If you have a group of friends who all appreciate coffee, then there’s a chance that at least one of them is a coffee snob. If you can’t identify them in your group of friends, then there’s a chance that it’s you. Hey, we’re not pointing fingers – we love coffee snobs (some might say the staff at Caffeine Fiend are slightly snobbish about their coffee intake and proclivities). In fact, we love you so much that we’ve decided to write a whole article about which drip coffee maker is going to give you the greatest feeling of satisfaction. And, truth be told, even ordinary coffee drinkers with a more moderate appreciation of the great caffeinated drink will get some use of it.
Generally speaking, good coffee takes time.
Great coffee takes…well, a lot of time.
But sometimes you don’t want to go through the hassle of using a coffee grinder or milk frother, preparing a French press, buying an espresso machine, or waiting for your pour-over to finish; sometimes you want coffee ready as soon as you wake up. The best way of achieving this is through the use of a drip coffee maker. And so with that in mind, we’ve scoured both Amazon and the rest of the internet and tested some of the best drip coffee makers currently on the market. Keep reading as we examine in detail what you should look for in a drip coffee maker and which ones you should add to your kitchen counter space.
If we’ve tickled you so far, keep reading as we take a deep dive into the best drip coffee makers.
Features
- 40oz capacity
- Brews coffee in between 4 and 6 minutes
- Premium design
- One-touch operation for incredible ease of use
- Allows for consistent water temperature control
- Hotplate automatically shuts off after 100 minutes
The Best Drip Coffee Maker at a Glance
| Breville Precision Brewer Glass Coffee Maker Most Versatile Coffee Maker  See Price |
| Moccamaster KBGV Glass Brewer 10-Cup Coffee Maker Best Premium Coffee Maker  See Price |
| Capresso 10-Cup Digital Coffeemaker with Conical Burr Grinder and Thermal Carafe Best Coffee Maker with Built-in Grinder  See Price |
| Keurig K-Duo Plus Coffee Maker Best Compact Drip Coffee Maker for Snobs  See Price |
| OXO Brew 9 Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker Best Drip Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe  See Price |
| Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker Best Duo Coffee Maker  See Price |
| OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker Best Compact Drip Coffee Maker  See Price |
| Bonavita Connoisseur 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer Best Minimalistic Drip Coffee Maker  See Price |
| OXO Brew 9 Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker Best ALL-AROUND Drip Coffee Maker  See Price |
| Braun BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker Small and Powerful  See Price |
| Cuisinart Touchscreen 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Most Sophisticated Design  See Price |
| Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker The Best Budget Drip Coffee Maker  See Price |
The Best Drip Coffee Maker of 2022: Our Ranking Factors
When putting together this guide, we wanted to make sure that we were only compiling the very best drip coffee makers. We wanted each and every coffee maker to be a high-quality automatic brewer that is simple to use and, most importantly, produces consistently delicious and full-bodied cups of coffee. To do this, we made sure that each model on the list met a number of strict criteria. This includes:
Brewing quickly
While the brew times of the drip coffee makers on this list varied, we wanted to make sure that none of them took longer than eight minutes to produce a full pot of coffee. Depending on the capacity of the coffee maker, this would equate to between 1 and 1.5 liters of coffee.
Brewing consistently
No one likes good coffee one day and poor coffee the next, which is why we made sure that each drip coffee maker on this list brews full-bodied, delicious coffee consistently. The main mechanism for achieving this is by saturating all coffee grounds in the brew basket within the first minute of the brewing process.
Ease of use
No one wants to have an advanced computer science degree in order to use a coffee machine, so simplicity and ease of use were key metrics when reviewing the best drip coffee makers on this list. We made sure that each machine had as few buttons as possible and a clear, intuitive interface so that coffee could be brewed at the touch of a button.
Easy to clean
Cleaning your coffee machine regularly is key to making sure that it lasts you for years to come. And if you’re spending $100+ dollars on a machine, you want to get the most use out of it that you possibly can. With this in mind, we looked for models that were easy to clean and simple to disassemble. As a bonus, many of the models have dishwasher-safe parts and some even have programmed reminders to descale the whole system.
