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Last updated on Oct 08, 2020

The Best Coffee Makers

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For many, a good cup of coffee is a ritualistic start to their day, so the cup they brew should be a good one. Just like the right beans or grinder, finding the right coffee maker is an essential part of your morning experience. Different types of coffee drinkers desire various features out of their coffee makers. For instance, a black coffee drinker may not need all of the bells and whistles from a coffee maker that a latte or mocha drinker may need. To help you find the right one for your needs, we rounded up the best coffee makers for every type of coffee enthusiast.

The Best Coffee Makers 

The Best Coffee Makers: Key Features

Model CupsBrew timeProgrammableBrew basket/filter shape
Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker149 minutesYesCone
Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker107 minutesYesCone
Hario Glass Technica Syphon Coffee Maker57 minutes  NoRound
SHARDOR Drip Coffee Maker10 9 minutes YesCone
iMiGoo Single Serve Coffee Maker 1 5 minutes NoFlat
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker35 minutesNoFlat

Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker 

This is a premium programmable coffee maker that will satisfy a large household of coffee lovers without sacrificing brewing quality. 

Best for Large Households
Cuisinart

Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker

Why we chose it

Sleek design

This coffee maker is large enough to host 14 cups of coffee without taking up too much counter space. Made of premium stainless steel, the coffee maker will last for years no matter how often you use it. Despite its high-end look, the maker is affordable and comes with a reusable coffee filter, saving you money on disposable filters. It also has a distinct beep to let you know your coffee is ready, but it’s not so loud that it will annoy you in the morning. 

Perfect temperature brew process

This machine features a unique temperature technology that allows consumers to enjoy a perfectly hot cup of coffee without losing its flavor. This coffee maker keeps your coffee at the perfect temperature for four hours, so if you are the first one up in the morning, your partner or roommate won’t wake up to cold or lukewarm coffee with a burnt or bitter taste. 

Points to consider

Warming plate may chip

While the Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker does an excellent job of keeping your coffee at the perfect temperature, some may experience issues with the warming plate chipping from heat damage. A minor cosmetic issue that most will not experience, it does not affect the taste of the coffee, but it is worth noting.

May slow down if not cleaned regularly

This coffee maker is an excellent choice for those with many coffee drinkers in the house. However, making that much coffee so frequently may cause the system to slow down a little bit. This is an easy fix, though. Simply clean out the coffee maker and run a brew of vinegar and hot water; after that, you will be back to business as usual. 

Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker 

This is a high-end coffee maker worth the investment if you are someone who enjoys a luxury cup of coffee in the morning. 

Best for a Luxury Experience
Ninja

Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker

Why we chose it

Modern design with easy-to-use features

If you are a coffee connoisseur and you want to bring your high standards home with you, then this is the coffee maker for you. The Ninja Speciality Coffee Maker does not skimp on quality, bringing you everything you need to elevate your daily caffeine indulgence. Many users may be intimidated by its design at first, but not to worry. While it is a luxury coffee maker, it is still easy to use, making it great for beginners as well as seasoned coffee drinkers.

Drip coffee, lattes, and more

Not only is this machine easy to use, but it also includes more features than a standard drip coffee maker. It features a milk frother and espresso brewing capabilities, so you can skip the coffee shop and make your favorite latte or cappuccino at home. The settings also allow you to brew directly into your coffee cup or a traditional carafe. 

Points to consider

More water required than you might think

This is an elite coffee maker, but with all the settings, some users have noticed that the brewing process will steam out more water than they may be used to. This is a simple fix and not an unusual problem with a coffee maker, but consumers will want to be aware of this before they brew their first cup of coffee. Simply pour in a little more water than you may think you need, that way you’ll have the perfect amount for your morning fix every time. 

Not for those who enjoy a simple brew

This is an elite coffee maker that is an investment for those who enjoy making a lot of different types of coffee drinks, like lattes, cappuccinos, iced coffee, and more! However, while these features are great, those who just want a cup of drip coffee may find themselves merely paying for the unique design. This machine makes an excellent cup of drip coffee, but if that is all you want, then you may be better off picking a more affordable option. 

Hario Glass Technica Syphon Coffee Maker 

This unique coffee maker will turn heads with its beautiful design. 

Best for a Hands-On Experience
Hario

Hario Glass Technica Syphon Coffee Maker

Why we chose it 

Premium taste

This is one of the most uniquely designed coffee makers on the market. This Japanese-style coffee maker is ideal for those looking for a high-quality coffee experience. While the design may intimidate, it is easy enough to use and the final product never disappoints. This coffee maker’s technology brings out all of the flavors of the beans so that it never tastes bitter or burnt.

Craftsmanship at home

This coffee maker allows users to become coffee-making craftsmen from the comfort of their own homes. For the experienced homebrewer looking for a way to amp up their brewing experience and have a uniquely designed coffee maker in their kitchen — no need to look any further. The quality of the coffee that this machine produces goes far beyond its more traditional competitors. 

Points to consider

Five-cup capacity

This is an ideal machine for single households or couples due to the five-cup capacity, but it may not be enough for larger households. However, for those that value quality over quantity, you certainly cannot go wrong with this coffee maker. It will keep you caffeinated all day long while bringing out the best flavors possible.

Not the most practical

This coffee maker is a great choice for seasoned home baristas. While exquisite, the coffee maker requires a bit of maintenance. With the compartments mostly made of glass, several pieces will need to be washed regularly. For those who hate doing the dishes, this may be frustrating. However, if you are willing to set that aside, you could not have a more beautiful kitchen appliance to help you get through the day. 

SHARDOR Drip Coffee Maker 

This coffee maker is a no fuss, affordable option with some convenient high-end features. 

