11 of the Very Best Coffee Makers

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Capcity:8 cups| Size:9” x 14.8” x 16.1”| Temperature hold:Thermal carafe

I’ve been using this OXO model for nearly a year now, and it’s an incredibly solid machine.It’s simple to use: You turn it on, then select from two different settings (more on that in a moment). The machine automatically shuts off when finished (this takes a few minutes, but you can also turn it off manually if you prefer). It makes delicious coffee.

One setting is for brewing five to eight cups of coffee into an insulated carafe, which is what I primarily use. The carafe has a tiny valve hole in the lid so that the coffee brews directly into the otherwise-covered vessel (as opposed to the Bonavita, below, which has a larger fully open top that you cover after it’s done). “It traps heat and aromatics better,” says Noah McKeown, a general manager atGo Get Em Tigerin Los Angeles.

But there’s also an insert filter that allows you to brew two to four cups of coffee instead of five to eight, which you can do directly into a mug for a single cup. The process is basically the same: You fill the chamber with the amount of water you want and add the corresponding amount of grounds. Then you just have to remember to slide the tab on the carafe over to the image of a mug and select the clearly marked button to start. In this case, the machine pulses out less water at a time and there’s a bit more agitation when it hits the ground beans. Like the Bonavita, “it’s almost like making a pour-over but in your automatic coffee maker,” McKeown says. For recipe developer and cookbook authorSamah Dada, having such a range is a huge plus. “In the morning I’ll brew a larger pot, but then in the afternoon when I need to chill a bit on caffeine and only want a cup, I’ll use that setting,” she says. The maker has a pedestal you can flip up so your mug sits closer to where the coffee comes out to avoid splashing.

Capacity:8 cups| Size:12. 4” x 6. 8” x 12. 2”| Temperature hold:Thermal carafe

The Bonavita Connoisseur was my everyday coffee maker for over a year.It hits a nice trifecta: simple to use, available at an approachable price point, and, like the OXO, able to make a well-balanced cup. To use, you simply measure grounds and pour water into the chamber. I always did this the night before so, in the morning, all I had to do was click the “on” button; even when making a full pot, it brewed in just a few minutes. The insulated stainless-steel carafe keeps the coffee plenty warm without heating from below and making it taste burnt. The coffee this machine delivers is delicious. I’ve used everything from fancy small-batch beans sourced from a local coffee shop to Dunkin’ Donuts pre-ground, and without fail, I find myself sipping on a smooth and balanced cup.

To figure out why it works so well, I tapped a couple of professionals who also love the machine. One key reason is its ability to brew at the proper temperature. According to Ken Nye, owner ofNinth Street Espresso, few coffee makers “consistently bring water to that 198–202 degree range,” which he calls the “broadly agreed-upon standard.” As Nye explains, the Connoisseur also “maintains that temp throughout the brewing process.” The smoothness is thanks to its flat-bottomed basket that “spreads the grounds out evenly,” says George Howell, owner and founder ofGeorge Howell Coffee, as well as the shower-like spout that ensures consistent water distribution and extraction.

Its one negative trait: When the lid is secured on the pouring vessel, it doesn’t fit underneath the brewing basket. As such, you have to leave the lid off most of the time, twisting it on only before pouring.

Capcity:12 cups| Size:8.6” x 12.9” x 13.5”| Temperature hold:Reheated from underneath

If you don’t want to spend the money on a more advanced machine, this Mr. Coffee machine will get the job done totally fine. I used it for a few years before switching to a stove-top percolator to save counter space (more on that below), and was never disappointed. It produced a smooth cup and was super simple to operate: I simply measured my ratio of ground beans to water and flipped the “on” switch.

Jamie McCormick, co-owner of the East Village coffee shopAbraço, tells us he prefers to keep things as simple as possible when it comes to coffee machines. “People make a big to-do over a lot of nothing” when it comes to brewing equipment, he says. He thinks a plain old Mr. Coffee is a first-rate choice for any “amateur coffee roaster who wants to flatter their grounds.” But he also has an expert piece of advice: Since it doesn’t have a high-tech mechanism for distributing the water evenly like some of the other models on this list, he says you can open the top flap while it’s brewing and “stir the grounds to make sure they all get hydrated.”

Capacity:3 cups| Size:5.5” x 11.7” x 14.9”| Temperature hold:Thermal carafe

Balmuda’s coffee maker brews up to three cups at a time, a smaller capacity than any other on this list (the OXO model below has specific settings for yielding a cup or two at a time, but does allow you to make up to eight). But for anyone who doesn’t need a giant pot, it brews a fantastically strong and nuanced cup.

