If you’re a coffee drinker, it is more than likely you aren’t fit for human interaction until you’ve had your first cup of the day. Or maybe that’s just us. Either way, coffee is the difference between functioning and not functioning for many people. But that doesn’t mean any cup of joe will do. To be sipping on the best brew to kickstart your day without having to head to your local coffee shop, you’re going to need the best coffee maker.
With more options for coffee shops, brewing processes, beans and added flavors than ever before, the robust world of coffee is rich with possibilities. This is also the case for coffee makers too. So, which one is right for you? No need to down two cups and spend hours researching online. We’ve already done the research for you and found the top rated coffee machines for every type of coffee.
Given the variation in preparation, the type of coffee maker you need may be different from the one that your neighbor swears by. So ask yourself these questions. Do you live alone or need a carafe that can caffeinate five people every morning? Do you like to take your time making coffee, or do you want something that is programmed to start brewing as soon as you wake up? Is coffee your only vice, or do you want a machine that can also make espressos and cappuccinos? On that note, do you already have a coffee maker and are looking to add a dedicated espresso maker to your kitchen counter?
What are the Benefits of Using a Coffee Maker?
If you’re already set in your ways with your early morning visit to the local coffee shop, you’re probably wondering why you would ever switch from a ready-to-drink beverage handed to you in seconds to making one at home. And we understand, sometimes it is easier. But, there are still plenty of reasons that adding one of the best coffee makers could be a positive step. The benefits of having a top rated coffee machine includes:
Efficiency – Being able to brew a delicious flat white, cappuccino or americano without leaving the comfort of your home is desirable. It also makes it possible for early morning commuters to leave the house a little later. The devices’ automatic functioning lets you take care of other chores or errands while your coffee is made.
Economical – You’re likely to be spending somewhere around $5 a day on a coffee on your way to work, with a possible lunchtime pick-me-up adding to that total. And it doesn’t seem like coffee shop coffee will get any cheaper anytime soon. Adding up $10 a day over a year is a pretty scary amount of money spent on coffee alone, especially when there are ways around it. In comparison, coffee capsules average around $1 per serving, with coffee beans being an even more budget-friendly answer. And it’s not just homes that can benefit from investing in one of the top rated coffee machines, offices and staff rooms (remember those) are also known for their regular costly coffee runs.
Sustainability – For the environmentally conscious, single-use materials are a big deal. Ditching a single-use cup every day with a reusable mug in your own home is almost reason enough to switch to a home coffee maker. There are, of course, coffee shops that have switched to eco-friendly cups, lids and napkins, in addition to allowing customers to use their own reusable cups instead. Ultimately, making coffee in your own home gives you total freedom when deciding what to drink from.
Whether you’re looking for the best coffee maker for your everyday morning cup needs or only want a device that can be pulled out of the cupboards when you have visiting guests, we’re confident we’ve got your needs covered. Check out our selection of the best coffee makers below.
Why Trust SPY When Buying Coffee Makers?
At SPY.com, we take coffee very seriously, and our product testers and reviewers are always on the lookout for new innovations in this product category. We recently reviewed NutriBullet’s first coffee maker, which can brew both Keurig pods and full carafes. We put the luxury Wolf Coffee Maker to the test and called it the best drip coffee maker ever created. We’ve also reviewed the best Keurig coffee makers for our single-serve coffee lovers. In short, we know what we’re doing when it comes to ranking the best coffee makers.
Below, you’ll find our top picks with options for pod brewers, pour over coffee makers, large coffee makers, iced coffee makers, espresso coffee machines, and more.
1. Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System
You can brew hot or cold coffee, tea, espresso, cappuccinos and more with the Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System. This makes it an ultimate machine for those who don’t want to buy one appliance for every drink. The Ninja allows users to choose from multiple cup sizes, starting with a single serving, a travel mug and even a 10-cup carafe. Plus, no more putting a jug of coffee in the fridge and waiting overnight, with the Ninja making cold brew in only 10 minutes. Featuring a smart basket, the Ninja will recognize the difference between ground coffee beans and loose leaf tea and includes buttons that allow users to choose between Rich, Over Ice, Cold Brew, Herbal, Black Tea, Oolong, Green Tea and other beverage types. If you don’t know how to make cold brew coffee or just want to figure out how to make iced coffee without the hassle, this machine will help make it a breeze. It’s also great if you just need a plain old cup of hot water.
Smart appliances are increasingly becoming more affordable, including the latest coffee maker from Keurig. The K-Supreme Plus SMART Coffee Maker has all the benefits of the top-end Keurig machine, including BrewID, which recognizes the barcode on each K-cup and brews drinks to the exact strength and temperature outlined by the K-cup roasters. It also features Multistream technology, which evenly saturates coffee grounds for maximum flavor. On the machine, users can dial the strength of their cup up or down with five settings and choose from six temperature settings.
