Which coffee maker is best for your needs?

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Coffee makers are must-have appliances in most households. If you want to make the perfect morning pick-me-up or after-dinner drink, finding the best coffee maker for your needs is essential. There are some great coffee brewers out there, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of choices. 

The right coffee machine for you depends on the type of coffee you like, whether that’s espresso, artisanal or basic drip coffee. You might want a specialty machine to make drinks like lattes and flat whites, or a French press or pour-over dripper for hands-on control. Or you might want the convenience of a single-serve pod coffee machine. 

We here at BestReviews have the information you need to help you make your decision. The BestReviews Testing Lab checked out a number of coffee makers to see how well they performed, and to gain greater insight, we interviewed coffee expert Kirkland Gee, cofounder of Perfect Extraction.

Out of the dozens of coffee makers we considered, the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Brewer ultimately took the top spot.

Which coffee maker is best?

Editor’s Choice

The Ninja Programmable Coffee Brewer offers a number of convenient programmable functions to make your life easier.

Editor’s Choice 

Brew Capacity (cups): 12 | Brew Time (minutes): 8 to 16 | Dimensions (inches): 8” D x 10” W x 14” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 60 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 200 to 205 degrees

If you’re searching for a great drip coffee maker that’s built to last, the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Brewer is tough to beat. It features a durable, easy-to-operate design and makes consistently good coffee that you’ll love waking up to in the morning. 

We love that this Ninja coffee maker comes with options for customization. You can brew either a full carafe or a smaller quantity from 1 to 4 cups. It also offers two brew-strength options: classic and rich, the latter of which makes a stronger cup. 

You can set the delay-start timer before you go to bed, so your morning cup is ready when you need it. If you want to grab a cup while the coffee is still brewing, this machine will pause mid-brew. And you can go back for seconds later because the warming plate keeps coffee hot for up to four hours. 

We appreciate the reusable filter basket that comes with this machine. The 60-ounce water reservoir is removable, so it’s easy to fill. Plus, keeping it clean is simple, thanks to the integrated cleaning cycle. 

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Great Value

The Black and Decker Digital Coffee Maker features a programmable timer, so you can wake up to the smell of fresh coffee.

Great Value

Brew Capacity (cups): 12 | Brew Time (minutes): 10 to 20 | Dimensions (inches): 8.25” D x 12.25” W x 11” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 60 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 193 degrees 

The Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is for anyone who wants a basic drip coffee maker and doesn’t care about design or high-end features. It has a 12-cup carafe, and you can sneak a cup before it’s done brewing. You can also keep your coffee warm with the built-in hotplate. 

It takes paper filters, and we appreciate that you can remove the brew basket the filter sits in to clean it more easily. The timer lets you delay brewing for up to 24 hours so you can wake up or come home to fresh coffee. 

Although it might not be anything special, this is a solid drip coffee maker at an affordable price. It’s probably not going to last a decade like some high-end models will, but it’s sturdy enough and simple to use. 

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Top Pick

The Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee Maker includes a milk frother for when you want to add warm, foamy milk to your drinks.

Best for Large Households

Brew Capacity (cups): 12 | Brew Time (minutes): 3 to 8 | Dimensions (inches): 9.13” D x 11.39” W x 15.54” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 60 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 198 to 205 degrees

If you want a coffee maker that can brew specialty drinks as well as basic drip coffee, the Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee Maker is an excellent choice. This coffee maker can make nine sizes of coffee, the smallest of which is 6 ounces and the largest of which is a full 12-cup carafe. So, whether you need to make just one coffee or several, this machine has you covered. 

It also makes four strengths or styles of coffee: “Classic” is a standard cup of drip coffee, “rich” is a stronger brew, “over-ice” is for chilled drinks and “specialty” is concentrated for making cappuccinos, flat whites and so on. You can use ground coffee in a paper filter or K-cups in the pod adapter for single-serve brews. 

The steamer arm is perfect for making frothed, milk-based coffee drinks. The independent hot-water system lets you boil water for instant soups or oatmeal as well.

We love how adaptable this machine is and how much choice it gives the user. Sure, its specialty drinks might not rival those made with an espresso machine, but they turn out pretty well. 

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Cuisinart 14-Cup Coffee Maker

The Cuisinart 14-Cup Coffee Maker allows you to control the brew strength.

Best for Large Households

Brew Capacity (cups): 14 | Brew Time (minutes): 7 to 10 | Dimensions (inches): 7.75” D x 9” W x 14” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 70 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 198 to 205 degrees

Cuisinart products are usually top-notch in the kitchen, and the Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker fits right in with that reputation. With 24-hour programmability, a four-hour timer, brew and size options, and a satisfying 14-cup carafe, it’s a dependable drip coffee maker for bigger batches of coffee.

