What's the best coffee maker? Unfortunately, there is no one answer. I've tested kitchen appliances for 5 years, but coffee occupies a uniquely tricky position in the market, because while we can all agree that it's imperative we get a good cup of Joe to start the day right, we all drink coffee very differently. So, in testing the machines for this guide, I've instead focussed on helping you decide what the best coffee maker is for you and your preferences.
When most people think of a coffee maker, they'll probably think of a drip machine like the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select which, incidentally, is my #1 pick. It's hard to get a bad brew out of this quality machine. It gets the basics right. If you're not looking for the basics though, a drip coffee maker right not be the best machine for you. For people who prefer espresso-based drinks, I have two top recommendations. If you're looking for a single-serve, I'd suggest the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima, which is versatile and easy to use. Alternatively, level-up your coffee with a true espresso machine, such as the Ninja Luxe Café, which is one of the most exciting coffee releases of 2024 and, according to our testing, lives up to the hype.
And of course, with Black Friday 2024 coming up fast, you might be waiting to see which coffee maker deals are available before you buy. We typically see huge discounts on coffee makers around Black Friday, with brands like Nespresso, Keurig, Ninja and Breville seeing particularly impressive savings in past years.
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About this guide
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Recent updates
Ahead of Black Friday 2024, I gave this guide a huge update to make it as helpful to shoppers as possible. I've been reviewing dozens of coffee makers recently, and a number of these new models knocked older models either further down the guide or out of it entirely. The Braun BrewSense, previously my budget pick, was moved down the guide and replaced by the Instant Infusion which is both cheaper and more user-friendly. I also took the Philips LatteGo out entirely, replace by the KitchenAid KF8 which is more expensive, but a lot more high-tech for those who want a truly brilliant super automatic brewer. I also added the Breville Oracle Jet, truly one of my favorite machines I've tested this year, into the guide. This took out the De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro, which is still a stunning machine, but just that bit clunkier and without the automatic steaming wand. Finally, I added some non-electric brewers including the AeroPress Premium and the Chemex, which prove that you don't need to spend a lot to get truly great coffee.
I'm Millie, Tom's Guide's Senior Home Editor, and I've been testing the top coffee makers from all the major brands for over five years (and using them in my person life for much, much longer!)
I've recently completed a Specialty Coffee Association foundation-level Barista Skills qualification, meaning I could probably get a job in a coffee shop if testing coffee makers ever gets old, and I'm also pretty good at knowing what's required from a machine to make a good brew.
I'm far from a professional, but I've got an above-average ability and knowledge of what makes a great brew at home. I love great-tasting coffee, but I don't want to have to work too hard for it. That's what the best coffee makers are for — delivering your favorite brew just as you like it, while saving you time and making your life easier.
Compiling this buying guide has required a lot of evaluation and comparison between completely unrelated methods of brewing, as well as machines that span from $50 to well over $2,000. How, you might wonder, can we rank these machines if they're being tested against completely different criteria?
It's true, I'd never tell you to buy a drip coffee maker if you love espresso, and we'd never tell you to buy the most premium Breville machine if you're on a budget, so before you buy, you need to have a rough idea of what kind of coffee you actually want to make at home. In this guide, I've included drip coffee makers, as well as a range of single-serve machines and espresso machines. And when ranking these products, I've considered what's right for most people. I know a lot more about coffee than the majority of buyers, so I had to go back to basics when writing this guide to make it accessible to everyone.
Even within the TG team there is a huge range of coffee preferences. There are some people who would turn their nose up at a cup of pod coffee, and would never consider straying from their carefully evaluated coffee setup. For others, coffee is simply a tool for waking up in the morning and you just want a reliable and space-efficient gadget to fill your cup with something cheaper and better than the stuff you'd get from a chain coffee shop. That's ok too, because you know your budget, and you know what you're looking for. And no matter what it is that you're seeking, I'm confident that I've included it in this guide.
Each and every machine has been hand-selected and tested by myself or one of Tom's Guide's expert testers, so you can click through to read full, detailed reviews before you make your mind up.