The Best Drip Coffee Makers: Detailed Reviews
Breville Precision Brewer Glass Coffee Maker – Most Versatile Drip Coffee Maker – 4.5/5
The Precision Brewer Glass Coffee Maker by Breville makes this list for a number of different reasons. To start with, it’s certified by the Speciality Coffee Association of America, or the SCAA, which is the main authority when it comes to any sort of specialty coffee equipment. The level of customization that this coffee maker offers is enough to impress even the haughtiest of coffee snobs, as is its 12-cup brewing capacity. It uses a precise digital temperature control, or PID, that lets you control three different flow rates in order to optimize brewing time and water temperature.
If you’re someone who prefers to not have to worry about controlling every variable, this model also has a number of preset modes including Gold, Fast, Strong, Iced, Cold Brew, and more. This means you can consistently enjoy your favorite cup of coffee at the push of a single button. The Gold mode in particular automatically ensures that the water temperature and brew time match those set by the SCAA, for the best and most efficient possible extraction.
Although the linked model comes with a glass carafe, the Breville Precision Brewer is actually also available with a thermal carafe, which we feel is better for keeping coffee hot for longer without causing it to become over-extracted and bitter. In terms of filters, you have the option of using regular filters but we found that Kalita-style filters were ideal for the job.
Pros
- Large 12-cup brewing capacity
- PID temperature brewing
- Available with either a steel thermos or glass carafe
- Adjustable brewing time, preinfusion, and flow rate
- Six unique preset brewing modes
Cons
- Fairly bulky and takes up a lot of counter space
Moccamaster KBGV Glass Brewer 10-Cup Coffee Maker – Best Premium Drip Coffee Maker – 4.7/5 (Editor’s Pick)
If you’re looking for a machine that is sturdy, easy to use and will last you for years to come, then look no further than the Moccamaster KBGV Glass Brewer. Featuring a classic design, the Moccamaster will look great in most kitchens. It’s exceedingly simple to use, and you can choose to brew to half or full capacity of the 10-cup carafe by using the switch located on the front of the machine. Once the brewing process is started, the integrated hotplate will start up and you’ll have a full carafe of coffee in less than 6 minutes. If you’re worried about forgetting to turn the hotplate off, don’t stress. The Moccamaster comes with an automated shut-off that will engage after 100 minutes.
Under the hood, the Moccamaster uses a copper boiling element that is extremely quick to heat up and efficient; it will keep the water at an ideal brewing temperature of between 196F and 205F, and will automatically shut off when the water reservoir is empty.
While this is undoubtedly one of the best drip coffee makers for coffee snobs currently on the market, the price might be the only off-putting component. Still, if you’re willing to pay for it, you can hardly do worse than the Moccamaster KBGV Glass Brewer.
Pros
- Class design
- Great build quality
- Automatic shut-off
- Has different modes for different brew capacity
Cons
- More expensive than other models on this list
Capresso 10-Cup Digital Coffeemaker with Conical Burr Grinder and Thermal Carafe – Best Drip Coffee Maker with Built-in Grinder – 4.7/5
The Capresso Digital Coffeemaker with Conical Burr Grinder is the all-in-one coffee solution for coffee snobs who don’t want to invest in multiple pieces of equipment. In addition to being completely programmable so that you can wake up to fresh brew, having a 10-cup brewing capacity, and coming with a steel carafe to keep coffee hot for longer, the Capresso also features a built-in conical burr grinder with three different grind settings. This means you can feed beans directly into your coffee machine and have the Capresso do the entire grinding and brewing process for you.
The Capresso is also environmentally friendly and comes with a GoldTone-basket instead of relying on single-serving paper filters. With its slight footprint, it also fits snugly in even the smallest kitchens.
While the Capresso is easy to clean, we found that the machine struggles a bit when using oily beans, and as a result, it required substantially more time to clean it and get it ready for the next batch of beans.
Pros
- Small footprint
- Built-in conical burr grinder
- Steel carafe keeps coffee hot for longer
Cons
- Some beans make the coffee maker difficult to clean
Keurig K-Duo Plus Coffee Maker – Best Compact Drip Coffee Maker – 4.3/5
While grinding up your own beans is one of the best ways of ensuring that your final brew tastes exactly the way you want it, many people also prefer the speed and convenience of a coffee pod once in a while. If you’re someone who appreciates both, then check out the Keurig K-Duo Plus Coffee Maker. Designed to brew with both ground coffee and K-Cup pods, this compact coffee maker will fit perfectly on small countertops and in nook kitchens. Instead of a glass carafe, the K-Duo Plus comes with a thermal carafe that not only holds up to 12 cups of coffee but will keep your brew warm for up to 2 hours after brewing.
