Best Coffee Makers: Your Guide to Top Picks
What better way to start the day than a cup of coffee? Every morning person should own a coffee maker, but deciding which one to pick can be taxing because of the many options available. In this regard, we have collated and reviewed some of the best products below.
Cuisinart 4 Cup w/Stainless-Steel Carafe Coffeemaker, Black
Best overall
Suitable for home and office use, this Cuisinart Coffee maker fills coffee cups with a single brew. It is portable and doesn’t take up countertop space, and it is super easy to use its controls.
Pros
- Single brew fills four cups
- Solid build
- Brew-pause feature to enjoy a cup before brewing is completed
- Compact and portable
- 30-minute auto shut-off
Cons
- The lid is hard to fix and remove
Review
This compact coffee maker can be used anywhere, even on the road. However, despite its small size, its outstanding feature is the quality of brews and cup-filling capacity.
The Cuisinart coffee maker can fill four cups with a single brew, making it suitable for families or offices. It features a stainless steel carafe to keep the coffee warm for an extended period, with the remaining parts made of plastic. While there were mixed reactions about the effectiveness of the carafe, many agreed that the product’s overall durability was satisfactory.
This appliance consists of a dripless spout for easy and mess-free pouring, a carafe, an ergonomic handle, and a knuckle guard for extra protection. Its compact size means it takes up very little space on your kitchen countertop and can be stored in the cabinet when not in use.
Another thing to love about this appliance is its ease of control. The power button is conveniently located on the lower left side of the coffee maker, close to the carafe. Additionally, it has a brew-pause function that lets users have a quick taste in-between brews without disrupting the cycle.
An indicator light lets you know when it’s on, and it shuts off automatically after 30 minutes for safety reasons. It has paper filters for those who don’t like much sediment in their coffee and a coffee scoop to measure your coffee grounds.
Despite its pros, many customers complained about the impractical lid, saying it was hard to put on and remove for filling or cleaning.
This is another brilliant coffee maker from Cuisinart, which is no surprise. It’s great for small kitchens, dorm rooms, or offices.
BUNN CSB3T Speed Brew Platinum Thermal Coffee Maker, 10-Cup
Runner up
The BUNN CSB3T is a thermal coffee maker that keeps your coffee hot for extended periods. It brews the finest coffee quickly and has a 50 fl oz capacity, which fills about ten cups.
Pros
- 10 cup capacity
- Keeps coffee hot for longer
- Brews quickly
- Easy to operate and clean
Cons
- Cheap construction
Review
The BUNN CSB3T impresses in many areas, with the most important being keeping coffee warm for longer–reports say over two hours!
This coffee maker has a simple construction featuring stainless steel and plastic materials. With about 15 inches in height and 14 inches in width, it is pretty large but doesn’t consume space on countertops.
It brews into a vacuum coffee pot or carafe with a 50 oz capacity, large enough to fill ten cups. The pot has a well-designed spout to pour coffee into cups easily and without causing a mess. That’s not all. The coffee maker brews quickly, completing an entire cycle in half the time it takes some other makers of this type.
Moreover, the thermal carafe is vacuum insulated with a double wall to keep coffee warm for over two hours. Also, the spray head is perfectly designed to ensure the finest flavours are extracted during brews.
Since it is a tall appliance, it only makes sense it has a tall funnel that accommodates filters that are a quarter-inch taller than regular ones. This unique design allows for a faster but more efficient water flow, preventing water from flooding the coffee grounds.
The CSB3T is very easy to operate, following the instructions, and easy to maintain by manually washing and rinsing the carafe and wiping the body clean with a towel.
However, a few users criticized the durability of this product, saying it was cheaply made and didn’t serve them for long before packing up.
We would love to see BUNN improve the quality of this coffee maker; other than that, it is a fantastic product that makes great coffee.
Hamilton-Beach Programmable Easy Access Coffee Maker BLACK 46310 12 Cup
Budget pick
This Hamilton-Beach coffee maker is perfect for anyone shopping on a small budget. It is an espresso machine with programmable functions and a large capacity of 96 fl oz. to fill up to 12 cups.
Pros
- Affordable
- Programmable functions
- Fills up to 12 cups
- Cleaning reminder
- Easy to track water level
Cons
- Few cases of leakages
Review
Don’t look any further if you’re shopping on a small budget. This coffee maker from Hamilton Beach is one of the best for this price.
The highlight of this coffee machine is its programmable functions, making brewing faster and a breeze. It has soft-touch buttons to power on/off, pick the desired brew option, and set the preferred brew time and coffee strength. A tiny display shows your commands, time, and alerts you when the machine is due for a cleaning.
Instead of a top fill, its water reservoir is at the front, so you gently pull it out and fill it conveniently. Not to say top fills are not great, but front fills eliminate the need to raise your hand over the top of the machine and thus reducing the chances of spills.
