Looking for the best coffee maker? The right machine can transform your day, whether you're after an energizing espresso, smooth Americano, or indulgent cappuccino. With countless options available, choosing the best one for you might seem daunting, but fear not – we're here to guide you. From robust espresso to delicate decaf, the top-notch coffee makers we've rounded up promise to deliver an exceptional cup every time, catering to various preferences.
When selecting a coffee maker, it's essential to consider your specific needs. Whether you need a quick fix in the morning or have a smaller household, the ideal machine should align with your lifestyle and coffee demands.
We've thoroughly tested the offerings from major brands and lesser-known contenders, ensuring that we can assist you in finding the perfect coffee maker for your kitchen. Our recommendations span from convenient pod coffee makers and reliable filter machines to barista-style models, so you can be confident in finding the best coffee maker to elevate your at-home brewing experience.
Quick list: Top 3 picks
Below, we’ve provided an overview of the important details you need to know about each product immediately so you can buy quickly if you're in a hurry. If something catches your eye, use the links to delve deeper into the analysis provided for each product further down the page.
The best coffee maker overall
The Barista Express Impress is an easy-to-use espresso machine with good automation and customization features.
For
- Easy to use
- Coffee tastes amazing
- Looks professional
- Steam wand
Against
- Burns through beans
- Hard to switch between filter basket sizes
The best coffee maker on a budget
This filter coffee machine is beautifully designed and has smart features like a 'pour and pause' function.
For
- Makes excellent coffee
- Removeable water tank
- Generous capacity
- Two auto-timers
Against
- Slow
- Quite big
The best premium coffee maker
The JURA GIGA 10 boasts 35 drink options, a sleek design with three touchscreens, and customizable coffee strength and foam.
Quick list: Best by use case
The best single serve coffee maker
Highly customizable, this coffee machine will delight coffee connoisseurs who value the freedom to adjust their brewers’ settings to their liking. The Tchibo is also a smart coffee machine that tells users when it needs to be maintained.
The best pod coffee maker
The Morning Machine has nailed the art of brewing a flavorful espresso. Its app is packed with recipes informed by specialty roasters and offers plenty of brewing variety without making the process overly complicated.
For
- Easily adjustable settings
- Bespoke brew profiles for specialty pods
- Coffee has a more nuanced flavor than Nespresso
Against
- Lacks the simplicity of a one-button pod machine
- No integrated milk frother
- Small pod bin
The best Nespresso coffee maker
This coffee maker is intuitive and effortless, delivering one-touch brewing and automatic milk frothing.
For
- Very well built
- Straightforward to use
- Integrated milk frother
Against
- Coffee quality can't rival a bean to cup machine
- Expensive
- Bulky
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The best coffee maker for customization
The De'Longhi Eletta Explore is truly exceptional. In three seconds, it'll have you making five-star coffees.
The best mini coffee maker
Being short on counter space doesn’t mean you must give up on barista-style coffee. The Nespresso Essenza Mini doesn’t have fancy or sophisticated features, but it will brew you an espresso or lungo at the touch of a button.
For
- Easy to use
- Takes up little space
- Durable
- Great-tasting coffee
Against
- Limited features
- More expensive than other basic pod brewers
The best pour over coffee maker
The OXO Brew coffee maker is stylish, offers single-serve and carafe options, requires careful setup, costs $299.99, and does not have water storage.
For
- Makes tasty coffee
- Easy to use
- 21 color options
- Five-year warranty
Against
- Not cheap
- But looks a bit cheap
The best K-Cup coffee maker
The Keurig K-Supreme SMART Coffee Maker is a versatile pod coffee maker that produces a great-quality single serve.
For
- Automatically recognizes K-cups
- Adjustable settings for strength and temperature
- Brews drinks quickly
- Two position options for the water tank
Against
- Must be connected to Wi-Fi
The best coffee makers we recommend in 2024
Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Our team has thoroughly reviewed the products featured in our buyer's guides. We strive to provide comprehensive and unbiased rankings based on our hands-on testing and expert research. Our evaluations consider top-rated brands and essential features to assist you in making informed purchasing decisions at the best value.
The best coffee maker overall
✅ You're a beginner: while it's got all the bells and whistles, this machine is easy to use.
✅ You're a latte fan: this machine has a steam wand for frothing milk.
✅ You want a good-looking machine: this one looks like a professional espresso machine.
❌ You're on a budget: this machine is on the expensive side, and it burns through a lot of beans.
❌ You want a faff-free machine: making espresso can be a process.