Best for Touchscreen Lovers
SHARDOR

SHARDOR Drip Coffee Maker

Why we chose it

Useful high-end touches

This sleek coffee maker offers a touchscreen feature that makes the brewing process very easy. It is also programmable, so you do not have to sacrifice the features you love from a more expensive coffee maker when opting for this affordable option. The machine offers just the right amount of luxury to make you feel like your drip coffee came straight from your favorite coffee house. Its compact design is also perfect for a kitchen of any size!

Simplicity is key

What this machine lacks in pizazz, it makes up for in practicality. It can make up to 10 cups of coffee at a time and has a solid reputation for being consistently high performing. You can also program it the night before, so even if you oversleep, your morning coffee will be there for you, shaving precious minutes off of your morning routine.

Points to consider

Practical isn’t always best

For seasoned coffee drinkers looking for the perfect latte or cappuccino, this drip coffee maker will not provide the desired results. If you are craving a specialty coffee drink, then you should consider some of the other options on this list. While this coffee maker can make a mean iced coffee, it does not provide all the options some more experienced homebrewers may want.

May slow down if not cleaned regularly

Using this coffee maker every day can slow it down if it isn’t cleaned regularly. If you notice your coffee maker starting to slow down, it’s always recommended to clean it. Most of the time, that does the trick, and your coffee maker will be back to normal in no time! 

iMiGoo Single Serve Coffee Maker 

This portable coffee maker is great for anyone on the go.

Best for On-the-Go Individuals
iMiGoo

iMiGoo Single Serve Coffee Maker

Why we chose it

Portable and easy

This portable coffee maker is small enough to carry anywhere, and it produces coffee powerful enough to keep you going all day long. The basic design makes it easy to use, and in just minutes, you will have your delicious cup of coffee.

Stylish, compact design

Not only is this portable coffee maker convenient, but it is cute! The sleek white design resembles a reusable water bottle. It is small enough to fit into a purse or backpack, and its tight seal ensures it won’t make a mess. 

Points to consider

It’s not a travel cup

The only thing that could make this coffee maker better is if it was also a travel cup. Sadly, you will need to have a coffee cup on hand to pour your fresh brew into before you can enjoy it. While this probably won’t be a dealbreaker for many, it is something to consider if you find yourself frequently on the go.

Coffee grinds may sneak in

While this coffee maker is great for so many practical reasons, it may not produce the most smooth cup of coffee. The coffee you make will taste great, but it may have a few coffee grounds floating around in it. Due to the compact nature of the product, this is not surprising. However, it beats having no coffee on the go or being late because you cannot live without your morning cup. 

AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker 

This manual coffee maker is ideal for those who love the great outdoors.

Best for Camping and Travel
AeroPress

AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker

Why we chose it

Simple design

This coffee maker is perfect for camping trips. While this is a manual coffee maker, it does not take long to configure and is reasonably straightforward to use. While users may not be used to having to be so hands-on with their coffee-making experience, the AeroPress makes it easy to adjust and get the perfect brew every time! It also comes with a convenient carrying case, so you can easily keep track of its parts and not have to worry about anything getting damaged on the road.

Brews more than you might think

Most portable machines like this can only brew one cup at a time. However, this one can brew up to three cups of coffee in one go. This may not be as much coffee as your at-home coffee maker, but it still offers more coffee-producing abilities than many other travel brewing machines. 

Points to consider

Not ideal for day-to-day

While this coffee maker is great for traveling, it is not ideal for making daily coffee as it requires more hands-on work than automatic coffee makers. However, if you are an avid traveler and love to go camping or you don’t like hotel coffee, then this is a great addition to your travel bag.

Cleaning can be a challenge

Users may find that this machine’s various parts make it more challenging to clean than other coffee makers. For those that are used to traveling and camping, this may not be an issue as that typically comes with the territory. However, it might be a dealbreaker for some users. 

Guide to Coffee Makers

The right coffee maker for you will depend on your personal preferences, lifestyle, number of people in your household and budget. Before you commit to one, in particular, consider asking yourself the questions below to guide your decision-making process.

How often will you be brewing coffee, and how many people will you be brewing for?

Finding the perfect coffee maker goes beyond what it can offer you in the fancy features department. When on the hunt for the ideal coffee maker, it is essential to make sure you keep in mind the coffee maker’s capacity and brewing power. Try to consider how often you will be using your coffee maker and how many people in your household drink coffee. There is no sense in getting a coffee maker that makes a max of 5 cups when you have multiple coffee lovers under the same roof.

How much counter space do you have to give your machine?

While you may have your eye on the perfect coffee maker for you as far as capabilities go, it is also important not to forget how much counter space your appliance will require. Be sure to take a look at the machine’s measurements and double-check with the space you have designated for your machine. 

Do you exclusively drink drip coffee, or do you like to experiment frequently with other coffee drinks?

Having a versatile coffee maker can be a major plus for many. However, if you find yourself drinking drip coffee exclusively at home, it may be best not to opt for a machine that goes beyond what you need it for. More is not always better. Finding an option that will meet your needs will save you money in the long run, so you aren’t paying for features you know you will never practically use. 

How tech-savvy are you? Do you need something more straightforward, or can you figure out new systems quickly? 

There is nothing worse than being sold on a machine with all these beautiful functionalities, getting it home, and then realizing you have no idea how to use it. While most machines come with instruction manuals and there is a multitude of YouTube tutorials for just about anything these days, you want to ensure your device is not a headache to use. 

About the Authors

The Reviews.com staff is dedicated to providing you with all the deep-dive details. Our writers, researchers, and editors came together from Charlotte, Seattle, San Juan, Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, and Chicago to put this review together.