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A great coffee maker can make or break your brew — and your morning.
These are the best coffee makers you can buy, whether you want a drip coffee, French Press, espresso, pour-over, or cold brew coffee maker.
If you’re a coffee lover, you likely know how important a great coffee maker is. In fact, it can be the difference between a watery mess and a beautiful sip from heaven. But there are hundreds of coffee machines and makers out there, and they’re not all going to create a good brew.
Before pulling the trigger on a coffee maker of your own, there are a few things you should consider. For starters, you’ll want to decide on the type of coffee maker you want to go for. Here’s a quick run-down of the different types:
- Espresso machine: Brewing great espresso is considered by many to be the only acceptable way to create good coffee, though it’s much more popular in Europe than it is in the US. There are a few downsides to espresso machines. They generally take a lot more work to use and clean, and they’re often more expensive than the instant coffee makers widely available in the US. As I found out during the testing of all these machines, once you’ve brewed and experienced great espresso, you may be ruined for all other types of coffee.
- Stovetop espresso machine: Although moka pots don't technically make espresso — because they use lower pressures of 1 to 2 bar and real espresso machines use 9 bar of pressure — the coffee you get is very rich and strong. Some machines will even produce a bit of crema just like high-end espresso machines. If you're using this to make cappuccinos or lattes at home, you'll be more than satisfied, but if you want shots of thick, creamy espresso, you need a real espresso machine.
- Drip machine: Drip coffee makers are perhaps the most common kind of coffee maker, especially in households with multiple coffee drinkers and in offices. There are a few advantages to using them – they’re often extremely easy to use, and they brew a whole pot of coffee rather than one drink at a time. They also keep coffee nice and hot over long periods of time. The main disadvantage is that they sometimes take a little longer to brew.
- Pour-over coffee maker: Pour-over coffee makers are typically manual and old-fashioned. You put a reusable cone made of plastic, ceramic, or mesh over your cup, pop a paper filter in, add coffee, and pour the boiling water over your grounds. It filters through to drip right into your mug.
- French press: French press coffee makers consist of a cylindrical beaker and a lid with a plunger attached. To make coffee, you put the coffee grounds in hot water, wait a few minutes, then use the plunger to push all the coffee grounds to the bottom. French presses work well with coarser coffee grounds than other coffee makers. The disadvantage to using them is that they’re often a pain to clean, and the grounds often leak into the coffee and end up in your coffee mug.
- Instant pod-based coffee maker:These kinds of machines have gained in popularity a lot over the past few years. You put the pod with coffee into the machine, and it automatically makes your drink. Pod-based machines are extremely easy to use, and you can use a different kind of coffee each time you brew, if you so choose. They’re also relatively affordable, though not as cheap as French presses.
- Cold brew coffee maker: If you want to try the hottest trend in coffee, go for a cold brew machine. Experts say iced coffee tastes better when it's cold brew rather than hot coffee that's been refrigerated. Brewing coffee with cold extracts sweeter flavors, so you get a less bitter and more concentrated coffee that's meant to be iced and topped off with milk.
We've included top picks for all of these different types of coffee makers. We've tested the majority of our top picks and heavily researched those we have yet to use to bring you the best of all coffee makers.
Here are the best coffee makers you can buy
- Best drip coffee maker: Bonavita BV1900TS Drip Coffee Maker
- Best high-end drip coffee maker: Brim 8-Cup Pour-Over Coffee Maker
- Best coffee maker under $40: Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT Machine
- Best coffee maker under $50: Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Coffee Maker
- Best coffee maker and grinder: Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew Automatic
- Best pour-over coffee: Melitta Ready Set Joe Single Cup Coffee Brewer
- Best French Press: SterlingPro French Press
- Best cold brew machine: OXO Good Grips 4-Cup Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Best pod coffee machine: Keurig K575 Pod Machine
- Best stovetop espresso maker: Bialetti 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker
- Best espresso machine: Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
Updated on 10/25/2018 by Kylie Joyner: Added the Brim coffee maker after testing, updated prices, and revamped formatting.
You can also read our other coffee guides on espresso machines, French Presses, stovetop espresso makers, coffee grinders, and milk frothers. To check out the best coffee makers of all kinds, keep reading the slides below.
SEE ALSO: The best stovetop espresso makers and moka pots you can buy
DON'T MISS: The best espresso machines you can buy
The best drip coffee maker
Why you'll love it: The Bonavita BV1900TS has a large carafe and uses pre-infusion to make amazing drip coffee.
Sometimes coffee lovers look down on drip coffee makers, but there are plenty of drip coffee makers that make amazing coffee. Like, for example, the Bonavita BV1900TS, which made great coffee in our testing.
There are a number of reasons the coffee made by this machine tastes so good, but perhaps the key difference is the machine's pre-infusion mode. Pre-infusion is a somewhat complicated process, but basically, it wets the coffee grounds before extraction, so that they expand and the water can remove some of the materials bound in the cells of the coffee, which give it an acidic taste. The result is a smoother brew with richer flavors and less acidity.
