The Best Coffee Makers, Tested by Coffee Experts
After brewing over 1,000 cups of coffee, we found the best coffee makers.
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Finding the best coffee maker can be a challenge among what seems like endless options. There are traditional drip coffee makers to single-serve coffee makers, coffee makers with grinders and many more. Those who prefer other options besides drip coffee have choices like French press, espresso machines and cold brew. You can even take your favorite coffee with you, thanks to portable coffee makers.
The Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab has been testing hundreds of coffee makers for decades. When we test coffee makers we assess them for ease of use and performance. In our years of testing, we've brewed more than 1,000 cups of coffee to find the best coffee makers to suit your preferences.
- Best Overall: Breville Precision Brewer
- Best Budget: Braun Pure Flavor
- Best for Small Spaces: Capresso 5-Cup Mini Drip Coffee Maker
- Best Splurge: Wolf Gourmet Programmable Coffee Maker
- Best Coffee Maker with Grinder: Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker
- Best Single-Serve: Breville-Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee Maker
- Best Espresso: Breville Barista Express Impress
- Best Cold Brew: OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Best Pour Over: Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffee Maker
- Best French Press: ESPRO P7 French Press
Breville Precision Brewer
This drip coffee maker with a thermal carafe lives up to its name as a precision brewer by brewing coffee at exactly the right temperature in the right amount of time established by the Specialty Coffee Association. It made 12 cups of hot coffee in about eight and a half minutes, which was quick compared to others we tested and the coffee it produces was among the highest scoring for taste.
The Breville Precision Brewer is highly customizable with the option to brew up to 12 cups at a time, a single cup, iced coffee, cold brew and pour-over with the purchase of a separate attachment. It also comes with two different shaped baskets (a cone-shaped basket and a flat basket which bring out different flavor notes in the coffee) to allow users to pick which they think makes a better cup of coffee. The basket fully pulls out for easy filling and even easier emptying, and the water reservoir has a wide opening and easy-to-read measurement markings.
Coffee snobs will love that the water flow and bloom time can each be adjusted. The display features a count-up timer that lets you know how long the coffee has been keeping warm. In our tests, the thermal carafe proved to be highly effective as it kept coffee hot during the entire two-hour test period. It's relatively easy to clean as well with a moderately sized opening that you can fit your sponge into (a bottle brush makes it even easier).
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The Braun Pure Flavor lives up to its name scoring highly as one of the most flavorful cups of coffee in our tests. In addition to brewing tasty coffee, our experts found it exceptionally easy to use. The control panel is responsive and we like the clear markings on the water tank making it easy to see how many cups of water you've poured in.
There are options for "fast," "regular" and "bold" coffee. In our tests, it brewed hot coffee in the optimal temperature range and it kept the coffee hot for our full two-hour testing period. It has three choices for keep-warm settings: low, medium and high. If you love cold coffee, it also brews "over ice" which is designed to maintain a bold cup of coffee that's not diluted when poured over ice.
This 14-cup coffee maker brews quickly and we appreciate the smaller footprint to save some counter space. The one downside is it's nearly 20 inches tall when fully opened, so you'll want to make sure you have enough clearance if it's going under your cupboards. However, this is a straightforward coffee machine that brews tasty coffee that you can grab for around $100 (or less if it's on sale!), making it one of the most budget-friendly coffee makers we've tested.
Capresso 5-Cup Mini Drip Coffee Maker
For those that don't need a 12- or even 10-cup coffee maker, this Capresso Mini Drip coffee maker comes in handy, brewing up to five cups and saving counter space with its small design. In our tests, it brewed five cups of coffee in less than 10 minutes and kept the coffee warm for two hours with automatic shut-off. It's also programmable so you can set it to make coffee at a later time.
It didn't brew quite as hot as other coffee makers in our tests, but small coffee makers often have a hard time reaching high temperatures, so we weren't surprised and it wasn't a deal breaker. The carafe is dishwasher-safe (one of our favorite things about glass carafes) and the flip-top lid is detachable for easy cleaning.
Wolf's high-end programmable coffee maker scored a five, our highest score, for brew temperature as well as its ability to keep coffee warm, thanks to the thermal carafe that kept the coffee hot for two hours. Tasters noted the coffee was piping hot and strong. We also particularly appreciated the wide opening on the thermal carafe, which allows you to clean it more easily than other thermal carafes that typically have narrow openings.
