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Whether you prefer to start your day with the latest latte art or a simple cup of joe, it all starts with your coffee maker. The term “coffee maker” encompasses a wide range of functionality and tastes. From a manual Aeropress to a nine-bar espresso machine, each type of coffee maker has its pros and cons, and some are easier to use than others. It all depends on your tastes, preferences, and level of coffee connoisseurship. The best coffee makers offer your favorite brew at the right quality with the time you have.
Take a look at the following guide to help you pick the best coffee makers to satisfy your palate. Whether you want a small, simple machine for brewing your morning cup or the option to make something fancy, we’ve got a coffee maker for you.
- Best overall: Café Specialty Grind and Brew Coffee Maker
- Best drip coffee: Technivorm Moccamaster
- Best pour-over: Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker
- Best for hot and cold coffee: Zojirushi EC-YTC100 Coffee Maker
- Best espresso machine: Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine
- Best budget: Black + Decker Programmable Coffee Maker
How we chose the best coffee makers
There are lots of options on the market when you search for “coffee maker.” But what’s the best model for you? Is it a simple one-and-done you turn on in the morning? Or do you prefer a model with a range of options? The best coffee makers hit all the right notes, including:
Versatility: Can the coffee maker brew different volumes or be used to make different kinds of coffee drinks? Versatility adds value and lets users expand their tastes.
Adjustability features: Many factors influence how coffee tastes, from how you grind it to how hot you brew it. Some machines take the guesswork out preparing a cup of joe, which is good for users looking for easy-to-use options. Coffee makers that showed consistency in temperature and pressure or allowed for accurate adjustability stood out amongst the competition.
Ease of cleaning: Maintenance is half the battle with a coffee maker. The ability to easily clean the machine also weighed into our selection of the best coffee makers.
Bonus features: Built-in milk frothers or grinders reduce the number of gadgets needed in the kitchen. We gave bonus points to coffee makers that incorporated these extra features in their design.
The best coffee makers: Reviews & Recommendations
Best overall: Café Specialty Grind and Brew Coffee Maker
Best overall
Delicious Versatility
Pros
- Four brewing mode presets
- Reusable filter
- Adjustable temperature
- Programmable
- WiFi-enabled
Cons
- Can be tall and difficult to fit under some cabinets
Why it made the cut: This sleek coffee maker provides adjustable temperatures, customizable brewing modes, and makes it easy to take a cup of coffee to go or make it for the family.
Specs
- Dimensions: 10.5” x 17.4” x 14.5”
- Weight: 20 pounds
- Brew size: 45 ounces, up to 10 cups
- Carafe: Thermal, stainless steel
- Milk frother: No
With the Café Specialty Grind and Brew Coffee Maker you’ll get a beautiful, feature-packed machine with adjustable temperatures from 185-205 degrees, and customizable brewing modes. It features four strength settings—light, medium, bold, and gold. All of the settings are easily accessible on the touchscreen display on the front of the device. You can also connect the appliance to the SmartHQ app to control the machine and brew your coffee.
With the machine, you’ll get a 10-cup thermal carafe, but you’ll also have the option to brew into smaller travel mugs, courtesy of brewing volume controls that allow you to brew between 1 and 10 cups. This gives you the freedom to brew a single cup on the go or enough for multiple people in the household.
The built-in burr grinder has six settings, giving you further control over your brew since different beans can benefit from varying grind size. The hopper can hold up to 200 grams of coffee, so you’ll be able to make multiple pots before having to top off your beans. And compared to other grinders, I find this one to be on the quieter side.
One of my favorite design choices of this machine is the water reservoir. Instead of the typical rectangular reservoir that sits in the back of most machines, the side tank is easy to remove, holds 75 ounces of water—enough water for up to 1.5 carafes—and is easier to grip than most larger rectangular designs.
Cleaning the machine is fairly quick and easy, too. After brewing your coffee, pop the dishwasher-safe, reusable filter—the machine is also compatible with 8-to-12-cup paper filters—out and dispose of your grinds in a compost bin or the trash.
The biggest downside to the machine is the height. If you’ve got enough counter space with no cabinets above, you’re golden. But if you also have an appliance-filled counter with very little real estate, you might have to move some things around or invest in a separate coffee cart.
Best drip coffee: Technivorm Moccamaster
Best drip coffee maker
Driptastic Classic
Pros
- Fast, easy setup
- Hot plate maintains ideal temperature for up to 100 minutes
- Copper heating element heats faster and more consistently
Cons
- Expensive
- Can’t make different types of drinks
Why it made the cut: The simplicity and consistency of the Moccamaster’s brews make it well worth the price and earn it the best drip-coffee maker spot on our list.
