Ready to buy now? Here are some key takeaways, and the full reviews are below.
If your morning doesn’t start without a coffee routine, you aren’t alone. Sometime in the last few decades, coffee makers went from good-to-have small appliances to absolute musts. And there are just so many different types out there to choose from. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of choices.
Whether you like to brew an entire pot, want the perfect single serve, demand to froth your own foam or just want something easy — there’s something out there for you. And there are so many styles and colors to choose from now, your coffee maker can not only get you ready for your day, it can match your aesthetic, too.
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 Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Maker ultimately took the top spot.
Editors’ picks
Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Maker
Brew Capacity: 10 cups | Brew Time: 4 to 6 min | Dimensions: 6.5″ D x 12.75″ W x 14″ H | Water Reservoir Size: 40 oz | Brewing Temperature: 196 to 205 degrees
A coffee hobbyist’s dream set, the Technivorm Moccamaster is widely recognized as the most exceptional drip coffee maker around. While it lacks virtually any frills, and may strike some as more kit than appliance, it consistently brews quality coffee and keeps it deliciously warm for hours.
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV machine stands out for its almost complete simplicity, without any technological bells or whistles. There are only two switches, an on/off switch and a half/full carafe switch, and no other unnecessary features.
A 40-ounce water reservoir flows into copper heating coils in the machine, where it’s heated to the ideal 196 to 205 degrees, as recommended by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). This heats the grounds in the conical basket for four to six minutes, creating the ideal blend of solids and aromas the SCA calls “the golden cup.” The Moccamaster promises on brewing this golden cup every time.
Handmade in the Netherlands, the Moccamaster KBGV can be a little temperamental to use and clean, as we found during our testing. It has a glass carafe and a 100-minute warming plate to prevent overheating. It’s expensive and we were surprised at its kit-like assembly, but its reputation and track record make it the coffee enthusiast’s dream machine.
Ninja Programmable Coffee Brewer
Brew Capacity: 12 cups | Brew Time: 8 to 16 min | Dimensions: 8” D x 10” W x 14” H | Water Reservoir Size: 60 oz | Brewing Temperature: 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.
Casabrews Espresso Machine
Brew Capacity: 10 servings | Brew Time: 50 sec | Dimensions: 5.9” D x 11.97” W x 12.28” H | Water Reservoir Size: 34 oz | Brewing Temperature: 194 to 204 degrees
Espresso machines are usually big, even hulking devices that cost a small fortune. Not everyone wants or needs a full-fledged machine like that to make homemade espresso. The Casabrews Espresso Machine makes pulling a shot of real espresso at home fast, easy and affordable.
The Casabrews machine is an automatic espresso machine, meaning it starts and stops the flow of liquid on its own without intervention. A simple button lets you pull a single or double espresso and the Casabrews does most of the work, with a 20-bar Italian pump to create that quality extraction and crema that espresso is known for. It also has a steam wand for heating and frothing milk for cappuccinos or lattes.
The Casabrews Espresso Machine has a 34-ounce water reservoir and is less than 6 inches wide and 12 inches deep, making it suitable for small kitchens or snack rooms. It has a 51-millimeter portafilter, a heating surface for prewarming cups and comes in several colors.
Keurig K-Express Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
Best Single-Serve Coffee Maker
Brew Capacity: 4 cups | Brew Time: 90 sec | Dimensions: 12.8″ D x 5.1″ W x 17.2″ H | Water Reservoir Size: 48 oz | Brewing Temperature: 160 degrees
When it comes to automated coffee convenience, K-Cup brewing is hard to beat. The Keurig K-Express is a compact, user-friendly coffee maker that brews multiple sizes of single-serve coffee whenever you like.
K-Cups are easy to find practically anywhere. They’re a great way to enjoy fast, single-serve coffees in a variety of flavors. The K-Express is one of Keurig’s smallest and simplest machines, and it’s one of the lowest-priced as well. At just over 5 inches wide, it can slip between cookbooks or knife blocks on a crowded kitchen counter, as well as on a desk or even a shelf.
It can brew three sizes of K-Cup coffee, from 8 to 12, with two strength levels. Pick the “strong” brew option if you like your coffee opaque. It also takes Keurig’s reusable coffee filter K-cup if you want to save on waste and use your own grind.
