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Choosing the coffee maker that’s right for your home can be a daunting and time-consuming task. There are dozens of options to consider. In addition, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of reviews to “filter” through.
We’ve consumed 43 pots of coffee and meticulously “poured over” the pros and cons of each drip machine. You’ll only find the best drip coffee makers here with the “perks” that appeal to you. We’ve read all the good, bad, and in-between for you.
⏱️ No Time? Here's the Best Overall Coffee Maker.
Best Overall: Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker
Capacity: 50 oz./ 10 Cups
Makes specialty brews (lattes, cappuccionos, etc.)
Built-in frother
Easy to clean
Modern and stylish, this drip coffee maker can do it all! Make coffeehouse-style specialty coffee drinks at the touch of a button with the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker.
Continue reading to see how we reached this conclusion…
Note:
We have NOT included espresso machines (like the amazing Breville Barista Express) or other brewing methods like Aeropress, cold brew, French press, pour over, or Moka pot in our research.
The Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker just about does it all.
The CM401 (glass carafe model) is an SCA certified home brewing machine with all the bells and whistles. With its fold away milk frother, it’s capable of producing coffeehouse style drinks such as lattes, macchiato, and cappuccino. It can turn hot or cold milk into silky smooth, delicious froth. Mmmmmm.
Choose from 6 different sizes for your convenience.
While it doesn’t technically make cold brew coffee, it can brew super-rich coffee concentrate (similar to espresso shots), making a delightful iced coffee without ever being watered down. You can brew up to 6 different sizes—from a single cup coffee maker or travel mug to a half or full carafe (up to 50 oz. / 10 Cups of coffee).
Choose from 4 Brew Styles: Classic (balanced flavor), Rich (more intense), Iced, and Specialty Coffee.
What we like so much about this machine is that it has many capabilities built into one machine (hot and cold drinks) and has the best overall reviews.
The Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker is also available with a thermal pot (Model CM407).
The Good
Brews a very fast cup of coffee
SCA Certified
Perfect extraction time
Wonderful variety of drinks and sizes
Sleek, modern design
The Could Be Better
Not a true espresso machine which uses bars of pressure
The Moccamaster will gloriously shine in any kitchen.
Of all the best coffee makers on the list, this beauty is the most expensive one we examined. Although it comes with a hefty price tag, it also includes a hefty 5-year warranty.
It’s SCA certified, meaning it does everything correctly to produce barista quality coffee (without the $5/day price tag).
Sure, it’s 2 to 3 times the price of an average drip brewer, but we feel like there are a few things to mention before battening down the hatches on your wallet and screaming, “Get back!” in a demonic voice. Things like:
What’s the build quality of other contenders, e.g., how often will you have to replace those when they break?
How much time & money do you stand to save by brewing at home instead of lining up at the coffeehouse? Cha-ching!
Who else do you know that has a coffee machine that looks like a kick-ass science experiment in Spiderman’s laboratory?
We’re also including the Technivorm Moccamaster in the “best tasting coffee maker” category for the excessive praise it receives in the coffee community. This had the highest acclaim for best taste above all other coffee machines we looked at.
It’s also a great drip coffee maker for beginners, since it only has one switch (hot plate temperature setting) other than the power switch.
Many people consider coffee makers today to be disposable. The Moccamaster is different. With very little hands-on experience, you can replace the internal components yourself, potentially making this the last coffee maker you’ll ever have to buy.
The Good
Incredible warranty, simple to use - one switch operation
Removable parts - may last a lifetime if you’re slightly hands on
Adjustable hot plate (175° or 185° toggle switch)—will never burn your coffee
This one might even make your cheap Uncle Frank happy.
For the budget minded, the Black+Decker DLX1050B sets the stage with being the most inexpensive, but still fits the bill of best coffee makers. It has an excellent reputation for being a reliable machine that produces an excellent cup of coffee and is backed by a 2 year warranty.
It’s fully programmable, has a “sneak-a-cup” feature, and even brews within the proper temperature range.
However, we couldn’t find any evidence that it was free of BPA plastics, but to be fair, we couldn’t find anything on the contrary either.
For a few bucks more, we would encourage going with the Ninja CE251. It has an aluminum boiler and all BPA-free plastic construction. It’s also one of the highest rated best drip coffee makers alongside the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker.
Although not as cheap as some of the Mr. Coffee machines, the Black+Decker DLX1050B definitely falls into the best value category.
The CE251 features a brew strength selector and the ability to brew a small batch.