The quick list
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select offers consistent brewing, looks fantastic, and is designed to last a lifetime. It's a great option for those who want a reliable but high quality drip coffee maker, but there are cheaper options out there if you're on a budget.
The Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima can do it all. With a smart and convenient milk dispenser and all the flexibility of a Nespresso Vertuo machine, it's my favorite single-serve coffee maker on the market for those who want the option to make just about any coffee-based drink.
Simple, capable, and under $70, the Instant Infusion Brew is a top budget choice. It's a newcomer to this guide, but due to its impressive performance in testing, we think it's the new top budget machine on the market.
The latest addition to our best coffee maker roundup, it's hard to argue with the value for money you'll get with the Ninja Luxe Café. While it specializes in espresso-based drinks, it can also make drip and cold brew coffee, making it a super versatile option.
With superautomatic coffee makers, all of the grinding, tamping, brewing and milk steaming happens automatically, leaving you with a great drink, no effort required. There are many machines that offer this, but the KitchenAid KF8 offers a level of finesse that's hard to find.
If you want a good old-fashioned drip coffee maker that looks good, works well, and can be relied upon to keep you caffeinated all day long, look no further than the Braun Brew Sense. It's featured in this guide for years, and we still love it.
Best coffee maker for most people
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select is the company's latest model, first released in late 2019 as the Moccamaster KBG Select in Europe. The new release continues the Moccamaster's highly respected name as the highest quality and most widely praised coffee maker in this list. It’s been engineered for optimal brew temperatures and water dispersal, with innovative features that have earned it recognition from the Specialty Coffee Association. What’s more, it does all of this while operating exceedingly quickly, which I found out when we tried it out for myself.
Handmade in the Netherlands, this pricey coffee maker has a unique industrial aesthetic that some people love and others hate. This, however, is one for the enthusiasts, and lacks a few of the convenience features you might find in cheaper models. The water tank is fixed onto the system, and you won't find any auto-brew features baked in here. However, what it lacks in the amenities that are typical of today' at-home brewers, it makes up for in producing smooth, balanced coffee, which is why it's one of the best coffee makers in my opinion.
There’s technical brilliance under the hood, however. This machine can reach industry standard temperatures (196°F – 205°F) in under a minute and stay there. The water then moves up a glass tube and into a 9-hole spray arm, where it's evenly dispersed over ground coffee in a cone-shaped basket. Not only that, but the KBGV Select can do all of this in four to six minutes, depending on brew size. It comes at a steep cost, but the superior performance and build quality make it worth it for coffee enthusiasts.
Read our full Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select review.
Best single serve coffee maker
If you want a single-serve coffee maker that can truly do it all, you should look no further than the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima. Featuring a separate milk dispenser that offers milk-only drinks and two lengths of milk add-ins to any coffee size you opt for, the beauty of this machine is in its simplicity. You can simply store the milk dispenser in the refrigerator when it's not in use, and you'll get the joys of the entirety of Nespresso's six-size Vertuo system if you prefer a long black coffee or an espresso to start the day.
We enjoyed the thoughtful touches such as an adjustable cup holder to work with any beverage size, and the ability to rinse out the milk dispenser after each use. We did wish that there were more than one milk froth levels available, because if you prefer a more firm layer to make an espresso or a softer latte-style steamed milk, you won't be able to adjust this using the Nespresso.
Because this machine is part of the Vertuo line it will automatically brew the optimum drink length for each drink and you can enjoy an ever-evolving list of capsules to mix up your routine. We even tried a cold-brew capsule, which was impressively realistic.
Read our full Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima review
Best budget drip coffee maker
Looking for a cheap and cheerful drip coffee maker that’s one step up from the French press? The Instant Infusion Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker could check all necessary boxes. Perfect for families and small office spaces, this coffee maker is capable of brewing four to 12 cups in just under 11 minutes. The pricier Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select, on the other hand, brews just 10 cups.
