Take a look at the following guide to help you pick the best coffee maker 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: Ninja 10-Cup Specialty Coffee MakerBest drip coffee: Technivorm MoccamasterBest pour-over: Chemex Pour-Over Glass CoffeemakerBest for hot and cold coffee: Zojirushi EC-YGC120 Coffee MakerBest espresso machine: Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso MachineBest 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.
Best coffee makers: Reviews & Recommendations
Best overall: Ninja 10-Cup Specialty Coffee Maker
Why it made the cut: The Ninja made the cut for the versatile brew sizes, quality of the brew, and the many, many drinks you can make with one machine—definitely one of the best coffee maker overall. Specs
Brew size: Up to 10 cupsCarafe material: GlassMilk frother: Yes
Pros
Make brews in six sizes, from single to full carafeMakes four brews—classic, rich, iced, and specialtyFold-away frother
Cons
Some units develop a leak
The Ninja 10-Cup Specialty Coffee Maker offers multiple morning coffee options. You can set it to make a single cup, extra-large single cup, travel mug, extra-large travel mug, half carafe, or a full carafe. It also offers four brew styles, including a classic, balanced coffee, rich brew with a more intense flavor, iced coffee, or super-rich concoctions for cappuccinos, lattes, and other specialty drinks. You can finish off those specialty drinks with the foldaway frother. Because it works with both hot and cold milk, the frother gives you more options in your drink design. The machine holds a consistent temperature, increasing the quality of each brew. If there’s a downside to Ninja, it’s that a few (very few) units develop a leak over time.
Best drip coffee: Technivorm Moccamaster 59616 KBG, 10-Cup Coffee Maker
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
Brew size: 10 cupsCarafe material: GlassMilk frother: No
Pros
Fast, easy setupHot plate maintains ideal temperature for up to 100 minutesCopper heating element heats faster and more consistently
Cons
ExpensiveCan’t make different types of drinks
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 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
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
Brew size: 6 cupsCarafe material: GlassMilk frother: No
Pros
Beautiful, sculptural designCarafe can be covered and refrigeratedEasy to clean
Cons
Carafe may chip or break
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-YGC120 Coffee Maker
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
Brew size: 12 cupsCarafe material: GlassMilk frother: No
Pros
Programmable timerEasy to cleanLittle to no leaks
Cons
Reviews report brew temps of around 185-degrees versus the advertised 200.
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 coffee maker: Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine
Why it made the cut: The Breville espresso machine lets you be your own barista with its built-in grinder and steam wand. Specs
Brew size: 67-ounce water tankCarafe material: N/AMilk frother: Yes
Pros
Make micro-adjustments to your brew with grinder, pressure, and temperatureGrind on-demand, making only as much as you wantSmall footprint for an all-in-one machine
Cons
Sometimes needs help getting all the beans in the grinderExpensive
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 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
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
Brew size: 12 cupCarafe material: GlassMilk frother: No
Pros
Can remove carafe mid-brewProgram it to automatically brew each morningEasier cleaning with removable brew basket
Cons
Basket easily overflows
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.
Final thoughts on the best coffee makers
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.