❌ You're short on space: this machine takes up a lot of space on countertops.
🔎 The Breville Barista Express Impress is a pricey but exceptional espresso machine that produces outstanding coffee. It has a degree of automation while still allowing for customization, and the steam wand is great for frothy coffee. Manual controls will satisfy perfectionists, but the machine requires regular maintenance and won't suit impatient folks. ★★★★★
The Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine is a top-of-the-line coffee maker that offers a great balance of automation and customization for coffee enthusiasts. Its sleek design, excellent performance, and many features make it a great choice for those looking to make cafe-quality coffee at home.
Features: The Barista Express and Impress Puck System promises to give you "third-wave specialty coffee" at home. Intelligent dosing, assisted tamping, precision measurement, and powerful steam pressure result in the perfect dose, precise tamp, and silky microfoam milk for latte art in under a minute.
Design: The Express has a solid, stylish brushed stainless steel build that looks great. While it may be on the large side for those upgrading from a filter or pod coffee machine, it doesn't take up too much space on the countertop and can be tucked under wall cabinets. The design is intuitive, with easy-to-use components, bright LED lights, and a tamper arm that moves smoothly. The water tank is also easy to undock and refill.
Performance: This semi-automatic coffee machine will suit professional coffee lovers and beginners. Making drinks with it is simple - just choose the basket size, select the auto button, slide the portafilter, and press dose. Of course, finding the correct grind size can be challenging, but once you've found your perfect fit, making coffee becomes a breeze.
The auto-dose system means creating creamy lattes and hot chocolates is easy, and the machine comes with a hot water spout that can be used to turn your espresso into an American. The 2-cup option is also great for those who prefer a stronger coffee, but those who want something weaker can use the 1-cup option.
Read our full Breville Barista Express Impress review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Pricey, but worth every penny. | ★★★★★ |
| Design | Beautiful, professional design and smooth handling experience. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Once you set up, you get great coffee every time. | ★★★★★ |
The best coffee maker on a budget
✅ You want a stylish machine: the retro look is very pleasing.
✅ You want good features: this machine has a 'pour and pause' function.
✅ You want to make large quantities of coffee: you can make up to 12 cups in this machine.
❌ You want coffee fast: the brewing process is a bit slow.
❌ You're short on space: the machine is large and tall.
❌ You're a beginner: the digital display can be daunting.
🔎 The KitchenAid Drip Coffee Maker is a well-constructed and attractive machine with unique features such as "pour and pause" and a spiral showerhead that delivers delicious coffee. It's a great choice for those who enjoy convenience and have a classic KitchenAid Stand Mixer, but it's not ideal for hosting large coffee mornings or those with limited counter space. ★★★★½
The KitchenAid Drip Coffee Maker is a sleek machine with a retro design and unique features such as 'pour and pause'. It's a great blend of convenience and quality on a budget.
Features: The 12-cup KitchenAid Drip Coffee Maker has a unique 29-hole spiral showerhead that evenly saturates coffee grounds for optimal extraction, convenient measurement marks, and a clear, removable water tank. It also features a warming plate, two brew buttons, and a unique spout design for easy pouring.
Design: The coffee maker boasts a sleek retro design perfect for anyone who appreciates a cohesive look among appliances on their countertops, and while it may be taller than other drip filter machines, it's still a lightweight unit with a removable water tank for easy refilling. The digital display and control panel may initially seem complicated, with nine push buttons and a clean icon that flashes after 100 cycles, but our reviewer quickly got used to it.
Performance: The KitchenAid KCM1208OB is user-friendly and easy to operate. Coffee grounds are added by lifting the lid, filling the water tank to the required volume, and pressing the 'on' button. The reusable filter contains a stepped gauge that indicates the fill line for coffee grounds according to the number of cups required, and the extra 'on/off' switch at the front is easy to reach.
The water tank has a total capacity of 57 fluid ounces, and the brewing process takes around ten minutes for a 12-cup carafe. Choosing the 'bold' brew strength will take much longer, but you can use the 'pause and poor' feature to interrupt the process quickly. The auto-start timers can set brewing times to twice daily or weekly, and you can save energy using the hotplate temperature adjustment.
Read our full KitchenAid 12 Cup Drip Coffee Maker review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Decent value for the quality | ★★★★★ |
| Design | Sleek design and good features | ★★★★ |
| Performance | Slow brewing process but great coffee | ★★★★ |
The best premium coffee maker
✅ You don't want the same coffee every day: If you like mixing up your coffee order or living in a household with multiple coffee drinkers, this offers almost every variation you could want.