Slightly middle of the road budget-wise, the Ninja CE251 drip brewer is a very affordable classic drip machine with a contemporary feel. It has two selectable brew strength settings (classic or rich) to get your coffee just right and the ability to brew a small batch (1-4 cups of coffee) without sacrificing taste.
Program 24 hours in advance and wake up to delicious, fresh coffee. It also features an adjustable shut-off for the warming plate (0 – 4 hours in 15-minute increments), and a removable water tank for easy filling and cleaning.
Many users love the fact that it’s a very intuitive and easy to program machine. No need to spend hours studying the manual and fumbling over settings.
Since it can brew a 1-4 cup pot of coffee as flavorful as a full carafe, you’ll be off to the races in no time (perfect for your travel mug), offering the best value for your money.
The Good
Lots of features for a budget drip machine
Intuitive, easy-to-grasp programming
Adjustable warming plate
Removable water reservoir
The Could Be Better
Some coffee drinkers said the finish beep is too loud
Many were happy with the warming plate/coffee temperature, but a few claimed it was too hot
The Cuisinart DGB-400 is our choice for the best coffee maker with grinder.
Using freshly ground coffee is rule #1 when you’re aiming for the best tasting coffee in your kitchen. And the DGB-400 by Cuisinart offers this convenience with a built in blade grinder.
If you’re short on counter real-estate but still have a desire to grind your own freshly roasted coffee beans, this guy might be a viable option for you. When you program it to auto-start, it will grind the whole beans right before brewing, giving you the freshest coffee possible.
Now, while a blade grinder doesn’t offer the same grind consistency/quality as a burr grinder does, it might beat out not having a grinder altogether, especially at this price point. So, prepare for an unground coffee bean or two in the grinder when you clean it, but overall it does a suitable job and makes an excellent cup of coffee with ease.
The Cuisinart DGB-400 has a built-in blade grinder for ultimate freshness.
Other features:
Simple control panel / simple operation
Reusable filter
Charcoal water filter
24-hour programmable
Auto-off (adjustable from 0-4 hours)
1-4 serving brew for small batches (or travel mugs)
Brew pause
Self-clean
The Good
Integrated grinder
Great price-to-features ratio
Fresh, full-bodied coffee
Great warranty
The Could Be Better
Blade grinder instead of burr grinder
Some complain of moisture in grinder, tedious to clean
One claim of weak coffee due to not holding enough beans at once
Keurig Duo Plus with thermal carafe and permanent gold tone mesh filter
Now, while this post isn’t specifically about pod machines, we felt obliged to include this coffee maker because it can brew coffee pods or coffee grounds, and has great reviews.
The “dual” part refers to the ability to make a single serving or a full carafe, suiting your individual and family needs alike.
It can brew one cup of coffee via a k-cup (third party pods fit too) or it can deliver a tasty 12 cups of fresh coffee (using ground coffee) and keep it toasty warm in the included thermal pot. The K-Duo can brew 6, 8, 10, or 12 cups in the carafe or a 6, 8, 10, or 12 ounce single serve cup.
Prefer bold coffee? Brew a stronger, more intense cup of joe with the “strong brew” feature.
Another unique feature of this machine is its multi position 60 ounce water tank. You can position it to the right, left, or along the back of the machine to optimize counter space.
If you need the ability to brew a single coffee for yourself, but a full pot for family and friend get-togethers, then this machine is a winner in our book.
Use ground coffee or coffee pods.
Other features:
12 cup thermal carafe: Keeps coffee warm for up to 2 hours (a few people stated closer to 1 hour)
Reusable gold tone mesh filter
24-hour auto-brew (carafe only)
Brew pause (sneak some coffee)
Auto-off: 5 mins after your last brew
The Good
Use ground coffee or pods
60 oz. multi position water reservoir
Thermal pot won't burn your coffee!
The Could Be Better
Some older reviews have stated machine just stopped working
Breville Precision Brewer features 6 unique brewing modes for the perfect cup.
In our struggle to find the best drip coffee maker with a thermal carafe, we found the Breville Precision coffee brewer. I say struggle because with most of the coffeemakers we looked at, there was a bit of letdown on how long the carafe actually kept their coffee hot.
However, we also wanted to include this because of the capability to tweak settings and custom tailor your coffee to such a fine degree. So we’re writing about both positives here.
The Breville Precision Brewer has precise temperature control and brewing time control, allowing you to brew third wave specialty coffee at home, automatically.
It includes 6 unique brewing modes for the perfectly balanced cup of coffee every time; Fast, Strong, Iced, Cold Brew, My Brew, and Gold (adjusts the water brewing temperature and brew time to meet the standards set by the SCA), for the best coffee your kitchen can serve up.
