The ideal water temperature range is between 197 degrees Fahrenheit (92 degrees Celsius) and 205 degrees Fahrenheit (96 degrees Celsius). Evaluating the performance of a coffee maker is trickier than it might sound. A cheap coffee machine can quickly turn expensive if maintenance costs aren’t factored in. Programmable timers and auto-cleaning functions are great quality of life additions for long-term use and can be worth paying a premium for. While you’re at it, you will also want to consider if the coffee machine fits your kitchen counter. However, if you prefer a larger carriage for all-day drinking caffeine, or have a large household of coffee drinkers, a larger machine would be a better fit.
We also love a good cold glass of cold brew in the afternoon to get us through the day. The Frieling maintained consistent brewing temperatures, thanks to its strong insulation. While brewing itself is straightforward, users will achieve better results if they use the brand’s single-sheet filters, which also take some time to master.
Bialetti Moka Express Espresso Maker
These top-rated drip coffee makers feature an automatic shutoff, and some have more advanced features like a removable reservoir and an indicator to tell you when cleaning is needed. Your trusted guide in the world of coffee machines and brewing excellence. If you enjoy classic hot coffee, a drip coffee maker from brands like Cuisinart or BUNN is a safe, reliable choice. Regular cleaning not only extends the life of your cold brew coffee maker but ensures smooth, great-tasting coffee with every batch. Monthly, run a descaling cycle using a descaling solution designed for drip coffee makers to remove mineral buildup.
I’ve been using one in my weekend house for the past year, and it’s changed my mind about what affordable coffee makers can achieve. Versatile coffee maker with both ground coffee and K-Cup compatibility, featuring multiple brew styles. Premium automatic coffee machine with Professional Aroma Grinder and advanced milk system. Smart automatic coffee machine with app control and LatteCrema milk system.
What to consider when buying a coffee maker
Both models offer some manual control over the brewing process by allowing you to open or close the filter basket, and both also produce well-rounded, nuanced, high-quality cups, brewing a full pot quickly. In our tests to determine the best drip coffee maker, we found that the coffee was pleasant and much better than what we made with some of the vegas casino app download apk competitors. But if you’re looking for an espresso machine, a coffee grinder, pour-over gear, and more, we have other recommendations, too. Dual coffee makers are rated based on both drip and pod coffee maker criteria. Because convenience is key for these machines, we test how quickly each model produces a first cup and how quickly subsequent cups are brewed.
Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper
For coffee lovers who crave fresh, perfectly brewed drip coffee, the Breville Grind Control is a top contender among the best coffee makers for home use in 2025. If you’re serious about brewing cafe-quality coffee at home, the Breville Barista Express is one of the best coffee makers for home use in 2025. From single serve coffee makers to cold brew coffee makers, every home barista has unique needs. I’ve tested a number of leading espresso machines from Smeg and KitchenAid, as well as other brewing methods such as the AeroPress.
Customizations and features
We also score each pod machine based on how much control you have over the size and strength of your coffee. We also evaluate handle comfort and balance, how easy the carafe is to pour from, and whether it dribbles or drips when you pour. We assess their convenience in terms of how easy it is to fill the reservoir, place the filter, read markings on the machine, and operate and clean it. When it comes to pod coffee, the Ninja DualBrew Pro 12-Cup CFP301 received an excellent score for first cup speed, and you can expect subsequent cups to be quick and consistently sized as well. In terms of making a full pot of coffee, it earns a very good convenience score and brews a full pot in 6 minutes. It has six temperature settings to help dial your brew closer to your favored setting, plus you can adjust your brew strength, perhaps allowing a slightly weaker brew for your afternoon pick-me-up.
Our Picks
Regular cleaning helps keep your Cuisinart DCC-1200 running smoothly and ensures the best coffee flavor. During testing, the DCC-1200 produced flavorful, balanced coffee with minimal bitterness. Descale the machine every 3–6 months with a Keurig-approved descaling solution to remove mineral buildup and maintain performance. If you want quick, tasty coffee without fuss, the Keurig K-Elite delivers dependable performance day after day.
Keurig K-Mini Mate (K
It’s pretty versatile, and we appreciated that it could make brewed coffee and espresso. A scanner in the machine reads the information printed on the pod’s packaging and brews with the ideal amount of water. The grinders are never as precise as standalone ones, and they’re usually more expensive than buying a good coffee maker and grinder separately. It’s the ideal brewer for pour-over fans who want a fast, well-balanced cup, and it’s very affordable. The machine heats the steam wand to the ideal temperature for milk, and yes, you can even customize how dense you want your foam. And you can’t pull another one immediately after steaming milk because the machine will be too hot.
The machine will start by asking the roast level of your coffee beans (light, medium or dark) and volume of coffee you’d like to make, then will advise the weight of the grounds you need to add to the filter basket. As the makers of this machine advise using speciality pods, I then tried Gesha pods from Colonna Coffee and noticed the crema was much thicker, and the coffee had a pleasant touch of acidity. I began by using standard Nespresso-compatible pods, and the espresso was good – hot and rich in flavour, with a thin but glossy crema. The handle around the water tank lid makes it easy to carry to and from the sink, reducing the risk of spillages.
If all of this seems a bit overwhelming, we’ve tried to simplify the category a bit and help you decide on which type of coffee maker you should buy. I use a coffee sifter called Kruve to see how consistent the coffee grounds are in size and texture, and we also test coffee grinders for static created. This involves testing the variety of grind sizes available, and how suitable this is for the type of coffee maker you’re using. Likewise, if the coffee is not hot enough, you won’t get a fully developed flavor and your coffee will be weak and acidic.