This sleek Cuisinart unit comes with a 70-ounce water reservoir, enough for 14 5-ounce servings or almost 9 8-ounce cups. Heating optimizations help its water reach the optimal 198- to 205-degree water temperature for brewing, while a built-in replaceable charcoal filter keeps the water as fresh as possible. 

You can program a brewing cycle as much as a full day in advance and set the brewing size to 1 to 4 cups if you don’t need a full batch.

Brew strength can be customized between standard and “bold” settings for a richer cup. Additional features include a self-cleaning mode, blue-backlit display and its professional, smooth metallic design. It’s an excellent drip coffee maker for home or workplace settings.

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Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker

The Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker brews delicious coffee in three sizes: 6, 8 and 10 ounces.

Trusted Brand

Brew Capacity (cups): 8 | Brew Time (minutes): Less than 1 | Dimensions (inches): 9.8” D x 13.3” W x 13” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 48 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 192 degrees 

If you want just a single cup and you don’t want to futz with pour-overs and presses, the Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker is for you. We loved the freedom of the disposable K-cup compared with messy grounds when we tested the Keurig ourselves.

The K-Classic is Keurig’s bestselling system. Its 48-ounce reservoir is removable for more convenient filling and can hold enough water for eight 6-ounce servings. It can brew 6-, 8- and 10-ounce servings at a time, and can fit taller travel mugs with its detachable spill guard. 

We were happy with the preset sizes and didn’t find them limiting. An auto-off option helps if you rush out of the house in a hurry, and auto-descaling is also a button push away.

You won’t get the kind of subtleties or flavor from a Keurig you would from a pour-over or a French press. And like all single-pod coffee makers, the pods aren’t eco-friendly and can contain older, dryer grounds. But if you want fresh coffee, in a single serving, without a lot of boiling, pouring, measuring and timing — the Keurig K-Classic is for you.

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OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker

The testing team found the OXO Brew Coffee Maker’s thermal carafe retained heat well even without a hotplate.

Best with Thermal Carafe

Brew Capacity (cups): 9 | Brew Time (minutes): 4 to 8| Dimensions (inches): 8.3” D x 15” W x 17.2” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 45  | Brewing Temperature (°F): 197 to 204 degrees

We tested the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker and loved its premium looks and feel. You have two size options to choose from: a smaller 2-to-4-cup setting and a larger 5-to-9-cup setting. In our testing, it took 5 minutes and 45 seconds to brew 4 cups. It took 8 minutes and 15 seconds to brew 9 cups. 

We were impressed by how warm the coffee stayed, even without a hotplate. The temperature of the coffee after brewing was 185 degrees. After an hour in the thermal carafe, the temperature measured 175 degrees. And we liked the pause-and-pour feature, which lets you grab a cup before the brew cycle has completed.

Overall, this is a great drip coffee maker. It feels durable, and we were pleased with the quality of the coffee. Cleaning it was a little tricky, as it has quite a few parts that need to be washed, but that’s certainly not a deal-breaker. 

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OXO Brew Compact

The OXO Brew Compact’s rainmaker feature helps to evenly distribute the water over the coffee grounds.

Best for Cold Brew

Brew Capacity (cups): 4 | Brew Time: 12 to 24 hr | Dimensions (inches): 5.2” D x 5.3” W x 8.6” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 23.7  | Brewing Temperature (°F): 38 to 68 degrees

Cold brewing is an art that takes time, patience and enough space on your counter or fridge. The OXO Brew Compact smoothes away some of the mess and guesswork that comes with cold brew coffee and doesn’t take over your kitchen either.

The OXO Brew Compact comes with a brewing vessel and a serving carafe that conveniently nest together when not in use. Grounds and water go into the nearly 24-ounce brewing container and are allowed to steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. To serve, attach the brewing vessel to the carafe. Cold brew coffee filters into the carafe for storage or serving.

The OXO produces concentrated cold brew that’s best diluted with water, ice or milk. The glass carafe can go in the dishwasher, but it’s best to wash the rest by hand to maintain the stainless steel filter and seals. 

Its 24 ounces of cold brew may not seem like much, but you can always make more, and since it’s concentrated, it can go a long way.

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Keurig K-Slim Single-Serve Coffee Maker

The Keurig K-Slim Single-Serve Coffee Maker has a compact design that’s ideal for those short on counter space.

Best Single-Serve

Brew Capacity (cups): 4 | Brew Time (minutes): Less than 1 | Dimensions (inches): 12.1” H x 4.7” W x 15.2” D | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 46 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 192 degrees

If you’re a single-serve-pod aficionado but you don’t have the counter space to fit a standard machine like the Keurig K-Classic, the Keurig K-Slim may be the answer. It uses the same pods and has almost the same reservoir size in a profile that’s less than 5 inches wide.

Like the K-Classic, the K-Slim is designed for push-button simplicity. The water reservoir holds 46 ounces, almost as much as the full-size machine, and is also removable, so it’s easier to fill and clean. 