✅ You want to customize your coffee: With coffee strength, milk foam, and milk/coffee ratios all fully adjustable, there's no end to the amount you can customize your favorite coffees.
✅ You have no barista skills: Touch-controlled, automatic coffee machines take the complicated skill out of brewing.
❌ You have limited kitchen counter space: At 12.6W x 16.34H x 19.53D inches, you'll need to dedicate plenty of space.
❌ You don't tend to stock up on coffee beans: The coffee machine will cancel itself mid-brew if you don't fill the bean containers in time.
🔎 Consider buying the JURA GIGA 10 if you want versatile coffee options and customization without barista skills. However, it's not ideal if you have limited kitchen counter space or don't regularly stock up on coffee beans, as the machine requires ample space and cancels brewing without enough beans. ★★★★
The JURA GIGA 10 offers 35 beverages, customizable strength, foam, and milk/coffee ratio, all of which lead to immaculate-tasting coffee.
Features: This massive coffee machine can brew 35 different specialties with its dual disc grinders and pumps. It features a spacious water tank capable of holding 88 ounces and an elegant spout system with adjustable dual spouts and a milk dispenser. The control panel consists of three touchscreens, making it easy to select and brew various drinks.
Design: The JURA GIGA 10 is premium-looking and occupies considerable space on the kitchen counter. Its impressive capabilities include dual spouts and a milk dispenser with illuminating lights. The machine's control panel comprises three touchscreens displaying the various coffees you can make, providing a clear, clean, and easy-to-use interface.
While it exudes a stunning design with metallic finishes and adjustable spouts, the milk jug's separate placement and the machine's bulky size are notable considerations. The use of a mixture of materials, including ceramic, plastic, and stainless steel, adds to the machine's overall build.
Performance: The quality of every cup of coffee our reviewer made was exceptional, whether it was a latte, cappuccino, or espresso. The machine is fully automatic, and the intuitive menu makes it easy to select and customize drinks. A great feature was the ability to adjust coffee strength, milk foam volume, and milk/coffee ratios.
However, our writer did encounter an issue with the control panel as certain coffee options would be unavailable if there weren't enough beans in the grinders, leading to wasted coffee when attempting to brew. It would be more convenient if the machine only allowed selections when there were enough beans for the entire brewing process. Despite this drawback, the JURA GIGA 10 is a top-notch coffee machine for those who appreciate a barista-quality coffee experience.
Read more: JURA GIGA 10 review
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price & availability | Too expensive for most households | ★★★ |
| Design | A premium machine with impressive customization | ★★★★½ |
| Performance | Delicious coffee, low maintenance, but a big design oversight | ★★★★ |
The best single serve coffee maker
✅ You want to try different coffee bean varieties: Since The Tchibo Machine grinds coffee beans and brews them in one go, users have endless possibilities when trying different coffee beans.
✅ You don't want to generate waste: The Tchibo Machine’s bean-to-brew technology eliminates the need for coffee pods, making it a more sustainable option.
✅ You're looking for an easy-to-use machine: The Tchibo Machine’s settings can be adjusted so users can find the best setting for their favorite cup of coffee.
❌ You're looking for a brewer that can steam or froth milk: The Tchibo Machine doesn’t incorporate milk frothing or steaming capabilities into its design.
❌ You don't want to deal with coffee grounds: As the Tchibo Machine uses fresh coffee beans with its built-in grinder, you'll have to empty the used coffee grounds, which can be messy.
❌ You want to use pods too: This machine uses coffee beans only; if you want one that can use coffee beans and pods, consider a different machine.
🔎 The Tchibo Machine made our reviewer extremely happy with its ability to brew fresh, delicious coffee and that she could adjust the grind to make her coffee stronger or more aromatic. Its only drawback is the lack of milk frother ★★★★★
The Tchibo Machine seriously impressed our reviewer when she tried it, and she didn't hesitate to give it five stars due to its impressive performance and adjustable elements.
Features: The Tchibo is a German-engineered coffee machine that grinds and brews coffee in one step. It uses whole beans, resulting in fresh single-serve coffee, and has adjustable settings. The machine is compact and easy to clean, with no added waste or pods.
Design: The Tchibo Machine is a stylish, compact coffee maker that can easily fit on most kitchen countertops. Measuring 12.4 x 7 x 15.6in (h x w x l) and weighing only 18.1 lbs, it takes up minimal space. The machine boasts a sleek and elegant design, combining matte and shiny surfaces in a simple black and silver color scheme, which creates a harmonious blend.