Just on the side of the coffee maker is a clear window showing the reservoir’s water level. That way, you can stay ahead of the situation and quickly refill before you run out of water. Furthermore, its brew basket swings open from the side for quick fills.
With a large capacity of 96 fl oz, this coffee maker can fill up to 12 cups, making it perfect for large families or small cafés. There’s also the option to make one to four cups for smaller groups.
This espresso coffee maker allows users to taste what they are brewing quickly, courtesy of its pause and pour function. Also, it has a two-hour auto shutoff feature for added safety.
According to some reports from past buyers, this coffee maker sometimes leaks from the bottom, and the carafe’s spout spills coffee when pouring.
Considering its low cost, the Hamilton Beach Coffee Maker exceeded our expectations and will make a good purchase.
Ninja CP307 Hot and Cold Brewed System, Auto-iQ Tea and Coffee Maker with 6 Brew Sizes, 5 Brew Styles, Frother, Coffee & Tea Baskets with Thermal Carafe Black 50 oz.
Best premium
The Ninja CP307 is a coffee and tea maker that brews in five styles, hot and cold. It has a thermal carafe to keep content warmer for long, programmable functions and a 50 fl oz capacity.
Pros
- Automatic
- Multifunctional coffee and tea maker
- Hot and cold brews
- Six brew sizes and five tea settings
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Water reservoir leaks
Review
Sure, it’s a little pricey, but the Ninja CP307’s versatility as a coffee and tea maker is not something to pass on.
This 2-in-1 appliance has two baskets; one for tea and the other for coffee. It has an intelligent feature that automatically detects what basket is placed in and displays brewing options available for that basket.
Overall, it has a sturdy build and stays rigid on countertops. It’s a tad heavy, weighing almost 12 lbs, so it’s better permanently placed on a spot. However, if you must move it, you must be extra careful.
On the right side of this automatic coffee maker are soft-touch controls for choosing brewing options for coffee or tea or setting brew time. You can also pause/start, turn on/off, or use the “clean” button on the control panel to self-clean the appliance. However, it is also dishwasher-safe.
For coffee or tea brewing, you can choose between five styles; over ice, classic, cold brew, specialty, or rich. You can brew over ice at lower temperatures using the cold setting and have it ready in 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can brew it hot; the thermal carafe will keep it hot for longer.
Similarly, it has a retractable cold and hot frother that quickly transforms hot or cold milk into a smooth froth. This coffee machine supports six brew sizes to brew half or full carate, a single cup, or a travel-size cup.
However, we gathered some reports on the coffee maker’s water reservoir leaking, leaving a huge mess behind.
Besides this issue, the Ninja CP307 impresses with its automatic controls and brew options for tea and coffee, making it a top choice.
Braun BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker - 12 Cup - KF7150BK, Stainless / Black
Also good
Braun BrewSense Coffee Maker offers automatic controls with a large display. It is user-friendly and can brew regular or bold coffee to fill 12 cups. Its removable parts are dishwasher-safe.
Pros
- It brews enough for 12 cups
- Automatic controls
- Supports pause and pour mid-brew
- Removable parts are dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Not durable
Review
If you haven’t decided yet, the Braun BrewSense automatic coffee maker is another brilliant option.
A drip coffee maker, this coffee machine is fully automated with nine button controls and a large digital display. The buttons are tiny but clearly labelled, and the power button is just under them to the left. Using the controls, users can set their desired brew strength and temperature.
Additionally, it has a button to self-clean and remove ground coffee buildup. The removable parts are also dishwasher-safe, so cleaning is never a hassle. You can also activate the auto on/off feature and 24-hour clock.
Its design is simple yet modern, with the famous silver and black finish from construction with aluminum and plastic. The carafe is round and robust, with a firm handle for easy lifting and pouring. It is large enough to fill 12 cups. However, if you want to make a smaller volume, there’s a 1-4 cups brew option.
The lid opens and closes easily, and the charcoal water filter does a good job removing impurities. Like many modern coffee makers, it supports a pause and pour function that allows users to pour a cup mid-brew. It automatically resumes the process once the carafe is placed back in. Overall, this appliance is portable and compact, saving you counter space.
However, several comments showed the product lacked durability, with users complaining about faulty functions, error codes, and sometimes loud operation.
The Braun BrewSense automatic coffee machine makes excellent coffee. It is user-friendly, but its poor durability makes it better suited as a backup product.
Coffee maker buying guide
Probably the first machine you turn on in the morning, a coffee maker is an essential home appliance. You should carefully select it by understanding its features, pros, and cons. To ensure you get your money’s worth, this buying guide covers everything you need to know to make the most informed decision while shopping.
What is a coffee maker?
A coffee maker is an appliance used to brew and prepare coffee. This appliance needs pressure to move hot water through the coffee grounds.