Pop a single-serve coffee pod into its extraction chamber, close it up, and press a button on its top control panel. A multi-nozzle head injects the pod with heated water to better extract flavors from the grounds inside, and coffee pours into your mug below.

The K-Slim supports 8-, 10- and 12-ounce serving sizes, ideal for mugs, and also can fit travel mugs with its removable drip tray. It doesn’t support the Keurig Reusable filter attachment for using your own ground coffee, but there are third-party options available.

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Espro P3 French Press

The Espro P3 French Press impressed the testing team with its stylish design and delicious brew.

Best French Press

Brew Capacity (cups): 5.3 | Brew Time (minutes): 4 to 5 | Dimensions (inches): 6.1″ D x 4.33″ W x 9.45″ H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 32 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 200 degrees

We recently tested a selection of French presses, and the Espro P3 came out on top. Espro’s innovative double-filter plunger made a cleaner brew than any other French press we tested, and the P3’s easy-going glass and plastic design made it a better value than Espro’s other models.

Espro’s presses have a two-stage micro-mesh filtering system that visibly reduces sediment from the coffee compared to standard French presses, resulting in a bold, flavorful but clean-feeling brew. The filters are also sealed, keeping grounds away from the finished coffee to minimize over-extraction. 

We also liked its simple but stylish glass and plastic-frame construction, which looked great sitting out on our breakfast table.

That said, we had a few minor complaints with the design. Due to the seal on its filters, the Espro P3 always kept a small amount of liquid coffee from being poured. Its carafe is also loose in its frame despite a hook that keeps it in place while being poured. Like most glass French presses, it doesn’t retain heat particularly well. But the quality of its coffee makes up for these qualms.

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Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffee Maker

The Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker features a decorative wood collar that makes it easy to grip.

Best Pour-Over

Brew Capacity (cups): 8 | Brew Time (minutes): 4 to 5 | Dimensions (inches): 6.4” D x 9.6” W x 1.3” H | Water Reservoir Size (oz): 40 | Brewing Temperature (°F): 195 to 205 degrees

No roundup of the best coffee makers is complete without the Chemex. This iconic glass pour-over coffee maker is so beautifully designed it’s in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. We tested the Chemex ourselves and found that once you master the process, it’s easy to produce wonderfully clean and flavorful coffee.

The Chemex is inspired by chem-lab equipment. It combines a dripper and carafe into a single, elegant glass decanter that we found ideal for pouring. 

The Chemex’s special folded filters extract almost all the bitterness out of even pre-ground coffee, resulting in a smooth brew in which we could discern individual flavor notes from the beans. A wooden collar is both decorative and helps you grip the hot glass.

The Chemex’s narrow neck helps reduce heat loss, but if you want to keep your coffee warm, you’ll need a separate warmer or Chemex’s electric stovetop stand; you can’t set it directly on a burner. Unfolding and placing its filters correctly also takes a few moments of practice. The filters are readily available online, in kitchenware stores and in many coffee shops.

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How we tested the best coffee makers

We tested a number of coffee makers on our list, notably the Keurig K-Classic, OXO Brew, Espro P3 French press and Chemex. Our process evaluated each model on features such as setup, ease of use, brewing time, water temperature, cleaning and, most importantly, taste and flavor of the coffee produced.

• Setup: From unboxing to first use, we noted how easy or difficult it was to set up each coffee maker, including any accessories, implements and options we had to use or that came in the box. We also paid attention to things like cord length for electric coffee makers.
• Ease of use: We tracked the process of each coffee maker tested, from filling their reservoirs to adding coffee grounds, through the brewing process, to finally serving and pouring the coffee. We noted recurring pain points, if any, and parts of the process that we felt took time or effort beyond what we expected.
• Brewing time: For all tested coffee makers, we measured how long it took to make a full batch of coffee, from the moment brewing started to the final drop. We also noted any features such as automation, brew delay, auto shut-off and how long the warming plate, if any, stayed active. 
• Temperature: Water temperature is key to flavorful coffee. We took the temperature of the coffee after brewing, noting temperature differences in the half and full carafe. We also took temperature readings after set lengths of time to test the hot plate or thermal carafe. 
• Water dispersion: For automated drip coffee makers, we measured how evenly they dispersed water over the coffee grounds. More even water dispersion helps extract more flavor from the grounds. 
• Cleaning: We cleaned the coffee makers according to manufacturer instructions to see how easy or difficult the process was for each. We noted any pain points and potential annoyances and what parts, if any, could be cleaned in the dishwasher or had to be hand-washed. 

Types of coffee makers

The first decision is what type of coffee maker is right for you. Let’s examine the most common varieties.