Taking full advantage of the “My Brew” setting will allow you to customize parameters like bloom time, brew temperature, and flow rate to suit your individual preferences. It’s also pour over adapter compatible so you can use it with your favorite dripper, like the Hario v60 and Kalita Wave.
If you’re interested in customizing and tweaking your settings to achieve the best tasting coffee possible, strongly consider the Precision Brewer by Breville.
No more scalding your precious coffee! The thermal carafe keeps it hot AND fresh.
Other features:
Steep & Release technology
Includes Carafe, Coffee Spoon, Cone filter basket insert, Mesh brew basket filter, Flat bottom brew basket filter paper pack (10 pieces) and Water hardness test strip
The Good
Lots of specialty coffee options and modes to tweak for that perfect cup
Both Flat bottom and cone filter baskets included
Carafe keeps coffee hot for hours (multiple claims on this)
The Bunn BX Speed Brew Classic is quick and to the point with delicious coffee.
Bunn is a popular name in the restaurant industry and for good reason. Their coffee makers store brew-temperature water so they’re always at the ready — making this one capable of brewing a full 10-cup carafe (50 ounces) in under 4 minutes with ease (for true coffee lovers).
Although not SCA certified, it still brews within the SCA’s set temperature guidelines.
But keeping water hot on a 24/7 basis might furrow a few frugal brows when thinking about the effect it will have on their electric bill. However, the 34 watt heater consumes less than one kilowatt-hour per day.
Depending on your utility costs, that would run you about 10 cents a day on average. I’d argue that’s still cheaper than a trip to Starbucks.
Dimensions of the Bunn Speed Brew
They’ve designed the spray head so it will evenly saturate your coffee grounds for great tasting coffee that’s perfectly extracted. However, a few users said that the grounds have overflowed on them. The manual states that this can happen if you brew decaf, fine grind, or use soft water.
Bunn will send you a free special flow restrictor sprayer upon request. In addition, they recommend using Bunn filters since they’re slightly taller, although some have gotten away with using standard filters.
I owned a Bunn for many years with zero regrets (other than selling it).
The Good
Fast, excellent coffee
No need for auto-start programming since it’s blazing fast
Simple operation—one switch for the warmer plate
The Could Be Better
Smaller capacity
Additional energy consumption (nothing like your home's water heater, though)
Brew a single cup or a full pot with this Hamilton Beach coffee maker.
The Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer is a great office coffee maker if you have lots of coworkers who might resemble the walking dead when their veins aren’t flooded with caffeine.
It’s a true “12 Cup” coffee machine because of its large, 96 oz. carafe. All the other reviewed brewers in this roundup fall anywhere between 40 and 60 ounces.
It also has a single cup option in addition to auto-start, auto-shutoff, brew pause, and it’s BPA free. One thing to note, however, is that the single-serving option is not compatible with k-cup pods.
The Good
12 true cups of coffee (96 oz.)
Brew strength selector
Inexpensive
The Could Be Better
Not compatible with K-cup pods
Some say they’ve had problems with slow brewing and have had to clean with vinegar more often than usual
This brewer has a lot of great features that lend to its superior taste and speed.
This little guy might be small in size and capacity, but it packs a quality coffee punch.
It has the fundamental qualities needed to brew coffee of exceptional quality — optional pre-infusion (for blooming the grounds), optimal brewing temperature, and a specially designed showerhead for ideal extraction in smaller batch sizes.
This could be the perfect size for the single coffee fan, but may not be enough for two without brewing up a second pot of coffee.
A few users have complained that the carafe leaks when pouring, and especially leaks when the lid is not on it.
One user has figured out a work-around for this issue by starting with the pour spout facing the handle, then making two full revolutions, then slightly adjusting the pour spout where it needs to go.
Another user just brews right into their coffee cup and some users have stated they’ve never had a problem.
Thankfully, Amazon has a great return policy on purchases.
The Good
Proper brew temp and optional pre-infusion for great taste
Ideal extraction in small batches
Dishwasher safe carafe lid, filter basket, and showerhead
In search of your perfect brewer, consider the following features/variables for your next drip coffee machine:
Brew Capacity (# of Cups)
Depending on the number of people you’ll be playing barista to (or if your house is chock-full of coffee drinkers), you’ll want to consider the brewing capacity. If you only plan to serve up delicious coffee for yourself, a single serve coffee maker might better suit you.
Also, just a heads up—most coffee machine manufacturers only consider a “cup” to be 5 ounces, instead of the standard 8 ounces we’re all used to.
