So Hot Right Now: The Best Coffee Makers to Brew a Better Cup, According to Reviews

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

If you’re anything like us, you’re fueled almost entirely by the sweet golden nectar of the perfect cup of Joe. But waiting in line for your coffee can be a big time suck, not to mention a budget buster. Thankfully, with a few solid tools, you can skip the shop lines and become your own barista from home with the best coffee makers.

More from Rolling Stone

Sure, there’s an overwhelming number of ways to make coffee — from drip brews to presses to pour-overs — so we narrowed down our favorite brands and makers based on reviews and our own testing to demystify the process and turn your morning ritual up to 11. Here’s everything you need to know to get the best buzz from home and elevate your coffee maker setup.

In this Article

The Best Coffee Makers Buying Guide

How to Pick the Best Coffee Maker

How We Chose the Best Coffee Makers for Home Use

The Best Coffee Makers for At-Home Brewing

From bestselling brands to barista-approved presses, you’ll make a bold brew with these hot coffee maker picks.

1. Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select 10-Cup Coffee Maker

technivorm moccamaster coffee maker
technivorm moccamaster coffee maker

Topping our list of best coffee makers is the long-time coffee connoisseur-favorite, Technivorm’s Moccamaster KBGV. Sleek and reliable, this streamlined machine is straightforward, easy to set up, and makes some fine coffee that even Special Agent Cooper would approve of (that’s a Twin Peaks nod for those listening). This upgraded model allows you to switch between half or full carafes but brews as quickly for a consistently hot, bright, and bold cup that’s a step up from your typical drip-brew. It’s a favorite of ours and a top pick for thousands of other reviewers on Amazon. “There’s no going back. It’s the best coffee machine I’ve ever had. By a wide margin,” to quote one purchaser.

$347.00

Buy On Amazon

2. Ratio Six Coffee Maker

ratio-six-coffee-maker
ratio-six-coffee-maker

Not only is this Ratio Six coffee maker stylish, but it also makes a very clean, delicious cup of coffee. With simple, no-fuss controls, this elevated drip-brew takes the brainwork out of a sophisticated process. It features a built-in bloom cycle that briefly pauses to allow grounds to thoroughly steep before finishing up for what some reviewers note is consistently full-tasting coffee. The nine-cup, stainless steel insulated carafe keeps your brew hot without the risk of scorching on a heat plate — an ideal scenario, according to some experts. Solid and well-made, we love the chic matte and stainless finish options.

$339.00

Buy On Amazon

3. Aeropress Original Coffee Press

For the ultimate portable coffee maker, look to the Aeropress Original for a super satisfying single serve that won’t take up precious countertop space. Not only do some users love its travel-friendly design, ease of use, and affordability, but also quality cup it creates.

“The AeroPress is not just a device but a companion in our daily ritual, serving just the right amount for both of us to kickstart our day on a warm, comforting note,” beams one reviewer. “Its compact size and the ease of use have made it an indispensable part of our mornings, fueling conversations and cherished moments, one consistently perfect cup at a time.” Get this portable maker in a clear hue, XL size for multiple cups, and a special travel edition.

Put simply, it’s a traveler’s best friend — a compact coffee-making game-changer.

$31.95 $39.95 20% off

Buy On Amazon

4. Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffee Maker

chemex-pour-over-glass-coffee-maker
chemex-pour-over-glass-coffee-maker

Any coffee aficionado will tell you that a pour-over ranks high in the best and cleanest cups you can make. Enter the trusty Chemex maker. Practically a household name synonymous with “pour over,” knockoffs are plentiful but there’s no mistaking the iconic design of a proper Chemex. It produces six cups of electricity-free, delicious coffee. There are no “moving parts” to this glass carafe — just place your filter and grounds atop its crown and let your slow-pouring kettle do the rest. According to one fan, it “makes the most delicious coffee. Never a bitter note.” And based on our own testing, we couldn’t agree more — just make sure you have enough time to wait for your coffee to brew.

$47.03

Buy On Amazon

5. Breville BDC450 Precision Brewer

As the name suggests, this high-tech Breville drip brewer dials in on super-specific nuances to help even the pickiest coffee lover achieve their ideal cup. Using the LCD screen, program its settings to customize everything from your preference of bloom time. You can also adjust boldness (rate of brew) and temperature intensity. You can even tailor the taste according to your water consistency (ranging from hard to soft). It has a single-serve adapter and can even take two styles of filters (cone or flat bottom), so you pick up whatever you want from the store.

Whether it’s over ice or a Golden Cup Standard you desire, set it and forget it. That includes the night before, thanks to the timed brewing feature. We have used this product for months and still love it. Others give it top marks, too: “I don’t think that I will ever be able to go back to a cheap coffee maker,” read one review. “This really does elevate coffee.”