Drip coffee makers

• How it works: In a drip coffee maker, water from a reservoir is heated before being distributed through a filter filled with ground coffee. Once saturated, coffee drips into a waiting carafe. Drip coffee makers are among the most common small kitchen appliances.
• Pros: Drip coffee makers are generally easy to use. They can make a large quantity of coffee, and many models are programmable for automated or delayed brewing.
• Cons: There’s less control over the brewing process than other methods, and the water temperature and saturation can vary widely between models, resulting in weak or ineffectively extracted coffee.

Our top picks: Drip coffee maker

• The Ninja 12-Cup Coffee Brewer is an excellent example of a full-featured drip coffee maker with dual brew strength settings, reliable water heating and simple, automated operation.
• The OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker is a premium option that impressed us with its style and performance during testing.
• The Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker also offers a sleek design with a generous 70-ounce capacity.

Espresso makers

• How it works: An espresso machine forces steam through finely ground coffee at high pressure. The resulting coffee, espresso, is a highly concentrated liquid that comes in small amounts, commonly called shots.
• Pros: It’s ideal for espresso lovers who want small, intense shots of flavor and caffeine and necessary for making espresso drinks like lattes or cappuccinos. Some models offer milk-frothing features.
• Cons: True espresso machines can be extremely expensive. Properly pulling a shot of espresso takes a certain level of expertise or practice that can be impractical at home.

Our top picks: Espresso makers

• While not strictly a true espresso machine, the Ninja DualBrew Pro can produce a concentrated coffee suitable for espresso-based drinks at home and includes a steam wand.

Single-serving coffee makers

• How it works: Single-serve coffee makers use pressurized heated water to quickly make coffee from either ground coffee in small containers or, more commonly, presealed cups or pods.
• Pros: As single-serve machines, they’re perfect for individuals who just want one serving of coffee at a time — and they usually get the job done fast. Pods or capsules are easy to buy and use without the mess and fuss of ground coffee. 
• Cons: Single-serve models using pods can be more expensive, especially over the long term. Pods and capsules create a lot of waste, and the most popular pods, like Keurig, are not easily recyclable.

Our top picks: Single-serving coffee maker

• The Ninja DualBrew Pro is compatible with single-brew pods as well as ground coffee.
• The Keurig K-Classic is one of the most popular single-serve pod coffee machines available and can make multiple sizes of single-serve drinks.
• The Keurig K-Slim fits into narrow spaces and has multiple nozzles for more even water distribution.

Pour-over coffee makers

• How it works: Pour-over coffee makers are designed to hold a cone or basket filter filled with ground coffee and are set over a cup or carafe. The user heats water separately in a kettle and then slowly pours the water over the coffee, which flows into the cup or carafe.
• Pros: It offers personal control over every step of the brewing process, from water temperature to brew time. The extremely simple design doesn’t require any electricity or electronics; all you need is a way to heat water to the right temperature.
• Cons: This manual method takes time, attention and precision for the best results and reproducibility, which might not be easy first thing in the morning.

Our top picks: Pour-over coffee makers

• The Chemex coffee maker not only looks fabulous, but it produced some of the best coffee we tasted in our testing process, despite some initial difficulty learning the setup and technique.

Cold brew coffee maker

• How it works: Making cold brew coffee involves steeping coarsely ground coffee in cool or cold water for an extended period of time, usually 12 to 24 hours. The resulting smooth, concentrated liquid is then filtered and stored or served. Any vessel can be used to make cold brew, but a dedicated cold brew coffee maker includes the filter and takes the guesswork and mess out of the process.
• Pros: It can make large quantities of concentrate at a time. The included parts reduce mess. It can brew and store more conveniently than ad hoc cold brewing equipment.
• Cons: Brewing time is measured in hours or days. It requires counter or fridge space.

Our top picks: Cold brew coffee maker

• The OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker’s size makes it one of the most convenient cold brew makers around and won’t take up too much space. It also comes with a carafe.

French press

• How it works: Hot water is introduced to coffee grounds in the press and allowed to steep for a short period of time, usually four to five minutes. Then a press with a filter is lowered over the brew, separating the grounds from the coffee.
• Pros: A French press requires no electricity, just a source of hot water. Complete immersion of coffee grounds provides rich flavor. It’s simple to learn and use.
• Cons: Expect this manual method to leave some sediment in the brew. Reaching and maintaining optimal temperature for brewing and serving can be difficult. 

Our top picks: French press

• The Espro P3 French Press reduces the grit problem with a double filter of micro-mesh and silicone seals, producing visibly less grit than typical French presses in our testing.

Our expertise

Jmar Gambol has written over 100 articles for BestReviews, from tech to household appliances to kitchenware. He has been drinking coffee since he was very young and is never far from a coffee maker. He has tested multiple French presses for BestReviews and uses both a pour-over cone and a Chemex at home. Lauren Corona, a longtime writer for BestReviews and coffee lover, also contributed reporting.