Finally, users can schedule their coffee using the Keurig app, including setting the heat and strength, all from their phones. It also features voice assist and users can set up Smart Auto-delivery to ensure they never run out of coffee.
This innovative and top rated coffee machine from Hamilton Beach Works syncs with Alexa for easy voice-commanded brew strength, brew time, on/off and more. The front-fill design of this coffee maker makes for as easy as possible, and it takes a standard filter in the brew basket that swings out. Set your morning routine with this dependable coffee maker and drip-free glass carafe. You can also enjoy some peace of mind knowing you can turn your coffee maker off directly from the Alexa app if you ever leave the house before hitting the off switch.
Best known for their smoothie makers and blenders, Nutribullet has now stepped into the ring of the best coffee makers with their Brew Choice Coffee Maker. This dual-function coffee maker offers users the option of brewing their coffee using a single K-Cup or reusable pod or preparing a full carafe of coffee from ground coffee beans. As one of the most recently released coffee makers on the market, it’s little surprise that the design is very much suited to modern home interiors.
Keurig is continuing to perfect their coffee makers, including the new K-Express. The single-serve coffee maker features a 42-ounce water reservoir on the back, eliminating the need for users to add water each time they want a cup of coffee while still boasting a slim, streamlined design. The new K-Express includes a strength control option that allows users to customize their drink and has a removable well that fits travel mugs. The single-serve style comes with 8, 10, and 12-ounce coffee options, and a back-to-back brewing feature lets users brew up to four cups before refilling.
For large groups, we recommend the Cuisinart DCC-3200 Perfectemp Coffee Maker. With a large capacity carafe that can brew up to 14 cups of coffee at once, the Cuisinart quickly brews rich and robust coffee in minutes while also featuring the option to choose how strong you would like all those cups of coffee to be. The Cuisinart has 24-hour programmability, plus a keep warm setting for keeping coffee fresh throughout the day, and a gold-tone permanent filter, so changing out messy filters is a thing of the past.
For a top rated coffee machine that is easy to use and doesn’t take up much counter space, we recommend the Mr. Coffee Simple Brew coffee maker. Perfect for a single or double-family household or personal use in an office, this Mr. Coffee features a removable and reusable filter basket. Mr. Coffee has dual water windows that make it easy to see how much water you’re pouring in, ensuring the reservoir does not overflow. We also like that this Mr. Coffee includes a Grab-A-Cup auto-pause that will stop dripping coffee when the carafe is removed even if it’s not done brewing.
Do you need a coffee maker that works for your daily one cup and is also useful for large gatherings? The OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker has one of the most user-friendly designs, with a simple slide button allowing users to choose a single cup serving or brew up to eight cups of coffee at once. The OXO includes a double-wall, vacuum-insulated thermal carafe, and a well that lifts regular mugs and is removable to accommodate travel mugs. The rainmaker-style shower head helps to provide an even distribution of water over the grounds, and Brew Better precision controls allow for the ideal water temperature and brew cycles.
9. Nespresso Vertuo Next Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine
Nespresso has no shortage of user-friendly espresso machines, and their latest offers the same great taste of Nespresso capsules with a space-saving design. The Nespresso Vertuo Next Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine can perfectly brew coffee in 5, 8, 14, 18-ounces using the company’s coffee capsule or a single or double shot of espresso with the Nespresso capsules. The Vertuo spins each Nespresso capsule up to 7,000 times per minute to extract every bit of flavor from its pod, creating a smooth and rich drinking experience. The newly designed Vertuo has a water reservoir in the back for a compact and streamlined finish and uses 54% recycled materials. Bonus? Nespresso aluminum coffee capsules are 100% recyclable.
Bring the taste of Italy into your kitchen with the Bialetti Moka Stove Top Coffee Maker, which sets the standard for making authentic Italian espresso. Users must first add cold water to the bottom chamber and ground coffee to the middle chamber, then place the Bialetti on the stovetop. Once the water heats to a boil, it’s pushed up and through the coffee grounds and into the top chamber for rich and bold espresso or coffee.
Save on space without compromising quality with the Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker in your home. Its ultra-slim design can fit in gaps as little as five inches wide, making it easier to slide into an existing kitchen countertop set up without difficulty. This advanced coffee maker can produce between six and 12 ounces of freshly brewed coffee per round despite its compact size. Furthermore, the simple controls make it a viable option for any user, no matter how familiar with coffee machines they are.
12. Keurig – Jonathan Adler Limited Edition, K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
Another space-saving option, this mini K-Cup Keurig, arrives as a limited edition collaboration with designer Johnathan Adler. The slim design measures five inches wide, meaning it will fit into any tight space, while the design offers a bit of sophisticated flair for your kitchen. This personal-sized coffee maker brews between six and 12 ounces of freshly brewed coffee at a time.
