Best Coffee Makers: Top 7 Brands Most Recommended By Experts

There’s nothing more important in the morning than a reliable coffee maker to ensure you have the java you need to get your day off on the right foot. With an array of options that can bewilder even the most seasoned coffee enthusiast, it can often be difficult to pick out just the right machine to keep you caffeinated. From basic drip machines to devices only a seasoned barista could figure out, we have researched the best coffee makers to elevate your morning routine.

We’ve all heard about the health benefits of drinking coffee, but there’s a sweet spot on how much you should consume to help you live longer. A recent study found drinking several cups of coffee daily could lower your risk of heart disease and increase your life span. Researchers found those who enjoyed two to three cups had a 10 to 15 percent lower risk of developing heart issues than those who never drank coffee at all.

That’s not all! There are countless more positives to drinking coffee. These include fighting frailty in old age, elevating brain performance, a lower risk of kidney damage, and more! So, not only are you getting your morning energy boost, but you are boosting your overall health as well.

Whether you drink a few cups or a whole pot, it’s a good idea to pre-plan before making your purchase. Consider how much counter space you have and your budget. Our curated list of the best coffee makers of all sizes and price points is below. Let us know your favorite machine in the comments.

The List: Best Coffee Makers, According to Experts

 

1. OXO Brew 8-cup

This model is certified by The Specialty Coffee Association and is high on many lists, including ours. Serious Eats says it can “finish a brew cycle in under six minutes (both of which help to ensure consistently great coffee time after time).” In addition, “it has a built-in bloom cycle, which saturates the grounds with some of the brewing water to promote even extraction.”

Tech Gear Lab says, “The Oxo Brew 8-cup coffee maker takes the hassle out of brewing pour-over quality coffee. It also increases the consistency of the result by removing imperfect, under-caffeinated us from the equation. It is, in fact, one of the most consistent drip brewers we’ve tested, resulting in an impressively high-quality cup. It doesn’t hurt that the design is sleek and easy to use, offering to make a single cup for a quick pick-me-up and eight cups to please a crowd or get you through that next deadline.”

Homes and Gardens writes, “The brewing process is extraordinarily simple, just indicate brew size and power on, and you’ll have one of the best cups of drip coffee you’ve ever tasted. And if you want just a single cup, OXO incorporates an attachment that makes it simple to make single-serve coffee without pods. Once brewing is complete, OXO nixes the hot plate for a leak-proof double-wall, vacuum-insulated thermal carafe that keeps your coffee’s temperature for hours.”

2. Breville Precision Brewer

Forbes says this is the best coffee maker if you like to customize your morning brew. “This high-end model boasts a beautiful stainless steel exterior and six brewing modes, which include Gold Cup, Fast, Strong Brew, Iced Coffee, Cold Brew, and My Brew, a custom setting that lets you customize bloom, water temperature, brew time, and more. The machine includes both flat-bottom and cone-style filter baskets, and it has a 12-cup stainless steel carafe to keep your java hot until you’re ready to drink it.”

“Traditionally, that automated brew process has limited your ability to control crucial factors that influence your coffee’s flavor profile and texture. Not so with the Breville Precision Brewer,” according to Tech Gear Lab. “Its many adjustable settings let you set the water temperature and flow rate and allow you to pre-infuse the grounds, enhancing the flavor extraction process. All this power comes at a high price, and you have to put in time to learn how the settings work and to know which ones are right for your tastes.”

“This drip coffee maker with a thermal carafe lives up to its name as a precision brewer by brewing coffee at exactly the right temperature in the right amount of time established by the Specialty Coffee Association,” according to Good Housekeeping. “It made 12 cups of hot coffee in about eight and a half minutes, which was quick compared to others we tested, and the coffee it produces was among the highest scoring for taste. Coffee snobs will love that the water flow and bloom time can each be adjusted.”

3. BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker

Good Housekeeping was impressed with this lower-priced choice from Black and Decker, that scored well for brew time and temperature. “It’s fairly simple compared to other coffee makers, but that also makes it easy to use. While it doesn’t have as many features as some pricier coffee makers, it has a digital display, a 24-hour auto-brew feature, and a keep warm function, which we found kept the coffee warm for the entire two-hour period in our tests. It brews up to 12 cups of coffee and if you want to have a cup immediately, the sneak-a-cup feature allows you to snag a cup before it’s done brewing without making a mess.”

If you want a budget-friendly option, USA Today recommends this coffee maker. “It falls on the lower end of the price range for drip coffee makers, but it brews a tasty pot and has some useful features that make it a convenient pick for your kitchen.”

