The best coffee machines on the market can help break your morning drive habit – the key is finding the right machine (and routine) for you. Whether you prefer regular hot coffee, iced coffee, cold brew, or something in between, there’s a machine that will brew your drink just the way you like it.
Other factors to consider include style – drip, French press pot, pods, portable coffee maker, etc. – and the capacity of the machine. For the freshest flavor, you’ll definitely want a grinder and whole roasted beans.
Bonavita 8-Cup Coffee Maker: Best Coffee Maker Overall
Bonavita Connoisseur 8 Cup Coffee Maker, One-Touch Pour Over Brewing with Thermal Carafe
- Brand: Bonavita
- Capacity: 2.5 Pounds
- Color: Stainless Steel
- Special Feature: Dishwasher Safe
- Product Dimensions: 6.8″D x 12.4″W x 12.2″H
- Item Weight: 6.13 Pounds
If you are looking for a high-quality coffee maker that is easy to use and extremely reliable, you can’t go wrong with this model from Bonavita. “I’m a Bonavita Connoisseur for dummies,” says Phillips. “It’s very easy to use, gets a consistent brew temperature and always produces a sturdy cup with very little fuss. Plus, these brewers can’t be beat for the price.”
Connoisseur offers one-touch brewing for those who don’t want to mess with settings in the morning, and it has an optional pre-soak mode that gives coffee grounds time to bloom. The machine’s showerhead is designed for even ground soaking, and its stainless steel glass carafe can hold up to five cups at a time.
Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker: Best Value Coffee Maker
Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker – Classic Series – 6-Cup
- Brand: Chemex
- Capacity: 1.9 Pounds
- Color: Clear
- Product Dimensions 6.3″D x 9.6″W x 1.35″H
- Material: Glass
- Item Weight: 1.35 Pounds
Sometimes simplicity is best, and two of our experts recommend the budget-friendly Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffee Maker as one of their favorite choices for a cup of coffee. Both commented on the simplicity of its design as well as the thick paper filter.
“Personally, I remain a fan of the classic Chemex glass coffee maker,” says Tony “Tonx” Konecny, founder of Yes Plz Coffee. “Unlike many coffee appliances, it looks beautiful on the countertop and I find it to be less fussy than some other manual pouring devices. It uses a heavier, more forgiving filter, and it offers a really full-flavored cup.”
“When I want to have more control (which is common as a Virgo), I use the Chemex,” says James McCarthy, educator at Driftaway Coffee. “It has the thickest filter paper of any pouring method, and I really like the ultra-light body it produces because of it. I like being able to taste more nuance and clarity.”
Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Maker With Glass Carafe: Best Splurge-Worthy Coffee Maker
Moccamaster 53935 KBGV Select 10-Cup Coffee Maker, Rose Gold, 40 ounce, 1.25l
- Brand: Technivorm Moccamaster
- Capacity: 40 Fluid Ounces
- Material: Plastic, Metal, Copper
- Product Dimensions: 6.5″D x 12.75″W x 14″H
- Item Weight: 6.25 Pounds
If you want one of the absolute best coffee machines, the Technivorm Moccamaster is one of the most respected choices, but it has a price tag to match.
“I love the Moccamaster from Technivorm,” says McCarthy. “It heats the brew water to about 200 degrees, which allows the water to extract more sweetness, body and nuance. The brew basket has an on/off switch that you can use to turn it off (I find this helps with brief bloom or off-gassing after the first hit of water) if you want to slow down the flow of water through the coffee bed.” He adds, “It will deliver the fullest flavor when you make the most of it.”
The futuristic coffee maker is available in a variety of colors to match any decor, and its glass carafe can make up to 10 cups of coffee at a time.
OXO Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker: Best High-Tech Coffee Maker
OXO Brew 9 Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker
- Brand: OXO
- Capacity: 45 Fluid Ounces
- Color: Stainless Steel
- Product Dimensions: 8.3″D x 15″W x 17.2″H
- Item Weight: 10.5 Pounds
AeroPress Coffee And Espresso Maker: Best Single-Serve Coffee Maker
AeroPress Original Coffee & Espresso Maker
- Brand: Aeropress
- Capacity: 10 Ounces
- Color: Gray
- Product Dimensions: 4.5″D x 4.75″W x 11.75″H
- Item Weight: 6.4 ounces
For those who tend to take it one cup at a time, the Aloha Press Coffee and Espresso Maker is affordable, versatile and easy to use. “It doesn’t require a fancy kettle, and it makes almost any coffee shine. With simple recipe adjustments, you can make a variety of flavors, from a rich espresso for cappuccinos to a clean, refreshing cup made with your favorite Ethiopian floral coffee.”