The Infusion Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker’s ease of use is one of its strongest selling points. The coffee maker is extremely easy to clean too. All the parts — except for the reservoir — are dishwasher-safe, and the reusable coffee filter means you won't have to worry about the ongoing cost of filters, like you would with the Moccamaster. There’s also a handy auto-timer, which can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance, so you can wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. And there’s no need to worry about coffee going cold, as the hotplate stays warm for up to four hours, ensuring every cup is just the right temperature. In our testing, the maker brewed delicious coffee with a well-balanced flavor profile, and it highlighted the chocolate notes perfectly.
The Instant may look quite small, but our tester Nikita found that it actually has a larger footprint than the Braun Brew Sense Drip Coffee Maker KF6050. Also, while it’s recommended to use rounded spoonfuls when loading up the ground coffee, we found that it’s better to use level spoons instead, especially if you’re planning on brewing 12 cups. If you want to enter the world of coffee brewing, the Infusion Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker is a great jumping point.
Read our full Instant Infusion Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker review
Best espresso machine
Released in September 2024, Ninja proved it can hold its own in the espresso machine market with the Ninja Luxe Café. This espresso machine isn't cheap, but for a model of its caliber, it's pretty reasonably priced. For under $600, you'll get the ability to make double espressos (no singles, for some reason), cold espresso, cold brew, drip coffee, and a whole host of assisted milk steaming settings.
This machine does a lot of the hard work for you, including suggesting your grind settings, and steaming the milk for you using a whisk built into the base of its jug. In other words, while it looks like several iconic bean-to-cup coffee makers, its assisted features make it more suited to beginners, and could run the risk of being annoying to those who actually prefer to hand-steam their milk and adjust their bean settings based on taste or pressure. There's no pressure gauge, limiting users from getting too technical, but some people don't want that. What you really want is a great-tasting coffee, and there's no denying that the Ninja can deliver on this front.
Our tester Camryn reported that this is the most user-friendly machine she's ever tried, and she's tried a lot. Her espresso was rich and evenly extracted, milk never burnt (even plant milk, thanks to the pre-set options), and drip coffee fruity and fuss-free. We're continuing to test this one, but suffice to say, we're impressed.
Read our full Ninja Luxe Café review
Best superautomatic coffee maker
Another newcomer to the world of espresso machines, the KitchenAid KF8 lives up to its appliance pedigree. It was tested by ex-barista, current product reviewer Erin, who enjoys getting involved in every element of the brewing process and loved the KF8's baby sister, the KitchenAid Semi Automatic. That's in this guide too, but the KF8 is higher because, in my experience, coffee newcomers really enjoy bean-to-cup machines which grind, tamp and brew with the touch of a button, and even steam milk automatically. And the KF8 does that beautifully.
This machine is far from cheap, but it's really well-made. It's best compared to the likes of the Philips 3200, which used to feature in this guide until the KitchenAid ousted it. This machine simply makes a brilliant coffee with absolutely no room for error. Our espresso was frothy and lively, comparable to the sort of espresso you'd have to really work to get out of an entry-level espresso machine, and it also made brilliant long drinks like Americano.
The milk frother can't be compared to the steam wand market because it creates that heat and texture using a carafe, like 99% of superautomatic machines. You can get really good milk using this method, but you won't be able to experiment with latte art or get that fine level of control you might want if you really like your flat whites and lattes.
Read our full KitchenAid KF8 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine review
Best for batch brewing
The Braun BrewSense used to sit at the top of this guide, but when we re-evaluated in early 2024, we found that if you're willing to spend a bit more, you'll have a better-tasting brew with the Moccamaster machine we put in first place. It was then bumped further down by the more affordable and equally user-friendly Instant Infusion Brew, whose major downside is that it won't make a good batch brew if you want more than 10 cups.
We still think the Brew Sense KF6050 deserves serious kudos for delivering quality fuss-free coffee without a high price tag. You can enjoy the perks of a programmable timer, brew pause settings, and a mode for smaller brews if you want to make 1-4 cups of coffee at a time. Our biggest issue with this machine was that its water tank cannot be removed, which means you'll have to use a carafe to refill it.