With a 48-ounce water reservoir, the K-Express can make up to four 12-ounce servings, and the reservoir is detachable for more convenient filling. With its drip tray removed, it can accommodate many travel-sized mugs, and it comes in a selection of colors.
Cuisinart 14-Cup Coffee Maker
Brew Capacity: 14 cups | Brew Time: 7 to 10 min | Dimensions: 7.75” D x 9” W x 14” H | Water Reservoir Size: 70 oz | Brewing Temperature: 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.
Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee Maker
Brew Capacity: 12 cups | Brew Time: 3 to 8 min | Dimensions: 9.13” D x 11.39” W x 15.54” H | Water Reservoir Size: 60 oz | Brewing Temperature: 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.
Ninja Espresso & Coffee Maker & Barista System
Best for Lattes and Cappuccinos
Brew Capacity: 12 cups | Brew Time: 3 to 10 min| Dimensions: 12.21″ D x 9.84″ W x 14.96″ H | Water Reservoir Size: 60 oz | Brewing Temperature: 200 degrees
Versatility is the byword for the Ninja Espresso & Coffee Maker Barista System. This all-in-one setup lets you brew normal coffee or espresso-style drinks at home, thanks to its built-in system based on Nespresso capsules.
The Ninja Espresso & Coffee Maker is a combined device that integrates a standard drip coffee maker and a Nespresso machine in a single unit. Nespresso machines help create rich, concentrated espresso-style drinks from Nespresso capsules, which are commonly available in most supermarkets and online. From a single capsule, a Nespresso machine can create single or double shots of espresso-like coffee with thick crema, even over ice.
Being also a drip coffee maker, the Ninja comes with a glass carafe and a heating plate to keep brewed coffee warm for several hours. It even comes with a frothing wand for mixing lattes, cappuccinos and other espresso-based drinks, though it doesn’t heat the milk itself. It takes standard Nespresso capsules and comes with a bin to store used capsules for recycling.
Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker
Brew Capacity: 12 cups | Brew Time: 6 min | Dimensions: 8.5″ D x 12.5″ W x 16.3″ H | Water Reservoir Size: 60 oz | Brewing Temperature: 195 to 205 degrees
The fresher the grind, the better the coffee. That’s a rule of thumb that defines the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker. With a built-in burr grinder and whole-bean hopper, it grinds your coffee to order every time, ensuring freshness in every cup.
The Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker integrates a stainless steel burr grinder and a 0.5-pound bean hopper along with a drip coffee maker and thermal carafe. Burr grinders are the preferred type for grinding coffee beans, and the Breville Grind Control offers six grind settings, from fine to coarse, to adapt to your taste and the beans you’re using. When brewing, it offers more control over volume with its steep-and-release design. It comes with a thermal carafe, but you can also brew directly into a cup or travel mug.
Since it comes with a grinder, the Breville Grind Control needs maintenance and cleaning every once in a while. It’s also on the pricey side for a drip coffee maker. But having an integrated grinder makes it sleeker and more convenient than a two-machine setup, and it’s programmable as well.
OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker
Brew Capacity: 8 cups | Brew Time: 5 to 6 min| Dimensions: 10.5″ D x 7″ W x 13.5″ H | Water Reservoir Size: 40 oz | Brewing Temperature: 194 to 205 degrees
Sized to fit under kitchen cabinets and on crowded countertops, the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker doesn’t skimp on quality. It’s a handsome, sleek device designed to deliver high-quality brewed coffee even in the smallest kitchens.
At just 7 inches wide and around 13 inches high, the OXO Brew 8-Cup coffee maker isn’t that much bigger than single-serve coffee machines. It’s a full-fledged drip coffee maker, however, with a 40-ounce reservoir that can make eight (5-ounce) cups (three big servings). It comes with a sleek stainless steel thermal carafe to keep coffee warm, or can brew directly into a mug of your choice. A rainwater-style head evenly distributes heated water across its grounds basket for better saturation.
The OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker is designed to hit that perfect 194 to 205 degrees that the SCA defines as ideal for coffee brewing. It comes with a filter accessory for better extraction during single-serve brewing and can handle both smaller cups and tall travel mugs with its adjustable well cover.
Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
Brew Capacity: 12 cups | Brew Time: 10 to 20 min | Dimensions: 8.25” D x 12.25” W x 11” H | Water Reservoir Size: 60 oz | Brewing Temperature: 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.
