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Great coffee makers make the morning brighter. They’re convenient and all it takes is pushing a button or setting a timer to get a delicious pot of coffee. Shopping for the best coffee machine can be hard since there are so many options. When you’re ready to buy a new coffee maker, you may need some help finding the right model for your needs.
We researched the brands and found the best coffee machines of 2020. We’ve compared each model based on price, features, design, and durability to ensure we only bring you the best.
Reviews
OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker – Best Coffee Machine
Easily our favorite choice, the OXO Brew 9-Cup uses a rainmaker water drip, which is perfect for coffee extraction. There are automated drip cycles and a programmed coffee bloom when it starts. The glass and stainless steel design is classic and attractive, and everything is controlled with a spin dial.
This coffee maker is somewhat more expensive, but worth it if you have wiggle room in your budget. Weighing 7.7 pounds, this machine also comes with a stainless steel, double-walled carafe that keeps coffee warm for an hour. You get 10 paper filters and a coffee scoop with the machine, and the reservoir has a large 72oz capacity.
Features
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Glass and stainless steel design
- Programmed drip cycles
Note
- Water reservoir cannot be removed
Cuisinart DCC-3200 Programmable Coffeemaker 14-Cup
Our second and more budget-friendly choice, this is the best coffeemaker if you want a great value with many features. It comes with a glass carafe and stainless steel handle, plus it can be easily programmed.
It’s fairly light at 8.75 pounds and there are many buttons to play around with. This is great for those who love features and customizing their coffee, but it’s not as straightforward as it could be. It is a fully automatic brewer and it comes with an auto-off feature, self-cleaning, and making a small coffee batch. You get a permanent filter when you purchase this coffee machine.
Make sure you’re careful with where you place the carafe. You need to be precise to ensure that none of the coffee spills. Otherwise, this is an affordable unit that will make delicious coffee.
Features
- Glass carafe with a stainless steel handle
- Comes with a reusable filter
- Numerous features (small batch, auto-off, self-cleaning, etc)
Note
- Interface is somewhat complicated
Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Machine
Being on a budget doesn’t mean you need to skip delicious coffee. Very affordable and compact, this is a streamlined coffee maker that is simple to use.
Weighing less than 5 pounds, the Mr. Coffee has a glass carafe and plastic body. It has an easy one-button start that allows you to quickly start brewing. It does take somewhat longer for coffee to brew, but only by a few minutes.
While the plastic is as high-end or attractive as other materials we covered (like stainless steel or glass), this is the perfect coffee maker if you want a model that works well and costs as little as possible.
Features
- Inexpensive and lightweight
- One-button start
- Large water capacity
Note
- Long brewing time
Keurig K-Duo Plus Fast Coffee Maker
That’s right, Keurig does carafe brewing. Their latest Keurig K-Duo Plus model is among their best and it’s full of features. Made with a stainless steel carafe that keeps your coffee warm for hours, you can brew anywhere from 6, 8, 10, or 12 cups of coffee. It only takes a few minutes until the carafe is full. There’s even a strong features for a bolder cup.
The removable 60oz water reservoir makes it simple to fill the machine, and it’s only about 8 inches wide. If one cup would be better, you can easily switch over to one-cup brewing. Speaking of that, we did a review of the best single-serving coffee brewers that may better match your needs.
For a slim and fast coffeemaker, this unit is ideal.
Features
- Stainless steel carafe
- Brew up to 12 cups of coffee
- Slim and fast
Note
- Extremely compact compared to similar units
Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
The Ninja coffee maker has many features and is reasonably priced. It has an attractive black design, 24-hour programming, a coffee scoop, and reusable filter.
Weighing just 6.48 pounds with a 60oz reservoir, the large showerhead drip ensures consistent coffee extraction. You can choose between regular and strong coffee, small batch brewing, and an adjustable hot plate. You can also pause brewing at any time.
The interface will take time to master as its complex and a little unintuitive. The carafe circulates coffee while it brews to improve flavor.
Features
- Even extraction with the large showerhead
- Lightweight and many features
- Comes with reusable filter
Note
- The interface is complicated
BLACK+DECKER Programmable Coffeemaker
Affordable, lightweight, and simple to use, this BLACK+DECKER 12-cup coffee maker is ideal if you’re on a budget. While the black plastic body feels a little cheap, the rubberized buttons are good and the glass carafe will keep your coffee warm.