One impressive feature is that the buttons are invisible when the machine is turned off, except for the power button, which is discreetly placed on the brewer's side. When turned on, the buttons illuminate in blue, adding to its modern and stylish aesthetic.
Performance: The Tchibo coffee maker is quite versatile. It can prepare three different types of coffee—espresso (2 oz.), regular coffee (6 oz.), and large coffee (8 oz.)—thus catering to the individual tastes of every household member. The adjustable coffee spout can be modified to accommodate various cup sizes, and the water quantity pre-sets can be changed per preference.
The Tchibo machine is easy to clean and notifies you when it needs to be descaled. It also alerts you about other important things, such as refilling the water tank, adding more coffee beans, or emptying the coffee ground container.
Read more: The Tchibo Machine review
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Fits seamlessly on countertops, occupying minimal space and featuring a harmonious blend of matte and shiny surfaces. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Makes espresso and two different coffee sizes from bean to brew with one click of a button. | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Price is in line with similar brewers on the market and its high quality makes the price worth it too. | ★★★★★ |
The best pod coffee maker
✅ You’re a busy person: Once you’ve found the perfect brew settings for this machine, it’ll only take a few moments to insert a pod, select a recipe in the app, and get the coffee brewing. You’ll be out of the door and at your desk quickly.
✅ You're interested in speciality coffee: The recipes in the app are informed by speciality coffee roasters, so there are lots of nuanced flavors to explore when you use The Morning Machine.
✅ You like using technology: As the app is the easiest way to brew using the machine, The Morning Machine is not a good gift for parents or grandparents who prefer to use their machine manually.
❌ You want coffee at the touch of a button: Pod coffee makers are known for being easy to use, but this coffee maker has several settings.
❌ You drink from tall cups: The machine cannot produce coffees which fill a cup larger than 9.5 oz, so you will need to put your supersized coffee cups aside when using it.
❌ You drink lattes: This coffee maker has many great brewing settings and features, but unfortunately, it does not have a milk frother. If you drink lattes or cappuccinos, you’ll need a separate milk frother.
🔎 The Morning Machine could be just what you need to brew a quick, delicious espresso using a smartphone app. It can't steam milk, but the espressos made by this machine have an elevated flavor and come out hot. ★★★★★
If you're looking for a fast and high-quality espresso, The Morning Machine might be the perfect solution for you. This pod coffee machine uses capsules with unique brew profiles tailored to the taste preferences of discerning coffee connoisseurs. Additionally, the accompanying app simplifies the process of adjusting the settings, making it a breeze to customize your coffee just the way you like it.
Features: With its compact design, The Morning Machine offers an elevated coffee experience at home. You can adjust temperature, pressure, and water-to-coffee ratio for the perfect cup, and choose from built-in recipes or the signature Bloom & Brew for maximum extraction and flavor.
Design: To use The Morning Machine, having experience using a smartphone app is important. While the machine has a rotatable wheel that allows you to browse ten pre-set brewing recipes, it is much simpler and faster to customize your recipe using the app. Although this feature may make the machine seem more complex than other single-button coffee makers, it gives you the freedom to make your coffee just the way you like it.
It is worth noting that The Morning Machine does not have a milk frother, so those who enjoy lattes may want to consider other coffee makers or purchase a separate frothing device. If you do decide to use The Morning Machine, be sure to empty the capsule bin every few days, as it can hold up to 8 - 10 capsules.
Performance: The Morning Machine has a quick 20-second lag before pouring coffee, which is impressive when compared to other models we've reviewed. The coffee's temperature and timing depend on the recipe, and our reviewer measured temperatures ranging from 125 - 170 F. Moreover, the machine is incredibly quiet, producing a maximum of 68 dB. If you're a fan of fruity espresso flavors with a thick crema and enjoy trying specialty coffees from smaller roasters, this is the machine for you. However, if you prefer a more straightforward coffee taste, the nuanced flavor might be challenging.
Read more: The Morning Machine review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | The app is packed with great recipes. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Quiet to brew and the coffee is full of flavor. | ★★★★★ |
| Price | A bit pricey so it is best suited to those who want varied brew settings. | ★★★★ |
The best Nespresso coffee maker
✅ You want a sturdy machine: this one is very well built.
✅ You're a beginner: this machine is straightforward.
✅ You want a milky drink: this model has an integrated milk frother.