That aside though, this machine does offer a lot of convenience features you won't usually find at this price. That includes a charcoal water filter to keep your machine in good running order, and a permanent gold-tone filter for good measure. Another thing that impressed us with this coffee maker was its hot plate. The Braun Brew Sense had some of the best temperature retention of the drip coffee makers we tested. However, it's a little noisier and a lot slower than its more modern, pricier counterparts.
Read our full Braun Brew Sense review
Best value single-serve
The K-Cafe is our number one pick in our guide to the best Keurig coffee makers. It's one of the brand's more expensive options, but delivered the richest flavor of the machines we tested from the iconic coffee brand, and thanks to the "shot" button it can also brew a very authentic-tasting espresso despite its unconventional brewing methods.
The included milk frother is a big plus for this single-serve coffee maker. Combined with your 2-ounce coffee shot you can make espresso, oat milk latte, even hot chocolates in this hands-free frother. It's an expensive machine, but we do think you get a lot for your money with this multifunctional brewer, which is as close to barista-quality as it gets from a Keurig machine.
To get specific, the K-Cafe takes 36 seconds to brew a shot, making it one of the faster machines we tried, and the frother takes 1 minute and 35 seconds on average to make fresh steamed milk, meaning you'll be left with a delicious milky coffee in under two minutes.
Read our full Keurig K-Cafe review.
Best for latte art
When our resident ex-barista product tester Erin put the KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine to the test, she was wowed by how easy it was to use, and the quality of the coffee she was able to extract. In fact, she said it's the closest she's come to a commercial-quality machine since her time working in Starbucks.
The only real issue Erin encountered was the in-built grinder, which performed wonderfully, but did have some strange dose guidance. Once you've figured out the right amount for the 58 mm portafilter though, you'll be rewarded by luscious velvety espresso with the perfect amount of body to pair with your milk, or enjoy alone. This machine is best compared to entry-level models from the likes of De'Longhi and Breville, and despite its lack of coffee pedigree in this area, the KitchenAid does hold its own in the performance arena. It's sort of machine it's worth buying good beans for.
Another real plus was that this machine makes it relatively painless (for a machine that's not dual-boiler) to switch between steaming and brewing. This meant Erin was able to enjoy flat whites and lattes (complete with effortless latte art which she assures me is a credit to the machine, as well as her years of practice!) within minutes of turning the machine on. It's not the most affordable option in this guide, but when you look at the espresso machines on the market, its really holds its own at this price point.
Read our full KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine review.
Best coffee maker under $50
Chemex has been a big name in the coffee world for a long time. There’s a lot of hype surrounding the inconspicuous hourglass pitcher and filter combination, steered by Chemex’s claim that its coffee maker brews a “perfect” cup of coffee every time. Well, we’ve been testing the classic pour-over style, and we have to agree with Chemex here.
The thick paper filters extract only aromatic flavors from the coffee, leaving behind bitterness, acidity, and silt you’d expect from a french press or moka pot. We also loved making coffee in this, watching the coffee grounds ‘bloom’ and settle. Making coffee in the Chemex takes under five minutes, too: all you do is set up the filter, pour in the grounds, and slowly pour water. After use, the Chemex-branded bonded filter is compostable, meaning you can nourish your garden with every cup.
When we compared the flavor of the Chemex brew to that of a french press or moka pot, we were amazed at how aromatic and floral the Chemex’s coffee tasted. This is certainly a luxurious way to brew coffee, and comes in a range of sizes so you can impress everyone in your house or office with it. The much-cheaper Hario V60 is just $9 and produces a pretty similar taste, so if you’re really trying to save bucks, you could check out that instead.
While it's cheap in comparison to the options in this guide, $50 for a glass pitcher and $11 for 100 filters seems a little steep — but if you’re serious about making excellent coffee, this is a must-own.