It works almost like an electric pour-over: You fill the back chamber withwater, put your grounds into a cup at the top lined with a paper filter (just as you would for an actual pour-over), and the machine spurts out water in a sporadic and fountainlike way over the top, agitating the beans as it goes. The whole process takes only a few minutes. There’s a regular setting, a strong setting (though I didn’t notice much difference between these two), and an iced setting that dispels the water slower. The coffee doesn’t come out cool, but after I set it in the fridge for a couple of hours, it was clear the extraction process worked: It made my Dunkin’ pre-ground beans taste amazingly like fancycold brew. Like Balmuda’s Instagram-famoussteam toasterandelectric kettle, it’s a sleekly designed product, too, with a matte black exterior, stainless-steel details, and a slim profile.

Capacity:12 cups| Size:8.86” x 7.28” x 10.83”| Temperature hold:Reheated from underneath via stovetop

This is the coffee maker I used at home for several years before I moved on to the Bonavita — but I stilllove it(so much so that I’ve even kept it stored away for potential future use). It’s made entirely from stainless steel (save for a handle on one side and a little glass knob at the top), and using it is simple. You fill the main chamber with water (there are lines inside that tell you how many cups you’re adding), and then scoop your coffee grounds into a filter cup, no paper required. The filter cup slides neatly on top of a thin pole inside the main chamber, followed by a perforated disk on top, and then you seal it shut with a tight-fitting lid. The brew time, first over medium-high heat, then over a slightly lower flame, is little more thanten minutes. Alison Carroll, founder ofWonder Valley, shares my enthusiasm for the percolator. For her, the analog process evokes a sense of nostalgia, and eliminates the need for electronics in the morning, which she appreciates. “It requires a bit of patience and attention to watch the color change through the sightglass, but it makes a damn fine cup of coffee,” she says.

The vessel takes up no counter space, is exceedingly easy to clean (whether you’re handwashing or throwing the pieces in the dishwasher), and — though you have to keep your eye on it — is about as unfussy as it gets when it comes to actual coffee preparation (no standing there with atea kettlepouring an even stream of water over grounds). Bonus: You can brew a big batch of tea in it, too.

Capacity:10 cups| Size:8.9” x 8.9” x 12”| Temperature hold:Thermal carafe

Fellow makes industry-standard coffee products across the board, but the Aiden, introduced a bit over a year ago, is its first automatic machine. My colleague, senior writer (and coffee connoisseur)Michael Zhao, who has been using it for about six months, says it’s the best he’s ever tried. As always, Fellow’s attention to detail is notable, even with something like this, where simplicity is part of the premise. “The Aiden’s pump, which you can hear working, allows it to precisely control both flow rate and water temperature,” Zhao explains. “The result is that it replicates the ideal brewing recipe for the exact amount of coffee you want to produce and will even tell you on the little screen just how much coffee to use, a number that varies slightly depending on the darkness of the roast.” His one disclaimer is that the button/dial interface isn’t the most intuitive method of control, but he says it’s effective once you get to know it. “And the removable water reservoir is a godsend because it means I don’t have to use the occasionally slightly dank carafe to transport fresh water to the machine, like I do with, say, the OXO or Technivorm brewers,” he says.

Capacity:10 cups| Size:12.3” x 6.5” x 14”| Temperature hold:Reheated from underneath or thermal carafe

The Technivorm Moccamaster was the second-most-recommended coffee maker by the experts I spoke with for this story.It’s pricey, but those who use it say it’s worth the premium if you want to invest in the best equipment out there.Like the Bonavita Connoisseur, the Moccamaster has stable temperature control and even brewing. Suyog Mody, founder ofDriftaway Coffee, explains that while the “brewing mechanics” are similar to those used in less expensive drip coffee makers, the Moccamaster is “made with better parts and solid construction. I’ve been using it daily for years with zero issues.It’s just no fuss. And honestly, it looks good on the kitchen counter.” (That’s one point on whichJohn Gourley, the front man of Portugal. The Man, agrees:“Not only does it look amazing, but it’s just a drip-style coffee maker that’s probably the thing we use the most in our house.”)

While the design is certainly appealing and the construction quality means it should last for a long time, the experts wouldn’t endorse this coffee maker if it didn’t also make a quality drink. “I taste coffee from all types of brewers, and this one gives a consistently better cup,” says Jim Munson, founder and president ofBrooklyn Roasting Company.Ally Walsh, co-founder of Los Angeles’sCanyon Coffee, agrees, noting how smooth the brew comes out every time. There could be some science behind that.“It has nine holes or orifices instead of one, so the water spreads out over the whole area of a coffee filter. Plus the heater works very fast. You get coffee much faster,” saysBill Nye,theScience Guy, who makes his coffee in this machine.Another innovation he points out is the funnel shape of the lid, “which greatly reduces the evaporation rate while the thing’s sitting there on the burner. Why doesn’t every machine have this?”