As expected of an affordable coffee machine, this doesn’t have many features, but there are some good ones. It has a 2-hour shut off feature and it pauses whenever you grab a cup in the middle of brewing. Be sure to measure the coffee grounds carefully as the basket can overflow.
While this machine doesn’t have many features, it’s affordable, easy to use, and gives you delicious coffee.
Features
- Lightweight and affordable
- Easy interface and can be programmed for automatic brewing
- Rubberized buttons and glass carafe
Note
- The grounds basket can overflow
Braun BrewSense KF7070 Drip Coffee Maker
A good mid-tier option with many features, this lightweight unit has a 12-cup capacity and a stainless steel body. You can program brewing for any time and the interface uses simple buttons to make operation a breeze.
You can brew small batches or a whole pot, and there’s both a charcoal water filter and reusable metal filter. Paper filters might be good to supplement the feature as it will keep all grounds away from your cup. The machine can turn off automatically if it’s not used for an extended amount of time, and it can easily clean itself.
This fits comfortably in the middle of other coffee makers as still being affordable, but having more features than budget coffee makers.
Features
- Large 12-cup capacity
- Stainless steel body
- Comes with a reusable filter
Note
- Design is boxy
Buyer’s Guide
It’s time to start shopping. So, how do you know which coffee maker is right for you? Our quick buyer’s guide will show you exactly what to look at when looking for a coffee machine.
- Design: Coffee makers have a presense on your kitchen counter, so you’ll want it to look good. Do you prefer a sleek machine, or one that’s a little bigger? Stainless steel tends to have a more upscale design while plastic looks more old-fashioned.
- Price: Consider your budget. The best coffee maker usually costs a little more, but there’s nothing wrong with getting an affordable coffee machine if you don’t have the extra money.
- Capacity: While many coffeemachines are billed as 12 cups, please keep in mind that manufacturers tend to consider a cup to be five ounces. Just remember this if you need a large capacity machine.
- Programming: This allows you to make coffee ahead of time, like in the morning before work. Programming is great, but it isn’t essential. Consider how important this is to you when buying a coffee machine.
- Drip Head: Showerhead drips allow for even extraction of coffee from the beans. Our top model pick uses a bloom drip that allows the grounds to bloom for even more flavors and aromas.
- Warranty: Most coffee makers have a one-year warranty at the least while the best coffee makers have three-year warranties. This is something to consider, but sometimes you can get a better unit if you don’t mind a shorter warranty.
Coffee Maker FAQ
How Clean Coffee Maker?
Cleaning a coffee maker is easy and should only take a few minutes. Since vinegar is one of the best cleaners for this, we’ll show you specifically how to clean coffee maker with vinegar. Empty the coffee pot and remove all coffee grounds.
Mix together vinegar and water in a 1:2 ratio. Most coffee makers will take 3 cups of vinegar and 6 cups of water, but adjust for your machine. Brew and make an entire pot. Wait 15 minutes and then run a water cycle. You may need to run another water cycle to remove the vinegar taste. Your coffee machine is now clean!
What Coffee Maker is the Best?
According to our coffee maker review, we found the OXO Brew 9-Cup was the best. As you can see from our buyer’s guide, you should consider aspects such as brewing size, design, features, price, and drip head when choosing the right coffee maker for you.
How Coffee Maker Works?
This is a general description and your machine might be slightly different. There is a heating element that pushes water from the reservoir up through the drip head, which is right above the coffee grounds. This water heats up and extracts liquid from the ground coffee, which slowly drips through and lands in the pot.
What Coffee Maker Makes the Best Coffee?
According to our reviews, the OXO Brew 9-Cup makes the tastiest coffee. In general, any coffeemaker that allows the coffee to bloom makes a more flavorful cup. This gets more of the natural oils and aromas from the coffee grounds.
Can Coffee Maker Make Tea?
Yes, and it’s surprisingly easy. Place a paper filter in your coffee machine (like you normally would for coffee). Open the tea bags and dump the contents into the filter. Now just run a cycle and you’ll have a whole pot of tea.
Conclusion
In our opinion, the OXO Brew 9-Cup machine is the best coffee maker available. It gives you exceptional value for the price, looks great, blooms your coffee for extra flavor, and has many other features. If you’re looking for an affordable coffee machine that’s nearly as good, then the Cuisinart DCC-3200 is a great second choice. For those who want coffee but don’t have much to spend, then the Mr. Coffee model is good. It doesn’t have as many features, but it gets the job done and gives you delicious coffee.