Read our full Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffee Maker review
Best premium espresso machine
I can't deny that I love Breville coffee makers. Looks-wise, these brewers are truly hard to find fault with, and they hit the perfect point between beginner-friendly designs and enthusiast-level quality. In other words, the Breville Oracle Jet is perfect for shoppers like me. I'm on my own journey of learning how to make the best espresso by hand, but I won't say no to a little helping hand. The automated grinding and tamping on offer with this machine, plus the volumetric grinder that ensures the puck is always evenly compressed, immediately takes the fiddliest parts of manual espresso machines out of your hands, and while there is still the option of hand-steaming your milk, you can also leave your machine to automatically steam your milk using its pre-programmed temperature and foam level settings.
This machine is a delight to use. In comparison to its predecessor, the Breville Barista Touch, its control screen is smartphone-level responsive and so high-tech. You can toggle between light and dark modes and enjoy custom brew settings for different types of milk and drink lengths. However, while there's no denying that the automatic milk steaming is good, it's not quite as good as the Barista Touch. I found that I had to knock out a few bubbles after every use. The grinder, too, left a light scattering of grounds after every puck was tamped. These are hardly deal breakers, but they make the process feel that little bit less premium.
One major step up for this machine is its cold brewing modes. I was able to create bright and fruity cold brew in under 3 minutes, which as someone who loves iced coffee, is a real delight. Cold espresso also comes out light and frothy, with the complexity of a cold brew that's been steeped for hours. The only thing that would stop me from recommending this wholeheartedly is the price, because the likes of the Ninja Luxe can make cold brew and offer assisted grinding at a quarter of the price.
Read our full Breville Oracle Jet review.
Best portable coffee maker
The AeroPress Premium is the most luxurious AeroPress on the market. If you’re an AeroPress evangelist, this is the best one you can get. The glorious hand-blown glass and anodized aluminum body not only look fantastic, but makes a delicious coffee, too. The AeroPress brews a delicate, layered, complex coffee without the bitterness or grit you’d get from french presses or pour-overs.
In testing, we loved how the AeroPress Premium’s double-walled glass chamber prevented heat from seeping out to the exterior. This meant we could handle the AeroPress immediately after use and it didn’t burn our fingers. We also loved how easy it was to remove the used coffee grounds: we simply plunged the grounds into a bin. The Premium isn’t dishwasher safe — while other AeroPresses are — but if you rinse straight after use, it’s no problem.
Don’t get us wrong — this is an expensive AeroPress. It’s about $100 pricier than the original, which you can attribute its premium glass construction to. If you’re just venturing into the world of AeroPresses, there’s no need for you to buy this one unless you’re purposefully avoiding plastic. The AeroPress Original will work just as well.
Read our full AeroPress Premium review.
Best smart drip coffee maker
The Breville Precision Brewer isn't your every day coffee maker. It's a powerful machine capable of brewing your perfect cup of coffee, if you're willing to put the work in and have a tinker with all its impressive controls. I found initial setup to be a little overwhelming during testing, but the easy to follow instructions (and Gold standard presets for everyday use) helped me gather confidence in tweaking individual settings to match the brew flavors I was after.
While I did find a few issues with the volume of the machine, it was nothing compared to the high quality coffee coming out. You'll be able to experiment with brew times and temperatures, but you'll also have access to the flow rate and bloom time. A pour over dripper is also available for additional controls as well.
There's a lot of tech packed in here, and while it may take a little while to figure it all out, it was well worth it in the end of my testing. Nevertheless, this really is one for those who view coffee as a science.
Read our full Breville Precision Brewer review.
How we test the best coffee makers
Our testers
Millie has been reviewing coffee makers for nearly five years and a range of leading review publications including TopTenReviews, Homes&Gardens, Real Homes, Livingetc, and Ideal Home.
Her interest in coffee first started when she worked as a barista at university, but she has since learned all about the art of a good cup of joe through a lot of taste testing and trips to the De'Longhi factory in Treviso, Italy, and a coffee tour of Naples with Sage.
Erin joined Tom's Guide in 2024 on our product reviews team. She tests everything from keyboards to vacuum cleaners, but as a former barista with years and years of experience, she's our go-to coffee maker tester.
Erin has tested a number of leading espresso machines from Smeg and KitchenAid, as well as other brewing methods such as the AeroPress. She's also great at latte art.