In addition to what some might call the basics (that is, brewing a good cup of coffee and a high-performing carafe), this high-end coffee maker is loaded with features that make it among the easiest to use. Its brew basket slides out so you can fill it without fussing with lids and its water reservoir is removable. It has a digital display and an "accubrew" setting that uses a built-in scale to weigh the coffee grounds as you add them to the basket so you can make the perfect cup based on the amount of water and strength setting you select.
RELATED: Best High-End Coffee Makers
Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker
Coffee makers with built-in grinders make brewing a tasty cup of coffee from whole beans easy. They have a reputation for clogging easily, but for many people it's hard to beat the convenience of not having to grind beans separately. Pro tip: To help prevent clogging, do not grind on the super-fine setting and don't use beans that are too oily.
This coffee maker with a built-in grinder from Breville stands out for having multiple grind settings so you can experiment with various size grinds to dial in the flavor exactly how you want it. Coffee brewed hot and stayed warm for our entire two-hour test time, and when we tested at home, it stayed hot all day.
Our pros appreciated the handy digital display that measures the amount of water you add to the reservoir located on the front of the unit, which makes the whole process a breeze. It then allows you to choose from one of eight strength settings and calculates the time of brewing. In addition to brewing a full carafe, it also allows you to brew a single cup or travel mug-size coffee.
Breville-Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee Maker
Pod coffee makers are good when you're in a rush or just want a good cup of coffee you know you like. Out of all the pod machines we tested, this one stands out for being the most versatile and delicious.
The Nespresso Vertuo Plus is a single-serve coffee maker that uses Nespresso Vertuo capsules to work. Each capsule is equipped with a barcode that tells the machine exactly how to brew it, whether it's brewing an espresso, a double espresso or American coffee. You can choose from many different capsules that vary in types of coffee mentioned as well as strength and even origin. The capsules can be tossed in with your recycling in some states or put in a Nespresso-supplied bag and dropped off at UPS or a Nespresso boutique to be sent back to Nespresso for recycling.
The espressos and coffees are full-bodied with a thick and creamy crema. Each one is consistent and hot, and the machine is easy to operate. The included milk frother makes this our favorite pod coffee maker option — hello, cappuccinos and lattes! — but this same machine can be purchased for less money as a stand-alone option.
RELATED: Best Coffee and Espresso Makers
Breville Barista Express Impress
Ever since this Breville espresso machine earned a spot in our Good Housekeeping Coffee Awards, it's been a favorite of our experts. It was a top performer in our tests and easy to use, but it stood out for its unique features. It has what Breville calls the "intelligent dosing system" that dispenses coffee grounds into the portafilter and lets you know if you need to add or remove coffee grounds. The built-in tamping lever also ensures the proper amount of pressure is applied for the perfect shot of espresso every time.
In our Lab tests, this machine produced tasty, rich shots of espresso with a thick layer of crema. The milk frothing wand is powerful enough to create a hefty amount of froth, something that other built-in frothing wands can struggle with. One of our pros has had this machine for a few years and said it's still one of their favorites and produces great shots of espresso.
One thing to note, our expert noticed that drier coffee bean types can get staticky and end up sticking to the counter. However, cleaning out the grinder fully and spritzing a few drops of water on the beans in the hopper before grinding solves this issue.
Making cold brew doesn't get easier than with this Oxo Cold Brew coffee maker. Our taste testers said it made excellent cold brew with a smooth and balanced flavor. Our experts found this extremely easy to use, by adding coarsely ground coffee and water through the “rainmaker” lid which distributes water evenly over the grounds and let sit. After 12 to 24 hours, the coffee is ready to dispense into the glass carafe by pushing a lever.
It's very easy to customize the flavor to your liking by letting it steep for shorter or longer amounts of time. We also found it a breeze to clean, and when you’re done using it, the parts nest together for compact storage.
Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffee Maker
It's easy to recognize a Chemex Pour Over coffee maker with its distinctive hourglass shape. We love this one because unlike most pour-over coffee makers that only make a single serving, this can brew up to six cups of coffee. Not only does it look sleek, but it makes a tasty, smooth cup of coffee. Our experts like that this carafe is lightweight, yet still feels durable. When we road-tested this at home, we found filters fit well and it's easy to use.
