The 10 best coffee makers of 2024, tested and reviewed

The sleek Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker looks simple, but it delivers when it comes to performance. It's made primarily of stainless steel with a matte black finish, copper accents, a reusable titanium-plated filter, and a vacuum-sealed thermal carafe.

The water reservoir holds up to 10 cups and is outfitted with a carbon filter to give your coffee the cleanest taste possible. It also offers a temperature control option, an auto brew setting, and WiFi connectivity that allows you to control the brewer remotely with an app. I found the controls for all these features intuitive and easy to use.

Most importantly, this SCA-certified machine (read about that designation here) produces some of the best coffee I tried in my tests. You can brew at multiple degrees of strength, "Gold," "Light," "Medium," and "Bold," with "Gold" being the recommended setting. I tried coffee made at multiple settings, and all were good, with the "Gold" and "Bold" having a more well-rounded, full flavor and a slightly heavier body. 

The combination of simplicity and customizability qualifies this machine as one of the best coffee makers. It's also extremely consistent — every cup of coffee brewed at every setting tasted just like it should.

The Cuisinart PurePrecision Pour-Over Thermal Coffee Brewer was the clear runner-up in our testing. It's advertised as an automated alternative to a pour-over cone, using a pre-infusion cycle, variable water temperature, and brew styles to give the user more control. The coffee it makes tasted great, especially when using the "Bold" setting.

When we tested 12 coffee makers under $150, the Braun BrewSense 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker was the best budget coffee maker. We appreciate the large capacity carafe and small batch brewing option — both were quick to perk (14 minutes for the full carafe).

Though most coffee makers have a keep-warm setting, the Braun allows you to adjust the time and temperature. The default turns off the coffee maker after two hours, but you can set it to stay on for up to five hours. You can also set the temperature at low, medium, or high to prevent spoiling the coffee's flavor depending on how long it may sit on the warming plate.

For a budget coffee maker, the BrewSense has all the essential features. There's 24-hour programming and the chance to grab a cup before a brew cycle is finished. 

The Dualbrew Pro performed very similarly to the Ninja Specialty in my tests. If you really want the option to use coffee pods (and the best Keurig isn't right for you), this is essentially the Ninja Specialty Brewer with the added feature.

It's a low-fuss option for people who want both one of the best coffee makers and pod machines, and has many of the same features as our other top picks: a timed auto-brew function, the ability to adjust coffee strength, an iced coffee setting, and a fold-out frother for cappuccinos and macchiatos.

The only notable drawback is its lack of a reusable filter basket. Switching between the pod brewing and standard brewing functions was a little awkward, and regardless of which setting you use, there will be either a loose plastic cone or pod brewing attachment. 

The Mr. Coffee Pod and 10-Cup is another machine that provides the option of brewing coffee pods as well as ground coffee. It has standard features like a timed auto brew function and a "Strong" setting. The coffee made on the "Strong" setting was significantly better than the standard cup. A positive point is that the machine comes with a reusable pod so you can use your own fresh coffee.

The Breville Precision Brewer offers unmatched control over every variable in the brewing process. It's primarily made of stainless steel with a clear plastic reservoir. With a 12-cup capacity, the Breville is perfect for making large batches of coffee, but it performs well at lower volumes as well. Most of the customization is done using the small, backlit display screen and a single dial. The screen is easy to read and the menus are simple to navigate. 

When it comes to brewing, the Breville offers multiple preset brewing modes: "Fast," "Gold" (the recommended setting), and "Strong." It also offers presets for making both iced coffee and cold brew, and you can purchase an attachment to swap out the brew basket with a pour-over device like a Hario V60 or Kalita Wave. I first brewed a pot of coffee with the SCA-recommended "Gold" setting and followed that up with the "Strong" setting. The coffee I made on both the "Gold" and "Strong" presets was fully extracted and full-flavored, with the second cup a bit darker and more robust. 

The thing that really sets this brewer apart as one of the best coffee makers is the customization available in the "My Brew" setting, which allows users to modify almost every major variable in the brewing process — including the bloom time, water temperature, and water flow rate.

Another luxury pick, the Technivorm Moccamaster consistently brewed a nice cup of coffee and was easy to use. The temperature of the water was steady while brewing and every pot of coffee came out fully extracted with no strange flavor notes. The downside is that the Moccamaster is pricey and lacks the customizability and versatility of our top picks.

Espresso machines tend to be pricey, and it takes some practice to pull a perfect shot at home. The Gaggia Classic Evo Pro is our favorite home espresso machine because it provides professional level hardware at a relatively affordable price.

The Gaggia Classic Pro has a classic design with a stainless steel exterior and a warming plate on top. Gaggia uses the same full-sized 58mm portafilter used in its commercial machines and comes with a few extra filter baskets. It also has a built-in steam wand if you want to make cappuccinos or lattes.