❌ You're serious about your coffee: the quality can't rival an espresso machine.
❌ You're on a budget: this one is very expensive.
❌ You're short on space: this machine is bulky.
🔎 The Nespresso Vertuo Creatista offers intuitive one-touch brewing and automatic milk frothing, but it’s expensive and bulky. ★★★★★
If you're a fan of capsule coffee machines, you can't do much better than the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista.
Features: This premium stainless-steel machine offers a variety of coffee options. You can create your own milk recipes and select between three milk temperatures and textures. The machine also features six-cup sizes, auto milk, and a Breville steam wand for quality froth. It also features auto cleaning and alerts for cleaning and descaling.
Design: The Vertuo Creatista has a sleek, modern design. However, it takes up much space on your countertops—almost as much as bean-to-cup espresso machines, which says something. The stainless steel finish makes it seem premium and professional, as does the barista-style steam wand.
It's immediately apparent that the design has paid plenty of attention to detail, from the generous finger loop that allows the steam wand to be tilted upwards to the indent for your hand at the base of the removable water container. Nothing is clunky—everything is smooth, sleek, and well-considered.
Performance: Using the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista is effortless. The hardest part of brewing a coffee is choosing your capsule, but then, by sliding the lever on top to the right, the brew head unlocks and lifts. Put a capsule in the slot, push the brew head down on top of it, and slide the lever back into the lock position. All you have to do then is press the button with a cup symbol, and it'll make your coffee. The initial heat-up takes around one minute. After this, it's ready to brew, and it'll make a single espresso in 55 seconds or a double in 75 seconds.
Read our full Nespresso Vertuo Creatista review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Very expensive, premium product | ★★★ |
| Design | Sleek design and good features | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Good quality coffee but can't rival an espresso machine | ★★★★ |
The best coffee maker for customization
✅ You want a variety of coffee options: The Eletta Explore offers 30 standard hot and cold drink options, plus many recipes.
✅ You want a mix of convenience and control: The Eletta Explore offers enough customization to please coffee fans as well as fully automated operation.
✅ You enjoy cold brew coffee: The Eletta Explore can make cold brew coffee, a rare feature in automatic machines.
❌ You don't care about smart features: The app may feel overkill for some users and you could end up paying more for a feature you'll hardly or never use.
❌ You have simple coffee tastes: If you only drink a small selection of coffees or don't need advanced milk frothing options, this machine and its various features and attachments will feel excessive.
🔎 The De'Longhi Eletta Explore is a versatile, user-friendly machine that offers a huge range of hot and cold drinks, intuitive controls, and smart features that make it ideal for households with various coffee preferences and needs. It's expensive, but you won't find much better if you're willing to invest in a high-quality, feature-rich coffee maker. ★★★★
The De'Longhi Eletta Explore promises the best of both worlds—fully automated or completely customizable—albeit for a premium price. It makes 30 standard hot and cold drinks, plus tea, using its hot water spout. The Coffee Link app has a huge range of recipes available.
Design: The De'Longhi Eletta Explore should instantly remind you of the automatic coffee machines you can find in reception areas and office kitchens. It's not the smallest or lightest coffee machine, measuring 10.2 x 17.7 x 15.2 inches and weighing 24.7 lbs, but it is surprisingly narrow for a machine with this much technology and features.
Performance: Using the Eletta Explore is generally straightforward, thanks to the clear instructions on the screen at every step. Once you press Brew, the machine kicks into action, and you'll be guided through making your selected drink via the display.
The coffee produced by the Eletta Explore is consistently good. The machine uses Bean Adapt Technology to optimize the brewing parameters based on the coffee beans. And the milk-frothing capabilities of the Eletta Explore are a highlight because offering both hot and cold milk frothing is rare.
Read our full De'Longhi Eletta Explore review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price and availability | You pay a premium to control the machine on your phone – a convenience and versatility worth paying for but which may feel like overkill | ★★★★ |
| Design | Its shape, finish, display and the smooth way all the parts slot together live up to the machine's premium price | ★★★★½ |
| Performance | Reliable performance with a huge selection of high-quality drink options, although lacks nuance somewhat | ★★★★½ |
The best mini coffee maker
✅ You own a milk frother: The Nespresso Essenza only produces espressos, so you will need your milk frother to get the perfect frothy latte or cappuccino.
✅ You are efficient: There’s nothing difficult about using this Nespresso model, as there are two size options, and you only need to press one button to brew yourself an espresso.