“This super affordable model is simple all around: from programming to brewing and cleaning,” writes Food Network. “Use auto brew for easy mornings: Sneak a cup before the pot is full and rely on the automatic 2-hour shut off for peace of mind.”

4. Technivorm Moccamaster

The Technivorm Moccamaster is pricey, but experts say it’s worth the premium if you want to invest in the best equipment out there. Suyog Mody, founder of Driftaway Coffee explains to New York Magazine, “It has stable temperature control and even brewing. I’ve been using it daily for the past three-plus years with zero issues. It’s just no fuss. And honestly, it looks good on the kitchen counter.”

USA Today agrees saying, “The Moccamaster continues to rank highest in our taste tests—and it also fills a pot quickly. We also like that the Moccamaster’s heating element maintains the coffee between 175ºF and 185ºF, ensuring it won’t burn.”

Homes and Gardens says, “This is more expensive than some models, but worth it.” Adding, “It makes a delicate, full-bodied brew every single time.”

5. Café Signature Specialty Coffee Maker by GE

“When connected to Wi-Fi, this coffee maker can be controlled through GE’s SmartHQ app to schedule automatic brewing times,” according to USA Today.  “Alternatively, it can pair with Google Assistant or Alexa so you can voice-activate your brewer. In testing, we were impressed by its ability to brew quality cups of coffee within minutes, which is faster than the average makers we’ve tested. It can brew up to 10 cups and stays warm throughout the day.”

Good Housekeeping says, “It was among the highest-scoring coffee makers in our taste test, producing a cup that testers thought was full-bodied with a pleasant aroma and lack of bitterness. The thermal carafe kept coffee warm for the majority of the two-hour test period. A glass carafe option is available as well.”

Homes and Gardens agrees saying, “The Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker is ideal for people who have discriminating taste. If you’re looking for the best coffee maker that would look great on the kitchen countertop and is also SCA Gold Cup Certified, this definitely fits the bill. It’s also a good option for people who like choice since there are 4 brew strengths and the temperature can be adjusted by 20 degrees. Finally, those who like to program the best drip coffee makers and control it via smartphone will also appreciate the coffee maker’s features. ”

6. Bonavita Connoisseur 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker

New York Magazine says, “This model might not be as full-featured as some of the other options on this list — or on the market in general — but the experts recommend it over all others due to its approachable price point, ease of use, and most of all, its reliability…The Connoisseur also creates a very smooth brew due to its flat-bottomed basket (where the grounds go) and shower-like spout, both of which ensure consistent water distribution and extraction.”

“With fewer parts than other models we’ve tested, the Bonavita Connoisseur is freakishly easy to assemble,” according to USA Today. “Once it’s up and running, it can brew up to eight cups of coffee—impressive considering it has a small footprint. It also brews a delicious cup to rival the coffee shop. Its powerful heater can quickly reach the optimal water temperature for brewing and distribute water evenly over the coffee grounds.”

“The Bonavita brewer does a great job retaining a steady temperature during the entire brew cycle, [and] its shower head evenly distributes water on the whole bed of coffee grounds,” Coffee shop ownerMarco Suarez, told NBC News. “The carafe lid and filter basket are dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up, according to the brand.”

7. Breville Bambino Plus

Food Network calls this the best espresso machine. “If you want, you can adjust the espresso settings for a shorter or longer cupful. While you have to set a pitcher of milk beneath the steam wand and turn on the frother, you don’t have to hold or swirl the pitcher or determine when to stop frothing. The frothing results are truly impressive and you can adjust the temperature and the texture of your foam.”

“It’s is small enough to not take over your countertop but it has almost everything to give you barista-style coffee,” states Tech Radar. “Although it’s worth noting, that, unlike some espresso machines, it can only brew one shot at a time and it needs a good clean after every use.”

Tech Gear Lab writes,” If you live for latte and cappuccino breaks, the Breville Bambino Plus includes the best semi-automatic milk frother of any espresso machine we’ve tested. Learning to use a steaming wand can feel so complicated that it’s not worth trying — not so with this model. Fill a pitcher with milk, set it under the steam wand, choose the temperature and texture you desire, and let the Bambino Plus do the work.”

You may also be interested in:

• Best Drip Coffee Makers
• Best Single-Serve Coffee Makers
• Best Espresso Machines
• Best French Press Coffee Makers

Sources:

• New York Magazine
• Forbes
• Good Housekeeping
• CNN
• Insider
• NBC News
• Homes and Gardens
• Tech Radar
• Food Network
• Tech Gear Lab
• USA Today
• Serious Eats
• Homes and Gardens

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.