$329.95

Buy On Amazon

6. Café Specialty Grind and Brew Coffee Maker

ge-cafe-specialty-grind-brew-coffee-maker
ge-cafe-specialty-grind-brew-coffee-maker

Another option for the tech-savvy coffee lover, GE’s Café Specialty Grind and Brew is a smart choice – literally, it has an app. Not only does this sleek maker look like an idealized sketch from The Jetsons, but it lets you personalize brewing options straight from a smartphone. While it might seem gimmicky at first, it makes a solid cup (or thermal pot) of coffee. It also has a customizable, built-in burr grinder (the crème de la crème way to pulverize your beans) to appease the pro coffee crowd as a legit piece of equipment. “From the beautiful design to the perfect brew temp and flavor it produces, this coffee maker is top-notch,” said one user.

$329.00

Buy On Amazon

7. Cuisinart PerfecTemp 14-Cup Coffee Maker

cuisinart-coffee-maker
cuisinart-coffee-maker

This Cuisinart dials things back for a slightly more straightforward morning routine. Less complicated than more expensive programmable options, we like that you can still control your brew temp and set a timer. It’s less bulky than other countertop machines but still makes a hearty 14 cups for a larger household or office. Users note the simple, intuitive buttons. “Nice, piping hot coffee, with a setting to keep the carafe hot after brewing. LOVE it!” touted one review. It has a built-in water filter and even comes as a thermal carafe option.

$74.99 $99.95 25% off

Buy On Amazon

8. OXO Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker

oxo-brew-9-cup-stainless-steel-coffee-maker
oxo-brew-9-cup-stainless-steel-coffee-maker

A drip brew with pour-over-esque simplicity, we love the large batch carafe and full-bodied coffee we get with our OXO coffee maker. A popular choice over the years, we’ve personally used, owned, and loved this stand-out machine for its consistency, quality of coffee, and stainless steel carafe that helps keep coffee piping hot for hours on end. In fact, we’ve taken this vessel on the road post-brewing and even repurposed it for pour-overs on frigid camping trips. Even after the maker itself broke (in a move, user error), we held onto the jug. Yes, it’s that good. The settings are straightforward, and it even has a programmable timer. For a smaller machine, with less of a countertop footprint, we also love OXO’s Brew Stainless Steel 8-Cup Coffee Maker.

$225.99

Buy On Amazon

9. Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine by Breville

nespresso-certuo-coffee-espresso-machine
nespresso-certuo-coffee-espresso-machine

Most are familiar with Nespresso’s Original espresso machines, but the brand’s Vertuo series (that take the round-bottom pods) is also worth highlight for the classic, crowd-pleasing cup of coffee it produces. The Vertuo is designed to create something more comparable to an Americano in four different strengths (cup sizes). The built-in reservoir and internal boiler handles the hot water for you. What you get: a conveniently made, strong cup of coffee with a lovely crema that you can doctor up at will. As one reviewer put it, “The coffee has a premium look and taste and it pours into your cup with one push of a button!”

$188.97 $269.95 30% off

Buy On Amazon

10. Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker

mr-coffee-coffee-maker
mr-coffee-coffee-maker

With a name like “Mr. Coffee,” you know this maker’s a sure bet. With years of coffee service under its belt, the OG of makers is super affordable and a no-brainer to operate, two major selling points for any no-frills coffee drinker. As one reviewer wrote, “Sometimes you just don’t need all the bells & whistles. This coffee pot is perfect!” All you have to do to get rolling is load the grounds and water, then flip a single switch. The smartest thing about this simple machine besides its bargain price is its auto pause feature, which stops brewing so you can sneak a quick first cup. It may not be fancy, but it’s still reliable as ever.

$40.00 $39.99

Buy On Amazon

11. Ninja CP307 Hot and Cold Brewed System Tea and Coffee Maker

ninja-cp307-coffee-maker
ninja-cp307-coffee-maker

From blenders to multi-cookers, Ninja has become a skilled warrior in the realm of kitchen appliances, and its coffee makers are no exception. This clever maker is equipped to whip up just about any beverage you can steep, from hot to cold teas and coffees. The settings let you craft your drink according to type, size, desired temperature, and time of brew. The double-walled stainless steel carafe keeps hot beverages hot for hours.

There’s even a steam wand that pivots out from the side for frothing milk for a make-shift café au lait or steamer. In short, it’s wildly versatile. “Between the regular, hot coffee, and the cold brew/iced coffee, you are getting a steal with this purchase,” said a reviewer, “[…] you need not look further.. this is the GOAT.”

$159.99 $199.99 20% off

Buy On Amazon

12. De’Longhi TrueBrew Drip Coffee Maker, Built-in Grinder

De’Longhi TrueBrew Drip Coffee Maker, Built-in Grinder
De’Longhi TrueBrew Drip Coffee Maker, Built-in Grinder

Even coffee pros dream of an all-in-one machine that can deliver a tasty cup without lifting a finger. This De’Longhi maker boasts a programmable, built-in grinder that can be set the night before to grind and brew the cup or pot of your choice. It has so many automated features that it merely falls short of handing you the cup itself.

Another plus: The by-the-cup portioning grinder eliminates the need for wasteful, expensive pods: “With the De’Longhi TrueBrew, I can buy coffee beans or use ground coffee without having to worry about price and the environment,” beamed a reviewer. It even comes in a version with a carafe, for large and single batches alike.

