The Best Drip Coffee Machines
Drip coffee makers can be powerful machines that allow hands-free brewing. They can be huge and bulky taking up valuable counter or cabinet space.
The top drip machines feature a simple design and are simple to use. Some are equipped with extras that make your morning cup of coffee more customizable, like programmable timers and self-cleaning settings.
1. De'Longhi TrueBrew
The De'Longhi TrueBrew can be used to make coffee in just one step from whole beans to a carafe of coffee with just a couple of presses. It has a built-in burr grinder (taken from the espresso machines of De'Longhi) that measures out the correct amount of grounds, and then compacts them before brewing - eliminating wasteful plastic pods and filters.
It also has a range of settings to suit your preferred cup size and design, ranging from 3oz espresso-style drinks to 16oz iced coffee, or 40oz of a standard carafe. It can pour coffee into any vessel you prefer whether it's a large cup or a tiny espresso cup. It even makes tea!
Manufacturers are known to come up with bizarre technical terms, and this one has the Bean Extract Technology which "adapts and precisely grinds" the beans based on the choice you make. But really, that's simply marketing. What matters is that it's simple to use, is pretty quick and doesn't create a lot of a mess while brewing. It does, however, lack the ability to brew either a long or short shot of espresso and doesn't have steam wands for milk. If you're looking for these features, I would suggest looking into the Moccamaster KBGV Select instead.
2. Cuisinart MultiServe
This is one of the best drip coffee machines on the market. It produces consistently flavorful hot cups of coffee that brew efficiently.
drip filter coffee appreciated the ease with which we were able to modify the brewing experience. With a simple dial turn, you can choose the size of your cup (from 5-ounce single-servings to a full-carafe) and the strength you want and whether you want either a French press or a regular setting. You can make cold brew with the push of a button, or choose from a wide range of special options, such as Over Ice and Roasted.
The only downside is that the design isn't as elegant as some of the more sophisticated models we tested. For instance the Smeg drip's rounded machine looks like an Easter egg and is a welcome break from the traditional boxy designs of competitors. But its slender water tank and narrow opening could be difficult to navigate, particularly in the dark while the brew is underway. It requires a bit more time and thought to get started in the early morning.
3. Keurig K-Cup brewer
Keurig single serve coffee makers make use of K cups that come pre-packaged, which eliminates the need to measure or grind grounds. They also allow you to control brewing time. These machines can also brew coffee in under two minutes. This is significantly faster than a drip maker.
However, the Keurigs we've tested create quite a mess, much more than drip machines. The spout that pours out the hot coffee leaves a two-inch splash area that spills out droplets all over the drip tray as well as the counter, machine and. They also produce an annoying loud sputtering sound when brewing.
Despite the mess, the Keurigs that we've tested have performed well. The K-Cafe with Smart Keurig is the most sophisticated model, with an easily detachable reservoir, four sizes for K-cups with three temperature settings and a customizable menu. It also comes with an automatic milk frother that is dishwasher safe and can be used to froth skim, whole and nondairy milk. This is a great option for those who want to make different coffees each morning or for large families who require the capacity of a larger.
Keurig Instant pod is a great choice for anyone looking for a single-serve device that is user-friendly and simple. It boasts a massive 78-ounce water tank that can brew several cups before it needs to be refilled. And it can also make a cup with the coffee you grind yourself, which is a unique feature of the world of Keurig. The controls are simple and easy to use, but the machine communicates via tones and chirps instead of a display, making it difficult to tell when a cup is ready.
4. Cuisinart Drip Machine
This sturdy, affordable machine has all the features that you need to start your day. It has a large 14-cup reservoir, as well as a clear water level indicator window. It is simple to use because of the large buttons and clearly labeled labels. And the removable filter and grinder can be cleaned in the sink, eliminating the need to brush out ground from difficult-to-access areas. It also comes with a handy brew-strength selector that allows you to select between three different settings including bold.
The reservoir is equipped with a charcoal filter which helps to remove metals and unpleasant flavors as well as odors from tap water. This can make your coffee taste flat or burned. This means less work and a better-tasting cup of coffee.
A second benefit: the programmability feature lets you to set your coffee's brewing time to a particular time. The pause button lets you pour a cup or two before the whole pot has finished making coffee. This is useful in busy mornings when you require an additional boost of caffeine. It's also a beautiful design coffee maker, with sleek design that is more at home on the counter than the majority of boxy drip machines.
5. Ratio Six
Like its predecessor, the Ratio Eight, the Six offers premium quality with a more affordable price and smaller footprint. Its single-button brewing process mimics a skilled pour over with precise metered flow of water and the ideal temperature for coffee. The machine makes use of a powerful 1400 watts to heat water and complete the entire brewing process in about five to six minutes. This is far shorter than most of the lesser models we tested. This rapid brew time is partly due to the bloom cycle which allows grounds of coffee to settle before the shower head delivers the rest of the hot water to ensure optimal extraction.
The Six utilizes a heat shield that is unique to keep water at the optimal temperature and protect the spray head. This is among the few brewers that have been Golden Cup certified by the Specialty Coffee Association, which means it keeps the correct brewing temperature consistently throughout the brewing process.
In terms of design, the Six is sleek and minimalist and comes with a stainless steel carafe, which sits on the top of a filter holder that accepts Melitta flat bottom filters. The insulated carafe keeps brewed coffee warm without the necessity of heating plates, which helps to keep the flavor intact.
6. Gevi 10-Cup Coffee Maker
The Gevi produces great tasting coffee and has a sleek, relatively compact design that doesn't take up any counter space. The touchscreen display has cute little icons that let you select one-touch commands (such as Bold or, in the case of making just half a cup, the One to Four cup option). The machine allows you to set the timer and turn on or off the audible tone that signifies the end of the brew cycle.
The built-in grinder and ability to dial in the size and strength of your coffee is a nice touch. It takes some time to learn how the machine works but it's easy once you've mastered it. It has plenty of the features that you'd expect to see on higher-end models.
The only downside is that it's unable to make the entire carafe in one go which could be a challenge if you're serving multiple people. But it's a solid option if you're looking to buy drip coffee maker that has an integrated grinder and the flexibility to make different types of drinks. It comes with a 1-year warranty and excellent customer support.
7. Moccamaster KBGV
The Moccamaster is a premium drip-coffee maker that is built to last. It comes with a 5-year warranty and is made in the Netherlands by Technivorm. Its sleek glass cup sits on top of a warming device that keeps the coffee at an optimal temperature for up to six minutes. It can be programmed to work with either a full or half pot, and is certified to brew coffee at recommended temperatures and times by the Specialty Coffee Association. It also comes with a "practically incognito drip stopper" which is a tiny lever located below the brew basket that stops the flow of coffee when you remove the carafe while the brewing.
Although this machine is more expensive than most others on the market, it's worth the extra investment for those who want to enjoy consistently delicious coffee without having to spend too long in the kitchen. All components that come into contact with ground or water are easily accessible. The brewing process is slower than other models but still quicker than pour over brewing. The Moccamaster's unique, reminiscent design of tools used in workshops and scientific instruments adds sophistication to your kitchen.