The split nozzle on the Gevi Espresso Machines Coffee Maker means you can make two single-shot espressos at once or a double shot in half the time of competing devices. Brewing times range from 25 to 45 seconds, depending on the setting. The integrated functions allow you to choose between manually controlling the amount of coffee released or automatically setting it to one or two shots. Furthermore, the 1250-watt steam wand makes it possible to create coffee shop standard foam in the comfort of your kitchen.
14. Nestle Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Maker
Brewing a delicious cup of homemade espresso doesn’t get any easier than with this Nestle Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Maker. Its one-touch brewing system makes the process simple from start to finish. Plus, it features an integrated store for used capsules to keep them out of sight until it’s time to empty them into your more giant trash can. Plus, the device is available in five different colors, making it easy to match to your kitchen decor.
This Keurig coffee machine is infamous for its K-cup design that makes single-serve coffees seamlessly in various styles. You can easily make regular coffee, lattes and cappuccinos, and the large, 60-ounce water reservoir allows you to make six servings without needing to refill. It includes innovative technology which heats, brews and dispenses coffee in one simple process. The machine also has an energy-efficient auto-off feature that automatically turns the brewer off two hours after your last cup to save energy.
Feel like a barista in your own home with the EspressoWorks All-In-One Espresso Machine and Cappuccino Maker. The EspressoWorks has everything you need to make the perfect espresso or cappuccino. Get the freshest espresso possible and grind your own beans using the electric coffee grinder included in the set. Select the strength of your espresso with the single or double-shot baskets and the 15-bar pump system. Measure your grinds correctly using the spoon and tamper. Make a cappuccino using the built-in frother and stainless steel frothing mug. We also like that the EspressoWorks comes with conveniences, like two porcelain mugs, a one-touch on and off button and a removable water tank that makes it easy to keep the EspressoWorks filled.
Cold-brew is one of the best coffee varieties. This maker is designed to make a low-acid coffee concentrate that you can use easily to create hot or cold caffeinated beverages throughout the week. It has a compact size that takes up less space in refrigerators, and the draining starts automatically when the brewer is placed on the carafe. It comes with a rainmaker that evenly distributes water over the coffee grounds, and the sturdy lid will keep your maker protected while the brewing takes place. This maker can make up to 16 ounces of coffee concentrate, so you’ll be set for a few servings after one brew.
This Wolf Gourmet coffee system isn’t your average coffee maker, and our product testers said that “this may just be the best drip coffee maker ever made.” It is a true luxury pick, and it’s not the right pot for the average coffee drinker. This premium coffee maker utilizes Accu-Brew technology and integrated scales to achieve your preferred taste by guiding you when adding coffee into the front basket. Once the device is ready to brew, the water is sprayed evenly over the coffee for optimal extraction and the best-tasting and consistent product.
We have found an alternative if you don’t want to choose between a machine that uses K-cups and one that can take Nespresso capsules. The Instant Pod works with single-serve K-cups, reusable K-cups, and Nespresso-style capsules, opening customers up to a world of convenient cups of coffee in one machine. The Instant Pod uses a removable 68-ounce water reservoir and easy, one-touch programs for 2, 4 and 6-ounce Nespresso capsules and 8, 10, and 12-ounce K-cups. The machine’s size allows users to place espresso cups, regular-sized coffee mugs, and travel mugs up to 7 inches tall underneath the stream. Once the coffee has finished brewing, the capsules are dropped into a removable container.
Who says you can have great, homemade coffee on the go? Bodum has a considerable following thanks to their affordable and high-quality French press (our tiny tank has lasted for years), and the company also makes a French press in travel form. Not only is this an excellent option for those who don’t have time in the morning to wait for their French press coffee to be ready (the extra five minutes of snooze sleep is crucial), but we’ve used our Bodum Travel Press when traveling to places we knew didn’t have a coffee maker (the horror!). It’s compact, made of vacuum-sealed, double-wall construction that keeps drinks hot or cold for hours, it’s dishwasher safe, and comes with a spill-resistant lid.
For an affordable single-serve coffee maker that can handle even the tallest of travel mugs, we like the CHEFMAN Single Serve One Cup Coffee Maker. Great for those on the go, the Chefman makes a cup of coffee in 30 seconds from start to brew. Users can adjust the strength of their coffee by adding more or less water. The Chefman can use K-cups or insert fresh grounds using the coffee maker’s reusable filter. The BPA-free coffee machine has a convenient self-cleaning feature that helps to prevent mineral buildup.
The Chemex pour over coffee maker is a solid choice for making full-bodied pour over brew with consistent flavor every time. Made of high-quality, non-porous Borosilicate glass, this pour-over coffee maker does not absorb odor and can be placed in the dishwasher or hand-washed with soap and water for easy clean-up. It’s simple to use and can be covered, refrigerated and later reheated if needed.
