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The best coffee makers consistently brew the perfect cup.
Molly Allen; Owen Burke/Business Insider
If a morning cup of coffee is part of your daily routine, you don't want to risk a bad brew. A reliable coffee maker (and freshly ground coffee beans) turns your kitchen into a gourmet café. Whether you've perfected a pour-over ratio or just want something fresh, fast, and caffeinated, you'll need the best coffee maker at home.
We've tested over 30 coffee makers and espresso machines, so you can start each day with a robust cup of joe. Our pick for the best drip coffee maker is the SCA-certified Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker, which offers customization, simplicity, and a consistently rich brew. If you're looking for the happy medium between high-quality coffee and low cost, the Braun BrewSense is the best budget coffee maker we tested.
Best cold-brew coffee maker: Toddy Cold Brew System - See at Amazon
Best drip coffee maker
The sleek Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker looks simple, but it delivers a stellar performance and earns the title of best drip coffee maker. It's made primarily of stainless steel with a matte black finish, copper accents, a reusable titanium-plated filter, and a vacuum-sealed thermal carafe. I found the controls for all the special features intuitive and easy to use. It's worth noting that the original machine does not have an integrated coffee grinder, but the newest version does: Café Specialty Grind and Brew Coffee Maker.
Most importantly, this SCA-certified machine (read about that designation here) produces some of the best coffee I tried in my tests. You can brew at multiple degrees of strength, "Gold," "Light," "Medium," and "Bold," with "Gold" being the recommended setting. I tried coffee made at multiple settings, and all were good, with the "Gold" and "Bold" having a more well-rounded, full flavor and a slightly heavier body.
The combination of simplicity and customizability qualifies this machine as one of the best coffee makers. It's also extremely consistent — every cup of coffee brewed at every setting tasted just like it should.
The Cuisinart PurePrecision Pour-Over Thermal Coffee Brewer was the clear runner-up in our testing. It's advertised as an automated alternative to a pour-over cone, using a pre-infusion cycle, variable water temperature, and brew styles to give the user more control. The coffee it makes tasted great, especially when using the "Bold" setting.
Best budget
When we tested 12 coffee makers under $150, the Braun BrewSense 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker was the best budget coffee maker. We appreciate the large capacity carafe and small batch brewing option — both were quick to perk (14 minutes for the full carafe).
Though most coffee makers have a keep-warm setting, the Braun allows you to adjust the time and temperature. The default turns off the coffee maker after two hours, but you can set it to stay on for up to five hours. You can also set the temperature at low, medium, or high to prevent spoiling the coffee's flavor depending on how long it may sit on the warming plate.
For one of the cheapest best coffee makers, the BrewSense has all the essential features. There's 24-hour programming and the chance to grab a cup before a brew cycle is finished. If you're more aesthetically minded, the Beautiful 14-cup Coffee Maker by Drew Barrymore comes in eight pastel colors and earned a spot in our guide.
Best brew control
The Breville Precision Brewer is a home coffee maker that offers unmatched control over every variable in the brewing process. With a 12-cup capacity, the Breville is perfect for making large batches of coffee, but it performs well at lower volumes as well. Most of the customization is done using the small, backlit display screen and a single dial. The menus are simple to navigate, but the print is tiny, so it's not ideal for those with vision impairments.
When it comes to brewing, the Breville offers multiple preset brewing modes: "Fast," "Gold" (the recommended setting), and "Strong." It also offers presets for making both iced coffee and cold brew, and you can purchase an attachment to swap out the brew basket with a pour-over device like a Hario V60 or Kalita Wave. The coffee I made on both the "Gold" and "Strong" presets was fully extracted and full-flavored, with the second cup a bit darker and more robust.
The thing that really sets this brewer apart as one of the best coffee makers is the customization available in the "My Brew" setting, which allows users to modify almost every major variable in the brewing process — including the bloom time, water temperature, and water flow rate. The Breville Precision is the best programmable coffee maker we've found.
Another luxury pick, the Technivorm Moccamaster consistently brewed a nice cup of coffee and was easy to use. The temperature of the water was steady while brewing and every pot of coffee came out fully extracted with no strange flavor notes. The downside is that the Moccamaster is pricey and lacks the customizability and versatility of our top picks.
Best drip coffee and pod combo
The Dualbrew Pro performed very similarly to the Ninja Specialty in my tests. If you really want the option to use coffee pods (and the best Keurig isn't right for you), this is essentially the Ninja Specialty Brewer with the added feature.
It's a low-fuss option for people who want both one of the best home coffee makers plus a pod machine, and it has many of the same features as our other top picks: a timed auto-brew function, the ability to adjust coffee strength, an iced coffee setting, and a fold-out frother for cappuccinos and macchiatos.
The only notable drawback is its lack of a reusable filter basket. Switching between the pod brewing and standard brewing functions was a little awkward, and regardless of which setting you use, there will be either a loose plastic cone or pod brewing attachment.