The machine is also extremely easy to use and clean. It only has one button, which you push to start the brew cycle. All of the components are dishwasher-friendly, so you won’t have to worry about washing the coffee maker by hand.
The design of the machine is basic, but it looks gorgeous on a kitchen countertop. It’s built from metal, so it’ll look right at home with other stainless steel appliances. The carafe is also quite large, and it’ll hold 44-ounces of coffee, making it a great choice for big families or parties.
There aren’t many downsides to the Bonavita BV1900TS, but it is a little more expensive than some other machines. However, both buyers and experts recommend it. Consumer Search, Digital Trends, and CNET all gave it great reviews. — Christian de Looper
Pros: Easy to use, coffee tastes great, easy to clean, large carafe
Cons: Slightly more expensive than other machines
Buy the Bonavita BV1900TS on Amazon for $139 and up (price varies)
The best high-end drip coffee machine
Why you'll love it: The Brim 8-Cup Pour Over Coffee Maker brews great tasting pour-over coffee quickly without paper filters, so it’s easy to use and easy to clean.
While coffee purists may flinch at the idea of automating the pour-over coffee process, if you’re looking for an easier way to make great tasting pour-over coffee, the Brim won’t disappoint. This is especially true if you’re looking for an efficient way to make multiple cups at once.
While I love my Melitta Single-Cup coffee brewer, it isn’t so convenient if I’m hankering for that second cup of coffee, or brewing coffee for guests. I tested the Brim 8-Cup Pour Over Coffee Maker for myself, and I was impressed with the results. This coffee maker brews quickly — and in bulk — without sacrificing the nuances of flavor I’ve come to love in traditionally made pour-over coffee.
A truly good cup of coffee is dependent on several important things, including the type of coffee and the grind. High-quality coffee beans and a medium-fine grind are preferred for pour-over coffee. While these two things are up to you, the Brim does the rest. It keeps the water at the optimal temperature and utilizes a well-designed showerhead dripping mechanism to evenly wet the coffee grounds, creating a smooth-tasting cup of coffee.
While you can use paper filters with the Brim, it comes with a permanent fine mesh filter so you can do without the extra hassle. I’ve yet to use a paper filter, and I find that the permanent filter works perfectly, plus, it’s easy to rinse clean.
After unboxing, I had it set up in a matter of minutes. I followed the instructions of “brewing” two decanters of water to prime the machine, and just like that I was ready to brew my first batch of pour over coffee.
Luckily, I also had guests for my first round of testing, and not only were they willing guinea pigs, they also know good coffee. I filled the permanent filter with enough coffee for eight cups. There’s only one button on the whole machine, and with one press, the process began. I was immediately impressed with how quickly the coffee was brewed. Within minutes there were eight cups worth of hot coffee ready to drink.
After owning a drip coffee maker that seems to take ages to brew, this was a refreshing change of pace. The machine even lets out a beep to let you know when your coffee is finished, and switches to a “keep warm” setting so your coffee won’t go cold. The glass carafe that holds the coffee has a built-in spout for easy pouring, and is dressed in a handy heat-proof rubber collar for easy gripping.
The final verdict? We all agreed that the result was smooth and delicious, and tasted just as good as the pour over coffee that we’ve had from a more traditional single-serve brewer. Others who have used the Brim agree.
Williams & Sonoma reviewer Alison says, “I’m definitely what you’d call a picky coffee drinker. The perfect pour-over every morning has been amazing. The machine shaves at least 10 minutes off my morning routine every day.” — Kylie Joyner
Pros: Easy to use and clean, allows you to brew great tasting pour-over coffee in bulk, brews quickly, built in filter eliminates the need for paper filters
Cons: Expensive
Buy the Brim 8 Cup Pour Over Coffee Maker at Williams Sonoma for $159.96
The best coffee maker for less than $40
Why you'll love it: The Mr. Coffee Machine brews good coffee and keeps it warm for hours, but its affordable $35 price is the best part.
Not everyone can afford a $550 espresso maker or a $129 coffee machine, but thankfully, there are still some great coffee makers that are much more affordable. The Mr. Coffee machine is the best one we tested in the sub-$40 price range.
Now, to be clear, you’re not going to get espresso-quality coffee with this machine, but if you're on a budget, you’ll still be able to get a decent brew. The coffee that you’ll end up with will be piping hot and stay that way for hours. In fact, in our tests even after two hours, the coffee was still quite hot, thanks to the heating element under the carafe.
While the buttons on the machine may be a little intimidating at first, they really are quite easy to use, and the machine will turn off automatically, which saves you energy and worry. It also has a cool “pause and serve” feature, so you can take the carafe out and serve coffee even while it’s still brewing. And, it’s relatively easy to clean. The carafe is dishwasher-friendly, and the filter basket can be taken out and cleaned without issues.
Of course, there are some problems with the machine, given how affordable it is. For starters, it’s a little loud during the brewing process, and while we didn’t run into any problems in our tests, some customers have experienced water leakage. — Christian de Looper
Pros: Cheap, easy to use, somewhat programmable
Cons: A little loud, coffee isn’t of the same quality as other machines
Buy the Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT on Amazon for $34.99
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