The 11 Best Coffee Makers of 2021

Best Overall: Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

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If waking up to a fresh pot of coffee each morning is what you crave, then a programmable coffee maker is the best option for you. The stainless steel construction on this machine lets it blend into your kitchen decor without being an eyesore.

It can brew as few as one to four cups and go up to 14 cups, so it's good for families that drink a little or a lot. Our reviewer found this feature really helpful, as she usually doesn't make more than four cups each morning.

Another key feature is its temperature control. With the touch of a button, you can set the carafe temperature to low, medium, or hot. Our reviewer said the strength and temperature of the coffee was exactly as she expected each time.

The 24-hour program setting lets you set your brew for the next day as you are finishing up the current one, and it has a 0- to 4-hour automatic shut off so you won't worry if you rush out of the house, travel mug in hand. A reusable GoldTone filter eliminates the need for pesky paper filters, saving you an early morning trip to the store. Did we mention the self-clean function?

This model has over 2,900 glowing reviews that applaud its design and ability to make a delicious hot cup of coffee. 

Best Single Serve: Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker

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Who says you need to be a pod person to achieve fantastic single-serve coffee brewing? This Ninja coffee maker eliminates the waste of plastic capsules while offering a wide range of possibilities for your individual coffee needs. Along with single-serve brewing, the machine has five other brew sizes, starting at one cup and working all the way up to a full carafe. Pick your favorite coffee beans and craft an array of hot or cold drinks, including brewed coffee, iced coffee, and even lattes, macchiatos, and cappuccinos, courtesy of a milk frothing wand. The frother folds away when you're finished, saving valuable counter space.

This item can be purchased with a glass carafe or, for a slightly higher price, a thermal carafe, which is more durable and retains heat longer. Both options are priced affordably, especially when considering the variety of features with which this machine is equipped.

Best Pour Over: Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker - Classic Series

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Still one of the most gorgeous and useful brewing devices ever invented, the Chemex undoubtedly deserves its place in the permanent collection of NYC's Museum of Modern Art: Its stunning hourglass shape, subtle wood and leather accents, and extreme ease of use make the Chemex emblematic of the blend of form and function.

Unlike most pour-over brewers, the Chemex is suitable for large groups, as they come in sizes of 6, 8, and even 10 cups. The proprietary Chemex filters contribute to a clean, sweet, articulate flavor in the cup. Most users agree that these filters require rinsing, however. Their thickness and material can contribute a strong papery flavor to a brew without proper rinsing first.

Best Specialty Brewer: Espressione Stainless Steel Machine Espresso and Coffee Maker

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The Espressione Combination Coffee and Espresso Maker is the best of both worlds. On one side of the machine is a drip coffee system with a 10-cup glass carafe. On the other, a manual espresso filter and a built-in milk frother, perfect for whipping up specialty drinks, like lattes and cappuccinos, right at home.

The item has advanced features like electronic temperature control, programmable volume and strength settings for espresso, and a double spout for brewing two espresso shots at once. Some customers say all of these controls can be daunting at first, as well as the manual espresso head, but once you get the hang of it, this is a high-quality and versatile machine, with especially strong reviews in two of the most important areas: flavor and value for money.

Other key features include a heating plate to keep your pot of coffee warm, a thermoblock heating system that reaches ideal brewing temperatures faster and holds that temperature for longer, and finally the rare capability to work with both ground coffee and E.S.E. pods.

Best Pod: Keurig K-Café

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No other name is as synonymous with pod-based brewers as Keurig. The brand revolutionized the coffee game by focusing on speed, convenience, and ease of use one single-serve cup of joe at a time. The K-Café is the brand's top-performing and most versatile machine.

Not only does this item brew the quick and consistent coffee that so many know and love, it also gives customers the ability to make lattes and cappuccinos. The K-Café has a setting for bold coffee shots, similar to espresso, and it comes with a dishwasher-safe milk frother. You can brew regular coffee in four sizes (6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces) and even select a stronger setting for those who want a little more punch in their cup. Perhaps the only two drawbacks are that the machine is on the pricier end for Keurigs (though still reasonably priced overall) and fairly large for a pod-based coffee maker. Aside from that, however, the K-Café will make every day a little more delicious with all the different drinks it can brew.