Kevin Cortez has been a culture and product journalist for over nine years. He also has seven years of professional hands-on experience with coffee roasting, tasting, and brewing, as well as hand-crafting espresso drinks, and has tested a wide range of capsule coffee makers for Tom's Guide.
Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site, and has a particular interest in home cooking and coffee. Mike has tested a number of espresso machines for Tom's Guide, including models from Philps and De'Longhi.
Linda Clayton is an award-winning freelance interiors journalist with nearly 20 years of experience. She has reviewed countless coffee makers for Tom's Guide and our sister sites Homes&Gardens, Ideal Home and Real Homes. Most recently she tested the Cuisinart single-serve grind and brew coffee maker, but she has also tested an assortment of drip coffee makers and Nespresso machines.
Our critiera
At the end of the day, the most important sign of a good coffee maker is in that all-important taste test. So it goes without saying that we taste a lot of coffee when putting together our coffee maker reviews. However, there are endless factors that can determine the flavor of your finished coffee, so there are some metrics we need to consider (and keep consistent) when testing coffee makers.
Unboxing
The most sustainable choice you can make when buying a new coffee maker is opting for a machine that will last for years and years. That said, it's a good sign when a coffee maker comes in recyclable, sustainable packaging that still keeps it secure during shipping, so we're always looking out for this when evaluating our first impressions of a product.
Setup
In our experience, a more drawn-out setup process can be worth the extra hassle. Some coffee makers have a water hardness strip included to input the limescale level in your water. This test takes a few extra minutes, but inputting this information will ensure the machine reminds you to descale it as and when needed to prolong its lifespan.
If a coffee maker comes with an app or any bespoke programming such as personalized profiles or pre-set timers, we troubleshoot this in testing to make sure you're getting an easy-to-use machine from the very first use.
Price
Coffee makers don't have to be expensive — especially if you're buying a single-serve or drip coffee maker, but it's often the case that you get what you pay for with coffee makers. When testing we evaluate if this is the case. Does a $1,000+ coffee maker really warrant the price tag, and most importantly, would we recommend it to a friend or family member who was shopping for a new machine?
Flavor
Your cup of coffee can only be as good as the grounds you use, so when testing, we try and opt for an accessible consumer blend and stick to this brand across models to ensure that the differences we taste in our coffee come from the quality of the machine, and not the beans.
Right now, we're using Lavazza beans and grounds when reviewing our machines, as this accessible brand is a good quality without being too expensive for most users. We expect this is the type of bean most coffee users will be purchasing, so it helps us to recreate your home experience when we're testing.
Temperature
This is particularly important for drip coffee makers. We test the temperature of each carafe we make when it's first been brewed, and then after one hour, to test the quality of the heating plate on each machine.
If freshly brewed coffee comes out too hot, it's a sign that the machine has scorched the grounds in testing, which will result in a more bitter flavor and is a sign of a poorly-made machine. Likewise, if the coffee is not hot enough, you won't get a fully developed flavor and your coffee will be weak and acidic.
Coffee grinders
Some coffee makers come with in-built grinders, so we put them through a similar process to our standalone reviews for the best coffee grinders. This involves testing the variety of grind sizes available, and how suitable this is for the type of coffee maker you're using. If your espresso maker's grinder creates great grounds for filter coffee, that's not much help!
We use a coffee sifter called Kruve to see how consistent the coffee grounds are in size and texture, and we also test coffee grinders for static created.
Milk steaming
If an espresso machine comes with a hand milk steamer, there is an inevitable margin for user error when testing. Fortunately, we have a team of expert testers on-hand who have steamed more than a few lattes in their time, so if we find fault with a steamer, we can confidently say it's a flaw in design.
When steaming milk we look for a smooth and fine micro-foam that doesn't burn our milk before we're able to get the consistency we want.
Some machines come with automatic frothers, and while it's hard for these to recreate a hand-steaming effect, we look for how easy they are to use and how close they come to the real thing.
Which type of coffee maker should you buy? Check out our guide if you're unsure.