Thermal Carafe vs. Hot Plate
A thermal carafe is an insulated coffee pot (typically made of stainless steel) that keeps your coffee hot without the need of a hot plate. Manufacturers claim it can keep freshly brewed coffee hot for up to 2 hours. Some didn’t agree with this on certain models and claimed their coffee maintained a suitable temperature closer to only 1 hour. So if you’re a fan of blistering lava on your bleeding tongue, then a thermal carafe may not be for you.
And reheating metal in the microwave usually ends badly, right? Sorry, you’ll have to first pour it in a coffee mug.
Certified by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)?
Coffee lovers and nerds, unite! The SCA is a non-profit organization that “acts as a unifying force within the specialty coffee industry and works to make coffee better by raising standards worldwide through a collaborative and progressive approach.” Now that’s a mouthful.
Founded by coffee science experts and professional coffee tasters, they review consumer-grade coffee makers to determine if they meet the rigorous requirements of producing excellent quality coffee. These criteria include proper water temperature, brewing time, and ability to brew coffee within the SCA Golden Cup recommendations. If a brewer passes all the tests set forth by the SCA, it’s recognized as an exemplary home brewer and joins the short list of SCA Certified Brewers.
Integrated Grinder
This might be a great option for you if you’re interested in freshly ground coffee but have limited counter space. There are some grind and brew machines with decent burr grinders, but I wouldn’t expect them to compete with a dedicated $100+ conical burr grinder. For most, however, it will suit their needs.
Brew Pause Feature
Good things come to those who… cut in line to sneak some tasty java when nobody else is looking.
Manufacturers usually have their own clever name for it, but it all refers to the same thing. Being able to remove the coffee pot mid brew and sneak some golden nectar before the brewing cycle is complete. Of course, if you have a really fast drip machine like the Bunn BX Speed Brew discussed above, then this feature becomes less important.
Single-Serving Option - “There Can Only Be One.”
We didn’t set out to find the best single serve coffee maker in this buying guide, but if one came up that offered a single-serve option, we included it.
You can always just brew coffee in smaller batches and achieve the same end goal.
Reusable Filter
Some automatic drip coffee machines come with a reusable permanent filter to replace the conventional paper filter, typically the gold tone reusable filters. Paper and metal mesh filters both have advantages and disadvantages.
Water Filter - Garbage In, Garbage Out
Water really deserves our attention here since it makes up nearly 99 percent of your cup of joe. It also acts as a solvent to extract the flavor from our expensive, delicious specialty coffee, so why use sewer water with it?
Water filtration is imperative to those with hard water or chlorinated water. Using a carbon filter for your water will significantly improve water quality and can make or break the taste of your coffee. It can also reduce calcium deposits and other mineral buildups that clog your machine and cause premature failure.
If your ideal drip coffee machine doesn’t have this feature, keep in mind that you can purchase a separate carbon filter pitcher and achieve the same results.
Program Auto-Start
Waking up to the delicious aroma of coffee brewing after a glorious slumber has to be one of the greatest perks of domesticated existence. You can program most of these coffee machines 24 hours in advance. This will allow you to prepare the next morning’s coffee the night before. Perkfect. 🙄
Auto-Shutoff
We’ve all been there. Ten minutes from home and the thought occurs — “Did I turn off the ______? (insert any appliance that could effectively combust into a giant plume cloud of insurance claims)”.
This is mostly a concern with drip coffee makers that have a hot plate because of the extreme temperatures involved. The Auto-Shutoff feature provides peace of mind, knowing your appliance will power off after a predetermined amount of time. Some also allow you adjust the number of hours until shutoff.
Correct Brew Temperature
Temperature plays a vital role in properly extracting coffee grounds, so I figured this deserved some attention here since some drip machines that aren’t SCA certified still brew within the proper range.
That range should ideally fall between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit at the time it filters through the coffee grounds. Also, it’s expected to lose around 5 to 10 degrees by the time it ends up in the carafe, and that’s completely acceptable.
Warranty Length
Often, a warranty can be a key metric when trying to gauge the quality of a product. Most manufacturers on this list have a limited one-year warranty, a couple have 2 and 3-year warranties, and one has a whopping 5-year warranty.
That’s not to say that you couldn’t purchase an extended warranty for any of our best coffee makers on the list. Anymore, you can purchase a 4-year extended warranty at a fairly decent price.
Will It Wake The Dead? (How noisy is it?)
Although the goal IS to wake up, we’re not looking to wake up the rest of the house when brewing (or the neighbor’s barking dogs for the love of God). If your drip coffee maker sounds like a slowed down version of a public toilet flushing, you’ll probably want to return it.
Also, some coffee makers have a beep to let you know when it’s done brewing. This isn’t a big deal and can be useful if you’re in the other room. However, a select few will probably always have an issue with something.