Jerad Morrison, co-founder and co-CEO ofSightglassin San Francisco, is also a fan of theTechnivorm but prefers aslightly different model. His favorite has all the same attributes, but instead of dispensing your coffee into a glass carafe on top of a burner plate, it goes into a stainless-steel thermal one (just like the Connoisseur). “It keeps coffee plenty hot for several hours,” he says, “without changing the flavor or making it taste burnt.” This thermal-carafe model only comes in neutral colors, but the glass has a bunch of shades to choose from.

Last year, senior writerMichael Zhaowrote about all theplastic-free methods to brew coffee. Since then, he’s discovered this SimplyGoodCoffee machine — currently the only drip machine on the market with a completely plastic-free brewing path, from the glass water reservoir through the stainless-steel internals and into the glass carafe. The design is nice, like a Moccamaster look-alike. But Zhao says it’s even better at brewing coffee for a couple of reasons: There’s an automatic bloom mode, which pre-wets the grounds before brewing begins, and a wider circular showerhead that promotes even extraction. He does warn that the metal internals and brew basket conduct more heat away from the water than plastic parts would, so the brewing temperature ends up being a bit lower than ideal for some lighter roasts. Still, he calls it impressive and consistent.

Capacity:10 cups| Size:9.75” x 9.5” x 15.5”| Temperature hold:Thermal carafe

The reason to invest in this machine is clear from the name: It comes with a built-in burr grinder. Yes, it’s on the spendier end, butgrinders are quite priceyon their own — not to mention they take up additional space in your kitchen. Beyond the convenience, “the Capresso drip yields the cleanest-tasting cup,” says Kat Odell, author ofDay Drinking.Finally, it boasts that thermal carafe that, as I’ve pointed out, many of the experts prefer over a hot plate.

Capacity:Single-serve five or eight ouncesSize:16.2” x 5.6” x 12.8”| Temperature hold:None

If you’re interested in a simple pod-based machine, this Nespresso also turns outsingle servingsof espresso and coffee. Textile designerCaroline Hurleyand clothing designerAlex Crane(both coffee fanatics) have used it every day for a few years and love it because “it’s just so easy,” Hurley says. You simply place a pod into the slot at the top and click a single button. The maker heats up and brews in seconds, then automatically deposits the used pod in a container in the back to empty and recycle (with somespecific guidelines).

Crane says he appreciates that it only produces one cup at a time so he can watch his consumption. He also notes that it makes “a gentle sound, unlike some others that sound so loud and sinister.” Hurley, meanwhile, says it tastes just as fresh as when yougrind your own beansand appreciates that the company offers a wide variety of flavors in a tester pack — “like jelly beans but for coffee” — so you can decide what you like best.

Capacity:4 cups| Size:9.5” x 9.53” x 14.7”| Temperature hold:Cold

In summers past, I’ve simply brewed a pot of coffee in the evening, transferred it to a glass carafe, and stuck that in the fridge to drink the next morning. But I’ve been testing OXO’s cold-brew coffee maker this season, and while it isn’t technically an automatic drip machine like the others on this list, it feels like a logical addition. It was originally recommended by Dennis Ngo, chef and co-owner of Brooklyn restaurantDi An Di, and a quick internet search will tell you that this is generally a much-loved model. Mine is definitely here to stay.

OXO recommends a one-to-four ratio of beans to water. You weigh or measure coffee grounds and add those to the big chamber. Then, you place the rainmaker, which is basically just a slightly concave perforated disk, on top. Pour over the corresponding amount of water so that it drips through the holes relatively slowly for even distribution. Give it all a stir and let it be for 12 to 24 hours. Once ready, flick down the one lever at the front, which releases the sitting liquid through a fine mesh sieve and into the glass carafe below. This process takes about 15 minutes. The resulting concentrate, which you then dilute with water or milk, is strong, smooth, and well-rounded with low acidity and no grit.

I love that you can make a lot at a time; I generally use ten ounces of ground coffee and 40 ounces of water, which lasts a few days in my household of two coffee drinkers. And the carafe itself comes with a stopper so it keeps in the fridge. My one knock is that it is fairly large (I keep mine on top of the fridge when not in use) — but OXO makes acompact versionthat works the same way.