The Mr. Coffee Pod and 10-Cup is another coffee maker combo that allows you to brew coffee pods as well as ground coffee. It has standard features like a timed auto-brew function and a "Strong" setting. The coffee made on the "Strong" setting was significantly better than the standard cup. A positive point is that the machine comes with a reusable pod, so you can use your own fresh coffee.
Best for espresso
After testing most of the Breville espresso machines, we were impressed by the solid craftsmanship (we've used these machines for years without trouble) and how easy it is to pull the perfect shot. We ranked the Breville Barista Express Impress as the best espresso machine for beginners.
Our reporter notes in the Breville Barista Express Impress review, "For the past month or so, I've been using the machine, writhing baby in arm, without so much as a lone ground to wipe away." We credited this easy one-handed operation to the assisted tamping and dosing system. Everything is pre-calibrated, but adjustable, so you can start using this machine as a beginner and learn how to brew espresso along the way.
The integrated grinder is another big selling point. Instead of purchasing a $200 coffee grinder, you can rely on the 25 settings inside the Breville to grind even the stalest beans. Considering all the work that the machine does for you, we were able to pull shots in less than a minute.
If you're looking to get more involved in the brewing process, the Gaggia Classic Evo Pro is closer to a manual than an automatic machine. The learning process and the finished demitasses are well worth it. Our guide to the best espresso machines includes portable and even stovetop espresso brewers.
Best Nespresso
For those who want espresso-like coffee without the financial investment or learning curve, Nespresso machines are a simple alternative. The VertuoPlus stands out as our preferred Nespresso machine due to its combination of rapid, consistent brewing performance and user-friendly features. It's one of the best coffee and espresso makers out there.
The biggest selling point of the VertuoPlus is the ease of use and speed of brewing. With just one button, it automatically adjusts brew settings based on barcode-scanned capsules. For coffee aficionados, this means you're entirely removed from the brewing process and, therefore, can't change it to reflect personal tastes.
It's a bit larger than other competing models, but that's due to the worthwhile elements of a spacious used pod container (holds 10) and 40-ounce water tank. You can actually swivel the water tank to accommodate your counter space.
All in all, the VertuoPlus offers an excellent balance of convenience and affordability for those looking for the quickest and easiest cup of coffee possible. Take a look at our full guide for more information on how we determined the best Nespresso machine.
Best pour-over
If you want control over every part of the brewing process, you need the Kalita Wave. Thanks to its impeccable construction and consistency, it earned the top spot in our guide to the best pour-over coffee makers.
The Kalita Wave has a flat bottom with three small holes to create an even, steady drip of coffee. As you pour, the water saturates all of the grounds instead of funneling to one point, which you see in traditional cone-shaped pour-overs. The Wave comes in multiple colors and materials, but we recommend either glass or ceramic because that keeps the temperature steady.
Due to the required ruffled filter, it has a slightly smaller capacity than other brewers. So, if you're brewing for a group, the Chemex has a larger body that holds more grounds and produces full-flavored coffee.
This is a more labor-intensive way of making coffee than, say, a pod machine or a standard drip pot. But a pour-over is beloved by coffee enthusiasts everywhere because it is fully customizable, from the temperature of the water to the concentration of grounds.
Best French press
When most people think of a French Press, they envision the Bodum Chambord. The Chambord's classic design, ease of use, and affordability have made it one of the most popular and iconic pieces of home coffee gear in the world.
The filter does a great job of forming a seal and filtering out coarse coffee grounds. Like most French presses, finer grounds and sediment often make it through standard filters. Ultimately, you'll get a viscous, full-flavored cup of coffee, but a little bit of sediment at the bottom of your mug.
The Chambord's metal frame, lid, plunger, and filter hold up well over extended use. You'll just need to be careful with the glass beaker because it will crack if you're rough with it. Thankfully, Bodum offers replacement beakers and other parts at a reasonable price. The Bodum Brazil is our favorite budget French press coffee maker and is essentially the same as the Chambord, but with a more durable, plastic beaker.
For more brewers that passed our tests, check out our guide to the best French presses.
Best cold-brew maker
Cold brew is one of the easiest and most forgiving ways of brewing coffee, but the right cold brew maker makes things even easier. In our tests, the Toddy Cold Brew System was easy to use and made some of the tastiest cups of cold brew you'll find.
You start brewing with the Toddy by putting 12 ounces of freshly ground coffee into one of the paper filter bags and placing it into the sealed, bucket-like container. Then fill with water, cover with the silicone lid, and wait. Filtering is as simple as removing the plug and letting the coffee drain into the included carafe.
The biggest drawback to the Toddy is the build quality. The plastic and silicone construction feels a bit flimsy and cheap compared to the glass and stainless steel that other similar cold brew makers are made of. The Toddy Cold Brew System also requires paper filters for the best results, whereas many of its competitors have reusable mesh or steel filters. Despite that, it's still the best iced coffee maker around.