$494.00

Buy On Amazon

13. Keurig K-Elite Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker

keurig-k-elite-coffee-maker
keurig-k-elite-coffee-maker

Keurig coffee makers like this one have found their way into nearly every American household, office, and hotel room for good reason. The K-Elite offers a consistently foolproof cup thanks to reloadable “K-cups,” and step-by-step settings that light up to guide you through brewing in seconds. Unlike the original Keurig, the K-Elite features more programmable settings and smart features, allowing you to control the brew temperature, adapt to high altitudes, switch to an energy-saving mode, and know when it’s time for maintenance. It has a large reservoir, built-in filter, and timer that make users’ mornings more convenient; as one reviewer put it, “I love it so much. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to get a Keurig!” We also have tested and recommend this single-serve Keurig maker.

$118.99 $189.99 37% off

Buy On Amazon

14. Braun BrewSense Drip 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker

braun-drip-coffee-maker
braun-drip-coffee-maker

We love the slim and compact profile of this Braun drip brew. It makes a great cup (or pot) of clean and consistent Joe with the help of programmable temperature, timer, and strength settings. It’s also easy to wipe down, thanks to the stainless steel finish. The brew basket and carafe can also be placed straight into the dishwasher to make your life even easier (though our coffee pros recommend mild or no detergent for all coffee carafes only).

The reviews are in and they agree: “Makes great coffee and may be the best-looking coffee maker that money can buy!” This slick maker also comes in a black-and-white finish to complement your brew station.

$89.96 $155.95 42% off

Buy On Amazon

15. Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker

BLACK+DECKER 12 Cup Thermal Programmable Coffee Maker
BLACK+DECKER 12 Cup Thermal Programmable Coffee Maker

If you’re after value, then look no further than this coffee maker that packs a lot of bang for the buck. Brew eight cups of coffee in the large, vacuum-sealed thermal carafe that keeps your brew hot without sitting on a plate. One of the most affordable on our list, it still boasts programmable features, like timed brewing and customizable brew strength. “It brews quickly and at the perfect temperature – nice and hot!” according to one review. “It is also incredibly quiet – so quiet that sometimes I have to double-check if I started it!”

$45.99

Buy On Amazon

How to Pick the Best Coffee Makers

When shopping for your next caffeine machine, experts say that the most important things to look for are: 1) a brewer that can maintain a water temperature between 195-201 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Coffee Association, and 2) a safe holding vessel (carafe) that holds enough coffee and maintains that heat. Also look for a sufficient rate of brew (time steeping) that produces a flavorful cup of coffee. (That’s approximately five minutes for a hot drip brew.) Everything else is, frankly, a “nice to have” feature, according to the pros we chatted up.

Ease of Use: First, consider your morning ritual and how using the maker will fit into your routine. The last thing you want is a hassle in the morning (or whenever you imbibe), so it should be relatively quick and convenient for you to set up and use. You should be cool with how high- or low-tech it is. That could mean anything from streamlined settings to specialized customizations. Any special accessories, filters, or coffee pod refills should be practical to clean, find, and buy. If pre-setting your machine to brew at a specific time is important (here’s looking at you, morning people), make sure it is capable of doing so.

Design: The coffee maker or machine should accommodate your space, aesthetic, and the amount of coffee you want to make for each batch, whether you’re swinging solo versus a full household or office. The carafe or hot plate should have a great temperature hold for full pots, too. According to our experts, opt for a hot plate only if you’ll be consuming the coffee relatively quickly. Otherwise, they recommend a maker with an insulated carafe (glass or stainless steel) since it won’t scorch the coffee like a plate can.

Brewing Process: As mentioned, your maker should properly steep your coffee grounds for enough time, depending on the brew method. For coffee experts, this rate of brew includes a “bloom” period — a brief pause after the initial pour that allows water to fully saturate the grounds and steep before the rest of the brewing process continues. Many modern coffee makers, like the Ratio Six, now include an optional or built-in bloom period to maximize the flavor through the bubbling up (releasing) of natural gasses (carbon dioxide) of your coffee roast; and/or additional strength customizations to further customize the brew pace.

Connectivity and Bonus Features: You might also opt for other features, like Bluetooth connectivity for remote control, single-serve tray adapters, milk steamer wands, or a self-cleaning setting. You may even want a built-in water filter, which aids in the clean taste of a brew and prevents mineral scale build-up in your machine. (Speaking of: Shop a descaling solution on Amazon.)

How We Chose the Best Coffee Makers for Home Use

To find the best coffee makers on the market, we asked a coffee expert for their buying tips and favorite models. A professionally trained and experienced barista who previously owned a coffee shop, our writer has personally tried most of the coffee makers and brands on our list, from OXO to Technivorm. We also researched dozens of options with the best reviews from the top brands to bring you our top coffee maker recommendations, above.

Editor’s Note: Amazon reviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Best of Rolling Stone