Like other coffee makers on this list, the K-Duo Plus is programmable, so you can set the coffee maker to automatically brew a full carafe of coffee up to a day in advance. You also don’t have to worry about filters, as the machine comes with a reusable filter that is also easy to clean. If you do want to use paper filters for whatever reason, you’ll be happy to know that you can just swap them in without any reduction to the quality of your brew.
What we also liked about the K-Duo Plus is that it emits little to no steam during the brewing process, regardless of whether you use ground coffee or K-cups. This means it’s safe to put under cabinets that might otherwise have been affected by too much rising steam over time.
Pros
- Attractive design
- Small footprint
- Works with both ground coffee and K-cups
- Intuitive interface
- Fast brew process
Cons
- K-cups are only available in small sizes.
OXO Brew 9 Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker – Best Drip Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe – 4.5/5
The OXO Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker stands out for a number of different reasons. To start with, it’s a beautifully designed brewer, and a lot of attention was given to its overall aesthetic. But looks aren’t everything and in this case they’re not even the main thing, because where the OXO Brew really shines is its performance. The reason coffee snobs would absolutely love this machine is that it uses a rainmaker shower head to imitate the pour over coffee process in order to produce delicious, full-bodied and aromatic cups of coffee. This isn’t just fluff either, this machine has been SCAA approved and everyone who’s used it – including us – can vouch for the quality of the coffee that this coffee maker delivers.
Now, instead of forking out money on a Chemex in addition to a drip coffee maker, you can simply have both in your home in one convenient machine. The OXO Brew is also completely programmable, compact, and easy to use; everything is controlled with a single dial on the front of the machine, and information is fed back to you via an LED display. Lastly, this brewer comes with a stainless steel carafe so that your coffee will stay hot without overextracting for a couple of hours after brewing.
While the OXO Brew does a good job of recreating pour over, some might not completely sold. If that’s you, then consider investing in a quality Chemex coffeemaker.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Completely programmable
- Rainmaker showerhead recreates the pour over coffee process
Cons
- Coffee isn’t quite the same as authentic pour over
Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker – Best Duo Drip Coffee Maker – 4/5
Can’t decide between pods or ground coffee? Choose both with the Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker. The left side of the machine makes a 12 cup carafe of delicious drip coffee while the right uses K-Cup Pods to produce delicious, single cups of brew. Using the machine couldn’t be easier; water for the drip coffee is added to a 60 oz reservoir on the back of the machine, while the pods are inserted by lifting the lid on the right. The K-Duo is also programmable, meaning you can set it before you go to sleep and wake up to a full pot or single cup of coffee first thing in morning. On the drip coffee side, the K-Duo has a heating plate so that you don’t have to worry about your coffee going cold.
It’s worth noting that the drip coffee maker uses paper filters. This isn’t the most economical or environmentally friendly option, so we recommend investing in a mesh filter accessory that can be cleaned and reused after each use. Unfortunately this doesn’t come with the K-Duo, so you’ll have to invest a little more if you’re not keen on using paper filters.
When it comes to the design of the K-Duo, it can seem a little clunky. If this bothers you, then we recommend upgrading to the K-Duo Plus. Keurig really went out of their way to slim down the design and reduce the footprint, making it ideal for smaller spaces.
Pros
- Brews both drip coffee and single-serving K-Cup pods
- Fully programmable
- Heating plate keeps coffee warm for longer
Cons
- Cumbersome design
OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker – Best Compact Drip Coffee Maker 4/5
If you’re looking for a drip coffee maker that is pared back and simple to use without sacrificing the quality of your brew then look no further than the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker. A favorite on Amazon and certified by the Specialty Coffee Association, you can rest assured that you’ll be receiving consistent gold standard coffee with every brew. You also won’t have to wait long to get it; the Brew 8-Cup makes a full carafe of coffee in just six minutes.
The Brew 8-Cup comes with a 1.9l water tank and double-walled vacuum insulated thermal carafe (which is great for keeping coffee hot for hours), but it’s also one of the only coffee makers on this list that actually allows you to brew coffee directly into a mug. That being said, you will need to use a different filter basket and some particular paper filters, so it may not be worth the hassle.