✅ You don’t want to spend much: The machine only costs $179 from Amazon and other retailers, making it one of Nespresso’s most affordable pod machines. That means more money for groceries and other luxuries.
❌ You want to impress guests: While the machine is reliable, the design isn't very impressive. It's so compact that it might go unnoticed in your kitchen.
❌ You drink out of a tall glass or mug: There isn’t much space between the drip tray and dispenser, so if you drink out of tall glasses or mugs, you may have to fork out on a new set.
❌ You want more customisable settings: This coffee machine is as simple as it gets, with just two size settings. If you want to experiment with the size and strength of your coffee, look at a different model.
🔎 The Nespresso Essenza Mini is simple, affordable, and good at producing great-tasting coffee at the touch of a button. It’ll slot into a small space very easily, but you’ll need to invest in a separate milk frother if you drink lattes or other milky coffees ★★★★
The Nespresso Essenza Mini is a great option for a simple, affordable, reliable, and efficient coffee machine. Despite its simplicity, it produces delicious coffee at an impressive speed.
Features: The Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee Machine is a small yet powerful machine with automatic and programmable water quantity control, two cup sizes, and a rapid heating time of just 25 seconds. It's also Nespresso's most compact machine yet, and the removable capsule container and water tank make it easy to use and maintain.
Design: The Essenza Mini is a part of the Original range and boasts a compact design, measuring only 4.3 inches in width and 12.8 inches in depth. While the color options of black, red, and green may not be the most exciting, they offer some discretion if you prefer a machine that blends in with your kitchen décor.
With the Essenza Mini, you can brew an espresso or lungo (larger cup) by pressing one of two buttons. However, the water tank has a capacity of 20.3 oz and will require frequent refilling if you opt for the latter. The bin can hold around five or six pods before it needs emptying. It's worth noting that milk coffee drinkers need to steam or froth their milk separately as there is no milk frother attachment.
Tall mugs or glasses may not fit due to the limited space between the drip tray and the dispenser. However, the drip tray and bin are easy to remove, making general upkeep a breeze.
Performance: Our reviewer has used the Essenza Mini coffee maker as their primary machine for many years now, and they consider it capable and straightforward to use. Moreover, it's also quite durable, as it has withstood daily use for five years without any issues.
However, it's worth noting that to get a full, regular-sized cup of coffee, you need to press the Lungo button twice, and even then, the coffee may require additional hot water or milk to reach the desired strength. This can be inconvenient for some users, as it may weaken the coffee's flavor. Nonetheless, the Essenza Mini remains a great choice for those looking for a reliable, straightforward coffee maker that can withstand daily use.
Read more: Nespresso Essenza Mini review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Compact design with just two size options. | ★★★★ |
| Performance | A capable machine for espressos but the water tank needs refilling regularly. | ★★★★ |
| Value | Inexpensive and good value for a simpler design. | ★★★★★ |
The best pour over coffee maker
✅ You want more than one brewing method: The OXO Brew 12 Cup Coffee Maker offers single-serve and carafe options.
✅ You want a stylish machine: The coffee maker is sleek and modern.
✅ You want something easy to clean: The large and small brew baskets, carafe lid, rainmaker shower head, and drip tray are all removable and dishwasher safe.
❌ You value convenience: The coffee maker doesn't allow water storage, meaning the user must fill the water tank for every brew cycle.
❌ You're on a budget: The OXO Brew 12 Cup Coffee Maker is $299.99.
❌ You want something easy: The coffee maker requires careful attention to details during setup, and the user must adjust the quantity selection accordingly to avoid wasting all the water in the tank for every brew cycle.
🔎 The OXO Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker is perfect for those who want variety in their coffee options. It can brew a single cup or a full 12-cup carafe of coffee and uses regular ground coffee. However, it doesn't allow for water storage and requires precise measurements for each brew. ★★★★½
The OXO Brew 12 Cup Coffee Maker is a stylish appliance with stainless-steel components and a conically shaped water tank. It offers single-serve and carafe options but requires careful attention to details during setup and doesn't allow for water storage. It costs $299.99 and offers good value for those who want variety in their coffee options.
Features: The OXO Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker brews SCA gold-standard coffee for one cup or a carafe, with a fully programmable option up to 24 hours in advance. It has a podless single-serve option, two filter baskets, and a double-wall, vacuum-insulated thermal carafe. The BetterBrew Precision technology controls water temperature and brew cycles for a smooth, consistent taste.