Large batches, simple beverages, and tight budgets
Pod machine
Convenience and speed, consistent results
Espresso machine
Specialty drinks, single servings, and espresso aficionados
Cold brew maker
Iced coffee all year, brewing concentrate
What to look for in a coffee maker
Capacity: An elementary but important specification, we tested drip coffee machines ranging from 8 to 12 cups of brewing capacity. If you drink more than one cup a day or are serving a larger group, these coffee makers will help satisfy caffeine cravings. However, if you're only making one or two cups a day, you may not want to devote the counter space to a big machine and should consider a Nespresso or French press.
Construction: Consider what the coffee maker is primarily made of (stainless steel, plastic, glass, etc.). You'll find that coffee makers often have either thermal carafes or warming plates to keep coffee warm after it's brewed. In drip coffee makers, Jessica Rodriguez warns, "If a brewer has a heating plate to keep the carafe warm, it is really important that the plate does not raise the temperature of the brew, which can have a negative impact on the flavor."
Keep in mind that some coffee makers, like French presses and cold brew makers, are typically made with glass or plastic because the brew is meant to be consumed immediately or cooled quickly. With non-metal constructions, be aware of fragility (glass) or possible staining (plastic).
How we tested the best coffee makers
Each of the coffee makers in this guide have been tested by Insider writers.
Dylan Ettinger/Business Insider
With a decade's worth of experience within the specialty coffee industry, I've worked as a barista, helped open a cafe, and worked behind the scenes in packaging and distribution. For additional expertise, I spoke with Max Gaultieri, barista, roaster, and founder of Joules and Watts coffee in Malibu California, and Jessica Rodriguez, who heads the Certified Home Brewer program at the SCA. For each drip coffee maker, I used the Peru Eufemio Dominguez Aguilar Cajamarca from Joules and Watts coffee roasters in Malibu, California.
We considered ease of use to see if we could smoothly and quickly set up each coffee maker, the complexity of cleaning, and whether there were awkward controls or components that seemed likely to break or get lost. For machines that had customizable brews, we used recommended presets as well as "strong" or "bold" settings to determine if the cup was over or under-extracted. Since taste is subjective, we looked for consistent results above all else.
FAQs
Dylan Ettinger/Business Insider
What's the best drip coffee?
Any coffee can work in a coffee maker, but make sure your coffee is fresh. Most roasters print the roast date on every bag of coffee. Try to find a coffee roasted less than two weeks before you want to brew.
Second, if you can, use the best coffee grinder to grind your coffee just before brewing. "Optimally, freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee goes into the coffee maker. Yes, grinding is an extra step and yes, it is completely worth it," Gaultieri says.
Do I need a coffee grinder?
For the best tasting coffee, yes. After roasting, all of the flavorful oils and sugars start to decay and the gasses inside the coffee beans leak out. Pre-grinding your coffee long before brewing dulls the flavor. The best coffee grinder, plus fresh beans, avoids that fate.
"The coffee starts to lose volatile aromatic compounds as soon as it is ground," says Gaultieri. By breaking up the beans, releasing more gasses, and exposing the organic compounds and oils to the air, the coffee spoils even more quickly.
Why should I buy an electric coffee maker?
Electric coffee makers excel when it comes to consistency. "A coffee machine is programmed to do the same thing every time it is turned on, and if it is a good machine, it will do this very consistently," says Rodriguez. Electric coffee makers also often have features such as timed brewing, which can save time in the morning if your schedule is tight.
What kind of coffee filters should I use?
The most common are reusable metal or mesh filters and single-use paper filters. Some makers even allow the user to choose between the two.
The major difference between filtration types is how much of the dissolved coffee solids and oils they allow to pass through. "Filtration affects the beverage clarity which affects the body/mouthfeel sensory experience of coffee," Rodriguez says. Reusable filters have the added bonus of producing less waste and cutting long-term costs.
What sets an SCA-certified home brewer apart from other coffee makers?
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has a program that rigorously tests coffee makers and certifies the ones that perform to their standards. Any SCA-certified brewer is proven to produce high-quality, consistent cups of coffee.
As Jessica Rodriguez, Certifications Program Manager at the SCA explains, "Multiple production units are submitted and tested at 1L and full capacity for adequate brew basket space to hold the SCA Golden Cup ratio of 55g/L, that they can reach and maintain a brewing temperature of 92 – 96C, the total water contact time falls between 4 – 8 minutes, the total dissolved solids of each brew falls between 1.15% - 1.45% and is consistent from extraction to extraction, and that there is good beverage clarity. Submitted brewers are also subjected to a uniformity-of-extraction test procedure that analyzes the spent coffee bed for the evenness of extraction."
Reviewed by mimisabreena
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Wednesday, November 06, 2024
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