All the brewers we found have tolerable noise levels. If one stood out as being abnormally noisy, we’ve mentioned it in the product summary.
Conclusion
Choosing the best drip coffee maker that’s perfect for you becomes a lot simpler when you have some clarity on the features that are most important to you.
The challenging part is meshing the variables of quality, cost, features, and availability in determining the machine that’s the perfect fit for your kitchen.
We sincerely hope this post has helped you in your journey to amazing coffee!
From a very young "growth-stunting" age, Clint Doerfler has had a deep-rooted love for coffee. As a result, he founded Coffee Gear Gurus® to share his passion for incredible home brewed coffee with others. When he's not watching true crime shows with family or playing music, he's devoted to helping fellow coffee feins make amazing coffee at home - regardless of their experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference in drip coffee makers?
Absolutely. Some discernible differences between various machines would be pump versus pump-free operation, the design of the spray/shower head that soaks the grounds during the extraction process, the temperature of the water during brewing, brew capacity, thermal or glass carafe, milk frother or not, etc., not to mention price. We reviewed all these factors above in our Top 10 best drip coffee makers for the year.
Does a good coffee maker make better coffee?
Yes, the quality and design of the coffee maker can make a tremendous difference in the overall taste of the finished brew. Cheaper models of brewers most often have a cheap plastic feel and even a plastic taste (yuck!) versus more expensive coffee makers.
That's not to say it isn't possible to get great tasting coffee from a machine that costs less than $100, but you must also take the longevity into consideration. If you're comfortable going REALLY cheap (around $30), we would advise you to splurge and purchase an extended warranty, if available.
Which coffee maker lasts the longest?
We can’t say for certain which model or brand is going to last you the longest. Like almost anything else, it can often be luck of the draw. But if you want at least 5 years peace of mind, go with the Technivorm Moccamaster. Alternatively, just purchase an extended warranty on the machine of your choice.
What is the best coffee maker to buy for home use?
Any of the reviewed coffee makers above are great candidates for home use, but our pick for best overall drip coffee maker is the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker CM401 (with glass carafe) or CM407 (with thermal carafe).
What is the healthiest coffee maker?
Of the coffee makers reviewed above, Technivorm’s customer service ensures that ALL their parts are free of BPA/BPS/BPF & Phthalate.
If cholesterol is a concern, consider using paper filters instead of reusable mesh filters. Paper filters capture more of the naturally occurring oils in coffee (diterpenes) responsible for elevated cholesterol levels in some studies.
How often should you replace your coffee maker?
We say if it still works, why replace it? If you’re still getting outstanding quality, taste, and performance out of your coffee maker, then purchasing something else probably won’t make enough of a difference to justify the cost of a new one.
However, if you still want to upgrade, maybe consider gifting your existing coffee maker to a son/daughter or close relative. They’ll likely be appreciative.
What coffee machine makes the best tasting coffee?
When trying to choose the best tasting coffee maker, we recommend going with an SCA certified machine. These brewers go through a strict review process involving several variables including water temperature, blooming, extraction time, and more.
Simply put, when using freshly roasted coffee beans (not too fresh though!) that have been ground (to the correct coarseness) just before brewing, and properly extracted under all the aforementioned SCA standards, and brewed with quality water… well, you’ll get excellent tasting coffee!
What coffee makers brew at 200 degrees?
The following highly rated coffee makers in this roundup brew at the ideal temperature range of 195 F to 205 F:
Ninja CE251
Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker
Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System
Technivorm Moccamaster 59616 KBG
Bunn BX Speed Brew
Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 Perfectemp
Black+Decker DLX1050B
Breville Precision Brewer
Bonavita 5-Cup One-Touch BV1500TS
So how do I choose a coffee maker? What should I look for when buying?
We suggest starting with the capacity. This will largely determine what type of coffee maker to buy. How much coffee will you need at a time? Are you entertaining guests regularly or are you a lone wolf? Are you an avid coffee drinker that can drink a pot of coffee by yourself or are you content with one cup of coffee in the morning?
Also consider the cost per cup if this is a factor for you. The type of coffee maker will directly affect this, e.g., brewing ground vs. pods (k-cups) coffee. The cost per cup will probably cost a lot more per cup when using a pod coffee maker. It will also limit the variety of specialty coffee you can try.
Lastly, consider the features that are most important to you. If you're after the best tasting coffee, consider an SCA certified brewer. Do you need a fast brew coffee maker? This becomes more important if the machine doesn't have auto-start programmability. Those are the most important considerations, but see the above questions for a more in-depth look at all factors.
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