Specs
- Dimensions: 6.5″ x 12.75″ x 14″
- Weight: 6.25 pounds
- Brew size: 10 cups
- Carafe: Glass
- Milk frother: No
The handmade Technivorm Moccamaster produces delicious coffee without the bells and whistles of more complex machines. Although its price tag might give you pause, know that you’re paying for quality. That quality includes copper coils that conduct heat better, faster, and more evenly, as well as a hotplate that keeps the brew at the perfect temperature for up to 100 minutes—perfect for anyone who gets sidetracked in the morning.
You really can make your coffee with a single touch and no mess with this drip coffee machine. However, it only makes basic coffee, so it’s not the best choice if you want to experiment with your brew or make your own coffeehouse drinks.
Best pour-over: CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker
Best pour-over coffee maker
Simply Invigorating
Pros
- Beautiful, sculptural design
- Carafe can be covered and refrigerated
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Carafe may chip or break
Why it made the cut Simple design and high quality meet in this beautiful pour-over coffee maker that can be used to make both hot and cold brew coffee. It’s one of the best pour-over coffee makers on the market.
Specs
- Dimensions: 6.3″ x 9.6″ x 1.35″
- Weight: 1.9 pounds
- Brew size: 6 cups
- Carafe: Glass
- Milk frother: No
The Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker leaves pressure adjustments and specialty coffees for other coffee makers. This simple design looks amazing and artistic while brewing delicious, rich cups of coffee. The glass carafe holds up to six cups of coffee. Once brewed, you remove the grounds and filter and use the carafe to pour the coffee. You can also cover the carafe and put it in the refrigerator for an iced coffee later in the day. It’s a simple method that looks beautiful and produces a delicious brew. However, that’s all it does—make hot or cold coffee. There are no extra bells and whistles, and some reviewers report breaking or cracking carafes.
Best for hot and cold coffee: Zojirushi EC-YTC100XB Coffee Maker
Best for hot and cold coffee
Hot and Cold
Pros
- Programmable timer
- Easy to clean
- Little to no leaks
Cons
- Reviews report brew temps of around 185 degrees versus the advertised 200.
Why it made the cut: This coffee maker is easy to use, easy to clean, and can easily make a good cup of iced coffee.
Specs
- Dimensions: 8″ x 10.63″ x 15.88″
- Weight: 9 pounds
- Brew size: 10 cups
- Carafe: Glass
- Milk frother: No
Zojirushi is known for its high-quality, long-lasting rice cookers. Turns out, they make a mean coffee maker as well. Connoisseurs will enjoy the coffee maker’s ability to brew Japanese-style iced coffee thanks to an included ice basket. Instead of steeping the grounds in cold water for an extended period, like traditional cold brew, the coffee is flash-chilled by brewing 200-degree coffee directly over ice cubes. The resulting coffee is smoother and lighter-bodied compared to standard cold brew—and ready immediately. And for those who drink iced coffee to ingest caffeine faster, the Zojirushi coffee maker features specific water measure lines to ensure a strong cold cup.
The coffee maker can also brew hot coffee—four warming plate settings keep it as warm as you like. The programmable timer means you can wake up to your bean juice, and an easy-pour carafe minimizes dribbling so you keep every precious drop of it. The coffee maker also features a drip prevention mechanism when the carafe is removed from the unit so rogue drops don’t drip and burn onto the hot plate. However, if you like a piping-hot cup, beware: some reviewers note that they were hoping for hotter coffee in the carafe.
Best espresso machine: Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine
Best espresso machine coffee maker
Professional Precision
Pros
- Make micro-adjustments to your brew with grinder, pressure, and temperature
- Grind on-demand, making only as much as you want
- Small footprint for an all-in-one machine
Cons
- Sometimes needs help getting all the beans in the grinder
- Expensive
Why it made the cut: The Breville espresso machine lets you be your own barista with its built-in grinder and steam wand.
Specs
- Dimensions: 13.8″ x 12.5″ x 15.9″
- Weight: 23 pounds
- Brew size: 1 cup at a time
- Carafe: N/A
- Milk frother: Yes
The Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine provides plenty of options for creating your own specialty drinks from start to finish. And we do mean start, thanks to the built-in bean grinder, and finish, thanks to the included frother. The built-in grinder is on-demand, which means you can load it and only grind as many grounds as you need. Those grounds can be adjusted to further customize your drinks.
