We’ve tested the best coffee makers out there. From drip to cold brew, we’ve got recommendations to suit your taste and budget and ensure every cup of coffee is perfect.
You can go to Starbucks, Dunkin’ or Caribou to get anything from a simple black coffee to basically a coffee-flavored milkshake. Or, you can opt for one of the craft coffee shops that have sprung up over the past decade or so and get a carefully crafted coffee or latte. However, if you want to save money, or are interested in learning more about coffee brewing, you may want to brew your coffee at home. The best coffee maker can help you enjoy more coffee.
When you consider things like brewing method, price, and your personal situation, the options for making coffee at home can feel as numerous as the options for going out. (Does anyone living alone need 12 cups of coffee every morning? I’m not here to judge.) The choice may seem daunting, but we’re here to make it easy.
We have carefully tested and carefully selected the best coffee makers available now. Whether you’re looking to brew your coffee hot or cold, manually or automatically, on a budget or without financial constraints, we’ve got an option for you. (You can also check out our picks for the best coffee subscriptions.)
he best drip coffee maker
Oxo Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker
The Oxo Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker delivers Specialty Coffee Association Golden Cup-rated coffee that’s just as good as our previous favorite, the Bonavita Connoisseur, but Oxo’s new coffee brewer is more thoughtfully designed. This drip machine also comes with a special single-cup filter basket for Kalita Wave filters Oxo Brew is the best drip coffee maker that is compact, stylish and sturdy, plus it comes with a thermal carafe that won’t drip or spill.
The Oxo Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker sits on a countertop.
The best coffee makers for $100 or less
Ninja Programmable XL 14-Cup Coffee Maker
At $99.99, the Ninja Programmable XL 14-Cup Coffee Maker is close to our $100 range, but if you’re looking for delicious coffee on a budget, this machine does an excellent job. In the class of inexpensive coffee makers, this ninja consistently produces the smoothest, richest, tastiest coffee (not to mention
Also Read Car Information: 2025 Subaru Baja: Pricing, Release Date & Full Reviews
the most coffee). With both classic and rich brew settings and a setting for small amounts of brewing, this is a coffee maker that can work alone at home or have friends over for brunch. It will brew at a set time and warm the coffee you brew, like many other pots, but it also has a clean cycle. With a reusable filter in the box, you can reduce your coffee consumption even more.
Cafe Specialty Drip Coffee Maker
While the Cafe Specialty Drip Coffee Maker doesn’t come cheap, it offers a lot for the money. If you are a coffee drinker who prefers a smart coffee maker, you can pre-order a delicious cup with its automatic brew feature. This is a great brew that brews quickly and with exceptional water temperature control. The cafe model also offers a standard thermal carafe, brews 10-cup batches and links to Wi-Fi to provide smart app control. The cafe is also easy on the eyes, with lots of brushed metal incorporated into its design.
Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System
Think of this kitchen appliance as the Swiss Army Knife of the drip coffee maker world. The Ninja programmable brewer (with frother, thermal carafe and reusable filter) offers an unusual degree of flexibility, making it the best coffee maker for those who don’t always want the same cup. This coffee machine can make everything from a strong drip to a perfect cold brew or iced coffee to a latte-style drink with its milk, and it will adjust the temperature to your liking. Its thermal carafe will keep tea or coffee hot for up to 2 hours. This programmable coffee maker even lets you make iced coffee and hot coffee in multiple sizes, from small cups to full carafes.
How we tested best coffee makers
Evaluating the performance of a premium coffee maker is trickier than it might sound. You need to know what good drip coffee really is, and according to the Specialty Coffee Association, there are criteria needed to brew well. Drinking time and water temperature top the list. Hot water should be in contact with the soil for no less than four minutes and no more than eight. The ideal water temperature range is between 197 degrees Fahrenheit (92 degrees Celsius) and 205 degrees Fahrenheit (96 degrees Celsius).
To see how well each coffee maker meets that challenge, we log the length of their brew cycles. We also employ thermocouple heat sensors connected to industrial-grade data loggers. This enables us to record the temperature within the coffee grounds while brewing is in progress.
After brewing the coffee, we take a sample reading of the brewed coffee liquid with an optical refractometer. Given that we factor in the amount of water and freshly ground coffee used, that data allows us to calculate the total dissolved solids percentage of each brew. From there we arrive at the extraction percentage. The ideal range is generally considered to be between 18% and 20%.
We back up the measured data with a good old-fashioned taste test. Over-extracted coffee tastes bitter and acrid, while under-extracted coffee is usually weak or sour. And to be sure, we run the same test at least three times to get an idea of average results.
Also Read: Thermomix TM6 Discussion 2024
Coffee Maker FAQs
How long does the best coffee maker last?
A coffee maker can last for years if properly cared for. That said, most coffee makers come with a one-year limited warranty, except for the Technivorm Mokamaster, which is covered by a five-year warranty. Regardless of their length, all of these warranties cover manufacturing defects, not normal wear and tear and misuse of the item.
How does the best coffee maker work?
Even the most sophisticated coffee makers perform the same simple task. That is to run hot water over the ground coffee, then collect the liquid in a container. Achieving the perfect balance of strength and flavor for excellent coffee, however, is difficult. Most machines fail because they either lack a quality water-heating system, flow water too slowly through the soil, or cannot build with enough ground to begin with. Some coffee makers suffer from a combination of these problems – or all three.
How to clean a best coffee maker?
In addition to removing external dirt, stains and dust, all coffee makers require periodic deep cleaning. In particular, their internal water heating systems should be descaled regularly. Some manufacturers instruct you to do this with a solution of vinegar and water.