Also tested
At Tom's Guide, we test a lot of coffee makers. It feels like there's always a new innovation to put through its paces, so our testing team can be found reliably caffeinated on any given day. We return most of the coffee makers we test due to the high value of these machines, but on the occasion that we're allowed to keep one, we continue to test them from home in order to evaluate the value for money over time, and compare our old faithfuls to recent releases. Not every coffee maker can make the list though. Here are some of the models we've recently tried.
Coffee maker FAQ
How to choose the best coffee maker for you
There’s nothing like a great cup of coffee to wake you up in the morning, so if you’re looking to invest in a new coffee maker, you’ll want one that makes the ideal brew, provides the functionality and practicality you desire and comes in on budget. Here are a few things you’ll need to think about.
Will it fit?
A coffee maker sits on the countertop, so measure the space where you plan to keep the machine before you buy one. Be sure to determine the clearance between the countertop and the bottom of your cabinets. Most, but not all coffee makers will fit under a cabinet.
Coffee quality
If you're passionate about coffee, look for a brewer that says it meets the Specialty Coffee Association's Golden Cup Standard. This means the coffee brews at what is regarded as the perfect time and temperature for the best cup of Joe. But be aware that this standard calls for using 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for each 5-ounce cup, which produces a very full-bodied, strong cup of coffee that is not to everyone's taste.
Check out 7 surprising ways you can reuse old coffee grounds.
Cup size
Keep in mind that coffee-maker cups are the equivalent of 5 ounces, or an old-fashioned teacup that isn't filled to the brim, leaving room for milk. Most coffee mugs in use today hold upward of 8 ounces. Therefore, a typical 12-cup coffee maker brews enough coffee for about seven mugs at the most.
What kind of carafe?
Models with thermal carafes tend to be more expensive than those with glass carafes. You can bring thermal carafes to the table, where they'll keep coffee hot for refills. However, these carafes have narrow openings that are difficult to hand-wash, and most can't be cleaned in the dishwasher. However, thermal carafes are beneficial if you drink coffee throughout the day.
Milk frother
If you prefer your coffee straight, you won’t be concerned about the milk frother option, although do consider that other household members or guests may prefer their coffee served with a smooth froth. Having a milk frother combined will also save you the issue of having a separate appliance on the countertop, taking up space.
Paper or permanent filters? Decide if you want to use a permanent filter or paper, disposable ones. Permanent filters are better for the environment, and you don't have to constantly replace them, but they do need to be thoroughly washed by hand and they tend to stain. Also, it's easier to toss paper filters in the trash than knock grounds out of a metal filter. You may also find that the taste of the coffee produced differs depending on filter type and that you prefer one over the other.
Do you want to set it and forget it? With many machines, you can program them ahead of time to brew in the morning or right before you get home, and you can even set them to brew at the same time every day. But such features add to the price and work only if you take the time to read the manual and figure out how to use the setting.
Want your coffee to-go? We've tested the best travel coffee mugs.
How to clean and care for your coffee maker
Coffee makers are built with more than practicality in mind. The aesthetics are just as important as the performance these days — after all, this machine will be on display in your kitchen for some years. Some feature a timeless brushed steel finish, while others are much more bold with a glossy, painted exterior. Before you choose your favorite, make sure that its size is suitable for your countertop; some are much bigger than they appear.
The latest models come with plenty of useful features. One to look out for is the ability to grind coffee beans and then automatically transfer the grounds to the filter basket. In doing this, you’re getting the freshest coffee possible. Some machines also come with settings that let you control the strength of the brew as well as the temperature of the coffee. Controls such as these are a brilliant addition as you can try out different combinations until you find your favorite setting. Size selection is another important factor; some designs let you choose from a single-serve coffee up to an entire pot, which can save waste.
Coffee makers have come a long way in terms of tech as well. Some feature touchscreens rather than manual controls, while others can connect to your Wi-Fi or use Bluetooth. In doing this, you can control the coffee maker handsfree through your smartphone or even using voice commands via Alexa and Google Assistant.
