The 10 Best Drip Coffee Makers of 2021

Best Overall: Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

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This coffee maker does everything you need, and just a little bit more. It can make up to 14 cups of coffee for a crowd or just one cup for those mornings when that’s all you need. You can also select regular or bold coffee without changing the amount of grounds used. The front panel has a straightforward list of five easy-to-use settings: self-cleaning, bold flavor, brew now/auto-shutoff, programmed brew, and brewing 1-4 cups.

After testing the Cuisinart 14-Cup Coffee Maker, our reviewer praised its versatility and multiple features. The 24-hour programmable timer lets you "wake up to the delicious aroma of brewed coffee," and the 1-4 cup setting is especially handy for those who drink less coffee because "the machine will alter the brew process to make sure your coffee is the proper strength."

The keep-warm temperature is adjustable, so you won’t come back to overcooked coffee or something that’s not warm enough, and the tone to indicate that coffee is done can be turned on or off. When it’s time to clean the machine, a light will let you know.

Best High-End: Technivorm Moccamaster 59616 KBG Coffee Brewer

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Some people take their coffee seriously. Very seriously. This machine is handmade in the Netherlands and looks like something you’d see in a futuristic sci-fi kitchen. Unfortunately, a robot maid is not included.

The item brews up to 40 ounces of coffee in just six minutes, and if you’re too impatient to wait that long, the drip-stop feature will let you remove the carafe during brewing without creating a puddle of coffee on the counter.

The Moccamaster's hot plate may be its most unique feature, since it is engineered to roll the heat into the coffee in a way that won’t scorch or overcook it, while keeping it at your choice of an even 175 or 185 degrees. After 1 hour and 40 minutes, the hot plate will turn off, so you won’t come home to a burned carafe.

Best Thermal: OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker

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From a simple interface to a thorough and consistent spray head, many details illustrate why the OXO 8-Cup Coffee Maker is a top-grade pick up. Perhaps the most telling detail, however, is that it is one of the few coffee makers certified by the Specialty Coffee Association to meet their Golden Cup Standard. This means the OXO 8-Cup is guaranteed to heat your water to the ideal brewing temperature (between 195 and 205 degrees) and whip up a whole pot within 4-6 minutes. It's delicious coffee made quickly.

Another key area in the Golden Cup Standard is how long a machine can maintain coffee temperature once brewing is complete. The OXO 8-Cup has exceptional heat retention thanks to its thermal stainless steel carafe. The item also has single-serve capabilities, making it a great option for those switching from pod-based coffee makers. The only downsides are its small capacity and that it is not programmable.

Best for a Quick Cup: BUNN GRB Velocity Brew 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer

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The BUNN name might seem familiar since BUNN coffee makers have been gracing diners, restaurants, and commercial kitchens for decades. This home brewer uses the technology of commercial machines and brings it to the home kitchen, where this speedy coffee maker can brew a full 10-cup pot of coffee in about three minutes. You’ll barely have time to find your favorite coffee mug.

Part of the speed is accomplished by having an ever-ready internal hot water supply waiting to brew your coffee when you want it, so you never have to wait for ​the water to heat before it brews. If you won’t need coffee for a few days, you can use the vacation switch to turn off the heater.​​​

Rather than a cone-shaped filter, this has a large flat bottom filter for more contact between the water and grounds during brewing, while a multi-stream spray sends hot water over the top of the grounds to saturate them completely.

For messy pourers, the carafe was designed to arc the coffee neatly into your mug and then wick the drips back into the carafe, so you won’t be cleaning up coffee drips each time you pour. If you don’t want a full pot of coffee, this can brew as few as 4 cups.

Best for Specialty Drinks: Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker

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Specialty coffee drinks differ from drip coffee, as the former typically contains espresso. This is your lattes, your cappuccinos. The drinks found on coffeehouse menus. We love the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker because it offers the best of both worlds: a 10-cup carafe for drip coffee, plus all the tools you need for specialty drinks, complete in one machine.

You can purchase the item with a glass carafe (CM401) or, for a slightly higher price, a thermal one (CM407). Aside from that, both options are identical, equipped with a fold-away milk frother, a removable water reservoir, and capable of brewing six different drink sizes, from a single cup to a full carafe.

Depending on your taste, one potential drawback is that this machine produces coffee concentrate, not true espresso. Most customers hardly notice a difference, saying the coffee concentrate is a terrific substitute and, in fact, more convenient than manually pulling espresso shots. But if you want a machine that makes real espresso, along with drip coffee, check out other great options in our rundown of The Best Coffee and Espresso Machine Combos.

Best Budget: Mr. Coffee Simple Brew 4-Cup Coffee Maker

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When your coffee-making needs are modest, this is the machine for you. There is just a simple on/off switch that turns the machine on to start brewing with an indicator light that shows when it’s on, so you’ll remember to turn off the warming plate when you pour the last cup of coffee. This makes up to four small cups of coffee or two standard mugs, so it’s great for singles or couples who drink just one cup each before heading out the door.

The warming plate is easy to wipe clean and the filter basket is removable so you can empty it quickly and wash it for the next use. A pause feature lets you remove the carafe if you want to grab the first cup before brewing is done, then you simply replace the carafe to continue brewing.

Best Customizable: Braun BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker KF7150

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The Braun BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker includes a number of convenient features that allow users to customize everything from how the coffee is made to how hot it stays hot after brewing. There are two strength settings (regular and bold), as well as a timer that offers 24-hour programmability. Once the coffee is done, you can set the keep-warm plate on a low, medium, or hot setting, depending on your preference.

This machine has a 12-cup carafe and the ability to brew anywhere from one to 12 cups at a time, so you’ll always have the perfect amount of coffee that you need. There's a handy pause-and-serve feature that lets you remove the carafe to pour a cup even before the pot is fully done brewing. The item comes with a reusable gold-tone coffee filter as well as a carbon filter that removes impurities from the water.

Best Non-Electric Drip Coffee Maker: Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker

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Pour-over coffee is the manual version of more automated drip coffee. Rather than pushing a button to make the coffee, you’ll boil water and pour it over the grounds in several stages to fully saturate the grounds and extract the maximum amount of flavor.

This includes a stainless steel mesh filter that lets the aromatic oils pass through while holding back the grounds. The carafe is made from heat-resistant glass and has a band around the neck that makes it easy to hold and pour from the integrated spout. The carafe is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. When you’re not using it for making coffee, it would be attractive for serving other beverages as well, like iced tea or cocktails.

Best with Grinder: KRUPS Grind and Brew Auto-Start Coffee Maker with Burr Coffee Grinder

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Freshly ground coffee beans make the best coffee, but if grinding coffee before brewing is one too many tasks for your morning routine, this all-in-one coffee maker and ​grinder can do the work for you. Even better, you can set a timer so the coffee will be waiting for you when you get up.​​

This brews from 2 to 10 cups of coffee and lets you select from mild, medium or strong brews, so your coffee is just the way you like it. The conical burr grinder has five different settings, from fine to coarse, so you can customize the grind. If you don’t finish the pot quickly, the keep warm function will hold the coffee at drinking temperature for two hours before it shuts off automatically.

This has a digital display and just a few simple buttons that make coffee brewing easy. If you have pre-ground coffee, you can turn off the grinder and just use this to brew without grinding first. A reusable gold-tone filter is included.