The Breville also offers adjustable pressure and temperature to fine-tune each cup of coffee. The machine guides users through the process and helps time the pull of the espresso. Once everything’s brewed, the built-in steam wand froths milk to create coffee art. All of the adjustment features can be used to extract the perfect flavor and mouthfeel for each bean used.
There aren’t many downsides to this espresso machine except for the high price, and the beans sometimes need a little help getting into the grinder.
Best budget: Black + Decker Programmable Coffee Maker
Best value
Reliable Classic
Pros
- Can remove carafe mid-brew
- Program it to automatically brew each morning
- Easier cleaning with removable brew basket
Cons
- Basket easily overflows
Why it made the cut: The Black + Decker’s classic looks and no-nonsense performance make it a great, budget-friendly choice for anyone who just wants a simple cup of coffee.
Specs
- Dimensions: 8.25″ x 12.25″ x 11″
- Weight: 4.5 pounds
- Brew size: 12 cups
- Carafe: Glass
- Milk frother: No
The Black + Decker Programmable Coffee Maker harkens back to a simpler time when most countertop coffee makers had a similar drip system. This model features a removable brew basket for easier cleaning, though that basket can easily overflow. It doesn’t waste time making coffee, though some people find its brew too weak for their tastes.
However, it makes a good cup of coffee, and it does it quickly. The carafe can be removed mid-brew to pour a cup without dripping. Finally, an automatic timer lets you set it to start at a specific time each day so that you can wake up to a fresh brew.
What to consider when buying the best coffee makers
Brewing method
First, you’ll want to pick your brewing method. Brewing method affects the taste, quality, and time to make the brew from start to finish.
- Drip: If you watched your parents brew coffee years ago, they used the drip method to make coffee. This method pours hot water through the coffee grounds. The water then seeps through the grounds, dripping through the other end. Pour-over coffee makers also use this brewing method.
- Immersion: Aeropress, French press machines, and vacuuming brewing fall into the immersion category. The hot water and coffee grounds are mixed together for a specific length of time, and then the water is pressed out of the grounds.
- Espresso: An espresso machine uses pressure to force hot water through the coffee beans to extract their flavor.
- Stovetop: Stovetop brewing involves a Moka pot. It’s similar to an espresso machine in that it uses pressure to extract flavor from the beans. However, it’s a much simpler process that results in a strong cup of coffee.
Number of cups
How many cups of coffee do you want to make at once? A single-serve machine may be all you need if only one or possibly two people drink coffee in the morning. You could also use a pod machine for single servings. However, families or offices where several people need their morning cup of joe will require a machine that makes several cups at a time.
What kind of drinks do you want to make?
Cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos require a milk frother, which some coffee makers include. With others, you need to buy a milk frother separately. Some machines allow you to adjust the pressure, temperature, and other factors that influence the taste of the brew. A machine with more adjustments will cost more, so if you don’t fine-tune your brews, skip machines with the extra bells and whistles.
FAQs
Expensive coffee makers are worth it for the right coffee drinker. More expensive machines often include built-in frothers, pressure or temperature adjustment settings, and different brew sizes. If you like to tinker with your brew, one of these machines might be the best coffee makers for your needs. A no-nonsense coffee drinker who just wants to make the coffee and go probably doesn’t need all the bells and whistles.
You should replace the coffee maker when certain functions stop working or you can no longer find the right accessories for the machine. For example, if it stops brewing, it’s time. If it doesn’t get warm enough, it’s time. If it doesn’t make enough coffee for your family or guests, it’s time. You might also need a new coffee maker if your tastes have changed, or if the coffee maker doesn’t fit your lifestyle anymore.
Make a coarse grind with your favorite coffee beans. Add the grounds to the water, and steep them overnight. (Overnight = approximately 12 hours). In the morning, your cold brew is ready. Some coffee makers also make cold brew by using cold water and pressure for a quicker cool cup.
Final thoughts on the best coffee makers
- Best overall: Café Specialty Grind and Brew Coffee Maker
- Best drip coffee: Technivorm Moccamaster
- Best pour-over: Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker
- Best for hot and cold coffee: Zojirushi EC-YTC100 Coffee Maker
- Best espresso machine: Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine
- Best budget: Black + Decker Programmable Coffee Maker
The Ninja 10-Cup Specialty Coffee Maker is a great option for those who need to make varying brew sizes and want to dip their toe into more complex espresso drinks. However, if all you need is a quick cup, the Black + Decker Programmable Coffee Maker makes a strong brew in less than five minutes.