Design: The OXO Brew 12 Cup Coffee Maker is a compact and stylish appliance that weighs 15.32 pounds. It features stainless-steel components on the top and bottom surrounding the conically-shaped water tank, which is not removable. However, the large and small brew baskets, carafe lid, rainmaker shower head, and drip tray are all removable for easy cleaning. The coffee maker has a descaler notification to remove mineral deposits but no water filter. It has two controls on the top front panel and an informative display panel for selecting and adjusting its features.
Performance
The OXO Brew 12 Cup Coffee Maker requires careful attention to details during setup. After unpacking, cleaning, and washing all the parts, the user must fill the water tank and select the brew cycle, which can be either a carafe or a single-serve mug. Remember that the coffee maker uses all the water in the tank for every brew cycle, so adjusting the quantity selection is important.
Once the brewing cycle starts, the machine is relatively quiet, with a beep signaling when the cycle is complete. Cleaning is also relatively easy, with most parts being dishwasher safe. The machine also has a descaling indicator that will appear on the display panel when it's time to clean the machine.
Read more: OXO Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Expensive, but worth it. Easily available. | ★★★★ |
| Design | Looks good, but water tank isn't removable. | ★★★★½ |
| Performance | Makes the perfect cup/carafe of coffee. | ★★★★★ |
The best K-Cup coffee maker
✅ You’re short on space: The Keurig K-Supreme Smart Coffee Maker takes up little space with its water tank that can be placed on the back or the side.
✅ You’re particular about temperature or taste: This coffee maker has five strengths and six temperature settings, making it easy to get your brew exactly how you like it.
✅You want your machine to deal with the guesswork: The BrewID feature automatically recognizes K-cups and adjusts the settings to ensure you get the optimal brew.
❌ You don’t want to connect it to the Wi-Fi: The app won’t work if you don’t hook the coffee machine to your home’s Wi-Fi connection.
❌ You need more than a single serve: This Keurig model can only deal with one hot cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate at a time, so if you have plans to make two or more at once, this won’t be a match.
❌ You want it to look premium: This coffee maker has a plastic exterior and comes in black, white, and gray.
🔎 The Keurig K-Supreme Smart Coffee Maker is quick to brew a drink and makes it easy to adjust the temperature and strength of your coffee, but it must be connected to Wi-Fi for the smart features to work. ★★★★
Check out the Keurig K-Supreme Smart Coffee Maker for a highly customizable brew. This newcomer is impressive because it follows a line of very basic Keurig models. You can fiddle with the settings for brew strength and water temperature and even connect to your Wi-Fi network to adjust your coffee settings from the sofa.
Features: The Keurig K-Supreme SMART brewer uses BrewID technology to customize brew settings for a specific K-Cup pod, with five strength and six temperature settings to personalize your cup. Multistream technology and brew-over-ice features enhance the flavor, and Wi-Fi connectivity enables scheduling and customization via the Keurig app.
Design: This coffee maker is a single-serve design with a dual-position water tank and raised screen, which makes it quite compact and worthy of even a cramped kitchen. It’s also lightweight, making it easy to transport around. We also found it easy to use, as there's a handle attached to the 66-ounce plastic water tank and a detailed digital control panel and menu.
This menu will let you select from five strength and six temperature settings, making it highly customizable. For those who take their coffee over ice, there’s an option for that, too. It recognizes K-Cups.
Our reviewer found that the app is a bit limited. Inserting a pod and pressing start would be just as quick as pre-loading it. The coffee maker must also be connected to Wi-Fi.
Performance: During our tests, the Keurig K-Supreme Smart Coffee Maker quickly selected the best settings using its BrewID feature and delivered hot, flavorful coffee, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and chai lattes. It's hard to fault its performance, although the app was lackluster.
Price: At $180, this Keurig model is one of the most expensive single-serve machines made by the brand. However, it offers far more than those that came before it, and it performs very well, even if the app leaves a little to be desired.
Read our full Keurig K-Supreme SMART Coffee Maker review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Expensive for a Keurig model but good compared to others. | ★★★★★ |
| Design | A great bunch of features and adjustable settings. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Performs well but the app is just as quick as pressing start. | ★★★★ |
How we test the best coffee makers for this guide
We enjoy testing coffee makers at Top Ten Reviews. Our team regularly savors Americanos, espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes, so we have a good understanding of what tastes delicious. Through our thorough testing process, we've identified key factors to consider when choosing a quality coffee maker.
