The Best Coffee Makers Tried And Tested By Experts

We've tried almost every method of making coffee over the years, from moka pots and expensive Moccamasters to cold brew makers and the Chemex. A good drip coffee maker is our number one choice for anyone who wants the simplicity of automation but still wants the smooth, subtle flavor of pour-over coffee.

Drip machines are the most convenient and flavorful brewing method we have tested. However, we also have suggestions for other equipment, such as pour-over tools, a dependable grinder, or an espresso setup.

Summary of best coffee makers:

Best coffee maker: OXO Brew 9 Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker , $250 $224 at Amazon

Best coffee maker, runner up: Technivorm Moccamaster KBT , $339 at Amazon

Best budget coffee maker: Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker CE251, $89 at Amazon

Best cold brew coffee maker: OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $59 $51 at Amazon

*All products featured on RecipesCal are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

1) Best coffee maker: OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker, $250 $224

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This coffee maker is great if you enjoy convenient features, like setting a timer so you can wake up to a fresh pot. It’s also a solid choice if you want your coffee to stay hot for several hours without needing to reheat it.

The OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker is fast, easy to use, and full of useful functions. You can set the start time, and it has an automatic pre-infusion cycle that gently moistens the grounds before brewing for better flavor. In our drip coffee maker tests, it consistently brewed tasty, well-rounded coffee—much better than many of its rivals. It also has a sleek design and a sturdy stainless steel thermal carafe that pours easily and keeps coffee hot for hours.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The interface isn’t very user-friendly, so programming the timer can be a bit tricky at first. However, once you learn the steps, it becomes easy.

Through years of long-term testing, we also discovered that the carafe lid tends to trap old coffee, even after rinsing—so it may need a more thorough cleaning.

Another thing to consider: at 17.2 inches tall, this brewer might not fit under all kitchen cabinets, especially since the water tank and basket lids need another 5 inches of clearance to open fully.

In terms of flavor, the Technivorm Moccamaster models outperformed the OXO in our taste tests, delivering more complex cups. But the downside is that the Moccamaster doesn’t have convenient features like a timer.

If the OXO’s price seems a bit high, you might want to look at our budget coffee maker recommendations instead.

Capacity: 40 ounces
Brew time: Under 7 minutes

2) Best coffee maker, runner up: Technivorm Moccamaster KBT, $339

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If you’re looking for a coffee maker that’s sleek, simple, and easy to use, the Moccamaster is a great choice. Its tall, minimalist design keeps things straightforward, and in our tests, every cup it brewed impressed our tasters.

The Technivorm Moccamaster KBT comes with a sturdy thermal carafe that keeps coffee hot for hours. The glass-carafe KB model uses a hot plate to maintain a steady temperature without burning the brew. However, the KBT holds heat longer because the KB’s hot plate turns off after four hours.

Both models allow for some manual control by letting you open or close the filter basket while brewing. They brew quickly, are reliable, and produce balanced, flavorful coffee each time. Plus, they are beautifully made and come with a generous five-year warranty.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: You won’t find extras like a clock, a descaling alert, or a signal for when brewing is done. They also cost more than our other favorite drip coffee maker, the OXO.

The KBT’s thermal carafe isn’t dishwasher-safe, and its narrow opening means you’ll need a bottle brush to clean it. The KB model has a wider opening and is dishwasher-safe.

Capacity: 40 ounces
Brew time: 7 minutes

3) Best budget coffee maker: Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker CE251, $89

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If you want a reliable drip coffee maker under $100, this one is a good choice. It brews consistently good coffee whether you grind fresh beans or use pre-ground coffee. This makes it especially appealing if you usually opt for the latter.

Among all the budget-friendly machines we tested, the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker CE251 produced the hottest, most balanced coffee. It includes easy, practical features, like brew settings for either classic or richer flavors. Its removable water tank is easy to read and refill. Programming it is also simple, making it a great option for shared spaces where multiple people will be using it.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The carafe lid could be improved; it screws on and off, which isn’t as convenient as the flip-top lids found on some other models.

Capacity: 60 ounces
Brew time: Around 13 minutes

4) The best cold-brew coffee maker: OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $59 $51

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If you want to improve your iced coffee, this brewer is for you. Cold brewing extracts fewer bitter compounds than chilling hot coffee in the fridge. It gives you a smoother, sweeter, and more balanced cup.

The OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker is our top choice because it has a smart design, is easy to use, and consistently delivers great results in testing. The coffee had balanced acidity, a richer aroma, and a clean, smooth finish compared to other models.

It brews enough concentrate for about 12 to 14 servings, which is plenty to last through the week. If you have limited counter space or prefer to make smaller batches, OXO also has a compact version that works equally well and is simple to use.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: A few testers liked the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer for its smoother, gentler taste. However, many preferred the OXO’s stronger, bolder flavor. Overall, the OXO was easier to use and less bulky than the Filtron.

Capacity: 32 ounces (makes 24 to 28 ounces of concentrate).

5) The best french press: Espro P3 French Press, $39 $36

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Perfect for anyone who wants a quick, straightforward way to make coffee. It’s especially suited to those who want a method that’s easy to pick up and consistently delivers good results.

The Espro P3 French press stands out for brewing coffee that’s consistently clean, bright, and flavorful. Its bucket-shaped double filter uses a finer mesh than most French presses, keeping the brew nearly as grit-free as a pour-over—much cleaner than what we got from our runner-up, the Bodum Chambord. Once you press down the plunger, the grounds stay separated from the liquid, preventing bitterness from oversteeping. In our testing, even the last cup poured an hour later tasted just as fresh as the first.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Like all glass presses, the P3 isn’t as durable as stainless steel models. The beaker will break if dropped or knocked too hard—but replacement parts, including filters and beakers, are available.

It’s also less stylish than some other French presses, such as the Bodum Chambord, with its classic look. And the double filter can make cleaning a little trickier. Still, we didn’t find it significantly harder to maintain than other presses, and the excellent results outweigh these drawbacks.

Capacity: 32 ounces

This completes our list of the best coffee makers. If you want more posts about recipes and reviews, check our other blog posts here.