A coffee maker is not necessarily a home appliance. It is used in restaurants, coffee shops, schools, offices, cafés, etc. Besides preparing coffee to your taste, owning a coffee maker helps to save time and the cost of repeatedly running to a coffee shop.
What are the types of coffee makers?
With the number of coffee maker types available, you’ll be spoilt for a choice. We have detailed most of them here, so you can check which one suits your style and meets your needs the most. Here they are:
Automatic coffee maker
Automatic coffee makers have the most straightforward navigation, making them simple to use and control. This coffee maker doesn’t require hard labour or complex human effort. Since they have automatic controls, they require little supervision to achieve your desired brew.
They have a simple operational mode, producing coffee by gently pouring hot water into a bed of ground coffee. They have single-brew and multiple-brew options to meet different demands.
Pour-over coffee maker
Pour-over coffee makers are portable and convenient to set up. These types don’t need a list of procedures to understand how to put them to use.
However, after each brewing process, you must pour water into the coffee reservoir to brew a new batch, which can be a tad stressful.
Espresso machine
These types can make various beverages, from lattes to cappuccinos, mochas, etc. They possess in-built grinders and frothing milk equipment.
An espresso machine can be expensive and needs a whole lot of management. You also have to learn techniques depending on the type of beverage you would be brewing.
Satellite coffee brewer
These are primarily suitable for malls or restaurants–basically anywhere with high-volume demand. Satellite coffee brewers are designed to make large volumes of fresh coffee in short durations. Modern models have programmable controls, making them easy to operate.
Coffee urn
These types of coffee makers are mostly adequate for offices and homes. They are built to brew, hold, and keep coffee warm for extended periods. They are mostly electric-powered with metal bodies, so they can be risky to handle because of how hot the outer part becomes.
Liquid coffee dispensers
As its name implies, the liquid coffee dispenser dispenses coffee fast and efficiently using an in-bag box system connected to a direct water line. They are ideal for commercial uses to keep up with high demands. However, they can be expensive and difficult to manage.
Cold brew coffee maker
Cold brew coffee is prepared by steeping grounded coffee in cold water for about 12 hours. The results can remain fresh for up to two weeks in a fridge. While brewing takes time, owning this type means fewer brews, and they are easy to clean.
Single-cup coffee maker
These coffee makers are suitable for homes, hotel rooms, and offices. The single-cup coffee maker is easy and fast to brew single coffee cups in different flavours.
Furthermore, they have programmable controls but lack a large reservoir capacity and can only hold a little water for one brew.
French coffee press
A french coffee press works by dipping ground coffee in hot water and filtering the residues. They are manual coffee makers, but quick, having your coffee ready in less than five minutes. They are easy to use and maintain and perfect for home use.
Vietnamese coffee press
This 2-in-1 coffee maker is a press and a filter used to make Vietnamese-style coffee. It is typically constructed using stainless steel, aluminum, or plastic. With this, you can easily and quickly make coffee in different flavours.
What are the factors to consider before buying a coffee maker?
There are several coffee makers from different brands, so choosing the right product can sometimes take time and effort, especially when figuring out what features to look for. Not to worry, this section details the most crucial factors to look for when shopping.
Coffee type
When considering the coffee maker to buy, you must consider the type of coffee you like and the flavours. There are wide varieties of coffee makers, and you will see many of them. Make sure the coffee makers you get can brew the type of coffee you take.
Suppose you like more than one type of coffee flavour. In that case, there are versatile coffee makers that can brew and prepare different types of coffee, so you always have options.
Number of servings
As much as you consider the type of coffee when getting a coffee maker, the allowable cup fills must also be evaluated. A single-cup coffee maker will suffice if you want one for personal use. On the other hand, if it’s intended to serve a family, you should consider makers with 2-12 cup fills.
Controls
The product you’re looking at should have easy controls. Programmable controls are easiest and preferable, but not all makers offer that, so look for what works for you.
Durability
The coffee maker should have a solid construction to serve you for a long time. Many of them are made from metals, which are preferable as they are sturdier than their plastic counterparts.
Safety
Safety is one of the top features to consider when getting coffee makers. Electric models should have their wirings or plugs properly insulated to avoid electrocution. They should also be constructed from non-toxic materials; if you’re buying one made from plastic, make sure it is BPA-free.
Extra features
Additional features such as milk frothing, grinding options, and light or sound indicators are also lovely to have. Most of these functions are found in an espresso machine.
How to maintain a coffee maker
To enjoy the value of your money and the machine, maintaining it correctly is necessary. Once or twice a week, you will bring out all the removable parts and soak them in hot water. Then you pour vinegar and leave them for about an hour before removing and rinsing them. If the parts are dishwasher-safe, that’s even better.
Conclusion
This article reviewed the pros and cons of some top coffee makers, described their features, detailed things to look for before making a purchase, and explained how to maintain them.