No matter what you choose, the results with Nespresso are always consistent and exceptional. Some just want the shot with an excellent crema that’s done with the push of a button. With 20+ recipes (espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, and more), user profiles, and automatic rinse/clean prompts, it delivers high versatility. Even with all of its bells and whistles, it’s still user-friendly, even for beginner coffee connoisseurs. Even though it is an expensive machine, it’s cheaper than the next Breville on our list. We also looked at other special features, such as programming, bloom functions, and filtration.
Best pour-over coffee maker
We also wanted to see how easy it was to set up, use, maintain, and clean, since many espresso machines involve processes like tamping shots. Since this is a high-ticket item, we wanted to ensure that each machine was easy to set up, especially when pulling shots and frothing milk for hot coffee drinks. After testing all kinds of coffee machines over the years, we landed on the Technivorm Moccamaster as our top pick for standard drip coffee. It’s not worth buying a coffee maker that can’t hit that temperature mark and maintain it throughout the brewing process. Excellent drip coffee makers have showerheads with lots of holes. When using a manual coffee maker, like a pour-over setup, you have total control over how hot the water is and how long it takes you to brew.
Grinding them just prior to use with a burr grinder will ensure that the coffee is ground evenly, resulting in coffee that is flavorful and balanced. And the paper filters used with our pour-over picks reduce residue, resulting in a cleaner-tasting cup, compared with coffee made in a French press. Though getting the most out of your beans is important no matter how you drink your coffee, it’s especially important for those who drink their coffee black.
- It uses Nespresso’s wide range of coffee pods, giving you access to a variety of flavors and intensities.
- The Velocity Brew features a simple, no-frills design focused on efficiency and consistent brewing.
- Monthly, run a descaling cycle using a descaling solution designed for drip coffee makers to remove mineral buildup.
- Regular maintenance prevents clogs and keeps your coffee maker brewing smoothly.
Find the right coffee maker for your needs
Its thermal stainless steel carafe keeps coffee hot for hours without compromising taste. In our testing, the Grind Control consistently brewed flavorful, balanced cups with minimal bitterness or acidity. Use the cleaning brush to clear coffee grounds from the grinder burrs. Weekly, clean the water tank and drip tray with warm water and mild soap. Many users also praise its long-term performance, calling it the most reliable coffee maker brand they’ve owned. It was easy to clean, and the build quality felt premium—no cheap parts or plastic vibes here.
But some people love Keurig, and we’ve got a dedicated best Keurig coffee maker guide just for those people. This superpowered brewer offers pro-level specs, but reviewer Pete didn’t love the grinder. Cheap and plasticky the Stilosa may be, but we found that it’s capable of making a mean cup of coffee. Its smart interface is what sets it apart, with different user profiles allowing you to interact with the machine depending on everything from your go-to drink to the time of day. Smeg teamed up with La Pavoni, makers of the original espresso machine, to create the EMC02.
- You may also find that the taste of the coffee produced differs depending on filter type and that you prefer one over the other.
- During testing, the DCC-1200 produced flavorful, balanced coffee with minimal bitterness.
- They are also pricier than our other top drip coffee maker pick from OXO.
- The plastic parts feel flimsier and the glass thinner than more expensive coffee makers on our list.
- In reality, it’s one of the most classic and authentic ways to brew, which is why it’s so popular with true enthusiasts.
- If your machine has a built-in grinder, using whole beans ensures freshness and better taste.
Finding the best coffee machine 2025 has to offer can transform your morning routine from a mundane task into a delightful ritual. If your machine has a built-in grinder, using whole beans ensures freshness and better taste. Espresso machines need finely ground beans to extract rich flavor under pressure. To keep your coffee tasting fresh and your machine working well, clean removable parts after each use.
If you want to create a range of milk-based espresso drinks, you should opt for something with a separate steam wand. Its in-built milk frothing is also up to scratch if you enjoy a frothy coffee, although it’ll never rival a hand-steamed latte. Instead, consider the number of grind settings on any included grinders, as a quality grinder should allow for plenty of customization. Every drip machine within this guide is SCA-certified, including the Breville Luxe Brewer and the more affordable OXO Brew 8-Cup.
The Rancilio Silvia is beautiful and well-suited to coffee enthusiasts who want to mod their own machine, but user-friendly it is not. It’s certainly one of the most premium appliances we’ve tested in some time, and ideal for those on a large budget who enjoy a high-tech setup. This coffee maker is niche, but ideal for travel, and it’s also one of the cheapest and most space-efficient ways of making homemade coffee out there. The Wacaco Minipresso GR2 created very realistic espresso using just the pressure that’s created by pressing down a valve on the side of the machine.
There’s a hot plate to keep your coffee at the optimum temperature for up to 30 minutes, though (as I’ve found with most hot plates), the flavour quality did reduce over time. A filter coffee machine will help you achieve the lighter taste of fresh pour-over coffee at the simple press of a button, and they’re generally less expensive than bean-to-cup, pod, and espresso machines. If you want quality espresso with the convenience of a pod machine, the Opal One is designed to brew speciality coffee. For espresso, bean-to-cup and coffee pod models, I brewed single and double espresso shots and (if available) an americano.
The Ratio Eight is what happens when someone obsesses over every detail of coffee brewing. Precision-crafted automatic pour-over coffee maker with stunning design and exceptional build quality. It’s also featured in our guide to the best espresso machines under $500. I’ve been testing the Bambino Plus in my apartment’s tiny kitchen, and it consistently produces espresso that rivals machines twice its size.