There are a few downsides to consider. A well-made espresso machine requires some practice to use properly: it takes some time to dial in all of the important variables like grind coarseness and to figure out how to pull a perfect shot. The Gaggia comes packaged with a plastic tamper, but it doesn't quite fit the portafilter and is a bit flimsy, so we recommend purchasing the best tamper for an upgrade.

You can find portable and even stovetop espresso brewers in our guide to the best espresso machines.

The AeroPress has a unique design perfect for brewing a single cup of coffee with a rich and complex flavor that blows pod-based machines away. 

Using the AeroPress is easy. Just add a filter, screw on the cap, add coffee, pour hot water, stir, and then press the plunger down. The manual brewing process allows the user to control every major variable in the brewing process, like grind coarseness, water temperature, and steep time. Having that much control means that any home barista can create a flavorful, fully extracted cup of coffee that's leagues better than anything brewed from a pod. The only potential downside with the AeroPress is that it only works with single-use filters and requires a bit of a learning curve, which we outline in our AeroPress review.

The portability is also a major plus; it's compact and perfect for on-the-go coffee making. It's also made entirely of sturdy plastic, so you don't have to worry about shattered glass or bent metal in your luggage. 

You can read more about our tests and results to find out what we looked for in our best single serve coffee makers.

If you're looking for versatility in a coffee maker, the Ninja Specialty is the one to get. It can be operated with either a reusable filter or a paper filter. It also has a wide selection of brew sizes, from a single serving cup to a full 18-ounce carafe. If you choose the former, there's a retractable platform that can hold a mug — an addition I found incredibly useful.

This coffee maker offers multiple brew styles like "Classic," "Rich," "Over Ice," and "Specialty." Every cup I tried on both "Classic" and "Rich" settings was full-bodied and flavorful. What really sets the Ninja apart from the other machines I tested is its "Specialty" brewing feature, which produces a concentrated, 4-ounce pour of coffee. It's not quite as dense as espresso and doesn't have crema, but I found the taste to be surprisingly similar. 

Again, it's not the same as using an espresso machine — the brewing process is completely different — but I was satisfied with my faux lattes. With a little practice, I'm sure cappuccinos, cortados, and flavored drinks such as mochas could also be in the rotation.

For those who want espresso-like coffee without the financial investment or learning curve, Nespresso machines are a simple alternative. The VertuoPlus stands out as our preferred Nespresso machine due to its combination of rapid, consistent brewing performance and user-friendly features.

The biggest selling point with the VertuoPlus is the ease of use and speed of brewing. With just one button, it automatically adjusts brew settings based on barcode-scanned capsules. For coffee aficionados, this does mean you're entirely removed from the brewing process and therefore can't change it to reflect personal tastes. 

It's a bit larger than other competing models, but that's due to the worthwhile elements of a spacious used pod container (holds 10) and 40-ounce water tank. You can actually swivel the water tank to accommodate your counter space. 

All in all, the VertuoPlus offers an excellent balance of convenience and affordability for those looking for the quickest and easiest cup of coffee possible. Take a look at our full guide for more information on how we determined the best Nespresso machine.

When most people think of a French Press, they envision the Bodum Chambord. The Chambord's classic design, ease of use, and affordability have made it one of the most popular and iconic pieces of home coffee gear in the world. 

The filter does a great job of forming a seal and filtering out coarse coffee grounds. Like most French presses, finer grounds and sediment often make it through standard filters. Ultimately, you'll get a viscous, full-flavored cup of coffee, but a little bit of sediment at the bottom of your mug.

The Chambord's metal frame, lid, plunger, and filter hold up well over extended use. You'll just need to be careful with the glass beaker because it will crack if you're rough with it. Thankfully, Bodum offers replacement beakers and other parts at a reasonable price. The Bodum Brazil is our favorite budget French press and is essentially the same as the Chambord, but with a more durable, plastic beaker.

For more brewers that passed our tests, check out our guide to the best French presses.

Cold brew is one of the easiest and most forgiving ways of brewing coffee, but the right cold brew maker makes things even easier. In our tests, the Toddy Cold Brew System was easy to use and made some of the tastiest cups of cold brew you'll find.

You start brewing with the Toddy by putting 12 ounces of freshly ground coffee into one of the paper filter bags and placing it into the sealed, bucket-like container. Then fill with water, cover with the silicone lid, and wait. Filtering is as simple as removing the plug and letting the coffee drain into the included carafe.

The biggest drawback to the Toddy is the build-quality. The plastic and silicone construction feels a bit flimsy and cheap compared to the glass and stainless steel that other similar cold brew makers are made of. The Toddy Cold Brew System also requires paper filters for the best results, where many of its competitors have reusable mesh or steel filters. Despite that, it still brews a mean batch of cold brew.