We love that the carafe is dishwasher safe since its shape makes it tricky to wash by hand. Just be sure to take off the collar and ensure the glass carafe doesn't knock against anything in the dishwasher otherwise it could break. It doesn't stay as hot compared to other coffee makers that have a thermal carafe or keep-warm features, but that's expected, especially since it doesn't have a lid, so you'll want to make sure to drink it right away.
Espro has consistently been a top pick when it comes to French presses. In fact, it earned a spot in our Kitchen Gear, Coffee and Tea Awards. What makes this coffee maker stand out among others are the double fine-mesh strainers which remove as much sediment as possible. Our pros noticed it had a less gritty taste than other French presses we tested and made a delicious cup of French press coffee.
It's easy to assemble and within minutes you're on your way to full-flavored French press coffee. One of our taste testers said, "The product makes consistent and delicious coffee within a few minutes." The double-walled stainless steel coffee maker helps keep your coffee hot and the oversize handle makes it easy to pour. It can hold up to 32 ounces.
How we test the best coffee makers
To determine the best overall coffee makers, we brew at least two full pots of coffee in each machine and record the brew time, the brew temperature and how well the coffee keeps warm over a two-hour time span.
We also pay attention to consistency, as we do when we test espresso machines and single-serve coffee makers. As part of our brew tests, we also conduct a sensory test and get as many people as we can to taste the results and share their tasting notes.
In addition to performance, we assess ease of use by scoring a number of factors including the usefulness of the user guide and how easy it is to use the controls, access the water tank and brew basket, read the markings on the tank and carafe, clean the carafe and more.
What to look for when buying the best coffee maker
✔️ Type of coffee maker: Coffee makers range in variety from drip coffee makers to cold brew coffee makers and espresso machines. Consider what type of coffee you drink most and if you'd like a coffee machine that can make different styles of coffee, including single-serve sizes, full pots of coffee and sometimes even espresso. It’s becoming increasingly popular for coffee makers to offer multiple ways to enjoy your coffee.
✔️ Strength preference: If you prefer your coffee mild or strong, look for a coffee maker that has adjustable strengths. Many of the models we tested have two to three strength options available. Espresso in general also has a stronger flavor as does coffee made in stovetop coffee makers.
✔️ Number of servings: Most drip coffee makers will make 10 to 14 cups of coffee, but if you don’t need that much, look to smaller coffee makers that make four to five cups or single-serve options that can brew one cup at a time. Manual coffee makers are also great for making small amounts of coffee because you can more easily control the brew times.
✔️ Convenience: If you’re pressed for time or don’t want to prep your coffee, a single-serve machine may be a benefit as there’s little-to-no prep or cleaning up. A drip machine takes longer to brew coffee since it’s making a larger quantity, but this also allows for more customization. If you have plenty of time on your hands, pour-overs and French presses take longer to brew and require a more hands-on approach, but the flavor is typically richer, smoother and worth the fuss.
Does the coffee maker really make a difference in flavor?
Yes, coffee makers can affect the flavor of the coffee. Different brewing methods such as drip coffee, espresso, cold brew, French press and more require different coffee and espresso makers to make them properly. These methods of brewing use different grind sizes, water temperature, pressure and contact time with the grinds, all of which influence the coffee's taste.
This is why some prefer the bold taste of cold brew or a concentrated shot of espresso, among other types of coffee. Just keep in mind that the coffee bean itself will impact the coffee flavor, and some beans are better suited for certain methods than others. If you've only tried one brewing method, you may have to experiment to find the best one for you.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab where she oversees all of Good Housekeeping's content and testing related to kitchen appliances, tools, gadgets and gear. She's been testing kitchen appliances professionally since 2013 and has worked at kitchen appliance companies where she helped develop some popular coffee makers as well as many recipes for them. She is trained in classic culinary arts and is a professional recipe developer.
Jamie (Kim) Ueda's first job at the Good Housekeeping Institute was testing a variety of consumer products, and one of her first tests was coffee makers. Since then, she has tested and written about many kitchen-related and cooking tools, especially coffee and espresso makers as well as coffee accessories. She has a passion for coffee and has completed rigorous coffee courses from the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) in coffee brewing, barista skills and sensory tasting. She is regularly a judge for the Kitchen Gear and Coffee Awards.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
Jamie Ueda is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.