Where the 8-Cup falters is in its lack of auto-brew function, so if you’re someone who likes to wake up to the smells of fresh coffee, this probably isn’t for you. And while the interface is intuitive to use, it lacks the svelteness of OXO’s 9-Cup model, which includes a digital clock (and an auto-brew function).
Pros
- Has the capacity for full pot and single servings
- Certified by the Specialty Coffee Association
- Brews a full pot of coffee in six minutes
- Special showerhead ensures that grounds are evenly saturated
Cons
- Lacks an auto-brew function
Bonavita Connoisseur 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer – Best Minimalistic Drip Coffee Maker 4.2/5
We, many coffee lovers out there, love the Bonavita Connoisseur 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer for many reasons, but chief among them might be its simplicity. Thanks to nothing more than the one-touch system used to get the brewing process started, the Connoisseur certainly doesn’t require a barista internship to use – it’s no wonder that it’s an Amazon’s Choice product. Equally helpful are the printed measurements on the carafe, which let you know exactly how many grams of coffee to use per serving. In terms of features, the Connoisseur has a pre-infusion style that mimics the effects of the artisan pour-over method. It doesn’t, however, have any auto-brew functionality or programmability. That being said, if you want a barebones machine that consistently makes excellent coffee out of nothing more than water and ground coffee beans, then we would highly recommend this model.
Pros
- 8-cup carafe capacity
- Brews coffee in six minutes
- One-touch brewing makes operation simple and easy to use
Cons
- No programmability or auto-brew function
OXO Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker – Best Drip Coffee Maker 4.7/5 (Editor’s Pick)
If you can only have one, then we definitely recommend choosing the OXO Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker. An Amazon favorite and the next iteration of the Brew 8-Cup, the 9-Cup coffee maker provides an equally effective brewing experience but with a bunch of added features. The automatic pre-infusion cycle ensures that the ground coffee beans are sufficiently wet and adequately bloomed before brewing. The auto-brew timer function means that you can set this Brew 9-Cup to have coffee ready whenever you need it, whether that’s just as you wake up or just before a planned meeting. It also comes with a high-quality thermal carafe that will keep your coffee piping hot long after brewing. The entire coffee maker is operated with an attractive and sleek interface, and a single dial lets you start the brewing process or use the other features.
Our only gripe with the Brew 9-cup is that, unlike the 8-Cup, you aren’t able to make a single cup of coffee but instead have to use the entire carafe. Although, the 9-Cup does have a pause and pour feature that lets you pour a cup of coffee before the whole brewing process is complete.
Pros
- Fully programmable with an auto-brew function
- Easy to use single control knob for all functions
- Pause and pour lets you grab a cup of coffee before the process is finished
- Certified by the Speciality Coffee Association
Cons
- Unable to brew single cups of coffee
Braun BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker – Small and Powerful 4.1/5
If you’re looking for a machine that does it all without the hefty price tag, then you could do worse than the Braun BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker. Like the OXO Brew 9-Cup, the BrewSense is fully programmable for up to 24 hours, meaning you can set it to brew the night before and wake up to a pot of great coffee. With a capacity to make a large amount of coffee – up to 12 cups – at the perfect water temperature, the BrewSense is also ideal for large gatherings or meetings (or if you’re a caffeine glutton who just wants a day’s supply of coffee ready to drink the whole day). In terms of design, the BrewSense has a wonderfully compact footprint, which makes it ideal for smaller kitchens and counters. In fact, it’s one of the features that hundreds of people on Amazon have applauded.
Unfortunately, there are a few downsides. If you’re in a rush, the BrewSense isn’t the fastest machine in the world and can take up to 11 minutes to brew a whole pot of coffee. Setting up the digital clock also takes some figuring out and the auto-brew function isn’t as simple as it should be. Clean-up on this machine could also be better, as sometimes the hot water used to purge the system will seep out of the top. That being said, for the price, you’re still getting a pretty decent piece of kit.