Check out what we looked for in testing the best cold brew makers.

Type of coffee maker: The best coffee maker is ultimately the one that suits your preferred way to brew and drink coffee. If you always order a latte, drink cold brew all year, or need coffee ready in under a minute, then a traditional drip coffee maker isn't what you're looking for. Certain machines, like the Ninja Dualbrew Pro, can brew multiple styles, which works for households or individuals with evolving tastes. 

Capacity: An elementary but important specification, we tested drip coffee machines ranging from 8 to 12 cups of brewing capacity. If you drink more than one cup a day or are serving a larger group, these coffee makers will help satisfy caffeine cravings. However, if you're only making one or two cups a day, you may not want to devote the counter space to a big machine and should consider a Nespresso or French press. 

Construction: Consider what the coffee maker is primarily made of (stainless steel, plastic, glass, etc.). You'll find that coffee makers often have either thermal carafes or warming plates to keep coffee warm after it's brewed. In drip coffee makers, Jessica Rodriguez warns, "If a brewer has a heating plate to keep the carafe warm, it is really important that the plate does not raise the temperature of the brew, which can have a negative impact on the flavor."

Keep in mind that some coffee makers, like French presses and cold brew makers, are typically made with glass or plastic because the brew is meant to be consumed immediately or cooled quickly. With non-metal constructions, be aware of fragility (glass) or possible staining (plastic).

With a decade's worth of experience within the specialty coffee industry, I've worked as a barista, helped open a cafe, and worked behind the scenes in packaging and distribution. For additional expertise, I spoke with Max Gaultieri, barista, roaster, and founder of Joules and Watts coffee in Malibu California, and Jessica Rodriguez, who heads the Certified Home Brewer program at the SCA. For each drip coffee maker, I used the Peru Eufemio Dominguez Aguilar Cajamarca from Joules and Watts coffee roasters in Malibu, California.

We considered ease of use to see if we could smoothly and quickly set up each coffee maker, the complexity of cleaning, and whether there were awkward controls or components that seemed likely to break or get lost. For machines that had customizable brews, we used recommended presets as well as "strong" or "bold" settings to determine if the cup was over or under-extracted. Since taste is subjective, we looked for consistent results above all else. 

What's the best drip coffee?

Any coffee can work in a coffee maker, but make sure your coffee is fresh. Most roasters print the roast date on every bag of coffee. Try to find a coffee roasted less than two weeks before you want to brew.

Second, if you can, use the best coffee grinder to grind your coffee just before brewing. "Optimally, freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee goes into the coffee maker. Yes, grinding is an extra step and yes, it is completely worth it," Gaultieri says.

Do fresh grounds in coffee makers really make a difference?

"Always!" Gaultieri says. After roasting, all of the flavorful oils and sugars start to decay and the gasses inside the coffee beans leak out, creating a more dull and stale flavor. Pre-grinding your coffee long before brewing amplifies that effect.

"The coffee starts to lose volatile aromatic compounds as soon as it is ground," says Gaultieri. By breaking up the beans and releasing more of the gasses and exposing the organic compounds and oils to the air, it spoils even more quickly.

Why should I buy an electric coffee maker?

Electric coffee makers excel when it comes to consistency. "A coffee machine is programmed to do the same thing every time it is turned on, and if it is a good machine, it will do this very consistently," says Rodriguez. Electric coffee makers also often have features such as timed brewing, which can save time in the morning if your schedule is tight.

What kind of filters should I use?

The most common are reusable metal or mesh filters and single-use paper filters. Some makers even allow the user to choose between the two.

The major difference between filtration types is how much of the dissolved coffee solids and oils they allow to pass through. "Filtration affects the beverage clarity which affects the body/mouthfeel sensory experience of coffee," Rodriguez says. Reusable filters have the added bonus of producing less waste and cutting long-term costs.

What sets an SCA-certified home brewer apart from other coffee makers?

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has a program that rigorously tests coffee makers and certifies the ones that perform to their standards. Any SCA-certified brewer is proven to produce high-quality, consistent cups of coffee.

As Jessica Rodriguez, Certifications Program Manager at the SCA explains, "Multiple production units are submitted and tested at 1L and full capacity for adequate brew basket space to hold the SCA Golden Cup ratio of 55g/L, that they can reach and maintain a brewing temperature of 92 – 96C, the total water contact time falls between 4 – 8 minutes, the total dissolved solids of each brew falls between 1.15% - 1.45% and is consistent from extraction to extraction, and that there is good beverage clarity. Submitted brewers are also subjected to a uniformity-of-extraction test procedure that analyzes the spent coffee bed for the evenness of extraction."