Best Splurge: Technivorm Moccamaster KBTS Coffee Brewer

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While the Technivorm Moccamaster KBTS is certainly a splurge, it's one of the best coffee makers you can find. In fact, it's one of the few coffee makers that meets the Golden Cup Standard—a set of guidelines established by the Specialty Coffee Association to achieve a higher quality cup of coffee.

Handmade in the Netherlands, this brewer has features you won’t find elsewhere, like a core copper heating element that keeps brewing temperature within the optimal range of 195 and 205 degrees and brews a full carafe in roughly five minutes.

This is just one key factor in the Golden Cup Standard, says Peter Giuliano, the Chief Research Officer at the Specialty Coffee Association and Executive Director of the Coffee Science Foundation.

"Our standard is that [a coffee maker] has to get to 195 to 205 degrees within one minute of turning on," Giuliano adds, "and it needs to stay there for the duration of the brew. That’s more challenging than you might expect. Most brewers that we test either get too hot or stay too cold, but the good ones can maintain that ideal temperature."

Another top-grade feature of the Technivorm Moccamaster is its three brew basket settings that let you control the length of time the coffee is steeped, and therefore control the strength of the brew. The item has an outlet arm—adding to the eye-catching design—that evenly saturates the coffee grounds every time. And when brewing is finished, the machine shuts off for safety.

Best Professional: BUNN 10-cup Thermofresh Home Brewer

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Go to any restaurant or diner, and you’re likely to see a BUNN coffee maker brewing coffee all day and keeping it warm for customers. This 10-cup Thermofresh coffee maker is made like a professional machine but designed for home users. It has a stainless steel vacuum-insulated carafe that keeps coffee hot without overheating or requiring a burner. It can brew up to 10 cups of perfect coffee in just three minutes since it keeps the water at the ideal brewing temperature at all time thanks to an internal thermostat. The patented spray head design optimizes coffee flavor extraction.

The thermal carafe is dishwasher-safe and includes a close-and-brew lid. When you won’t be brewing coffee regularly, a vacation switch turns off the tank heater. This includes a coffee funnel, de-liming spring, and filters.

Best Large Capacity: Hamilton Beach 45 Cup Coffee Urn and Hot Beverage Dispenser

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A single-cup coffee brewer is handy for that cup of coffee before work, but it won’t work for big family celebrations or parties when everyone wants a cup of coffee at once.

This brewer will be a welcome guest at those parties, serving coffee and more, since it can also be used for dispensing other hot beverages. Use it for hot cider, mulled wine, or even hot water for a party full of tea drinkers. The stainless steel exterior looks elegant and is easy to clean.

This is easy to fill and has a twist-lock lid that prevents spilling and helps to maintain an even temperature. It has large handles, and the cord is removable so it won’t dangle when you have to move it. A ready-to-serve light lets you know when it’s coffee time.

Best French Press: Frieling Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press

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French presses are wonderful alternative brewing devices for all coffee lovers. They are known for making a cup of joe that's stronger than what most drip machines can accomplish. They are also compact and, usually, affordable. Unfortunately, the Frieling Stainless Steel French Press is quite expensive, but for those who want the best French press out there this is the way to go.

The item's double-wall stainless steel carafe provides top-notch heat retention, so you can grab a cup long after brewing. We tested it ourselves and our reviewer added that the stainless steel is "durable and won’t shatter like glass beakers." It's available in a variety of sizes, starting at 8 ounces and working up to 44 ounces. You can also purchase it in a number of stylish finishes depending on what you prefer for your kitchen. Customers give the item high scores in several areas, including ease of use and, most importantly, flavor. It's easy to clean too, as all parts are dishwasher safe.

Best Espresso Maker: Breville The Barista Express

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For those tired of drinking the same old drip coffee every day, an espresso maker is a worthwhile investment, especially if it has the ability to froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos. And this espresso maker, the Breville Barista Express, is one of the best options you can find. It may be a little pricey for the casual coffee drinker, but it can brew a bevy of café-quality drinks in minutes. The machine even has a built-in burr grinder for the freshest possible coffee. Customers say it is quite easy to clean but do add that it requires frequent upkeep, usually after each use.

Upon testing the product, our reviewer had effusive praise for the Barista Express, saying it, "consistently delivers excellent espresso." Breville manufactures several highly reviewed espresso makers, and this one is somewhat of a middle ground as far as cost and convenience. Its value for money prompted our reviewer to add that, "For the quality of espresso produced with this machine, it’s an excellent option for those who have a keen interest in espresso but are unwilling to spend thousands of dollars."