Our experts spend a few weeks testing each coffee maker we review. This allows us to set up the machine, clean it before use, and choose different types of coffee to gauge performance. During testing, we focus on factors such as ease of set-up, machine design and features, cleaning and maintenance, and, most importantly, the taste of the coffee.
In cases where we can continue using the coffee maker beyond a few weeks, we assess its longevity. This includes evaluating the ease of descaling the machine if needed – the ultimate test of value for money.
Price and availability: We evaluate the coffee maker's price, features, performance, and durability. We also check availability in retail and online platforms, warranty, and customer support accessibility.
First Impressions & Setup: We evaluate the coffee maker's packaging and setup process, including protection during transit, components included, clarity of instructions, and ease of installation.
Design: We evaluate the coffee maker's design, size, construction, and special features. We also consider aesthetics, functionality, capacity, materials, and additional convenience-enhancing attributes.
Performance: We assess the coffee maker's ability to consistently brew quality coffee, its speed and efficiency, and its durability and longevity.
Care & Maintenance: When evaluating the coffee maker, we consider ease of cleaning, descaling, and maintenance needs. We also assess its durability, reliability, and long-term performance.
Learn more about how we test coffee makers, appliances, and yard tools.
How to choose the best coffee maker
When buying a coffee maker, you should consider many features and prices to find the best deal.
The type of coffee you want is of great importance. Do you want a simple drip filter-style coffee to pour from the jug when needed? Or do you also need a machine that offers the option to use pods for quick espresso-style coffee? You'll pay more for multi-feature models that can do both, but then they can cater to the needs of more people, making them ideal for guests and family, too. It's amazing what modern coffee makers are capable of.
Do you want to make your coffee from grounds or beans? A built-in grinder model is a great idea if you prefer to buy whole beans and grind them yourself. Sure, you may save money by buying a separate grinder, but take into account transferring the coffee and the mess and clean-up that could mean, too. Pre-ground coffee can also go stale in its packaging much quicker than grinding the beans freshly each time.
Size is important, as you may want a carafe that lets you share with others; in that case, be sure you also have a good heating plate to ensure as little coffee goes to waste as possible by going cold. If you want coffee fast, you may want a smaller option that gets you a single cup quickest.
Other features you may want to look out for include a timer for early morning coffee ready when you wake, auto-pause to get you coffee mid-brew, a steam wand to froth hot milk, strength controls, easy clean features, and audible signals so you know when your coffee is ready.
Coffee maker FAQs
How much do the best coffee makers cost?
Good-quality home coffee makers can cost from $20 to more than $200, but price alone does not guarantee exceptional quality. Even modestly priced coffee makers intended for home use can produce excellent coffee and offer enough features to satisfy the most discerning coffee aficionado.
It's worth considering costs when choosing between a pod machine and one that uses ground coffee or whole beans. Pods can be quite pricey over time, and buying them becomes an ongoing purchase, so it all mounts up. Plus, there's the fuss of recycling the empty coffee capsules afterwards, whereas coffee grounds can be easily thrown into the garden for composting - another green bonus.
How do coffee makers work?
Making coffee is fairly straightforward when it comes to filter-based drip coffee machines. You either begin with ground coffee or use machines with built-in grinders for coffee beans.
You will also need to add water to the reservoir, which is then heated by the coffee maker before slowly being fed through the ground coffee. Some machines let you vary this drip rate, going slower to create a stronger blend.
You see the coffee liquid coming out into your jug/carafe, which usually sits on a hot plate, to ensure your coffee stays warm for as long as possible.
In the case of pod machines, it's a similar process only at high pressure, with the espresso-style coffee shots coming from the disposable pod, which will be discarded into a built-in compartment that also needs emptying. Most coffee companies nowadays offer subscription-style services for you to easily re-order your pods.
Some machines also feature steam wands that fire out hot pressurized steam, which can heat milk and froth it as needed to create milky drinks like lattes.
How do I keep my coffee maker clean?
The main areas that need cleaning on your coffee maker are the jug, the coffee compartment, and the water reservoir. While the jug and the water reservoir can usually be removed, and a soapy wash in the sink is enough, the coffee area can be different.
Some machines let you remove the coffee feed area so you can tap the grounds out into a bin or compost before giving it a rinse and placing it back in. Some machines are less simple and use disposable filters that need to be removed, often meaning the machine may need a clean-out with a brush, too.
Some of the best coffee makers feature easy-clean options worth looking out for. These can make your life much easier in the long term and ensure you have the best-tasting coffee from a machine, with only fresh coffee coming through each time.