Pros
- Programmable 24-hour timer
- Auto shutoff feature will stop the brewing process once it’s finished
- Affordable
Cons
- Clean up is a slightly messy affair
- The auto-brew function isn’t as intuitive as other models
Cuisinart Touchscreen 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker – Most Sophisticated Design 4.3/5
While most products in Cuisinart’s range are great, there’s something special about the Touchscreen 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker. Between its minimal and sophisticated design and ease of use, this machine ticks a lot of the boxes when it comes to being the best drip coffee maker. Instead of a clunky button, the Touchscreen 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker uses a touchscreen panel with a variety of one-touch commands and icons to help you quickly make coffee but also customize your brew.
While we loved the touchscreen, we also understand that some consumers might feel that it’s not the most intuitive device to use. Even knowing how much pressure to apply to the buttons took us a few tries to get right. In terms of brew speed, this machine isn’t the fastest on the block, taking a full 11 minutes in order to brew a full pot of coffee.
Pros
- Touchscreen control panel
- Brew strength control
- Fully programmable up to 24 hours
- 14-Cup glass carafe included
Cons
- Takes a long time to brew
Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker – Best Budget Drip Coffee Maker 3.9/5
If you’re looking for delicious coffee but still want a few extra bucks for the weekend, then the Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker will sort you out. Not only is it super affordable – one of the cheapest drip coffee makers on Amazon – but it’s also easy to use and makes a reliably delicious cup of coffee every day. Using this device couldn’t be simpler; just add ground coffee and water, and you’re ready to start brewing. The integrated hot plate will keep coffee warm up to two hours after brewing, so you’ll have fresh hot coffee at the ready when you need it.
For all its simplicity, there are a few things that Mr. Coffee lacks, an auto-brew function being one of them. There’s no way that you can program this little guy to have coffee ready for you when you wake up, and you can’t change the brew temperature either. That being said, it does have a grab-a-cup option, which will pause the brewing process and allow you to pour a cup of coffee before it’s done.
Pros
- Really easy to use
- Integrated hot plate keeps coffee hot
- Very affordable
Cons
- Can’t be programmed
- The temperature can’t be adjusted
The Best Drip Coffee Maker of 2022: A Buyer’s Guide
Snob or not, fanatic or general appreciator, shopping for a drip coffee machine can be complicated. To take some of the pain out of shopping for a drip coffee machine, and to help you narrow down the criteria you should be looking for, we’ve put together this handy buyer’s guide to walk you through the purchasing process.
Capacity
It goes without saying that coffee snobs are coffee drinkers, are so are likely going to be consuming prodigious volumes of the stuff. If this sounds like you, then the capacity that your drip coffee maker’s carafe can hold is going to be of keen interest. If you’re someone who just likes to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, then you probably don’t need the biggest carafe on the market. However, if you’re someone who likes to throw cup after cup of high-quality coffee back, then you’re going to want a fitting receptacle to handle it. In this cafe, you’ll want a 10- or 12-cup carafe size.
Is it programmable?
Higher-end drip coffee makers should come with a number of different programmable settings. They can turn on and off at certain times, remain hot for an extended period before shutting off, and more. Depending on when and how you take your coffee, these features could be of interest to you. In general, if you’re someone who wants their coffee ready and waiting first thing in the morning, then it’s worthwhile investing in a coffee machine that has maximum programmability.
Hot plate or steel carafe?
Drip coffee makers will generally use two distinct methods in order to keep the contents of the carafe hot. In the case of the coffee maker using a glass carafe, it will use a hot plate beneath the carafe that emits heat in order to keep the coffee hot. However, this method has the downside of causing over-extraction, and increased bitterness the longer that the carafe remains on the hot plate. Other drip coffee makers will use a steel carafe that keeps the coffee hot at an optimum temperature of around 195 – 205 degrees Fahrenheit for up to two hours after brewing. Many experts say that this helps the coffee retain its flavor, however, using a hot plate guarantees that your coffee will stay hot for longer.
If you want the best possible taste for your coffee, we recommend investing in a drip coffee machine with a thermal carafe. It’s more expensive but ultimately provides way better results.
Brewing speed
Some drip coffee machines take longer than others to brew a carafe of coffee. At the higher end of the spectrum, this is going to take between 12 and 15 minutes to complete; at the lower end, you can expect your coffee to be ready in as little as 4 to 6 minutes – longer than it takes to listen to your favorite Kanye West song. This is something to keep in mind if you simply can’t wait to get your coffee fix as soon as you hit the brew button.
