coffee makers
We spent 107 hours researching over 100 coffee makers before picking the most worthy options. We then purchased our top model and tested it in our lab.
STAFF
BestReviews

Pour-over coffee makers

As the name implies, pour-over coffee makers work by pouring water over coffee grounds or coffee beans. A few models are powered by electricity, but most are manual. This method gives a home barista control over the water temperature for customizable results.

Pros:

  • Pour-over models don’t take up a lot of counter space.
  • Dedicated coffee lovers rave about the flavor produced using this direct brewing method.
  • A pour-over coffee maker is versatile, as it can be used to make cold or hot coffee.

Cons:

  • The brewing process requires boiling water using a range, microwave, or burner.
  • Paper filters are typically required, and they may need to be folded in a specific configuration for the best results.
  • It can take a little practice to achieve great coffee with a pour-over maker.

Manual coffee makers

Although we're not focusing on them in this guide, you can find a range of inexpensive manual coffee makers on the market.

While they certainly involve more work from the user, manual coffee makers can still produce a good cup of coffee, and there's no need to have electricity to use them, either. A manual coffee maker can be a lifesaver on a camping trip.

Popular examples include the French press and the Aeropress. These methods of brewing tend to make fewer cups at a time, which is perfect for households with a single coffee drinker. However, if you want to brew a large pot of coffee, a manual coffee maker probably won't be your top choice.

Factors to consider when selecting a coffee maker

Number of cups

Think about how many cups you need your coffee maker to produce in one round of coffee production. If you're the only person in your home drinking coffee and usually only drink a single cup at a time, a single serving machine or a coffee maker that produces just a few cups would be ideal. On the other hand, if you have a large household of coffee drinkers or you often entertain guests, look for a model that can make a larger number of cups in one go.

For multi-cup models, our coffee expert Francois advises, "'Stop as you pour' is a great feature. The machine stops the flow of coffee when the carafe is removed, allowing you to pour a cup before the whole thing is done brewing."

The best drip coffee makers offer some of the largest quantities produced in a single brewing session.

STAFF
BestReviews

Brew strength control

Some coffee makers give you little input over how your coffee turns out, whereas others let you fine-tune your cup of coffee with brew strength control. Consider whether you're fussy about how your coffee turns out or whether you're happy to drink it however it comes out. If you're particular about your java, opt for a model that allows you to control the brew strength.

Timer

Imagine waking up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee ready to drink. If you choose a versatile coffee machine with a built-in timer, this could be your reality every day.

This feature is perfect if you don't function well before that first cup or if you're in a hurry to get out of the house in the morning.

Built-in grinder

A bean-to-cup coffee maker includes a built-in grinder. The unit grinds up the right amount of beans each time, without you having to put in any extra effort.

While we agree that freshly ground coffee tastes best, you could achieve the same result with a cheap burr grinder. Machines with built-in grinders tend to be pricey, so we'd only recommend them if you have a large budget and want a great coffee-making experience that’s as hands-off as possible.

Drink choice

If you take your coffee black — maybe with a bit of cream when you're feeling fancy — then a basic drip coffee maker is all you need. However, if you crave espresso or specialty drinks like cappuccinos or lattes, then consider an espresso machine with a steamer arm for heating and frothing milk.

Single-serving machines also offer pods with a huge range of drink choices that can be ready at the press of a button. This is a wonderful choice if you like fancy coffees but don't want to bother with making them from scratch.

Filter basket

Some espresso and drip coffee makers have filter baskets that filter coffee grounds during the brewing process, eliminating the need for paper filters. The size of the filter basket and the volume of grounds placed inside prior to brewing helps determine coffee flavor and strength.

Carafe

As an alternative to the basic glass carafe, some coffee makers come with a thermal carafe to keep drinks warm.

Here's what Francois had to say on the subject: "If you need to keep coffee hot for a few hours, go for a model with a thermal carafe. Even though models with glass carafes have a heating plate, this ends up making the coffee more and more bitter as time goes on."

coffee makers
Expert Tip
Do not buy a coffee/espresso combo machine. They usually lack the power to generate the pressure needed to make a proper espresso.
STAFF
BestReviews

Price

A decent coffee maker needn't cost an arm and a leg, but it is worth a bit of an investment, especially if you're a regular coffee drinker.

Basic drip coffee makers

These start around $20 or $30. Most of these inexpensive models don't hold a candle to higher-end brands, but you can find a few diamonds in the rough.

Midrange and high-end drip coffee makers

These cost from $50 to $150. Choices include models with thermal carafes, programmable settings, and lots of other bells and whistles.

Single-serving, pod-style coffee makers

Expect to pay between $50 and $125 for these models. Cheaper models generally offer less control over factors such as cup size, and may not let you customize your own pods.

Espresso makers

These cost between about $40 and $350 for home-grade machines (professional models can run into the thousands), but you're unlikely to get a model that makes a great espresso for much less than $100.

Pour-over coffee makers

Pour-over coffee makers range in price from around $15 for a small, generic model to $100 and more for a model by a top brand with a carafe that will hold several cups of coffee. Electrically powered models cost a bit more and tend to fall in the range of $179 to $200.

Best Cuisinart Coffee Maker
When manufacturers list how many cups their coffee maker produces, they're referring to 8 oz cups. However, the average mug size is 12 to 16 oz, so adjust your expectations accordingly.

Tips

  • Regardless of the type of coffee maker you choose, keeping it clean can keep it working properly for years to come. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper cleaning and to be sure of which parts are dishwasher-safe.
  • When choosing pods, capsules, or K-Cups for a single-serve model, make sure that they are compatible with your machine before using them.
  • If you are typically in a hurry when brewing your morning coffee, look for a machine that has a speedy brew cycle. For example, some single-serve models can brew a cup of coffee in about 60 seconds.
  • Keep in mind that some coffee makers have adjustable brewing temperature settings. This comes in handy when making different types of coffee beverages.

 

Our Top Picks