The coffee maker takes just a minute to use and its compact form factor is perfect for travel. Its plastic design is phthalate-free and BPA-free, and it comes with a paper microfilter that eliminates any grit from your drink, making cleaning easy.
Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer Coffee Maker: Most Versatile Coffee Maker
Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer Coffee Maker
- Brand: Hamilton Beach
- Capacity: 96 Fluid Ounces
- Color: Black
- Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 10.63 x 13.7 inches
- Item Weight: 1.92 ounces
If you often brew coffee directly into a travel mug before work, this coffee maker from Hamilton Beach can brew a single cup of coffee or a regular full-size coffee pot. This versatile device has a glass carafe that holds up to 12 cups of brewed coffee, or you can use the loose coffee grounds in the side dispenser to make just one cup.
This coffee maker also has a variety of useful features. It can brew regular or espresso coffee, and the machine is fully programmable so you can set it up 24 hours in advance. When making a full glass carafe, the auto pause feature allows you to pour a cup before brewing is complete, and the machine automatically shuts off for two hours to ensure safety.
Keurig K-Elite Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer: Best Coffee Maker With K-Cups
Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker, Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer
- Brand: Keurig
- Capacity: 8 Cups
- Color: Brushed Slate
- Product Dimensions: 9.9″D x 13.1″W x 12.7″H
- Item Weight: 6.6 Pounds
Single-cup coffee makers offer unparalleled convenience, and one of the best coffee makers for using coffee pods is the Keurig K-Elite. This sleek device offers a variety of settings – including five drink sizes, brew strength adjustment, iced coffee options and more -. Its large 75-ounce reservoir allows you to make up to eight drinks before you need to refill it.
The Keurig K-Elite gives you the option to adjust its brewing temperature between 187 and 192 degrees, and it dispenses hot water on demand as you make tea, oatmeal or instant soup. Its removable drip tray makes room for travel mugs over 7 inches tall, and the machine will remind you when it’s time to descale.
We wanted to show our readers a wide variety of machines to suit different budgets, lifestyles and preferences. The selection of these coffee machines was based on research, customer reviews and tips from several coffee connoisseurs who shared the key factors to look for. Some of these machines were also handpicked by experts.
When you are comparing different coffee makers, you need to consider several factors to find the best model for your home.
Style
There are many kinds of coffee makers available today, and they all have their benefits. Traditional drip coffee makers are a popular choice, as they can usually brew multiple servings at once. There are also pod coffee makers, such as Keurigs, which are perfect for people who want to brew one serving at a time. Finally, there are manual coffee makers that allow you to control the brew more precisely.
Capacity
Some coffee makers brew one cup at a time, while others brew up to 12 cups. To find the best option for your family, consider how many cups of coffee your family typically drinks – families with multiple coffee drinkers may need a larger capacity coffee maker. People who live alone or have different coffee preferences with roommates may be better off with a single-serve coffee maker, many of which offer a variety of servings.
Brewing Customization
If you are particular about how you like your coffee to taste, you may want to look for a coffee maker that allows you to customize the brew. Raymond Cole, CEO of Lucky Jack Coffee, explains, “The most important feature to ensure the best coffee is the ability to adjust the strength of the brew so you can make each cup to your liking.” More advanced coffee machines allow you to adjust settings such as brew temperature, brew time, and coffee strength to help you create the perfect coffee for your personal taste.
Temperature Features
Coffee machines often have a variety of features designed to keep your drink at the ideal temperature. Some machines have insulated stainless steel glass carafes that keep the coffee warm for longer, while others have a keep warm setting that uses a hot plate to maintain a consistent temperature. If you tend to come back for a second cup of coffee, then these types of features will certainly help.
Cleaning
“The most important thing to look for in a coffee maker is to make sure it’s easy to clean,” says Cole. “A clean machine is underrated, but it’s actually very important if you want to brew great tasting coffee. The cleanliness of a coffee machine can have a serious negative impact on the coffee. It’s vital to clean the machine once a month.”